A short history of Woodward Manufacturing Corporation in San Antonio, Texas explained.

Woodward Manufacturing Corporation was the largest manufacturing facility in San Antonio and Austin at one time. Much history about seemed accurately preserved but forgotten. This news article will explore what happened to Woodward Manufacturing Corporation.

Woodward Manufacturing Corporation also was Woodward Body Works and Woodward Manufacturing Company. Woodward Manufacturing Corporation and Woodward Body Works evolved out of each other. Woodward Body Works was organized to manufacture truck bodies for Chevrolet and Ford. Woodward Manufacturing Corporation was organized to manufacture wooden furniture using native Texas hardwoods such as gum and magnolia.


Woodward Manufacturing Corporation was established as a domestic for-profit corporation in May 22, 1913 in San Antonio, Texas. (Ref: https://bizstanding.com/p/woodward+manufacturing+company-14318879)

Woodward Manufacturing Corporation was located in a warehouse at the location of 327 South Presa Street, San Antonio, Texas, US 78205. The address was 327 S. Presa St., San Antonio, TX. D. J. Woodward served as president of the company from the beginning. Woodward Manufacturing Corporation was organized to manufacture truck bodies for Chevrolet and Ford. (Ref: San Antonio Express, Page 40, June 28, 1931)

When World War I was over in 1919, Penn Field was on the market. In July 1919, Penn Field was sold in sealed bids to Sam Sparks and D. J. Woodward of Austin, who paid for the property $107,555. The company was incorporated for $250,000. It was proposed to make this a model factory with ideal facilities for cars. (Ref: Austin American, Page 5, Sunday, September 12, 1920)

Sam Sparks and D. J. Woodward of San Antonio purchased 75 acres of land in Penn Field in South Austin with 1¾ mile of the railroad tracks. One of Penn Field’s original buildings would be used to manufacture Ford and Chevrolet commercial truck bodies. A business called Woodward Manufacturing Corporation would established and constructed on this land. Woodward Manufacturing Corporation moved part of their manufacturing division from San Antonio up to Austin. (Ref: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=239617)

Woodward Manufacturing Corporation would be located in the Woodward Industrial District at Penn Field at the address of 3601 South Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas, US 78704. (Ref: ftp://ftp.austintexas.gov/Real_Estate_Data/Easement%20Releases/10232-1912%203601%20S%20Congress%20(WL%20V5817%20P703)/10232-1912%20ER%20App%20Review%20Packet.pdf)

However factory operations did not begin all at once. Many buildings had to be remodeled, tracks had to be laid, wires placed for motors, and other changes needed to occur. This took months of activity. Machinery arrived to the buildings later. Several of the buildings had been converted into apartment houses and workers were already occupying them. Post Road had seen much activity going on for the past 3 months.

Woodward Manufacturing Corporation was rebuilt and established as a corporation again in 1923 after much reconstruction was completed without any delay. (Ref: https://bizstanding.com/p/woodward+manufacturing+corporation-651254)

Woodward Manufacturing Corporation transitioned from manufacturing truck bodies to bedroom furniture for distribution in Texas. Sam Sparks re-organized Woodward Manufacturing Corporation into a furniture manufacturing plant which specialized in wood furniture using native Texas hardwoods such as gum and magnolia. Wooden furniture was all done with hand tools in those days. (Ref: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=248181)

The San Antonio location kept producing wooden furniture until 1924 when operations were moved up to Austin.

Woodward Manufacturing Corporation was located in a warehouse at the location of 327 South Presa Street, San Antonio, Texas, US 78205.