Sutherland Springs, Texas
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Sutherland Springs is in Wilson County at the intersection of US 87 and Farm Road 539, 7.5 miles northwest of Stockdale, 6.8 miles southeast of La Vernia, and 29.3 miles southeast of San Antonio.  To get to Sutherland Springs (or really "New" Sutherland Springs--to be completely accurate), drive 0.8 miles north on Farm Road 539 from its intersection with US 87 until 539 intersects with Wilson County Road 333.  Turn right onto 333 and go about four-tenths of a mile.  You'll drive through what was once Sutherland Springs.

Baker's book (the second one) describes how there came to be two towns named Sutherland Springs.  The original got started as a resort destination for San Antonians in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  People drank from and bathed in the mineralized waters.  The town of Sutherland Springs sprang up on the west side of Cibolo Creek less than a mile from the springs.  In 1895, the San Antonio and Gulf Shore Railroad put a line through on the east side of the creek, and soon most of the businesses moved to that side of the creek, thus creating "New" Sutherland Springs.  As fate would have it, floods and fire destroyed facilities along the creek and the downtown district, and the town's attractiveness as a resort destination diminished.  Today, the original, "Old" Sutherland Springs still exists as a town along US 87.  "New" Sutherland Springs has died.

Baker's book shows two photos.  One is of the Hotel Sutherland taken during the 1930s showing the building abandoned.  Baker describes how the hotel closed in 1923 and was demolished a few years later for the materials.  He also has one photo showing the former movie theater taken during his visit in 1999.  That building still exists today.  He also describes (but does not show a photograph of) an old bank as still standing.  We photographed what we think is that bank.

 

Baker's photo of the former movie theater in Sutherland Springs.  Taken in 1999.
 
Photo of the theater taken in November 2004.  It's appearance hasn't changed much in five years.

 

 

Another photo of the theater taken in November 2004.  In comparison to when Baker visited, the front doors are now pushed in slightly (and padlocked).
 
While I couldn't fit myself through the partly open door, I could stick my hand and camera through, so I quickly snapped this picture, letting the flash illuminate whatever was in there.  No skeletons, crooks hiding out, or treasures or any kind.  Not even anything to make you think it was once a theater.  Just what you might expect this many years later...junk.

 

 

These two photos taken by me in November 2004 are of the bank Baker describes.  The building is open to the sky and surrounded by growth.  I'm told by a reader of this website who grew up in Sutherland Springs and who wrote to me on 6/11/07 that the vault is still present within the building.  Perhaps that's what we see part of in the photo below.