West Side History and Architecture Explored in Upcoming Symposium
September 28, 2020 - West Side
Honoring the past. Casita, a 200-square-feet house on the grounds of San Antonio’s newest historic district, was built in the 1920s. It’s a typical example of a West Side home during the burgeoning era. Photo: Jade Esteban Estrada.
By Jade Esteban Estrada - Culture Writer, San Antonio Sentinel
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center and its partners will present their Virtual Westside History Symposium on Saturday
- Last month, City Council designated the Rinconcito de Esperanza San Antonio's 32nd historic district
In a continued effort to bring awareness to the rich history and culture of San Antonio’s West Side, the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center and its partners will present their Virtual Westside History Symposium on Saturday.
This final event of the 2020 Emma Tenayuca Speaker Series will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (CST) on Saturday, October 3, 2020 on the center’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
The four-hour event will begin with a welcome message from representatives of the Historic Guadalupe Theater, then sail into a historical and archaeological overview of the West Side by archeologists Sergio and Melinda Iruegas. Later in the program, architects Lee Reyna and Steve Tillotson will put the spotlight on significant West Side architecture.
Because of the continued work of these grassroots organizations, it is likely that the efforts of preserving the buildings and neighborhoods that hold historical significance to San Antonio residents will garner more attention in the coming years. In fact, that has already started to happen in two big ways.
In case you missed it, the new Rinconcito de Esperanza Historic District was designated last month by San Antonio City Council, becoming the 32nd historic district in San Antonio and the first on the West Side.
Additionally, the National Trust for Historic Preservation recently listed the Alazan-Apache Courts as one of the nation’s 11 most endangered historical locations.
The symposium will continue with historian Dr. Gabriela Gonzalez who will present a lecture entitled Carolina Munguía and Emma Tenayuca: The Politics of Benevolence and Radical Reform.
The final segment of the program will be a talk by Maria Antonetta Berriozabal, the first Mexican-American woman to serve on San Antonio City Council. The presentation will include a history of city policy in the West Side and take a look at what she feels are challenges the area faces today.
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The Esperanza and the Westside Preservation Alliance first initiated the Emma Tenayuca Speaker Series two years ago under the name the Westside Community History & Preservation Speaker Series. It’s purpose is to educate and inform individuals of the work and history of the community in regards to historic preservation and social justice.
In the past, the Esperanza, a nationally recognized arts organization, has created symposiums that have had the feel of a large-scale convention, with many opportunities for participants to network and socialize between speakers. In the absence of such pre-pandemic privileges, more attention may be given to content. In the future, however, the Esperanza does hope to add online breakout rooms between segments, according to a spokesperson.
The program is presented by the Esperanza, the Westside Preservation Alliance, and the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.
If you tune in:
Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, October 3, 2020
Platform: Facebook and YouTube
Cost: Free
Jade Esteban Estrada is a culture writer at the San Antonio Sentinel. He can be reached at jade@sasentinel.com.