{"id":386275,"date":"2026-07-25T14:11:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T14:11:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/386275\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T14:11:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T14:11:39","slug":"an-eclectic-victorian-for-sale-in-lavaca-was-built-by-the-lone-star-brewerys-architect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/386275\/","title":{"rendered":"An eclectic Victorian for sale in Lavaca was built by the Lone Star Brewery’s architect"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Victorian home recently listed for $925,000 in South San Antonio\u2019s Lavaca neighborhood has a history replete with a variety of puro San Antonio cultural influences, thanks to Albert Felix Beckmann, the prominent architect behind it.<\/p>\n

Beckmann was born in San Antonio, but studied architecture in Germany.<\/p>\n

After returning to the Alamo City around 1880, Beckmann formed a partnership with\u00a0James Wahrenberger, another German-trained architect, according to the Texas State Historical Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Together, the prolific duo created some of San Antonio\u2019s most iconic landmarks, including Southtown\u2019s Beethoven M\u00e4nnerchor, the White Elephant Saloon on Alamo Plaza, Dr. Kalteyer\u2019s Drug Store on Military Plaza, the City-County Hospital on San Fernando Hill and the original\u00a0Joske\u2019s Store \u2014 now demolished \u2014 at Alamo and Commerce streets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Beckmann and Wahrenberger also designed jails, courthouses and federal buildings in Eagle Pass and other cities throughout Texas and Mexico.<\/p>\n

But their most prominent collaboration of all was the construction of the Lone Star Brewery, a project they joined in 1895 as local architects for a St. Louis firm. Separately, Beckmann was also responsible for St. John\u2019s Church, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the Daily Express Building, according to historical documents.<\/p>\n

As if his own prominence wasn\u2019t impressive enough, Beckmann also married into a prominent San Antonio family when he wed Marie Guenther in 1886. <\/p>\n

As busy as Beckmann stayed designing commercial and government properties, he somehow found time to build homes for some of San Antonio\u2019s most prominent families, including this house on Lavaca Street, which was built the same year he began working on the Lone Star Brewery.<\/p>\n

The home was commissioned by another man of note \u2014 prominent civic leader August Briam, described as a \u201cgrocery pioneer\u201d in his obituary in the San Antonio Express-News\u2019 archives<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In his obituary, Briam is described as heavily involved in local politics and in civic societies such as the Elks Lodge, Odd Fellows, Beethoven Society and the San Antonio Business Men\u2019s Club, which later became the Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n

The house Briam commissioned from Beckmann reflected the cultural influences that played a part in the lives of both prominent men. Briam, a lifelong San Antonio resident, couldn\u2019t help but incorporate some of the Mexican and Spanish flair of his hometown into an otherwise classic Victorian structure.<\/p>\n

As another uniquely San Antonio cultural influence, both men were involved with the German societies in town. Those disparate cultural touchpoints produced one of San Antonio\u2019s more eclectic Victorians.<\/p>\n

Yet somehow, in the Alamo City, it all makes sense together. <\/p>\n

From the curb, the house lovingly reflects this hodgepodge of influences, with a Victorian structure accented by Talavera tiles that scale its exterior pillars. A pop of color from a bright blue dormer on the otherwise pale yellow exterior also indicates the many lives the house has lived.<\/p>\n

Inside the two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath residence, the culture clash continues with Victorian transoms, original hardwood floors and soaring 11-foot ceilings, all complemented by unexpected arched windows in the kitchen. Though arched windows certainly aren\u2019t the norm in Victorian houses, they anchor the property firmly in San Antonio\u2019s unique milieu.<\/p>\n

Realtor Gina Candelario said the current owner stripped the house \u201cdown to the studs\u201d to make it move-in ready. This includes a new HVAC system, bathroom upgrades, kitchen renovations, sewer lines, interior water lines, a water softener and a house filtration system under the sink utilizing reverse osmosis.<\/p>\n

Despite all the upgrades, the owner worked directly with the San Antonio Historic and Design Review Commission to preserve the architectural integrity of such a unique property.<\/p>\n

Indeed, the property has come a long way since the current owner purchased it, according to Candelario, when she found the front and back yards, in addition to the interior, filled with piles of \u201cgeneric \u201980s-looking tile.\u201d<\/p>\n

The owner\u2019s other changes were more cosmetic, Candelario said. Those included converting one of the living rooms into a library and installing a bird and butterfly pollinator habitat garden in the backyard, which gets frequent visits from hummingbirds.<\/p>\n

The seller has also divided what was once one contiguous corner lot into two, which she is selling individually. The property spans 0.21 acres, and an adjacent lot with several casitas is being sold separately as a multifamily income-producing property.<\/p>\n

The owner leaves with such affection for the property that she even penned a love letter to the distinctive home and the surrounding neighborhood. In the letter, she describes neighbors walking their dogs, riding bicycles and meeting up for Thursday dinners. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe feel very safe here,\u201d she she wrote in the letter, obtained by the Current.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis house was going to be our forever home,\u201d she added. \u201cBut it wasn\u2019t meant to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

This home is listed by\u00a0Gina Candelario<\/a>\u00a0with Kuper Sotheby\u2019s International Realty.
All photos and listing info via\u00a0Realtor.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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