Old Town Helotes streets are now dotted with historical plaques, bringing to life the stories behind its longstanding buildings, thanks to the efforts of the Historical Society of Helotes and the Helotes Economic Development Corporation. The initiative includes eight interpretive signs guiding visitors through a rich history that spans from the founding of the town to the transformation of its pioneer establishments into contemporary businesses, KSAT reported.
Visitors treading along Old Bandera Road can expect a vivid journey into the past, encompassing the origins of the Helotes General Store and the personal narratives of structures like the Hileman-Riggs House, - even as the timeline for the project's completion remains in flux, as per a dialog during a city council meeting on October 13, captured by the local historic society’s recording secretary, Alan Holmes, Express-News detailed.
In profiles of the historic buildings, visitors learn how the Helotes General Store served as a vital hub for 19th-century farmers, and how the Hileman-Riggs House became a personal residence for the town's unofficial first mayor, according to the Express-News. The Riggs Gas Station and Garage, as well as the erstwhile Riggs Grocery Store, reflect the entrepreneurial spirit of the town through their storied pasts of service and community involvement — transformative legacies telling of both survival during the Depression and partnership with major oil companies.
President of the Historical Society of Helotes, Cynthia Massey, who has penned a book on the town's history, stated, “Old Town was established in 1881 and it was part originally of the old Marnoch Ranch. And Arnold Gugger who was a Swiss American, had just gotten married to Amalie Benke. And she and he bought this land 110 acres, this whole area and he established our first general store,”, she told KSAT.
The initiative also serves an educational purpose, with the Historical Society of Helotes providing walking tour maps that enable visitors to discover the rich stories behind the Ross Barham House, and the Terry Residence, revealing the evolution of rural Helotes, according to KSAT.
