34 May, 2008 • Welcome Home • 78258 May, 2008 • Welcome Home • 78258 www.welcomehomesa.comwww.welcomehomesa.com

By Suzanne Lennon

Dream homes don’t have to be just dreams any longer; theycan become a reality with the expertise of Mary LozanoJenkins, founder and owner of The Jenkins Interior Design

Group. Jenkins, who began her career with a national firm ofInterior Designers and Decorators moved to San Antonio and start-ed her own business when the national firm dissolved. “Interiordesign has always been my passion,” Jenkins explains. “But I dis-covered early on that I am not selling a product, or a look. I am solv-ing problems.”

And solve them she does. Take the Sarrami’s. They are in theprocess of building a new home and have utilized Jenkins’ expert-ise from the get-go. Sheiva Sarrami just loves Mary Jenkins. “Iheard about Mary from a friend of mine who was also building anew home. I figured I would need help getting the perfect look forour soon-to-be built home. I called Mary and she even went overthe initial building contract we had with our builder! She looked atthe allowances that had been set for crown molding, tile, carpet andso on, and told me whether the allocation was enough, or needed tobe increased. Because we were going for a certain look in the house,she was able to help me select the basics, like the floor tile and the carpet before the house was even under construction.” Not only didJenkins help with the preliminary consults, she has been an invaluable resource to Sheiva every step of the way. “She kept myhusband and I focused. We have spent less money because of her know-how and because she knows her business inside and out.” Jenkins took the Sarrami’s on a shopping trip to the Dallas Marketwhere they hunted for household items that suited the look theywere going for. Jenkins even went ahead of the Sarrami’s and select-ed items for them to look at, to cut down on extraneous time. “Iwould look at a chair and say, ‘Oh1 I love that!’ and Mary wouldgently say, ‘That is a gorgeous piece, but is it the style you are goingfor?’ She took photos of all the pieces we liked and when wereturned from our trip, ordered everything we settled on. She is sowell known in her field that she can negotiate wonderful prices.Even with the commission she takes, we paid less than if we walkedinto a furnishing store and bought furniture off the floor.”

Saving her client’s time and money is important to Jenkins. That is why she takes the floor plans of her client’s homeswith her on trips and manipulates the data into her computer toshow the best way pieces can fit into a given space. She ties every-thing together with accessories such as paintings, blinds, curtains,lamps and florals. With over 6,000 vendors to choose from, she can complete any project in any style her customer desires.

Makeovers also fit into Jenkins’ realm. “A makeover is where I rearrange the client’s existing furniture, perhaps pulling in piecesfrom other rooms. I will also supplement their accessories withpieces that I am sure will complement their style.” Linda Bachmancan attest to that. “Mary has done two makeovers for me in the timeI have known her; once in my old house and once in the housewhere I currently live. Both times she has amazed and surprised mewith her skills.” Jenkins was able to take Linda’s existing furniturein her downstairs living and dining area and through careful rear-ranging, completely change the look and feel of the rooms. “It waslike walking into a new home,” Bachman confesses. “Mary nailedmy taste on the head. When I looked at the finished room I did a

double-take. I realized there were pieces that belonged to me but shedisplayed them in ways I would never have thought of.” Bachmansaid that she loved the new accessories Jenkins added so much shebought them. “She has helped me to stretch my design tastes too,”Bachman explains. “She’d show me something in a catalog and Iwould never in a month of Sundays choose it. But when I see it, Irealize that it is perfect! My tastes have perhaps become more‘grown up’ since I have known Mary.”

Jenkins has been asked to create surprise makeovers, in a“While You Were Out” style. She calls it her Magical Makeoverand it is in high demand. Jenkins also does staging for homes thatare for sale — making the best use of the furniture to make the homeready for a quick and good sale.

Not only does The Jenkins Group do all of this, they do person-al organization. “Many clients hire us when they move. We helpthem organize their belongings, discarding items that they no longerneed. We will hang their art, stock the china cabinets, even set anddress the tables for them. Whatever they need, we can do.”

This obviously keeps Jenkins exceptionally busy, which is justfine by her. The family underwent a devastating loss last Augustwhen Mary’s husband of 25 years passed away quite suddenly from pancreatic cancer. “It was so quick,” she says wiping away the tears.“From initial diagnosis to his passing was only 10 weeks.” He left behind two adult daughters, Jessica and Jennifer and one teenageson, Jonathan. “We are doing well,” Jenkins says. “Work has keptus sane through the hard times. I love my office and my kids spenda lot of time here with me.”

Jenkins recently started a new venture, one that came aboutalmost by accident. “I always send thank you cards and gifts to cus-tomers and vendors. One day someone told me about ‘Send OutCards’ an online company that will send out the cards for you, andeven attach a gift if requested. I visited the website and was imme-diately hooked! I signed up and now tell all my friends and familyabout this great service!” To visit Mary Jenkins Send Out Cardswebsite, log onto www.sendoutcards.com/MaryJ.

Life for this busy lady has never been more hectic, or more satisfying. “When I chose to be a work-at-home mom I never knewI would love it as much as I do. I have the best of both worlds — Iam home when my son comes home from school but I have the satisfaction of knowing that I am providing for my family doingsomething that I love.”

She kept my husband and I focused. We have spent less money because of

her know-how and because she knowsher business inside and out”

— Sheiva Sarrami, Client

“

The Jenkins Group210.490.0161www.thejenkinsinteriordesigngroup.comwww.southernlivingathome.com/jenkinsdesigngrpwww.sendoutcards.com/MaryJ

By Suzanne Lennon

Many residents in the Stone Oak area have heard, andeven seen, the names ‘Steubing’ and ‘Classen’ but formany that is all they are, names. However there is a

real family alive and well today, and living on ranch land thathas been in the family for seven generation

Tucked away at the end of Hardy Oak, at the back of a typical middle-class sub-division, one is surprised to come upona chain-link fence, a gate, and the white face of a cow peeringthrough. Behind this unassuming gate though, lies the heart ofthe Steubing Ranch.

Darlene, daughter of the last living Steubing, describes a little of the history of the ranch, and how it has changed since itsinception in the 1800’s. Johann Classen emigrated from Prussia(modern day Germany) in the 1860’s settling in the USA and theSan Antonio area where he became a US citizen in 1869. Classen had five children, two daughters andthree sons. Land was cheap and plentiful in those days, andClassen wasted no time in buying up as much land as possible in order to build a cattle ranch.

The soil in what is now known as Stone Oak was too rockyfor growing crops but was perfect for raising cattle. The family quickly discovered that ‘Polled Hereford’ were the hardiest cattle and the best for the terrain. ‘Polled’ means hornless, and these cattle are born hornless. Another reason forraising Polled Herefords is that they are generally docile. Theyare also fast growing cattle with good beef quality.

All five inherited land from their father, but William, thethird born child, bought more land to add to his inheritance. Heslowly bought most of the land that is now Stone Oak. Williamhad several daughters and it was one his grandsons, LeslieSteubing, who is now the current owner and rancher of the Steubing Ranch.

“I was raised on this farm,” 92-year old Leslie Steubing says,from his comfortable chair in his home. “And I’d probably stillbe actively taking care of the ranch and the cattle if it weren’t forthis hip of mine.” Darlene, his daughter explains that until 2003Leslie Steubing rode with the cattle, and fed and watered them.“Unfortunately he got knocked down by one when she wasshuffled out of the way at feeding time.” Although it slowed himdown physically, nothing can slow the man’s mind down. “Mynephew runs the day-to-day affairs of the ranch,” Darlene says,“But my father still is concerned about all the aspects of itsmaintenance.”

It was not only Leslie who was raised on the ranch. Sevengenerations of Classen’s and Steubing’s have called this placehome. Darlene has great memories. “We used to have any animal known to mankind here! We could spend all day out onthe ranch and not see a living soul or hear a vehicle.” The original homestead was built sometime in the 1800’s, but Lesliebuilt a separate home for his family in 1940, just steps awayfrom the homestead. He has lived there ever since. His grandsonnow lives in the main house and leases the land from LeslieSteubing and actively runs the ranch.

The Steubings have held onto their land, only selling or donating what they choose, regardless of the pressures that havebeen placed on them by city officials. Steubing is outspokenabout the proposed toll road for US281. “I’m mad about that,”he says passionately. “We donated the land to the city when theyfirst wanted to build US281. I know other ranchers up and downwhat is now US281 did the same. Now TxDot and the city areproposing a toll! It’s just wrong. I know they need to build morelanes but to charge when they were initially given most of theland doesn’t sit right with me.” Several years ago they sold land

to the North East Independent School District for the building ofRonald Reagan High School. Today they lease the land that isquarried on the north end of Stone Oak along US281. “We ownmore land than most people realize,” Darlene divulges. “Landthat has been in my family for many years.”

Darlene is proud of her family’s heritage. “My grandfather recalls finding traces of Native American settlements here, eventhough the last time Indians came through Bexar County wasyears before his time. And of course ranching has changed overthe years. When I was growing up we raised everything fromchickens to cattle and everything in between, but with the reintroduction of the coyote in the 1950s we had to rethink keeping the pigs and the goats.” Today they have one bull, several cows and raise the calves to sell. “Neighbors in the subslove catching a peek of the distinctive white faces of the Herefords we raise,” she says with a smile.

If you ask about the future of that ranch though, the smile becomes enigmatic. “I can’t comment,” Darlene says, as she gestures towards the wide-open spaces, and the traditional redbarn that dominates the immediate horizon. However, she doessay that she will do everything in her power to ensure the ranchstays in the family. One piece of the property that is near anddear to the family’s heart is the private cemetery with thegravesites of the founding members of the ranch.

Leslie Steubing appears content with his life as it is now. Hehas successfully farmed his land since he inherited it; he hasraised two daughters and now enjoys seeing his nine great-grandchildren. “They range in age from 13 to newborn,”Darlene adds proudly. “In fact the newest grandson was born inFebruary, so he truly is a newbie to the family.” She hopes thatthe same love for the land, and more particularly the ranch, hasbeen engendered in her children and grandchildren as it has inher. She wants Classen and Steubing to be more than just nameson a road sign, or a school. She wants these men, her family, tobe remembered as people.

“Stone Oak would not be here if it weren’t for these men,”she says. “I think we owe it to them, and to the community, tokeep their history, their legacy alive.”

Leslie Steubing and grandchildren

— Leslie Steubing, Ranch Owner

“I’m mad about that,” he says passionately. “We donated the land tothe city when they first wanted to buildUS281. I know other ranchers up anddown what is now US281 did the same.

Now TxDot and the city are proposing a toll! It’s just wrong.”

A Past and a Future with the Steubings

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