House of the Month: 931 w. Woodlawn
3 bedroom, 3.5 bath 5,382 sqft house built in 1922 sits on .29 acres
This house is nestled on top of a small hill, and has an underground spring that runs beneath it, that feeds the San Pedro Springs Park. It’s a house that is well hidden from the street, but still manages to capture your attention. I, for one, have not only loved this home for years, but completely adored meeting it’s current inhabitants. The house is rich in history, and will definitely go down as one of my favorites to write about.
This stately home is built in an Italian Renaissance Style. It is constructed with red clay fire bricks, and then covered in stucco. This stunning home, boasts many gorgeous features. The internal walls are covered in the original metal lathe plaster, it has tiger oak floors throughout, glass pocket doors, 11’ ceilings, built-in China Cabinets, poured glass windows, and mosaic tile installations. The list of its beauty is longer than that, but I think you can get the gist. It’s an absolute treasure.
Like many houses built during the early 20th century, the actual completion date of the home is in question. There’s a newspaper article from November 25, 1917 that states the home is being built for Charles A Krausse, treasurer of the wholesale grocery firm Ulman, Stearn & Krausse. The house, a $25,000 residence was being furnished with every modern convenience that could be offered. There was also a $1,800 garage being built to replicate the look of the home. The home and garage was erected with contractor Conrad Flaig. Flaig, who was referenced in the article, states confidently that both the house and garage will be completed within 30 days… leaving the 1922 date a little confusing. The house was first listed in 1919, according to the San Antonio Conservation Society; this again is contradicting to the December 25, 1917 completion date that was promised in the article.
Mrs. Krausse, also known as Anna Heye Krausse, was born October 20, 1870. She married Charles Augustus Julius Krausse (born Oct. 8, 1867) in 1898, in Galveston, TX. In the 1880 census, it has listed Anna’s last name as Krausse even though she doesn’t actually marry him for another18 years. If you’re not thinking arranged marriage; I don’t know what you are thinking. Anna was born in Germany and moved to the United States when she was 4 years old. She was quite the socialite in Galveston. Her family, the Heye’s, were known for being one of the Pioneer Settlers of Galveston. They were established grocers and developed the cotton industry there.
The Krausse’s made their move to San Antonio somewhere between 1910 and 1917. At this time, they had two sons, Charles M. Krausse (Who was drafted in 1916) and Gus Krausse (born in 1901, El Indio, Mexico). The rumor behind Charles A. Krausse’s death, is that he hung himself from the second floor banister of their home in San Antonio. I am unable to find a story backing this information, but I do know he died Nov. 27, 1927 in San Antonio. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery (Galveston, TX). His death is 2 years before the stock market crash/great depression; which was also passed as a possibility for his actions. His death is just one of the stories of potential hauntings in this house. This leads me to the basement. This was where my conversation began when chatting with Dara Anderson and Gerry Lockey, the owners since 1996. Our chat was full of fun stories about their home and potential explanations for certain movements/paranormal activity. It has long been rumored that there was a doctor who lived at the home and buried his unsuccessful cases in the basement. A former resident shared stories of his dogs staring down in to the basement, they would not enter, but merely stare down, and whine in that direction.
Another well known woman of society, was Mrs. Gibson who inhabited this home. She is rumored to have been a widow due to Colonel Sanders (friend chicken) shot, and killed her
