History behind the Charles S Newnam Mansion in San Antonio, Texas revealed.

This news article will explain in detail the history behind one of San Antonio’s lesser known mansions.

The Charles S Newnam Mansion belonged on land that once was owned by one immigrant, Charles Newnam, who was a former slave who moved to San Antonio in 1807 and began acquiring land on San Antonio’s African American East Side. The Charles S Newnam Mansion belonged on land that once was home to the East Terrace Apartments which was operated by San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) from 1953 to 1997. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=MiNYnO-EH34C&pg=SA4-PA5)

Now the Charles S Newnam Mansion was built when Clara Newnam purchased the land in 1807. The Ezell Mansion was built in 1807 on a lot size of 7,100 square feet. The Charles S Newnam Mansion was a 7-bedroom, 2 bathroom house. All of the Charles S Newnam Mansion was originally located on more than 5 acres of land before Charles S Newnam subdivided lots from his property sold them to various owners over the years.

Charles Newnam sold the land to Charles S Newnam (Chas S Newnam) and Clara S. Newnam around 1886. Other land was deeded in 1896 to Charles S Newnam.


Charles S Newnam (Chas S Newnam) sold the land to a man named Charles Ezell by a warranty deed on the date of August 14, 1923 for just $500 dollars. Which was a lot during that time of course. (Ref: Bexar County Land Records, Document Number 58435)

Charles Ezell sold the Charles S Newnam Mansion and property to a woman named Leila Wells on a warranty deed in 1930. She would own that property until 1977 when she sold it to Beverly Hall and Harvey A Marley. (Ref: Bexar County Land Records, Document Number 342288)

In December 1994, San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) acquired the Charles S Newnam Mansion on a notice of lis pendens through eminent domain as the whereabouts of the-then current owner Harvey A Marley were unknown during the eminent domain proceeding.

San Antonio Housing Authority condemned the title to property that same year and had the Charles S Newnam Mansion demolished since the dwelling was not occupied at the time of eminent domain proceeding. This was around the same time San Antonio Housing Authority demolished East Terrace Apartments and renovated the entire apartment complex into what is known Spring View Apartments today. (Ref: Bexar County Land Records, Document Number 24551)

According to a lien dating back to 2013 found in the Bexar County Land Records, the rest of the mansion was demolished in 2013. (Ref: Bexar County Land Records, Document Number 20130241953)

Today the Charles S Newnam Mansion is now a vacant residential lot where only grass remains. No trace of the Charles S Newnam Mansion can be found, excavated, or uncovered. (Ref: https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/SanAntonioFY19Plan.pdf)

The Charles S Newnam Mansion was located at 2411 Ezell Street, San Antonio, Texas, US 78203.