Edward Friedrich House
Friedrich House, courtesy of Dr. Sandi Wolff, 2026.
805 Nolan Street
Courtesy of Beth Standifird, Research Librarian
San Antonio Conservation Society Foundation
Edward Friedrich (1860-1951) was the son of German immigrant and master furniture maker, Wenzel Friedrich. Edward apprenticed under his father before going into business for himself at the age of twenty-three. The Friedrich Refrigeration Company, founded by Edward in 1883, began manufacturing bar fixtures, including ice boxes, in a modest cabinet shop at 305 Dawson Street. Through successful experimentation with refrigeration technology, Edward evolved his company into a 20th century leader in the cold food storage and home air conditioning industries. A more complete biography can be found in the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Friedrich Complex (Section 8, p. 13).
In November 1902, Edward’s wife, Minnie, purchased three lots at the northeast corner of Nolan and North Olive Streets. She paid two thousand dollars “in hand” to Sigmund J. and Sarah Schuster of St. Louis, Missouri. The following year, Minnie and Edward contracted with the San Antonio Real Estate, Building and Loan Association (listed in city directories as the San Antonio Building and Loan Association) to finish and complete improvements on the Nolan Street property for $1440 within two years. Although the lien references plans and specifications, no architect or designer is named.
A Dignowity Hill neighborhood survey form, likely completed by staff in the City’s Office of Historic Preservation, credits John Richter and Ed Friedrich as the home’s builders.[1] Richter could be John Ludwig Richter, the son and partner in R. E. Richter and Son, a lumber business that was located at 308 Dawson across from Edward’s cabinet shop. A Richter & Son ad in the 1903 San Antonio Daily Light features an illustration of doric and ionic columns, noting, “A building is not complete without these columns. They are cheap.” [2]
Ad for columns by R.E. Richter & Son published in the San Antonio Sunday Light on July 19, 1903. Image courtesy of Newspaper Archive by Storied.
The 1904 Sanborn Map shows the two-story, Queen Anne Free Classic style Victorian house.[3] It is first listed in the 1905 -1906 city directory, which was compiled between October 20 and December 1, 1904.[4]
Reposted with permission. Report prepared on January 5, 2026
[1] The Friedrich House, Details for Neighborhood Surveys, Atlas Number 3019000538, Texas Historical Commission, https://atlas.thc.texas.gov/.
[2] “R.E. Richter & Son,” San Antonio Sunday Light, San Antonio, Texas, July 19, 1983, p. 2.
[3] Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, San Antonio, Texas (Sanborn Map Company , 1904), v.2, p. 164.
[4] Appler, Jules A. General Directory and Blue Book of the City of San Antonio 1905-1906, p. 587.