The Berclair Mansion first captured my imagination when a close friend told me about it. Later, I added to my curiosity when I (re-) learned that my Blalock side-of-the-family stayed in Berclair for a while as they were making the move from Comanche, Oklahoma to Christine, Texas in their covered wagon sometime before 1909.
On my way to cover a recent reception, I stopped in Berclair, Texas to photograph this mansion. Berclair is a very small town. The 2000 Census says that 253 people reside there. I have had a few brief visits here in the past, but none with my camera. I was a few minutes early so I decided to kill two birds with one stone.
Berclair Mansion sits about two blocks off of Highway 59. It’s allegedly haunted… which makes it even more interesting. As the story goes, the house was built in 1936 by Etta Terrell after her husband had passed away. When she was a young girl, her family’s house had burned to the ground and she vowed to have a fire-proof house one day. She was 75, but she finally made her wish come true. The mansion took two years to complete during which time Etta and her four sisters toured Europe buying the furniture and fixtures. The mansion is a 10,000 square foot, 22-room, two-story construction made of 60 tons of steel and cement. In 1936, it was the largest single family home made of steel in the United States. Etta is given credit for bringing electricity to the entire town of Berclair. She paid for this service entirely on her own so she could have power in her own house.
Etta passed away in 1957 and the house was willed from one sister to the next, finally making its way to Etta’s niece. Genevieve passed away in 1998 and her will actually stipulated that the home and all of its contents be destroyed. There are a few different stories online about how the home came to be owned by the Beeville Art Association. One is that it would have cost $95,000 to destroy the home and the heirs did not want to pay for that so they gave it to the art association. The other story makes reference to a “raging” legal battle. Either way, the house and its 16th and 17th century antiques were kept in tact. Renovations were made possible by selling a painting that was found in a closet at an auction for a mere $10 million.
For most of the year, you can tour Berclair Mansion every last Sunday of the month for $10 a person. However, their Facebook page also says that in November and December, tours are every Sunday. You can also host a luncheon for a minimum of 20 attendees at $25 a piece. Or, you can actually use the mansion as your South Texas wedding venue. I’ll be visiting this mansion sometime in the near future to learn even more about it! I’d like to see the inside!
If you don’t want to drive all the way out to Berclair, you can always just visit Lambermont Events right here in San Antonio.
Images from The Berclair Mansion
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About Ata-Girl
I am a San Antonio-based wedding photographer and I cater to outdoor-loving couples who prefer to have all the realness captured on their wedding days. I am the wedding photographer for the outdoor adventurers, the romantics, the laid back, the snugglers, and those who wish to capture all their realness.
I am absolutely in love with capturing the kinds of weddings where there are more hugs than handshakes, the dance floor rumbles all night long, and chairs are pretty much rendered useless after dinner. Whiskey bottles are passed around, most of the wedding party has been best-best friends since kindergarten, Grams is likely to lose her shoes and your partner is much more emotional than you are. These kinds of weddings are my jam!
You can always call or text, but if you really want to get to know me, schedule a meetup!
I started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. I enjoy documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I love being a part of people’s journeys and consider myself privileged to document their legacies.
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I am a published author (purchase my book here), a podcast host (listen here) (watch here) and a WPPI-C certified professional, full-time wedding photographer. I specialize in a 10-day image delivery, same-day prints, same-day slideshows, Italian handcrafted wedding albums and I have a mobile meeting space.
When I’m not behind my camera, you can find me hiking, cycling, backpacking, camping, enjoying water sports, listening to music (Elvis and Prince), hunting for arrowheads, reading audiobooks, occasionally eating a few glazed donuts (my only weakness to sweets) and then re-starting my keto diet about every 10 days. The most important things in life are for me to see my two daughters happy and to create a family history my grandparents and grandson would be proud of.