STEIN'S BAR AND RIECKE'S $259.78 HOUSE

In December, 1871, when the four trustees of the Houston and Texas Central Railway Company had 200 acres of James Manor's land mapped and platted into lots and blocks, James Manor and the Railroad each received just over 400 of the lots of the new town of "Manor".

Some of the first lots to be sold were in blocks 23 and 24, those being the blocks closest to the soon-to-be-built Railroad Depot and Station. Sanborn Maps from 1900 show the location of those two blocks in relation to the Depot. All even numbered lots in block 24 were owned by the Railroad. 

Travis County deed records state that Lot 10, Block 24 was sold on February 9, 1872 to B. Rickey, A. Stein & Co.  Sale price was $300 cash in gold. (other records indicate "Rickey" should be "Riecke")

For a period of about 2 weeks beginning on April 6, 1872 Benjamin Riecke purchased from I. G. Sams, materials with which to build a 20 x 24 ft. house on the north end of Lot 10, Block 24. The purchase agreement signed by Riecke stated that the house was to be built behind "Steins Bar Room" and that if Riecke was not able to pay for the materials in full within three months, then Sams could possess and sell the house for the cost of the materials purchased. Total price of materials to construct the house was $259.78.

A Deed Record dated August 7, 1872 shows that Benjamin N. Riecke sold Lot 10, Block 24 to A. Stein for the price of $150. It could be assumed that, in return for selling the land for only half of what he paid for it, Benjamin Riecke was going to be allowed to continue to live on the land in the house he had built. 

On August 16, 1872 I. G. Sams filed the following document with the Travis County Clerk: (attached was the Bill of Particulars shown above)

"I, I. G. Sams do solemnly swear that the foregoing a/c is a true and correct Bill of Particulars furnished by me to B. Riecke, and used by him in the construction of a house 20 x 24 ft., with an 18 ft. projection, on a Lot in the town of Manor, in Travis County, Texas, being on the North corner and behind Steins bar room. Said house being known as Riecke’s House, upon which the Mechanics and Builders Lien was retained and claimed, that the within acknowledgement thereof hereto attached and made a part of this claim, is true, and was made by said Riecke in acknowledgement of said contract. Signed, I. G. Sams"

I believe that it can safely be assumed that the first building ever constructed on Lot 10, Block 24 in Manor was "Steins Bar Room".

The second building on that same lot was most likely what would be referred to as a "shotgun house" since the lot was 25 feet by 115 feet and the house was 24 feet long, behind the barroom.

APPROXIMATE AREA OF LOT 10 BLOCK 24 - - 148 YEARS LATER