Alfred Giles (architect)
Encyclopedia
Alfred Giles was a British
architect
who emigrated to Texas
in the 19th Century. Many of the private homes and public buildings designed by Giles are on the National Register of Historic Places
and have been designated Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks
. A number of his designs can be found in San Antonio and in Kendall County, Texas
. He is arguably most well-known in Texas for his numerous designs of county courthouses, and for the historic structures he designed in San Antonio.
, England
. His parents were Thomas and Sophie (Brown) Giles. From 1864 to 1868, he attended the Proprietary School at Gravesend, Kent
, with a goal of entering the ministry with the Church of England
. Instead, he eventually chose a career in architecture
and apprenticed for two years to Giles and Bivens in London
, while taking architecture classes at King's College London
. The firm hired him after the completion of his apprenticeship.
in 1875 and spent the next three years working for building contractor John H. Kampmann. After that period, Giles began his own architectural
firm.
which was constructed in 1896 and designed by James Riely Gordon
, the county had its offices in the Masonic Building. Giles was contracted in 1882 to remodel the county offices in that building. D. C. Anderson
was the building contractor who did the work, which was completed in 1883.
Alfred Giles added the Bandera County
jail in 1881 to the already existing 1880 courthouse designed by B.F. Trester. The two buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Place in 1979 as Bandera County Courthouse and Jail
.
In Gillespie County
, Giles designed the Romanesque Revival
style 1882 Fredericksburg Memorial Library
, originally as the county courthouse but now housing the Pioneer Memorial Library. The structure became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1967, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
In Dimmit County
, Giles had been selected in 1883 to design the first Dimmit County Courthouse to be located at 103 N. 5th Street in Carrizo Springs, Texas
. The county changed its mind and hired J. C. Breeding & Sons. It is believed, however, that Breeding used plans drawn up by Giles, as the finished Italianate style building resembled others Giles had designed in the same time period. That structure was named a Recorded Texas Historic Marker in 2000.
The Italianate
style Wilson County Courthouse
was designed by Giles and completed in 1884. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1984. Also in the Italianate
architectural style was the 1885 Llano County Courthouse
Giles designed. That courthouse burned down in 1892 and was replaced.
The Second Empire style Presidio County Courthouse
in Marfa
was designed by Giles in 1886. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1964. In that same year, Giles was hired to design the 1886 Kerr County Courthouse. Contractor D.C. Anderson completed the building for $19,545. That particular courthouse burned down in 1925 and was replaced by the current standing structure.
Three structures have existed as the Guadalupe County Courthouse, 1857, 1858, 1889 and the present structure built in 1935. Alfred Giles was the architect of Guadalupe County's 1889 Italianate style courthouse.
In 1894, Giles designed the Second Empire style Goliad County courthouse. In 1976, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the larger Goliad County Courthouse Historic District.
Giles suibmitted a winning bid to design the Beaux-Arts style Webb County Courthouse
in 1909. The plans specified yellow brick with white stone and red tile mansard roofs It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. He also designed the 1909 facade added to the Kendall County Courthouse
in Boerne
. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1970. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places] in 1980
The Classic revival style Brooks County Courthouse
in Falfurrias
was designed by Giles in 1914 and designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1977. The similar Classic revival style Live Oak County Courthouse
was designed by Giles in 1919.
surgeon Claudius King had Giles design his home. The Dr. Claudius E. R. King House, used as both home and office by the physician, became a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark in 1973.
In 1881, Giles was contracted to design the house for the Commanding General at Fort Sam Houston
. The first occupant of the home was Christopher Columbus Augur. Although the 10830 square feet (1,006.1 m²), two-story home has been occupied by dozens of base commanders in its history, it became known as the Pershing House after John J. Pershing
occupied it in 1917. The Pershing House was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
The Emil Elmendorf House was designed by Giles in 1884 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1982.
Giles designed much for the Maverick family in San Antonio. In 1875 he designed the Albert Maverick Building. In 1877, Giles designed the Italianate style George Maverick House and the Maverick Hotel. In 1882, he designed the Crockett Block for the Maverick family. He also created the Maverick Bank Building. Bexar County realtor William Harvey Maverick contracted with Giles in 1883 to design the Romanesque style Maverick-Carter House, which appeared on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. That same year of 1883, Giles designed for the Maverick family, the Soledad Block, University Block and the George Maverick Storehouses.
The Terrell Castle in Terrell Hills
was designed by Giles in 1894 for San Antonio politician and United States
diplomat Edwin H. Terrell. While serving as United States Ambassador to Belgium
, Terrell became fascinated with European castles. Upon his return to Texas, Terrell had Giles design a ten-room, four-story castle.
At the San Antonio Botanical Garden
, the 7675 square feet (713 m²) Daniel J. Sullivan Stable and Carriage House was designed by Giles in 1896. In 1971, the Hearst Corporation
donated the house to the Witte Museum
to make way for a parking lot. At a cost of $325,000 in 1988, the San Antonio Conservation Society had the house re-assembled at the botanical gardens. The house re-opened in 1995 at the entrance to the garden.
style Carl Wilhelm August Groos House
that Giles designed in 1880, was built for one of the founders of Groos National Bank. It became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1977.
In 1881, Giles designed the Italianate style Sartor House for jeweler Alexander Sartor, Jr. The King William Historic District home became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1983.
Giles was commissioned in 1881 to remodel a home in the King William Historic District, the Neo-classical style Oge House for business leader and former Texas Ranger
Louis Oge. The house was named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1971.
on U.S. Highway 83 in Asherton
, was designed by Giles in 1911and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 and designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1980.
. That same year he designed the William Bierschwale Home for Gillespie County elected official Bierschwale.
Alfred Giles designed the Morris Ranch Schoolhouse
in Gillespie County in 1893. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1981.
, the completion of the Giles-designed August Faltin Building was constructed by John H. Kampmann. The August Faltin Building was to accommodate Faltin's expanding general store business, and was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
in 1982.
Local Comfort
businessman Paul Ingenhuett contracted with Giles to design the original Ingenhuett-Faust Hotel at 818 High Street in 1880, and again contracted with Giles to expand the hotel in 1894. Louis and Matilda Faust operated the hotel from 1909 until 1946. The hotel was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1985. Ingenhuett secured the architectural services of Giles for the 1883 Ingenhuett Store. The store was operated until 2006, when it was destroyed by fire. Paul Ingenhuett again hired Giles in 1891 to design the Ingenhuett-Karger Saloon at 727 High Street.. Hubert Ingenhuett operated the store until it was taken over by Ernst Karger. During the Prohibition
years, the building was operated as a grocery store and ice cream parlor. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark in 2010. The 1897 Paul Ingenhuett Home at 421 Eighth Street in the Comfort Historic District was also designed by Giles. The home remains in private ownership and was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1979.
The 1919 Old Comfort Post Office at 814 High Street was designed by Giles and operated until 1952. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1985.
Giles and his brother-in-law Judge John Herndon James became partners in the 13,000-acre Hillingdon Ranch near Comfort in 1885. Giles became a founding member of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers' Association and a member of the Texas Cattle Raisers Association
. The ranch operation hired $15 a month Kickapoo Indians as its labor force.
, designed by Giles and built at 216 Earl Garrett Street in Kerrville was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1962.
Captain Schreiner also had Giles design the A. C. Schreiner, Jr. Home in 1879, located at 405 Water Street in Kerrville, as a gift to his son Charles A. Schreiner Jr. The home was inherited by grandson A. C. Schreiner, Jr. in 1912. The home was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1981.
The 1890 Masonic Building
built by Captain Schreiner at 211 Earl Garrett Street in Kerrville is attributed to Giles based on his contractural association with Schreiner. The Mason Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Giles also designed the 1882 Schreiner Store and the 1883 Schreiner Bank.
, on land purchased by the Corpus Christi Independent School District
in 1901
purchased a house at 708 San Antonio Street in Austin
in 1892, and hired for a remodeling of the structure.
in Webb County
. The structure included a residence for Daniel Milmo.
, Mexico
in the first decade of the 20th Century. His designs in Monterrey include Blanco Mercantil (1901), La Reinera (1901), and Arco de la Independencia (1910); in Chihuahua, the Palacio Municipal was constructed before 1908.
Giles died at Hillingdon Ranch on August 13, 1920. He is buried beside his wife in San Antonio City Cemetery No. 1.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
who emigrated to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in the 19th Century. Many of the private homes and public buildings designed by Giles are on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and have been designated Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark is a designation awarded by the Texas Historical Commission for historically and architecturally significant properties in the state of Texas....
. A number of his designs can be found in San Antonio and in Kendall County, Texas
Kendall County, Texas
Kendall County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2008 census, its population was 32,886. Its seat is Boerne....
. He is arguably most well-known in Texas for his numerous designs of county courthouses, and for the historic structures he designed in San Antonio.
Early life
Alfred Giles was born May 23, 1853 in Hillingdon, MiddlesexMiddlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. His parents were Thomas and Sophie (Brown) Giles. From 1864 to 1868, he attended the Proprietary School at Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
, with a goal of entering the ministry with the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. Instead, he eventually chose a career in architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and apprenticed for two years to Giles and Bivens in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, while taking architecture classes at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
. The firm hired him after the completion of his apprenticeship.
Move to Texas
Giles moved to San Antonio, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 1875 and spent the next three years working for building contractor John H. Kampmann. After that period, Giles began his own architectural
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
firm.
The courthouses
Prior to the current Bexar County CourthouseBexar County Courthouse
The Bexar County Courthouse is an historical building in downtown San Antonio, Texas.The building was designed by architect J. Riely Gordon, and borders Main Plaza, along with such other architectural landmarks as the Cathedral of San Fernando. The style is Romanesque Revival, and the main...
which was constructed in 1896 and designed by James Riely Gordon
James Riely Gordon
James Riely Gordon was an architect of courthouses throughout the United States and the state of Texas in particular. Gordon's specialty was constructing public buildings mainly in the Romanesque Revival style. His most successful plan was that of a Greek cross with a square central stairwell and...
, the county had its offices in the Masonic Building. Giles was contracted in 1882 to remodel the county offices in that building. D. C. Anderson
D. C. Anderson
David Cameron "D.C." Anderson is a U.S. cabaret and folk singer/songwriter, and an actor who made his Broadway debut in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera...
was the building contractor who did the work, which was completed in 1883.
Alfred Giles added the Bandera County
Bandera County, Texas
Bandera County, formed in 1856 from Bexar and Uvalde counties, is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population is 17,645. Its county seat is Bandera. Bandera is named for the Spanish word for flag...
jail in 1881 to the already existing 1880 courthouse designed by B.F. Trester. The two buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Place in 1979 as Bandera County Courthouse and Jail
Bandera County Courthouse and Jail
The Bandera County Courthouse and Jail are two separate historic county governmental buildings located near each other in Bandera, Bandera County, Texas, The Bandera County Courthouse, built in 1890 at the corner of Main and Pecan streets, is a Renaissance Revival style building designed by San...
.
In Gillespie County
Gillespie County, Texas
Gillespie County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 24,837. It is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Gillespie is named for Robert Addison Gillespie, who came to Texas in 1837. He was a Texas Ranger, an Indian fighter, a...
, Giles designed the Romanesque Revival
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
style 1882 Fredericksburg Memorial Library
Fredericksburg Memorial Library (Texas)
The Fredericksburg Memorial Library, also known as the Pioneer Memorial Library or the Old Courthouse, is located at 115 W. Main Street, Fredericksburg, Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas...
, originally as the county courthouse but now housing the Pioneer Memorial Library. The structure became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1967, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
In Dimmit County
Dimmit County, Texas
Dimmit County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 10,248. It is named for Philip Dimmitt, a major figure in the Texas Revolution. The reason the county name differs is because the bill creating the county misspelled Dimmitt's name...
, Giles had been selected in 1883 to design the first Dimmit County Courthouse to be located at 103 N. 5th Street in Carrizo Springs, Texas
Carrizo Springs, Texas
Carrizo Springs is a city in and the county seat of Dimmit County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,655 at the 2000 census.The name of the town comes from the local springs, which were named by the Spanish for the cane grass that once grew around them. It is the oldest town in Dimmit...
. The county changed its mind and hired J. C. Breeding & Sons. It is believed, however, that Breeding used plans drawn up by Giles, as the finished Italianate style building resembled others Giles had designed in the same time period. That structure was named a Recorded Texas Historic Marker in 2000.
The Italianate
Italianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
style Wilson County Courthouse
Wilson County Courthouse and Jail (Floresville, Texas)
The Wilson County Courthouse and Jail are located in Floresville, Texas. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas in 1978 and as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1984....
was designed by Giles and completed in 1884. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1984. Also in the Italianate
Italianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
architectural style was the 1885 Llano County Courthouse
Llano County Courthouse and Jail
The Llano County Courthouse and Jail were erected separately, but added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas on December 2, 1977 as one entry. The courthouse, located in the middle of Llano's historic square, was built in 1893. The exterior is made of sandstone, marble, and granite....
Giles designed. That courthouse burned down in 1892 and was replaced.
The Second Empire style Presidio County Courthouse
Presidio County Courthouse
The Presidio County Courthouse is located in Marfa in the U.S. state of Texas. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1964.-Design:...
in Marfa
Marfa, Texas
Marfa is a town in the high desert of far West Texas in the Southwestern United States. Located between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park, it is also the county seat of Presidio County. The population was 1,981 at the 2010 census....
was designed by Giles in 1886. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1964. In that same year, Giles was hired to design the 1886 Kerr County Courthouse. Contractor D.C. Anderson completed the building for $19,545. That particular courthouse burned down in 1925 and was replaced by the current standing structure.
Three structures have existed as the Guadalupe County Courthouse, 1857, 1858, 1889 and the present structure built in 1935. Alfred Giles was the architect of Guadalupe County's 1889 Italianate style courthouse.
In 1894, Giles designed the Second Empire style Goliad County courthouse. In 1976, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the larger Goliad County Courthouse Historic District.
Giles suibmitted a winning bid to design the Beaux-Arts style Webb County Courthouse
Webb County Courthouse (Texas)
The Webb County Courthouse is located in Laredo in the U.S. state of Texas. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.-Design:...
in 1909. The plans specified yellow brick with white stone and red tile mansard roofs It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. He also designed the 1909 facade added to the Kendall County Courthouse
Kendall County Courthouse and Jail (Texas)
The limestone Kendall County Courthouse and Jail are located in Boerne, in the U.S. state of Texas. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1970....
in Boerne
Boerne, Texas
Boerne is a city in the Hill Country of Texas in the United States. It is the county seat of Kendall County. Boerne was named in honor of Ludwig Börne, a Jewish German author and publicist, and its population was 10, 471 in the 2010 census. The city is noted for the landmark U.S. Supreme Court...
. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1970. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places] in 1980
The Classic revival style Brooks County Courthouse
Brooks County Courthouse (Texas)
Brooks County Courthouse is located in Falfurrias, in the U.S. state of Texas. The structure was designed by Alfred Giles in 1914 in the Classic revival style. Prior to the erection of the brick county courthouse, local government housed itself in rented space. The courthouse was named a Recorded...
in Falfurrias
Falfurrias, Texas
Falfurrias is a city in and the county seat of Brooks County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,297 at the 2000 census. The town is named for founder Edward Cunningham Lasater's ranch, La Mota de Falfurrias. In 1893, the Falfurrias ranch was one of the largest in Texas at some 350,000...
was designed by Giles in 1914 and designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1977. The similar Classic revival style Live Oak County Courthouse
Live Oak County Courthouse (Texas)
Live Oak County Courthouse is located in George West, in the U.S. state of Texas. Designed by architect Alfred Giles in 1919 in the Classic revival style, this is the last courthouse Giles designed...
was designed by Giles in 1919.
Bexar County, San Antonio vicinity
In 1880, retired Confederate States ArmyConfederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
surgeon Claudius King had Giles design his home. The Dr. Claudius E. R. King House, used as both home and office by the physician, became a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark in 1973.
In 1881, Giles was contracted to design the house for the Commanding General at Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
. The first occupant of the home was Christopher Columbus Augur. Although the 10830 square feet (1,006.1 m²), two-story home has been occupied by dozens of base commanders in its history, it became known as the Pershing House after John J. Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
occupied it in 1917. The Pershing House was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
The Emil Elmendorf House was designed by Giles in 1884 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1982.
Giles designed much for the Maverick family in San Antonio. In 1875 he designed the Albert Maverick Building. In 1877, Giles designed the Italianate style George Maverick House and the Maverick Hotel. In 1882, he designed the Crockett Block for the Maverick family. He also created the Maverick Bank Building. Bexar County realtor William Harvey Maverick contracted with Giles in 1883 to design the Romanesque style Maverick-Carter House, which appeared on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. That same year of 1883, Giles designed for the Maverick family, the Soledad Block, University Block and the George Maverick Storehouses.
The Terrell Castle in Terrell Hills
Terrell Hills, Texas
Terrell Hills is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States, located five miles northeast of downtown San Antonio. It is part of a group of three cities — Terrell Hills, Alamo Heights, and Olmos Park — located between downtown San Antonio and Fort Sam Houston...
was designed by Giles in 1894 for San Antonio politician and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat Edwin H. Terrell. While serving as United States Ambassador to Belgium
United States Ambassador to Belgium
In 1832, shortly after the creation of the Kingdom of Belgium, the United States established diplomatic relations. Since that time, a long line of distinguished envoys have represented American interests in Belgium. These diplomats included men and women whose career paths would lead them to...
, Terrell became fascinated with European castles. Upon his return to Texas, Terrell had Giles design a ten-room, four-story castle.
At the San Antonio Botanical Garden
San Antonio Botanical Garden
The San Antonio Botanical Garden is a , non-profit botanical garden in San Antonio, Texas.The garden was first conceived in the 1940s by Mrs. R. R. Witt and Mrs. Joseph Murphy, who organized the San Antonio Garden Center. The two went on to develop a master plan for a city botanical center in the...
, the 7675 square feet (713 m²) Daniel J. Sullivan Stable and Carriage House was designed by Giles in 1896. In 1971, the Hearst Corporation
Hearst Corporation
The Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
donated the house to the Witte Museum
Witte Museum
The Witte Museum, established in 1926 under the charter of the San Antonio Museum Association, is located adjacent to Brackenridge Park in San Antonio, Texas, on the banks of the source of the San Antonio River. It is dedicated to the history, science, and culture of the region. Nearby is the San...
to make way for a parking lot. At a cost of $325,000 in 1988, the San Antonio Conservation Society had the house re-assembled at the botanical gardens. The house re-opened in 1995 at the entrance to the garden.
King William Historic District
In San Antonio's King William Historic District, the Gothic RevivalGothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style Carl Wilhelm August Groos House
Carl Wilhelm August Groos House (San Antonio, Texas)
The Carl Wilhelm August Groos House is located in the King William Historic District of San Antonio, in the U.S. state of Texas. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1977. Designed by Alfred Giles in 1880, the building contractor was John H. Kampmann. Giles used a Victorian...
that Giles designed in 1880, was built for one of the founders of Groos National Bank. It became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1977.
In 1881, Giles designed the Italianate style Sartor House for jeweler Alexander Sartor, Jr. The King William Historic District home became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1983.
Giles was commissioned in 1881 to remodel a home in the King William Historic District, the Neo-classical style Oge House for business leader and former Texas Ranger
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
Louis Oge. The house was named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1971.
Dimmit County
The Asher and Mary Isabelle Richardson HouseAsher and Mary Isabelle Richardson House
The 1911 Asher and Mary Isabelle Richardson House is located on U.S. Highway 83 in Asherton in the U.S. state of Texas. The southeast-facing home is also known as Bel-Asher, deriving the "Bel" from "Isabelle". It was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Dimmit County,...
on U.S. Highway 83 in Asherton
Asherton, Texas
Asherton is a city in Dimmit County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,342 at the 2000 census. U.S. Highway 83 runs through Asherton....
, was designed by Giles in 1911and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 and designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1980.
Gillespie County
In 1889, Giles designed the old Bank of Fredericksburg building, located at 120 E. Main in FredericksburgFredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census estimate, the city had a population of 10, 530...
. That same year he designed the William Bierschwale Home for Gillespie County elected official Bierschwale.
Alfred Giles designed the Morris Ranch Schoolhouse
Morris Ranch Schoolhouse, Gillespie County, Texas
The Morris Ranch Schoolhouse is located on Morris Ranch Road 2093, southwest of Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1981...
in Gillespie County in 1893. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1981.
Kendall County
In 1879, in what became known as the Comfort Historic DistrictComfort Historic District
The Comfort Historic District is a historic district listed in the National Register of Historic Places that encompasses almost all of the original townsite of Comfort, Texas and includes over 100 buildings that represents a century of development from 1854 through 1954....
, the completion of the Giles-designed August Faltin Building was constructed by John H. Kampmann. The August Faltin Building was to accommodate Faltin's expanding general store business, and was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark is a designation awarded by the Texas Historical Commission for historically and architecturally significant properties in the state of Texas....
in 1982.
Local Comfort
Comfort, Texas
Comfort is a census-designated place in Kendall County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,363 at the 2010 census. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
businessman Paul Ingenhuett contracted with Giles to design the original Ingenhuett-Faust Hotel at 818 High Street in 1880, and again contracted with Giles to expand the hotel in 1894. Louis and Matilda Faust operated the hotel from 1909 until 1946. The hotel was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1985. Ingenhuett secured the architectural services of Giles for the 1883 Ingenhuett Store. The store was operated until 2006, when it was destroyed by fire. Paul Ingenhuett again hired Giles in 1891 to design the Ingenhuett-Karger Saloon at 727 High Street.. Hubert Ingenhuett operated the store until it was taken over by Ernst Karger. During the Prohibition
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
years, the building was operated as a grocery store and ice cream parlor. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark in 2010. The 1897 Paul Ingenhuett Home at 421 Eighth Street in the Comfort Historic District was also designed by Giles. The home remains in private ownership and was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1979.
The 1919 Old Comfort Post Office at 814 High Street was designed by Giles and operated until 1952. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1985.
Giles and his brother-in-law Judge John Herndon James became partners in the 13,000-acre Hillingdon Ranch near Comfort in 1885. Giles became a founding member of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers' Association and a member of the Texas Cattle Raisers Association
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association was created in 1877, when 40 Texas cattlemen joined together out of their common interest to end unbridled livestock theft and formed what was to become Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association....
. The ranch operation hired $15 a month Kickapoo Indians as its labor force.
Kerr County
The 1879 Capt. Charles Schreiner MansionCapt. Charles Schreiner Mansion
The Capt. Charles Schreiner Mansion is located in Kerrville in the U.S. state of Texas. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Kerr County, Texas in 1975. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1962. The mansion is currently the home of the Hill...
, designed by Giles and built at 216 Earl Garrett Street in Kerrville was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1962.
Captain Schreiner also had Giles design the A. C. Schreiner, Jr. Home in 1879, located at 405 Water Street in Kerrville, as a gift to his son Charles A. Schreiner Jr. The home was inherited by grandson A. C. Schreiner, Jr. in 1912. The home was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1981.
The 1890 Masonic Building
Masonic Building (Kerrville, Texas)
The Masonic Building in Kerrville, Texas is an Italianate building built in 1890. Alfred Giles was the architect. Kerrville Masonic Lodge #697 made its home in the building until 1927. The first floor later housed a post office and grocery store. The building was listed on the National Register of...
built by Captain Schreiner at 211 Earl Garrett Street in Kerrville is attributed to Giles based on his contractural association with Schreiner. The Mason Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Giles also designed the 1882 Schreiner Store and the 1883 Schreiner Bank.
Nueces County
Giles was contracted to draw up plans for a new Cheston L. Heath School to be located at 900 Lipan in Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
, on land purchased by the Corpus Christi Independent School District
Corpus Christi Independent School District
Corpus Christi Independent School District is a school district based in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States.CCISD serves most of the city of Corpus Christi.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency....
in 1901
Travis County
Philanthropist Ira Hobart EvansIra Hobart Evans
Ira Hobart Evans was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War and received the Medal of Honor. He was also a prominent Texas businessman and philanthropist.-Early life:...
purchased a house at 708 San Antonio Street in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
in 1892, and hired for a remodeling of the structure.
Other Texas structures
Circa 1881, Giles designed a $29,000 two-story bank building for Pat and Daniel Milmo on the corner of Lincoln and Salinas in LaredoLaredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
in Webb County
Webb County, Texas
Webb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. The official 2010 population for the county is 250,304. In 2000, its population was 193,117, and in 2006 its population had been estimated to have reached to 231,470. Its county seat is Laredo...
. The structure included a residence for Daniel Milmo.
Monterrey, Mexico
Giles had a branch office in MonterreyMonterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in the first decade of the 20th Century. His designs in Monterrey include Blanco Mercantil (1901), La Reinera (1901), and Arco de la Independencia (1910); in Chihuahua, the Palacio Municipal was constructed before 1908.
Personal life and death
On December 15, 1881, Giles married Annie Laura James, daughter of Englishman John James, surveyor of Bexar County, Texas, and they had eight children.Giles died at Hillingdon Ranch on August 13, 1920. He is buried beside his wife in San Antonio City Cemetery No. 1.