- Originally known as Waringford: R. P. M. Waring, a native of Ireland, provided a right-of-way for the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway for its Kerrville line.
Built in 1888 with opera being the popular entertainment of the times. As vaudeville (comedic acts, song and dance/burlesque) became popular the Opera House became a vaudeville stage and was renamed the Plaza Theatre. As the "talkie" pictures became popular vaudeville faded and the Opera House became a movie theater. In 1966 the Opera House was torn down and the Ebner Pharmacy built their shop there. This photo (1910) shows the Boerne Gesang Verein singing club - that was begun to compliment the Boerne German band.
In 1852 Gustav Theissen and John James laid out the town site and named it Boerne in honor of Ludwig Boerne, a German author and publicist. Boerne developed the reputation of having a very healthful environment and quickly became a health resort with the arrival of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway in 1887.
Once known as Bonton, the original name of the 1875 post office, it was changed to Welfare in 1880, possibly for the German word `Wohlfarht`, meaning pleasant trip. Carl Phillip Beseler was area`s first postmaster: serving Bonton and then as the first postmaster for Welfare.
This resort / home still stands today and was recently renovated to the times of its prime. Originally built as the home for Joseph Phillip. Some years after his death it became a hotel. As the German community used Ye Kendall Inn on the north side of Boerne as their resort area the English used the Phillip Manor as their resort area. Teddy Roosevelt stayed here while he was assembling his Rough Riders.
