HASM HOME TOUR
There’s an adage that “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” as is the case regarding one of the outstanding not-to-bemissed stops on the San Marcos 2026 Heritage Association Home Tour, the house at 802 San Antonio St. Built in 1909, this home is familiar to many San Marcos residents in that it has experienced several incarnations – mortuary, seminary, nursing home, day care center and most recently, a private home.
When viewing the impressive exterior, one might expect a Traditional or Southern Plantation- style interior, however, upon entering the large 12-ft. high foyer, one is surprised by an eclectic explosion of space and light. A delightful surprise is the 3ft. Santo, a black clad hand-carved religious saint, who shares space with a huge antique globe adorned with the weathered remnants of old maps. Thus, begins a veritable feast for the eyes!
The Texas-born owners, Paul and Stephanie Shropshire, purchased the house in 2015 and began extensive renovations three years ago, with Paul living on-site and traveling to his job with the City of Austin, with Stephanie remaining in Austin.
Once restoration began, they found wideranging issues: rotten floorboards, leaky plumbing, outdated and dangerous wiring and multiple layers of old linoleum and wallpaper, which they removed themselves. Some original tin ceiling tiles were salvageable, but many needed to be sourced, as was shiplap, long-leaf pine, ceiling light fixtures and old glass, a seemingly never-ending search that has taken them nationwide.
Paul has spent time learning the art of creating leaded glass which is used throughout the home, and he is currently building screens for the homes’ numerous windows. He also has contributed much of the heavy-lifting.
Stephanie is an accomplished mixed-media artist, working out of her backyard studio and commuting to Austin twice a week to nourish her love of “Uncommon Objects,” a shop where she creates eye-catching visual displays and augments her own collections. When time allows, she teaches mixedmedia classes, and her work can be seen throughout their charming home. The Shropshires wanted to restore as much of the home as possible, hoping to retain the original look, but they were faced with multiple challenges which necessitated replacing some fixtures, flooring, ceiling tiles and other authentic touches. Today it’s difficult to guess what is not original to the house.
The many interior doorways feature air-circulation transoms, but the hardware no longer existed. Fortunately, Stephanie’s father had salvaged some rods from an old ranch house, and after being installed in the Shropshires project, they work perfectly. The home came with four claw-foot tubs, three of which are in use inside, and one serving as a planter in the back garden – a lovely area filled with meandering brick/stone paths, towering old oaks, shrubs, flowering plants and Stephanie’s studio.
The predominant color theme throughout the home is black-andwhite, offering a clean pallette for the couples’ many and varied collections. Antique toys, metal signs, small mirrors, original art work, dolls, owls, rabbits, black cats and one-of-akind treasures fill onceempty spaces in a most enjoyable manner; it’s obvious that both owners have a delightful sense of humor. In keeping with the black and white color scheme, Paul and Stephanie own three cats – two black and one that’s blackand- white. They also tend to several porchcats, all of whom are black.
Tickets for the Home Tour are $30 in advance at HeritageSanMarcos. org ($35 the day of the tour). Proceeds support the Heritage Association of San Marcos and its mission to preserve the historic structures and districts that make San Marcos one of Texas’ most treasured cities.
Founded in 1975, the Heritage Association of San Marcos (HASM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving historic buildings, celebrating local culture, and perpetuating the traditions that enrich the community life of San Marcos. Membership is open to anyone interested in supporting historic preservation and the ongoing stewardship of the city’s heritage.
