2014 Spring Remembrances Newsletter 1
Remembrances
Newsletter of the Schertz
Historical Preservation
Committee
Spring Edition
2014
The passing of Walter Schertz on April 7, 2014 leaves our membership in grief for the
loss but in joy for his life. Walter and his wife Lula Mae are members emeritus of the
Committee and served it well during their years of participation. Please read about
Walter’s lifetime contributions to our community in this quarter’s Remembrances Article
2014-3.
The Committee’s Annual Report was submitted to City Council at the February 12,
2014 Council meeting.
A special guest presentation by Elizabeth Porterfield, Senior Management Analyst-
Architectural Historian, Office of Historic Preservation, City of San Antonio, on the
topic “Mid Century Modern Architecture”, was a part of the spring committee
meeting. Schertz has many historic Mid Century Modern structures that deserve
recognition and preservation.
This quarter’s Committee Remembrances Special Edition Articles 2014-2 & 2014-3
are titled: “Schertz ‘Comprehensive Land Plan Envisions Historic Preservation” and “A
Legacy Fulfilled - Walter A. Schertz.
Presentations of historic plaques were made to owners of two of the most recently named
Schertz Historic Landmark properties at the Committee’s last quarterly meeting. A
third presentation was made at the home of another third quarter awardee (104 Church
Street). One other award awaits delivery.
The Committee continues to work with the Comal Settlement Association to have Saint
Joseph’s Chapel designated as a listing on the National Registry of Historic Places
2
(NRHP) as well as the Association’s efforts to pursue a landscape initiative for the area
surrounding the State of Texas community historical marker at Comal Settlement. The
Texas Historical Commission has advised that the latest inputs for the NRHP application
make the application suitable for submission to the Texas screening committee which
will make a final determination in May as to the application’s worthiness for forwarding
to the Department of Interior for consideration. The City of Schertz is now coordinating
with TXDOT to obtain clearance for work to begin on the landscape project.
Subcommittees continue work on the amendment of the City of Schertz Unified
Development Code (UDC) proposal and have begun an initiative to try to involve city
youth in the matters of Schertz history.
Copies of the Committee published book on the City of Schertz history have been
distributed to all city elementary and middle school libraries.
The Committee Chair is leading a summer historic tri-county field trip on behalf of
Comal County Genealogical Society in June. The trip will entail visits to Saint Joseph’s
Chapel (Comal Co.) and other historic landmarks in the Comal Settlement (now Schertz,
Texas) area as well as stops at the Selma (Bexar Co.) Stage Coach Memorial and Schertz
City (Guadalupe Co.) historical landmarks.
There are meetings being held with Schertz Public Affairs representatives in hopes of
enhancing the Committee’s exposure on the City of Schertz Web Site. The Committee
would like develop a more informative and attractive web content.
The El Camino Real de los Tejas Association is expecting to place the first installment
of historic trail markers along the 2,580 mile stretch of the historic trail. The exact
location of this first marker placement will be along a six mile stretch of Comal County’s
FM 482. A portion of that stretch of highway is within the Schertz City limits. On April
17, 2014 the Comal County Commissioner’s Court voted to fund its portion of the cost
for the signage placement.