PETER JOSEPH INGENHUETT HOUSE
812 High St., Comfort
DESCRIPTION:The homestead has two buildings involved. The 1863 cabin behind the big house was a home, a wash house, storage room, taxidery shop, garage and antique shop. It has fachwerk and outside stairs. The 1888 house is a one story, German Victorian limestone with gingerbread on porch.
HISTORY: The original (1863) Peter Joseph Ingenhuett Homestead
was located behind the later house. This cabin served as the Ingenhuett's home
until they moved into the second floor of the "new" mercantile store building in
1880. In addition to a residence, the cabin has also served many other purposes.
It was a wash house with inside hearth, a storage building, a taxidermy shop
(when owned by Udo Letz) a garage, and an antique shop (which the Meyer's
operated).
The larger house was built in 1888 for Peter Joseph and Marie
Karger Ingenhuett. Mr. Ingenhuett was a prominent businessman in the community
who built several businesses along High Street including the hotel, saloon, and
the Ingenhuett Store.
The house originally had clapboard siding. The
stucco exterior was added in the first half of this century to improve the fire
resistance as several fires had occurred in the vicinity. The house was
renovated in the early 1970s with turned balusters and a new fretwork design
being installed on the front porch. It was purchased in 1986 by Bill and Helen
Meyer. Working from old photographs, the Meyers replaced the balusters and
fretwork design in 1991 to more nearly approximate that of the original
construction. The stairway in the central hall, giving access to the expanded
attic, was moved from the Ingenhuett-Faust Hotel.
The Homestead received
a Texas Historical Marker in 1985.
Source: Boerne Public Library files.