Heidgen, Johann and Anna, House
historic place
The Johann and Anna Heidgen House is located at 121 Starr Street in San Antonio, Texas. German immigrant Johann Engelbert Heidgen, a stonemason, and his wife Anna Barbara Heiman Heidgen arrived in San Antonio from Prussia in 1852. Johann Heidgen built this two-story rock house between 1882 and 1884. It was constructed with native limestone and local caliche blocks. The Heidgens raised thirteen children here. Anna Barbara worked as a midwife, and Johann contributed to building St. Joseph's Catholic Church. A wall of the property connects to the 18th-century Acequia Madre de Valero, an irrigation canal built by Spanish Franciscan priests and the Payaya people in 1718. This historical feature contributed to the house's significance. The house was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 2003. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The Heidgen House has served as a residence, a youth group headquarters, a restaurant, and now a lawyer's office. This structure offers a glimpse into San Antonio's German immigrant community and its architectural heritage.