Brief History
Established in 1933, the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind began with the vision of one individual, Dr. Henry Wyneken, who wanted to organize a program to serve the blind in our community. With the help of others, Wyneken envisioned a program that would train, educate and employ blind individuals, and the public as well. For over 78 years, the Lighthouse has been a San Antonio icon for training and educating the blind and visually impaired, in addition to being a leader in manufacturing for the military and government agencies.
In the beginning, the Lighthouse offered part-time work for five people at a North Presa Street sewing plant where pillow cases were produced. Since those humble beginnings, it has grown to become one of the largest non-profit organizations in San Antonio, serving the community and the nation by manufacturing products during times of war and peace. For example, during World War II, the broom factory on San Fernando Street, the mop factory on Olive Street and a new sewing plant at Lexington and St. Mary's Street were producing vast numbers of laundry bags, mops and brooms.
These small and scattered sites have today been consolidated at the Lighthouse's current 60,000 sq. foot manufacturing and rehabilitation facility on Roosevelt Avenue, with the Lighthouse currently employing more than 500 individuals and manufacturing more than 80 products including highlighters, mechanical pencils, pens, helmet chin-straps for the Army and Marines, spill kits and the Army’s Combat Shirt. In addition to the main building, the Lighthouse owns an 8,000SF facility on Eads Avenue - our High-Tech Center - where we produce the floor boards and insulation blankets for Boeing’s KC135 airplanes and an additional 8,000SF building on Southcross where absorbent pads are produced.
The Lighthouse is in the process of planning an additional 60,000SF building across the street from the High-Tech Center on Eads that should be completed by end of 2012.
In 1978, the Rehabilitation Center opened for business offering job counseling, technology training, Braille instruction and vocational evaluations. The Lighthouse also established a Senior Center across from the main building on Roosevelt. With classes on Braille, diabetes education, medication management and cooking, the San Antonio Lighthouse Senior Center offers area seniors a great place to learn how to maintain their independence and socialize at the same time. Our Lighthouse rehabilitation center staff also makes home visits to area seniors, in order to provide Independent Living Skills and low vision apaptive aids that will assist them with their activities of daily living. In 2010 the San Antonio Lighthouse provided services for over 5,000 blind and visually impaired individuals.
In 1997, the Lighthouse established partnerships with the Army and Air Force by opening retail operations. The Lighthouse currently has 14 stores on 11 military installations across New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. A 15th store will soon be built on Ft. Sam Houston. The military now depends on the Lighthouse to ensure that deployed soldiers are equipped with proper uniforms and gear.
The San Antonio Lighthouse history is sprinkled with the generosity of community leaders who either donated land or gave their financial and business support to its success. From Dr. Frederic Oppenheimer, who donated the North Presa Street location to G.S. McCreless and the Jewish community, who helped secure the current 2305 Roosevelt site, the Lighthouse has been a community project of great economic importance for more than seven decades.
While the products and manufacturing jobs may have changed over time, the Lighthouse's focus on providing employment and other opportunities for people who are blind has remained steadfast. What hasn't changed over time is the sense of community found here by blind and visually impaired individuals who are looking for someone to give them a chance to demonstrate what they can do – a place to belong, a place to work, learn and grow – and that is what the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind offers – a community of hope, understanding and independence.
