San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-13
Will Make Effort to Save
]" Old Market House to City

donated the land where the Market
House stands to the city for use as a
site for the municipal market place,
donated the land only on the condi-
ton that should it ever cease to be
used for marketing place, the land
would revert to his heirs.
Not In the Deed.
This condition was not recorded
with the deed, however, and the stipu-
lation became only a verbal contract
between Enoch Jones and the resi-
dents of San Antonio in 1858. Mrs.
Eleanor Ryan of Goliad street, and
Mrs. z. G. Jones, both of this city
are daughters and daughter-in-law Of
OF Mr.. Jones, and they claitl that this
condition should be respected in the
present proposed plan to take the
front from the old Market House.
Mrs. Ryan and Mrs. Jones do not
want the land, or claim that their
voice as descendants of the donor
should be heard above the sentiment
OF the city, but they have recalled the
fact that Enoch Jones wanted the site
he gave as a market place, to remain
as a market place throughout the ex-
istence of San Antonio.
Not only women of the late sos.
who once rode in fine carriages TO the
Market House, or walked with bask-
cts on their arms to the shopping
place. can remember pleasantly the
life that revolved about the faded old
building of today. Old men who were
in those times young hunters, pioneer
farmers and stock men, or profession
al men in young sciences. can also re-
member the life and gaity that once
filled the rock walls with constant in
terest.
Famous Lunch Room.
The lunch room that once stood
within the Market House was the
proud possessor of black cooks who
could produce from homegrown cat
tie the finest steaks in Texas, accord.
ing to tradition, and here it was that
even the coffee of the campfire dwind.
led into significance beside the frag.
rant cups of amber liquid that could
be had at the Market House lunch
room.
Young men from the town, now
prominent in business in San An
tonic, and men who have left in this
city's history names that are hailed
as one of San Antonio's many as
sets, gathered there for grave political
discussions. Cowboys from the wide
ranges that lay about the little city
found the Market House lunch room
the Mecca that they sought, for food,
for coffee that was coffee, and for an
occasional contest with the long "six-
shooter that dangled meaningly from
hob-naiied cow-hide belts.
All Hand Carving.
Stone for the old building was pro-
cured from the old Heubner ranch,
near the crossing on Leon Greek that
is known as the "Bandera crossing. "
John Fries designed and built the
structure, and planned it according to
ideas CLEANED from study of Grecian
architecture. His son, Fred Fries
present city clerk, stated that his
father built the Market House entire
ly according to his own plans. Fred.
erick Enderly, brother Of Mrs. John
Fries, carved the pillars in front Of
the building; and on his return Ia
San Antonio several years ago, he told
Fred Fries that this piece of work
was his "pet," an accomplishment
of which he was proud. The stone
carving was done almost entirely by
Mr.. Enderley, according to Mr.. Fries
and was done for the most part by
hand.
Artists who have seen the old
Market House declare that it is one
of the most perfect pieces of Grecian
architecture in existence in Americs
today. Mrs. X. c. Van Horn, an ar
fist who has recently come to this city
after extensive travels, protested tile
destruction of the building at the last
meeting of the city council, on Mon
day, April Z, saying that the artistic
value of the structure is beyond esti
nation.
1t is understood that a movemen:
will be started through the women's
clubs and civic organizations of Sar
Antonio, to preserve the Market
House as a museum. 1t is owned
at present by the Heusinger Hard
ware Company and the city refused Il
buy it when a committee Of wonler
from the Historic Conservation So
ciety of San Antonio made an appea
to the city commission, at its meet
ing on Monday, April z. Mayor To
bin stated that lack of funds would
prevent the city from attempting Il
purchase the old building now. Furth
err action may be taken at the coun
Gil meeting ON Monday, April II
when several additional petitions Il
, the city will be sent in.