Barnes-Laird House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1909 at the corner of West Ashby Place and Main Street in San Antonio's Monte Vista neighborhood, this two-story Classical Revival house was constructed for banker and entrepreneur Benjamin G. Barnes and his wife Ermin. A wood frame structure with a painted masonry veneer, it is dominated by a two-tiered south veranda carried on four Giant Order fluted Corinthian columns, with original beveled glass around the center door. Inside, a coffered entrance hall ceiling, Georgian style fireplaces and a two-run staircase reflect the same style. The architect is unknown, though the house compares well with work by Atlee B. Ayres and other San Antonio architects. The Barneses sold in 1913, and later owners included ranching heiress Hester Schreiner Harrison and the Laird family, who used it for commercial and residential purposes. A 1940s rear addition is sympathetic to the original. The house was listed for its architecture, as a prominent example in a row of Giant Order porch houses.
Significance in brief: The house is an excellent example of a substantial Classical Revival dwelling with a prominent two-tiered Giant Order porch, set in one of Texas' premier early 20th century neighborhoods. It is also tied to Benjamin G. Barnes and Hester Schreiner Harrison, both prominent San Antonio investors. Its original exterior and interiors survive largely intact.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 88001146, listed July 28, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 103 W. Ashby Pl., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | July 28, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001146 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition excellent and occupied; rehabilitated for use as offices in 1984, with interior well maintained. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.44954, -98.58721 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 88001146.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001582
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.