The Guenther House provides the perfect excuse for a
field trip to the Pioneer Flour Mill in San Antonio. The company’s founding
millwright’s stone house between the San Antonio River and the giant factory
offers an afternoon of history, shopping, and fine dining in a park-like
setting.
Carl Guenther immigrated from Germany to the United States in 1848 at the age
of 22. He tried to open a mill in the German community of Fredericksburg, but
in 1859, he moved the mill to a more dependable water supply on the San Antonio
River, a mile south of the Alamo.
Guenther’s Pioneer Flour grew from one of the first mills in San Antonio to
the largest family-owned flour mill in the U.S.
The Guenther home has been turned into a playground for adults, the
centerpiece of which is the restaurant. The bright and cheery room is a
favorite lunch spot for residents of the King William District on the other
side of the river.
The restaurant’s short but intriguing menu offers a variety of dishes using
Pioneer Flour Mills products. Breakfast is the restaurant’s specialty and is
served all day. The waffles, pancakes, and pastries are works of art. The
creamy white sauce on the Champagne Chicken Enchiladas is worth sopping up with
the fluffy muffins and rolls that are served with each meal.
After a hearty meal inside or on the patio, take some time to explore the rest
of the house. Since 1988, the three-story house has been open to the public.
Many of the rooms preserve the furnishings of the Victorian era. The library
has been turned into a museum with an antique cookie cutter collection and
Guenther family memorabilia.
One of the company’s early promotional campaigns was commemorative plates
given to customers. From 1909 until 1924, the colorful plates also served as
calendars. Made in Dresden, Germany, the plates were discontinued in 1939 at
the outset of World War II.
The gift shop doesn’t sell anniversary china, but they do offer unique items
with a Texas or cooking theme. You can also purchase the many mixes and sauces
produced by the flour company.
The Guenther House is south of downtown at 205 E. Guenther St. with parking at
1415 S. Alamo. The house is open Mon.-Sun., 9am-5pm. The restaurant serves
breakfast 7am-3pm and lunch 11am-3pm, Mon.-Sat.; and breakfast on Sunday is
8am-2pm with lunch 10am-2pm. For more information, call 210/227-1061.
Coming up this weekend…
Fiesta Noche Del Rio offers live shows at San Antonio’s Arneson River Theater,
Thu.-Sat., thru Aug.31. 210/226-4651.
Zoobilee is a good time to visit Waco’s Cameron Park Zoo and stay late to
visit the extra vendors, art, and special activities, July 20. 817/741-0400.
Harvest Weekends begin at Messina Hof Wine Cellars in Bryan on Sat. &
Sun., Jul. 20-Aug.18. The day includes grape picking, grape stomping, wine and
food seminars, and an evening concert. Reservations required, fee.
409/778-9463.
Coming up…
Black-Eyed Pea Jamboree in Athens, “Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World,”
honors the lucky legume with contests and cooking demonstrations, July 20-21.
800/755-7878.
Smokestack Lightning lecture and demonstration explores the fine art of
barbecuing along with a cookoff and barbecue bib and chef’s hat contest
sponsored by the Orange Show Foundation in Houston, July 31. 713/926-6368.
This article appears in July 12 • 1996 and July 12 • 1996 (Cover).
