Schwartz House

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the Schwartz House in Uvalde County. Now, not every story needs a battle or a cattle drive to be worth tellin. Sometimes the story lives in the house itself.

This one was built in 1927, right there on land that had history before the first nail was ever driven. The ground belonged to Mrs. Schwartz's mother before it belonged to the Schwartzes, and there was already an earlier home standing on that very site.

So when Lee Schwartz and his wife Agnes, born a Racer, decided to build their place, they were building on top of layers. Lee was a local merchant and a city alderman, a man with standing in the community, and he and Agnes weren't going to settle for just any house. They brought in Will A.

Noonan, an architect out of San Antonio, to design something worth lookin at. And Noonan delivered. What went up was a modest colonial revival, and I want you to hold onto that word modest, because Noonan understood that modest doesn't mean plain.

That pedimented entry gives the front of the house a kind of quiet dignity, like a place that knows exactly what it is. Single entry door, flanked by sidelights. Groupings of multi-light windows catching whatever the Texas sky cares to offer that day.

It all adds up to something that earns a second look. The Schwartz House. Built in 1927.

Designed with intention. Still standin in Uvalde County, still tellin its story to anyone who slows down long enough to hear it.

What the marker says

Built in 1927 as the home of Lee Schwartz, local merchant and city alderman, and his wife Agnes (Racer), this house was designed by San Antonio architect Will A. Noonan. Constructed on land formerly owned by Mrs. Schwartz's mother, the house was built on the site of an earlier home. Features of the modest colonial revival style house include a pedimented entry, single entry door with sidelights, and groupings of multi-light windows. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1997