1900
Spring HouseNW of Boerne on Walnut Grove Road
| 1900 |
Spring House |
HISTORY: Judge John Reinhard bought the old 640 acre ranch from Rosa Dietert in 1882, and it was designated "Walnut Grove" in 1885. The Reinhard's first boarded guests in their home and later added cottages, tennis courts, and other recreational facilities. By 1900 Walnut Grove was a thriving tourist attraction. Delicious meals were served family style at the main house. A rock building was built in back for safe storage of food items. a horse barn was located north of the house and a rock building was constructed around the spring where guests went for water.
Mrs. Maria Williams James, wife of John Herndon James, wrote a memoir in 1938 in which she tells about her friendship with Mrs. Mary Saunders, poet laureate of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Mary Saunders was living at the Walnut Grove Resort when she died about 1902.
After world War I the Hill Country
started declining as a tourist attraction. By 1927 Walnut Grove Resort had
fallen on hard times and it closed. Judge Reinhard died that same year leaving
his estate to his only child, John C. Reinhard and three grandsons--John, George
and Bedford.
Walnut Grove was purchased by Mary Howell, mother of Mayor
Art Howell of Boerne, about 1944. It was owned by Henry Magers at one time and
by James S. Calvert later.
Source: Boerne Public Library files; From article by Garland Perry in Boerne Star- March, 2000.
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