Castroville, Hondo and Medina County
Rustic furniture for Castroville, Hondo and Medina County homes
Castroville's Alsatian settlers built in rough-cut stone, timber and lime plaster from 1844, and more than 50 of the town's early homes and commercial buildings are on its historic walking tour. Here is furniture for rooms like theirs, notes on nine neighboring towns and how to shop our San Antonio showroom from U.S. 90 and I-35.
Little Alsace
Rooms of stone, cypress and plaster
Henri Castro founded Castroville in 1844 with colonists from Alsace and other parts of Europe. The Handbook of Texas says its builders used rough-cut stone, or stone and timber, smoothed outside with lime plaster, and built two-story houses with stone ground floors under upper floors of upright timbers. The city's walking tour describes the rooms: the earliest house designs were 16 by 32 feet with an 8-foot-wide rear addition that could hold the kitchen; the Brauer house had one large room with a fireplace and a back room; the Zimmerly house of 1855 keeps its original 12-foot ceiling; and the John Vollmer house had a living room and one bedroom, with a dining room added in 1900.
When a house begins as one or two rooms, the table does the most work. Choose a solid table first, then chairs or a bench, a chest for storage and a mirror to bring light into the room. A tall ceiling like the Zimmerly house's can take a big mirror or a tall cabinet.
- Some walking-tour houses had lofts reached by steep or outside stairs, so measure every stair and door.
- Measure the open wall between windows and doors, where a chest or buffet will actually stand.
- Ask about each piece's dimensions before you plan a room around it.
West on U.S. 90 and FM 471
Castroville, Hondo and the Medina valley
Castroville
Founded in 1844 on the Medina River. The Landmark Inn State Historic Site there began in 1849 as César and Hannah Monod's home, store and stage stop. About 35 miles from the showroom, roughly 40 minutes without traffic.
LaCoste
Five miles southeast of Castroville on FM 471; its post office took the name LaCoste in 1898. Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church was built there in 1912 with Corinthian columns, Gothic arches and large stained-glass windows. About 36 miles, roughly 45 minutes without traffic.
Rio Medina
A farming community on FM 471, 6 miles north of Castroville, named for its place between two main branches of the Medina River. Its Mayflower dance hall was later moved intact to Gruene.
Mico
A fishing resort just east of the main dam at Medina Lake. Its name comes from the acronym for the Medina Irrigation Company.
Dunlay
Six miles west of Castroville on U.S. 90, named in 1895 for train conductor Jerry Dunlay. Most materials for building Medina Dam passed through it on a spur line laid in 1911.
Hondo
The Medina County seat since 1892, with a courthouse completed in 1893. Most of its downtown business buildings went up in the early 1900s, chiefly of D'Hanis brick. About 53 miles, a little over an hour without traffic.
D'Hanis
Settled in 1847 by 29 Alsatian families, whose first picket and thatch shelters gave way to European-style rock homes. The D'Hanis Brick and Tile Company was founded in 1883. About 60 miles, roughly an hour and 15 minutes without traffic.
South on I-35
Lytle, Natalia and Devine
Lytle
Named for rancher and trail driver John T. Lytle, who helped establish Lytle Station on the International-Great Northern Railroad in 1882. About 41 miles, roughly 50 minutes without traffic.
Natalia
Founded in 1912 by the Medina Irrigation Company and named for Natalie Pearson, though her name was spelled wrong. About 46 miles, roughly 55 minutes without traffic.
Devine
Established in 1881, when the International-Great Northern rails were extended from San Antonio to Laredo, and named for Judge Thomas Jefferson Devine. About 50 miles, roughly an hour without traffic.
Examples
Examples for a room built around the table
Examples from our catalog. Our floor changes often, so a piece shown here may have sold. Ask us about any piece, and we'll confirm whether it's available and share pricing.
Cholula Smooth Top Table
A long dining table with a smooth plank top, nailhead trim on the apron and a turned pedestal base with iron scrollwork.
See the listingTravertine Table
A long table with a stone top on carved, turned legs set with round medallions.
See the listingHand-Carved Chair in Red Inglès
A tall chair with a deeply carved, pierced back and an orange-red leather seat edged in large nailheads.
See the listingGray Wash Farmhouse Backless Bench
A long plank-top bench on two gray-washed pedestal legs joined by a stretcher.
See the listingVintage Painted Chest
A chest with a peaked lid, painted with flowers, birds and black-and-white patterns.
See the listing
Everything listed now
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From a distance
Shopping our showroom from here
Approximate drive times to the showroom without traffic: Castroville about 40 minutes; LaCoste about 45; Lytle about 50; Natalia about 55; Devine about an hour; Hondo a little over an hour; D'Hanis about an hour and 15 minutes. From Castroville, one visit can settle a table and chairs. From Hondo or D'Hanis, a video call first can make sure the trip is worth it.
Shortlist online
Browse by room and open any listing to ask about it.
Ask before you decide
Our showroom floor changes often. Ask us about any piece, and we'll confirm whether it's available and share pricing. Ask about each piece's dimensions too.
See it on a video call
We can schedule a FaceTime or video call to show you a piece before you order. Ask for a call when you ask about a piece.
Arrange shipping
We ship anywhere in the world. Shipping arrangements are handled directly with The Rustic Gallery after the sale.
Common questions from Medina County
How far is the showroom from Medina County?
About 35 miles from Castroville and 53 from Hondo, roughly 40 minutes and a little over an hour without traffic.
Do you have a showroom in Medina County?
No. Our one showroom is at 1401 N. Loop 1604 W., Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78258.
Can you ship to Medina County?
Yes. We ship anywhere in the world. Shipping arrangements are handled directly with The Rustic Gallery after the sale.
Can I see a piece before I buy it?
Yes. Visit the showroom, or ask for a FaceTime or video call and we will show you the piece before you order.
What suits an older Castroville stone house?
Start with the table, since several of the town's early houses began with one or two rooms. Add chairs or a bench, a chest and a mirror, and check stairs and doorways, including any steep stair to a loft, before choosing larger case pieces.
Are the pieces on this page available now?
Our showroom floor changes often. Ask us about any piece, and we'll confirm whether it's available and share pricing.
Questions about a piece?
Call us or ask on any listing. Our showroom is at 1401 N. Loop 1604 W., Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78258, open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.