Anyone know where this is? 1930's photo (Houston, San Antonio: hotels, tile)

[Primo]

Originally Posted by GWhopper

Actually, I just found another address for Alamo Hat Works circa 1936, this was 225 N. St. Mary's street. That would put it where the downtown Holiday Inn is near Commerce street, across from the Charlotte McCombs theater and the old St. Mary's Church and school. However, that street is awfully narrow and since it does still have some historic buildings next to the Holiday Inn, as well as a bridge crossing the SA river that I believe was put there in the 1920's, I don't think the street was any wider when the original picture was taken that started this thread. I am pretty sure that picture shows the W. Houston street location.

That is right where Coney Island was...the side of the present day Hotel Valencia. I remember Coney Island was a similar 2 story building and there were several along that block.

[Chaka]

Hmmm, looks a bit like W Commerce St, near Santa Rosa, where the health dept is

[TrapperL]

One thing that is clear, the picture was taken during or after 1936. The car at the bottom of the pic is a 1936 Ford Business mans coupe- my dad had one. Also in the pic is a 1934 Ford sedan- I had one back in high school and it wasn't stock. Gotta love the old pics.

[tony78201]

Originally Posted by TrapperL

One thing that is clear, the picture was taken during or after 1936. The car at the bottom of the pic is a 1936 Ford Business mans coupe- my dad had one. Also in the pic is a 1934 Ford sedan- I had one back in high school and it wasn't stock. Gotta love the old pics.

yep, I love them too

[tony78201]

San Antonio Police Officers 1900



December 1922

[GWhopper]

[quote=tony78201;18635693]San Antonio Police Officers 1900


Wow! That entrance to Chapas drugstore in the background is really interesting architecturally.

[SnappyBob]

Originally Posted by tony78201

San Antonio Police Officers 1900



December 1922

Cool pic. That's me one right.

[huckster]

A great snapshot of 1900 S.A. police officers, I guess they weren't dodging
Drunk Drivers too often back then ? Maybe mostly assaults, drunks and thieves
with those billy clubs ?
Kudos to these long ago gone officers.

Originally Posted by tony78201

San Antonio Police Officers 1900



December 1922

[aathens]

Well, this thread really got me going. Alamo Hat Works was owned by my grandfather!

I fully agree with TrapperL about the vintage of the photo. That is indeed a 1936 Ford; my father had one and it was his first car. The family moved to Florida around 1939, so this photo must be from some time around then.

I believe that GWhopper and Primo have correctly identified the address as 225 N. St. Mary's. I consulted the 1936 City Directory which lists Alamo Hat Works at that address and the Coney Island Sandwich Shop at 225A N. St. Mary's. It also lists the "Smoke Shop - Beer" at an odd address adjacent, which would explain the "Pearl" sign to the left.

Indeed, this seems to be the location of the current Holiday Inn. I wonder when the building was demolished?

At Hedgehog Mom's suggestion, I contacted the original poster for more information. It turns out that he took a picture of the photograph as it hung in the lobby of a downtown hotel! I got the name of the frame shop that framed it off of the back, and am working to track down the original. It is likely in the collection of the Institute of Texas Cultures. I am curious to find out if it includes any information as to the circumstances of the photo; it sure seems like there are a lot of people milling about!

Given the angle of the photo, I am assuming that it was taken from the third or fourth floor of a building across the street, either the Empire Theater or St. Mary's Catholic Church.

I can only wonder if my grandfather is on that balcony looking out over the scene...

[Primo]

see slides 13 & 14

Downtown differences - San Antonio Express-News