Fort Street Presbyterian Church (Former) - San Marcos, TX
Posted by: 
WalksfarTX
N 29° 52.910 W 097° 56.794
14R E 601724 N 3306157
Gothic church building with octagonal towers is now divided into two sections. One section is used as law offices while the other is a private residence.
Waymark Code: WMQQP3
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 03/19/2016
Views: 1
From Heritage San Marcos website
Samuel Bales, Superintendent of Construction of the State Capitol Building in Austin, moved to San Marcos in the 1850’s and became an influential community leader. He built the original church in 1894. At that time, the building was located in the midst of a quiet residential area and on a major road, now West Hopkins, leading into the city square. Unfortunately, the church burned shortly after completion.
When the Fort Street Building was proudly re-occupied in 1901 by the congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, it was the culmination of a re-building effort that brought forth the new building from the charred remains of the original building. The architectural style of the new building was Gothic Victorian with Queen Anne influence, a style characterized by steep pitched roofs, vertical massing and the gothic-style, pointed arches at the windows and doors. Cumberland Presbyterian Church occupied the building for forty years. When the Cumberland Presbyterians merged with the First Presbyterian Church, the building was sold to a second congregation.
First American Lutheran Church purchased the property in 1941 and it became their home for the next 28 years. In response to the growing membership, the Lutheran congregation moved to a new and larger facility in 1969 and the building, once again, was sold.
The third, and last church to occupy the property was the Pentecostal Holiness Church, which occupied the building until 1975.
The building stood vacant for many years, abandoned in a fringe area of a rapidly expanding downtown. It had become derelict and was in very poor condition until it was purchased and rescued by Jeff and Rhea Kester.
The building was restored in phases from 1987 through 1998 by the Kesters and now houses the architectural practice of Gomillion, Kester, Zimmerman, Inc. and the law offices of Fay and Rick Gillham. The Kesters reside in the original sanctuary, which was converted into a loft apartment.