Our Historic Building

Need a place to host your special event? The San Antonio Hermann Sons Home Association is a nonprofit Texas corporation that offers its space to raise funds for the lodges housed within the building.

The building has been the setting for hundreds of special occasions throughout the years!

Our historic building is located in beautiful downtown San Antonio, located on St. Mary's Street. Our affordable facilities provide the perfect backdrop for your celebration, whether it is a wedding reception, Quinceanera, anniversary party, birthday party or family reunion! 

We also have our downstairs Rathskeller Bar and reception area available for rent, as well as convenient downtown parking spot rentals. ​​

New: Our new 501 c(3) foundation has been established, which will provide scholarships to our local students in order to attend college. Please consider a donation to help our youth! Visit our GoFundMeCharity website for more information on our scholarship or to give a tax deductible donation.

Click here to donate to our GoFundMe page for non tax-deductible donations that go to the continued preservation and restoration of our building and historic stained glass window. All of the lodges appreciate the community support.

Our History

The Hermann Sons Grand Lodge was formed on March 27, 1890, in San Antonio. It was officed on Villita Street between Navarro and and South Presa in a two-story rock building that has since been torn down. In 1911, the San Antonio Hermann Sons Home Association charter was created, in which 8 of the local Hermann Sons lodges formed a Texas nonprofit corporation and built the building at 525 South Saint Mary’s Street. The Hermann Sons Grand Lodge was also housed in the building. In 1950, Grand Lodge offices were moved next door, and the 8 lodges continue to meet at the Home Association building to this date.

The building is an historic and beautiful part of San Antonio's history.

From the early pictures of the building to now, its focal point was a stained glass window of Hermann the Cherusker. Hermann Sons Life members know that Hermann is our chosen namesake because of his leadership and valor. What you may not know about the stained glass window depicting him is that it was painted by a 21-year-old named Helen Ferne Goolsby Slimp. She was a talented artist who also created oil paintings. She lived to be 105 years old. 

Members have participated in ongoing fundraisers to restore all parts of the building, including both stained glass windows.

When Hermann Sons Life first started, members passed the hat to collect money for members in distress – we crowdfunded. In the spirit in which we were formed, we continue to crowdfund to raise money for the restoration of the building.

The Hermann Sons lodges housed within the building all are 501 (c)8 fraternal organizations that together support dozens of local San Antonio organizations, from the Children's Hospital to children's grief support groups and more. The 8 lodges include:

Harmonia Lodge
Louise Schuetze Lodge
Siemmering Lodge
Pershing Lodge
Vineta Lodge
Brunhilde Lodge
Mission-Alamo Lodge
Anton Wentzel Lodge