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Joe Dienger bought the land at 201 N. Main Street in 1882. He wanted to build a general store to meet the needs of the growing Boerne community. In 1884, the first floor was built and stocked with everything a good general store should have for sale –flour, cornmeal, sugar, coffee, beans, potatoes, etc.
Then, the second story was built. This is where Mr. Dienger, his wife Ida, and their seven children lived. One of the daughters recalled many years later that her old home was heated with wood stoves, had no bathrooms or window screens, but it was “modern”. The second story was so big that Mr. Dienger turned half of it into a meeting room. Club meetings, parties, and celebrations were held there. It was a major attraction in those days!
Later in 1900, a one story addition was added to the building. The addition became a dried goods store which was run by Joe’s sisters, Lina and Louise. Here one could buy fabrics, shoes, and clothing
Members of the Dienger family owned and operated the stores until 1945 when O.M. Shultz bought the building and ran his own grocery store. In 1967, the building was sold again. This time a group of men bought it and turned it into a restaurant and club. They named it Antler’s Restaurant after Mr. Dienger’s love of hunting and the deer antlers that were found in the basement. In 1982, the building was purchased by Bill and Paige Ramsey-Palmer and turned into business offices.
The City of Boerne bought the Dienger Building in 1989. Many changes were made to the inside of the building, but the changes were made very carefully in order to preserve the outside of the building. In 1991, the Dienger Building opened as the Boerne Public Library. The Boerne Public Library was housed in the Dienger Building for nearly 20 years – until 2011 when the new library opened. After much public debate, the proud and beautiful Dienger Building was put up for sale.
Since 1884, the Dienger Building has been a general store, a home, a grocery store, a restaurant, a private club, business offices, and a library. What do you think the Dienger Building will be next?
The Dienger Building became a Texas historical Landmark in 1980 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
The Spirit of Mr. Dienger
The Spirit of Mr. Dienger
Joe and Ida Dienger
Several stories have been told about unusual activities taking place in the Dienger Building. Some people blame these unusual activities on the spirits of Mr. Joe Dienger and his wife, Ida, which they believe still remain in the Dienger Building.
Believers claim that the spirits are gentle and friendly, but do not like alcoholic beverages being consumed in the building – the Diengers disapproved of the drinking of alcohol. Most of the extraordinary events have been reported when liquor was being served in the building. There are reports of mirrors falling, glasses flying, lights being turned off and on, doors slamming, windows rattling, and books being dumped over.
One specific story is written about in Ed Syer’s Ghost Stories of Texas. In the 1970s the Dienger Building’s second floor was the home of the Antler’s Restaurant and lounge. Late one night, as the restaurant closed, the managers, Doris and Rex Rankin, and their daughter, Lorena, saw a short man in a dark suit hurry through the lounge and disappear into the “Trophy Room”. When Lorena went into the Trophy Room to see what the customer wanted, nobody was there. It is said that the mysterious, disappearing customer had been the spirit of Mr. Joe Dienger whose own bedroom had been turned into the Trophy Room.
Another specific story comes from Mr. James (Valderas), head custodian at Kendall Elementary. When Mr. James was young, his family lived next to the Antler’s Restaurant and his father, Joe Valderas, Jr., was a cook there. On his way to school, Mr. James would stop by to clean up the bar upstairs to earn extra money. He remembers having to frequently clean up broken glass at the same bar stool.
One day his father went down to the basement to get some supplies and he heard a strange noise. When he went to see what it was, a large eagle came out and attacked him. Other employees rushed to find out what the ruckus was and discovered Mr. James’ father scratched up and with torn clothes, but no eagle was ever found.
In 2008, Brad and Barry Klinge visited the Boerne Public Library to see if they could find evidence of paranormal activity, or activity that is not normal. The brothers are co-founders of Everyday Paranormal. After the investigation, the Boerne Public Library was given a Certificate of Paranormal Activity based on their findings. The brothers were able to record a voice saying something like “Rocko”, another voice saying, “Bet you can’t find her.”, and a few bars of banjo music. They were also able to photograph what appears to be a woman’s figure standing by a bookshelf. The brothers were quick to point out that the building is not haunted. Paranormal simply refers to activity that is not normal.
The Klinge brothers now have a television show on the Disney Channel called “Ghost Lab”. They returned to Boerne in October of 2009 to film another investigation of both the Dienger Building and Ye Kendall Inn. The episode aired in December of 2009.
Assistant Library Director Natalie Morgan, right, accompanies Joel Craig, Brad Klinge and members of the Ghost Lab film crew into the Dienger building.Boerne Star 10/19/2009
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