Mission San Juan de Capistrano, Habitation B, Berg's Mill-Graf Road, San Antonio

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS TEX,15-SANT,3E-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Although reconstructed. Habitation B, or Indian quarters, is a typical component of a Spanish mission complex built during the period of Texas frontier. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: Circa 2. Original and subsequent owners: See History section of Mission San Juan De Capistrano, HABS No. 3. Original plans and construction: The original "pueblo" or Indian quarters were temporary shelters of brush and mud erected along the east and west walls of the Mission Plaza. In it was said that the quarters were rebuilt and were houses of stone laid in mud mortar. During the mid the quarters fell into gradual disuse and ruin. In it was reconstructed. B. Historical Context: See Mission San Juan De Capistrano, PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A.

General Statement: 1. Architectural character: The original appearance of this structure is not known as it has been in ruins during modern times. Essentially it is a rectangular structure with no outstanding architectural features. It is one of the typical habitations of the Mission. 2. Condition of fabric: The walls are sound and the overall condition is good due to recent reconstruction work. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall dimensions: The house is 22' x 2. Foundation: The original foundations were the lower masonry wall courses carried to the depth of about two feet below grade MISSION SAN JUAN DE CAPISTRANO, HABITATION B HABS fcfcu (Page 2) to stable soil.

During the present reconstruction, reinforced concrete has been used to strengthen the foundations and a concrete slab floor has been poured. 3. Walls: The walls of the house are rubble stone set in cement mortar. 4. Structural system, framing: Load bearing walls. 5. Porcfc: A reconstructed porch is being erected. Supports are rough-fashioned 4" x 4" cedar posts set on individual limestone block foundations. 6. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: Two doorways led into the single interior room. Both have splayed jambs opening toward the interior. The original doors are not extant. b. Windows: There is one window opening in the front (east) facade. The original windows are not extant. _ 7. Roof: The present reconstructed roof is wood framed with corrugated metal sheathing and thatch covering.

C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor plan: This house is essentially one rectangular room forming a part of the Mission compound walls. A smaller narrow room adjoined along the rear having the same length and connecting by a doorway. 2. Flooring: The present floor is a poured reinforced concrete slab. The original floor was hard-packed earth. 3. Wall and ceiling finish: The rubble walls were originally plastered, and portions of the plaster are still to be found. The ceilings are reconstructed of sheetrock. 4. Doors: The original doors are no longer extant. D. Site: 1. General setting and orientation: This house forms a part of the west wall of the Mission compound. Prepared by: John C. Garner, Jr.

Director, Bexar County Architecture Survey MISSION SAN JUAN DE CAPISTRANO, HABITATION B HABS No. (Page 3) PART III. PECUECT- INFORMATION The San Antonio project was undertaken by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) in the summer of and was made possible with funds from HABS and two sponsors/ the Bexar County Historical Survey Committee and the San Antonio Conservation Society. Under the direction of James Massey, chief of HABS, the project was carried out by Wesley I. Shank (Iowa State University) project supervisor, and by student assistant architects, Charles W. Barrow (University of Texas); Les Beilinson (University of Miami): William H. Edwards (University of Illinois); and Larry D.

Hermsen (Iowa State University) at the~HAB field office in the former Ursuline Academy buildings, San Antonio. John C. Garner, director of Bexar County Architecture Survey, did the outside work on the written documentaries. Susan McCown, a HABS staff historian in the Washington, office, edited the written data in for preparation of transmittal to the Library of Congress. Dewey G. Mears of Austin, Texas took the documentary photographs of the San Antonio structures. The photograph showing Habitation A and B is part of the San Antonio Missions project, which was sponsored by the Southwest Regional Office, National Park Service. John Lowe of the HABS/HAER Office, Washington, took the photograph.