Arts Alive San Antonio

By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor

Please define the role and goals of the San Antonio Conservation Society.
The purpose for which the San Antonio Conservation Society was formed was to preserve and to encourage the preservation of historic buildings, objects, places and customs relating to the history of Texas, its natural beauty and all that is distinctive to our state. And, to keep the history of Texas alive to educate the public, especially the youth of today and tomorrow about our inherited regional values.

Our slogan is “Making History by Saving History.”

What are the Society’s major accomplishments?
I think that our accomplishments are in three categories: buildings; natural beauty, grants and education.
We lost our first fight to save the Market House, which led to our founding, but we have been successful with other important structures. We were instrumental in saving the Spanish Missions and getting them recognized as a World Heritage Site. Other projects include Casa Navarro, the Mission Espada Acequia Aqueduct, the Mission San Jose Granary, the Aztec Theater, buildings in La Villita, the Woolworth Building, and many others. We even saved and moved the Fairmount Hotel.

We offer yearly grants to both community groups and owners of buildings to help them with preservation projects. Also, we have educated hundreds of school children by sponsoring tours of important sites and teaching their history. In addition, we have been able to inspire and help other preservation groups in the city. The Society even paid for the first Historic Preservation Officer for the city.

When did you join the organization and why?
I joined in 2008 after I retired from teaching. I have always loved old buildings and their place in history. And, once I knew that I had the time to be active in the organization, I signed up.
I grew up in Dallas where – I joke – they never saw an old building that they didn’t think wouldn’t make a better parking lot. San Antonio, on the other hand, has done such a great job of adaptive reuse, and still does today. I also had some good friends who were active members and I kept up with what was happening through them.

When did you become president and why did you accept the job?
I became president on June 1, 2023. This is a really big job. As to why I accepted, I think it goes back to having been involved in volunteer work with different organizations over the years and enjoying making things happen, hopefully for the better. Within the Society, I have been fortunate to have been on a variety of committees. I know what value we add to the city, often partnering with other organizations and individuals in the community, and I wanted to continue doing that. I also admire the women who were here before me and how they fought to keep San Antonio “San Antonio.” I am honored to join their ranks.

Please explain how preservation projects are chosen?
Most of the time they choose us. Preservation is about seeing a need and fighting to make it happen and those projects pop up as the city evolves. They are also suggested by community groups. There are also projects that suggest themselves to members as we keep our eyes open during out travels.

What’s in the works right now?
Our most high-profile project at this moment is the Texas Pavilion/Institute of Texan Cultures. We submitted a nomination to have it placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Texas Historic Commission has to determine the project has merit, and then it can be moved to the national level. This is an important building to this city. Most of my time right now is devoted to this presentation at the Texas Historic Commission. Right after that comes our Centennial Celebration. The Society is 100 years old.

Which part of San Antonio would you choose to live in if you could?
That’s like asking which is your favorite child. I love downtown for the vibrancy, the human scale and the sense that you can see and feel the history of Texas all around you. However, I love the open spaces as well. When my husband and I first moved to San Antonio 43 years ago, I was so surprised by the variety of landscapes in one area. I grew up in Dallas, which is Blackland Prairie and flat, so to have such diversity, was surprising and wonderful.

Does the Society undertake restoration projects?
We don’t do restorations for others; we provide grants for owners who need them and qualify. However, we are currently having restoration work done on some of our own very old buildings, such as the Bombach House in La Villita; the Yturri Edmonds compound and the Wulff House.

So, what is being planned for the 100^th anniversary of the San Antonio Conservation Society?
We are really excited to mark our 100^th anniversary with a variety of celebrations throughout the year. The first one will be our Centennial Celebration on March 26, 2024, at the Betty Kelso Center on the grounds of the San Antonio Botanical Center. We are thrilled to have Michel Picaud, president of the Friends of Notre Dame de Paris, as our speaker. He will share the challenges of restoring such a treasured site. There will be additional “Open House” events with speakers throughout San Antonio this year.
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