45th Annual Heritage Home Tour

During this year’s 45th Annual Heritage Home Tour, guests will have the opportunity to tour two thriving local San Marcos businesses — Germer Insurance Services and Zelicks Icehouse. These local treasured properties have been significantly enhanced — preserving the rich history of our town for current and future generations to enjoy.

Following the garden tour, guests can make their way to 221 North Street for wine and appetizers, catered by Palmer’s and North Street, in an early 20th-century home, beautifully renovated for the Germer Insurance Services office. This property was built in 1911 by J.L. and Sarah Finnie, who moved to San Marcos with their two children, Dollie, and C. Herbert (Herb) Finnie. The home, a traditional Sears Roebuck kit house, was ordered from the Sears and Roebuck Company in Chicago for approximately $2000 and included a natural gas furnace, electrical wiring, and plumbing. The materials for the home were delivered by railroad boxcars to San Marcos and carried by wagon from the train station. The house was built with seven gables, as Sarah loved the Nathanial Hawthorne novel, “The House of Seven Gables.”-Originally a two-story home, the house caught fire in 1927 due to an electrical malfunction. While the family got out safely, young Herb’s pet parrot was not so lucky. For years, the volunteer firefighters and old-timers remembered the story of the parrot squawking over the sound of the flames, “Herbie! Herbie!” until he succumbed to the smoke. The quick work of the firefighters helped to save the first floor of the home, however, the second floor could not be salvaged. Afterward, the house was rebuilt as one-story, and the roof was replaced.

Herb would go on to become the first mail carrier in San Marcos and was proud to say that he delivered mail to President Lyndon B. Johnson when he was a Southwest Texas Normal School student and enjoyed many conversations with him. In 1928, Herb married Robbie Mary Hinkle, who was the first woman realtor in Hays County. The couple would later settle into the Finnie home and raise their three children, C. H. “Herb” Finnie, Jr., Robbie Lea Finnie, and Ima Gene Finnie. During the filming of the 1972 classic “The Getaway,” starring Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw, the two actors had motor homes set up across the street from the Finnie’s home. Soon the all-star cast of actors found themselves spending time on the Finnie’s porch spending many hours sipping traditional daiquiris with homemade lemon/limeade, with McQueen convincing Robbie that the spirits helped his speaking voice.

Germer Holdings, LLC (owned by Gary Germer Jr & Greg Germer) purchased the property in 2019 and beautifully renovated the interior and exterior of the home, overseen by architect, Allen Auth. Mr. Germer worked hard to maintain the historic integrity of the property inside and out. New exterior paint in the sophisticated shades of battleship gray with white trim adorns the property, along with beautiful landscaping by Matt Barnes with Barnyard Landscape and Garden. In addition, the foundation was replaced, and a metal roof was installed. The floor plan to the interior of the home was changed slightly to accommodate an office. The original long-leaf pine floors were preserved, and the interior modern décor, designed by Sandy Ramirez, is relevant to the time in which the home was built. All the original windows were preserved, including one stained glassed window, which may not be original to the construction, but was added sometime early on.

The final special stop on the tour is at 336 W. Hopkins St., a 1930's gas station, now a superbly reimagined building known as Zelicks Icehouse, and a popular local favorite in our community. At Zelicks, you will find drink specials for tour guests, live music, and a relaxed atmosphere to hang out with friends and make new ones. The property was originally a 1930s gas station and charmingly shows the remnants of its previous history.

Zelicks was opened by brothers Chase and Seth Katz in 2011, bringing a new and unique establishment to the San Marcos bar scene. Zelicks is full of interesting and original design features, including old-framed photos commemorating the life of Jack Zelick Katz, Seth and Chase’s grandfather, and the bar’s namesake. The Katz brothers chose the name of the bar Zelicks as a tribute to their grandfather’s faith and support in their entrepreneurial endeavors. Inside the garage structure is a full bar and features patio-like outdoor seating and Texas-inspired games like washers, horseshoes, and cornhole. A special place of family memories, Zelicks is also the location where Seth, proposed to his wife, Monica Malargio Katz in front of close family and friends.

*Thank you to Diana Finlay Hendricks for the research conducted on the Finnie Home and contributions to this article.

This year's "See, Sip and Savor in the Historic Gardens of San Marcos" tour is on June 4, from 11 am – 4 pm. Tour tickets are limited to the first 400 with tickets $25 advance/$30 tour day. Tickets can be purchased through the HASM website at www.heritagesanmarcos.org or the Charles S. Cock House Museum, located in Veramendi Plaza Park at 400 East Hopkins Street, on Fridays during May and on June 3 from 11 am-1 pm. If you are also interested in becoming a sponsor, please don't hesitate to contact Bronwyn Sergi at 512-757-0730.

All proceeds from the 2022 home tour will go toward our 2022-2023 Capital Campaign to raise funds for the restoration and renovation of the Charles S. Cock House Museum.

The Heritage Association of San Marcos would like to thank the following 45th Annual Home Tour Sponsors:

Eleanor Crook

McNutt Law Firm

La Cima

Divided Sky Roofing and Solar

Sal’s House of Tint

McCoy’s Building Supply

Advanced Imaging

Zelicks Icehouse

The Damron Group Realtors

Palmers Restaurant Bar & Courtyard

San Marcos Daily Record

Jude and Kathy Prather

Germer Insurance Services

The Crystal River Inn

Brita and Robert Northcutt

Premier Cuts

Café on the Square

Sergi & Associates

Paul Velte Attorney at Law

Jane Hughson

Carl Deal Photography

Central Texas Eye Center

Frost Bank

Italian Garden

Sage Capital Bank

SMART Orchestra

Cardinal Frames

The Floral Studio

Cody Couch

Harry and Ellie Stewart

Lea and Tim Rice

Paradise Palms at York Creek

Sean Crowder