San Antonio’s oldest VFW post just got a lifeline worth $2 million, and members say it might be the break they have been waiting for.
VFW Post 76, housed in the Victorian-era Petty House along the Museum Reach stretch of the River Walk, secured a $2 million federal grant this week to pay for major repairs and upgrades. Post leaders say the money will shore up the foundation, modernize electrical and plumbing systems, and launch a phased restoration of the porch and veranda. The award comes after years of storm damage, graffiti, and a December break-in that left some members wondering if the downtown post could hold on.
U.S. Rep. Greg Casar handed over the check to Post 76 leaders on Tuesday, calling the appropriation a first step toward long-needed renovations, as reported by KSAT. “Our veterans deserve no more rot and no more rust, and we're going to get these renovations done,” Casar said.
Renovation Plan And Timeline
State Sen. José Menéndez told reporters, “This post will remain here no matter what happens all around downtown.” Post Commander Monica Morris said the first phase will focus on repairing the veranda, followed by foundation, electrical, and plumbing upgrades, and that crews are expected to begin work next month, according to KSAT.
Rep. Casar's office previously submitted a $3 million community project funding request for what is listed as the Petty House renovation, naming the City of San Antonio as the project recipient and the post's 10th Street site as the project location, according to Rep. Greg Casar's website. Organizers said the final federal appropriation will be spent in phases to stretch both the work and the dollars.
The grant follows a December burglary in which thieves took cash from a VSweeps gaming machine used to fund veteran programs, a theft that leaders said further depleted repair funds, as reported by the San Antonio Express‑News. Vandalism and graffiti over the past year also forced the post to divert money toward security and cleanup.
The Petty House has been home to VFW Post 76 since 1947 and the post itself was chartered in 1917, making it the oldest VFW post in Texas, according to the post's website. The building is a Texas historic landmark and serves as a gathering place for memorials, live music, and the post’s annual 10th Street River Festival, which helps fund veteran services.
Leaders say the $2 million does not erase decades of needed upkeep, but it gives them breathing room to start visible repairs and rebuild revenue from events and the canteen. For earlier coverage of the post's recent vandalism and community efforts to save the Petty House, see when the post was defaced with graffiti.
