U.S. San Antonio Arsenal, Stable, San Antonio Arsenal, San Antonio

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS TEX,15-SANT,42D-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The stable building is one of several permanent structures of the San Antonio Arsenal Depot which were erected in the latter half of the nineteenth century. As such, it forms a part of a group of associated military buildings that played an important role in San Antonio and Texas military history and may be considered a representative architectural example of its building type. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: Circa 2. Original and subsequent owners: The building has been owned by the Federal Government since construction. 3. Alterations and additions: Some exterior door and window openings have been filled in. Additions have been built. B, Historical Context: See United States San Antonio Arsenal Depot, HABS No.

for partial information on the stable. PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A, General Statement: 1. Architectural character: The stable is of plain design which was built for military use. 2. Condition of fabric: The walls are sound and the building is currently well maintained. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall dimensions: The stable is rectangular, two stories high and measures 2. Foundation: Probably coursed rubble limestone masonry laid in lime mortar. UNITED STATES SAN ANTONIO ARSENAL, STABLE HABS No. (Page 2) 3. Walls: Ashlar limestone laid in lime mortar. 4. Structural system, framing: Load bearing walls. 5. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: Two segmental arched openings formed the original doorways.

These are located at opposite ends of the west facade and have filled in with cement blocks in recent years. Two other exterior openings, also filled in with cement blocks, are located in the center of the west facade. These are 91 wide and are adjacent to each other. On the south end facade there are two door openings, both 48" wide, one on the ground floor, the other directly above the second floor. These openings have cut-stone lintels and sills. b. Windows: Two window openings, 33" high by 40" wide, flank the two doors on the south end facade. In addition, similar windows range down the east facade while those originally on the west facade have been filled in. Two square windows are on the north end. All window openings have wood lintels, 6.

Roof: The gable roof is supported by 2"x 8" pine rafters spaced 24" on centers, 2"x 10" pine joists spaced 48" on centers and a l"x 8" ridge with a 1" wood sheating. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor plan: The lower floor is divided into storerooms by modern wood partitions. The upper floor is one uninterrupted space. 2. Stairway: The wood stair is located along the central part of the west facade. It is utilitarian and not noteworthy in construc- tion nor appearance. 3. Flooring: The ground floor is concrete and not original to the building. The loft floor is T'x 6" yellow pine supported by rough 3"x 14" pine joists. 4. Wall and ceiling finish: All masonry surfaces are white-washed or painted white and the timber surfaces are unfinished. 5. Doors: No interior doors.

UNITED STATES SAN ANTONIO ARSENAL, STABLE HABS No. (Page 3) D. Sitet 1" General setting and orientation: The stable is oriented north and south with Its front facade facing west. It is tightly surrounded by modern buildings and has no free space or grass area adjacent to it. It is located at the eastern end of the Arsenal grounds near the San Antonio River and on the southwest corner of the intersection of Whiteley Road and Babbitt Street. Prepared by: John C. Garner, Jr. Director, Bexar County Architecture Survey PART III.

PROJECT 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 Conser- vation 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 HABS field office in the former Ursuline Convent 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.