John H. Kampmann: Master Builder by Maggie Valentine

Abstract

Reviewed by: John H. Kampmann: Master Builder by Maggie Valentine Robert Krause John H. Kampmann: Master Builder. By Maggie Valentine. (New York: Beaufort Books, 2014. Pp. 233. Illustrations, notes, bibliography, index.) In this work, Maggie Valentine provides an encompassing narrative of the life and works of John H. Kampmann, a German immigrant to Texas who is believed to be the state’s first master builder and the architectural creator of much of what would become the modern city of San Antonio. Valentine, a professor of architecture at the University of Texas at San Antonio, offers a vivid picture of not only Kampmann, but of the hot, dusty frontier that was South Texas in the mid-nineteenth century. This was the world Kampmann arrived in as a young, skilled builder who left a fledgling career in Germany to pursue his vocation among San Antonio’s muddy streets and adobe dwellings. Readers learn that Kampmann was indeed vital to the development of the city in which he chose to settle, and his architectural compositions—both residential and commercial—left a significant impact on the community. Such iconic buildings as St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, and the Lone Star Brewery continue to bear witness to the influence of Kampmann. Valentine places Kampmann at the center of a time when San Antonio experienced enormous social, economic, and environmental change. Utilizing her own research and that of her students, Valentine highlights each individual contribution made by Kampmann, who designed and built many homes still standing in the city’s famed King William District. The young German saw both his portfolio and his professional reputation increase as his buildings transformed the architectural façade of the raw South Texas community. As presented by Valentine, Kampmann makes a fine representative of the cohort of young German professionals who fled their homeland in the mid-nineteenth century. He proved to be a dedicated worker, committed to working hard to improve life for himself and others, and at the same time to preserve German culture and high standards. But for all of Kampmann’s architectural contributions—and Valentine’s work demonstrates just how myriad they were—how did he end up relegated to the back pages of history, even at a local level? Readers with a preservationist’s perspective may wonder how and why so many of Kampmann’s buildings were demolished over time. Although Valentine posits [End Page 120] the development of the HemisFair project (and generally, the Urban Renewal impetus of the 1960s) as factors, readers would benefit from a more protracted discussion of the economic, political, and social forces at play that served to literally erase much of Kampmann’s legacy. Valentine’s work is an interesting look at one of San Antonio’s most significant European American citizens. Moreover, Valentine’s work speaks to the salient contributions of Germans in developing Texas during the mid to late-nineteenth century. Photographs, ground plans, and other archival documents only add to Valentine’s contribution. This work will prove of benefit for scholars and students, as well as a general reading audience interested in Texas history. Robert Krause The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Copyright © 2015 The Texas State Historical Association