Rudolph Carstanjen

Rudolph (Rud) Carstanjen was a wealthy, college-educated man from Germany who was among the first Boerne settlers. He met and married Otillie von Werder in 1869. They raised five children for several years in the home pictured below, referred to as the Carstanjen/Hall Mansion. The building has had several restaurants, it served as a t

Mr. Carstanjen had purchased land in Sisterdale where he tried his hand at farming, but soon moved Boerne. Here he was known for his important role in the growth and development of Boerne with the purchase of homes and properties for local businesses, including the building named after him.

Some historians believe that before Mr. Carstanjen built his two-story building on South Main and San Antonio Streets in 1901, Homer’s Livery Stable stood on the site. At the time, visitors to Boerne could rent a horse and buggy from the Homer’s Livery Stable for $1 a day.