The Main Resident Center, formerly known as the Fort Sam Houston Officers Club, is now open for all Fort Sam Houston Family Housing residents to use.
LMH hosted a week-long open house July 14-17. Many Fort Sam Houston residents came to check out the new resident center.
“This brings back so many memories for me,” Col. Randall Anderson, commander, 32nd Medical Brigade. “They did such a nice job with the renovation.”
“We tried to keep as much intact as possible, with guidance from the Historical Society,” said Toni Semidey, district manager, Lincoln Military Housing.
The Spanish Colonial Revival style building, located in the historic district of Wheaton Graham, was completed in January 1935 with funds provided by officers stationed at Fort Sam Houston as a combination Bachelor Officer Housing and Officer’s Club. It included 12 small apartments, a kitchen, a grill, dining room, assembly room, and lounge, along with a rear dance terrace. A pool and changing rooms were added in 1937.
Over the years, the building went through several renovations and modifications to include dining rooms, lounges, bars, restrooms, and an alternate entrance.
The Officers Club was once a place for officers and their Families to hold meetings, dances, card games, luncheons and private parties. Families dined on the patio where the mosaic-tiled fountain is located, enjoyed the pool, danced in the Raven room, listened to live bands after an afternoon at the historic post theater, ate large brunches, and attended formal dances dressed in tuxedos and gowns.
Many memorable individuals have visited the building including President Dwight D. and Maime Eisenhower, the Apollo I astronauts, Gen. Jonathan Wainright, Gen. Joseph Stillwell, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and many Soldiers returning from Iraq.
During the development of the Community Development Management Plan, LMH contemplated using the entire 43,000 square foot building. However, after a Department of the Army review, the resident center was reduced to only the historical portion of the building. The garrison retained the non-historical portion which has been demolished.
Now that renovation of the Main Resident Center is complete, it accommodates a range of activities. There is a game room, full kitchen, media room, main room or ball room, meeting rooms, and a business center. A full size pool, playground, and sports court will be completed this fall.
“This is the nicest community center I have been in,” said Maj. Dave Wiersma, Central Command. “I have been running past the building for months, I couldn’t wait to see the inside.”
“It’s absolutely gorgeous; we will be spending a lot of time here,” said Monica Wiersma.
The Housing Office supporting grades O1 through O6 and is located on the main floor of the Resident Center. In addition, the upstairs apartments were converted into office space for the FSHFH general management, Development and Property Management, and the Residential Communities Initiative.
The club was a second home for most officers and their Families in the past. LMH would like residents of Fort Sam Houston Family Housing to feel the same way about the newly renovated resident center. Residents can play a game of tennis on the tennis courts; play video games in the game room; host luncheons or parties; use the computers in the business center; or meet friends for a casual afternoon as the Families have done in the past.
