The Gatehouse at Laguna Gloria

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The gatehouse is the most recently restored historic building on the grounds. Unbelievably, it originally housed the Galvan family of ten. Nazio, his wife Benita and their eight children lived here from 1929 - 1945. Clara Driscoll relied on Mr. Galvan to implement her vision for the grounds around her villa on Lake Austin.

Earlier Stephen F. Austin saw this property and admired the site and wrote in 1832, "I want the best land that can be had. I shall fix a place on the Colorado at the foot of the mountains to live." Death prevented him from spending the rest of his life here.

In 1906 Henry Servier said to his well traveled bride Clara Driscoll, "I know a place in Texas that has everything Lake Como has...the mountains, the water, the quiet beauty, peaceful and romantic atmosphere and the advantage of being at home."

The Serviers purchased the land and completed construction of the villa in 1916. In 1943 she donated Laguna Gloria to the Texas Fine Arts Association.

Clara Driscoll's achievements were numerous, but she is most known for saving the Alamo in San Antonio from commercial exploitation.
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