"Ideal block" were among the many kinds of concrete blocks that emerged as building materials in the early 20th century. Concrete--a mixture of cement, sand, water and stone aggregates--had been used for centuries, but technological advances in making Portland cement in the late 19th century combined with a patent for cast iron machines for making blocks on site in 1900 opened the door to concrete block construction. Use of the new building blocks spread across the country between about 1905 and 1940. In 1906, one observer wrote that "Concrete blocks were practically unknown in 1900, but it is probably safe to say that at the present moment more than a thousand companies and individuals are engaged in their manufacture in the United States. 'In Omaha, Nebraska, stonecutter Nils Peterson was so impressed with the product that he quit chiseling stone to "make them in a mold." He invested his savings in a block making machine and started the Ideal Cement Stone Company.

Dozens of companies and hundreds of builders used the new machine. They cost as little as $60 and, according to its manufacturers, required little expertise. A 1917 Sears and Roebuck house-by-mail catalogue claimed that it was so easy to make the block "you can make them during your spare time, or on rainy days." Nevertheless, most buildings built with such block were constructed by professional contractors. Although the product was more expensive than wood, it was much cheaper than stone and billed as fireproof and quarried stone and thus appeared more expensive. (Simpson) 
 

Brandon Building

Ideal blocks were used on the posts of the Brandon Building and for the trip around the top.

Fire Station

Elder Building
 

First Presbyterian Church

A church building was completed at Third and Morton Streets in 1910, at a cost of $5,393.02.

Hill Building - 1910

Business increased such that by 1910, Hill built a new two-story block building on the lot where his frame store had been. He hired J. G. [C.] Bontrager as the general contractor. Bontrager hung a sign on the building boasting that the entire building was constructed of Ideal Blocks, a rock-faced hollow concrete block sold as a less expensive substitute for stone. The use of such blocks, which were manufactured on site, was a new innovation in construction in the early 20th century.

Pybus-Koerber House

208 Main Street

Walters Cement Building
Palacios Garage - Remax Building

Messrs. J. W. Johnson and F. M. Tolbert, of West Point, have opened an automobile garage in the Walters
cement building on Fifth street between Main and Commerce streets. As soon as they can get everything
in shape they will be ready to do anything in the auto repairing line. As before stated Watch Palacios Grow.
Palacios Beacon, March 3, 1911

215-217 Fifth Street
The lower portion of the south side is Ideal Block

Known uses and known dates
Adolphus Apartments (c April 1953 - September 1954)
Palacios T. V. Cable - (August 10, 1963 - 1965)

Building on the Corner of Fifth and  Commerce Street

Corner of Morton and 5th Street
Former City Water Works Building

Corner of South Bay Boulevard and 1st Street
Flower planters at the rear of the house are constructed of Ideal Blocks.

Emmons Building
Large blocks were used as accents on each front corner and on the side.

John Christian Bontrager

December 12, 1880 Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana
April 17, 1960 Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana
Buried Prairie Street Cemetery, Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana

Married Ada Bertha McKinley November 16, 1902 Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana
 

1910 Palacios Census
Lucas Street

John C. Bontrager, 29, married once, 7 years, IN, OH, OH, contractor, concrete work
Ada Bontrager, 28, married once, 7 years, 3 children-1 living, OH, IN, IN
Ella M. Bontrager 3/12, TX, IN, OH, OH
Sarah McKinley - mother-in-law, 54, widowed, 7 children-6 living, IN, VA, OH
William E. McKinley - brother-in-law, 15, single, OH, IN, IN
Zoa McKinley - sister-in-law, 13, single, OH, IN, IN

In 1920, the family was living in Elkhart, Indiana.
 

PALACIOS

Mrs. C. J. [J. C.] Bontrager and little daughter Ella Mae, left Monday morning for Elkhart , Ind. , where they will visit friends and relatives for some time.

Houston Daily Post, October 16, 1910
 

Ten Years Ago - 1911

Mr. J. C. Bontrager and family left this morning for their former home in Elkhart, Ind., where they will remain during the summer. It will be pleasing to their many friends here to know they expect to return next fall. [Editor's note:--Mrs. Bontrager has recently undergone an operation and Miss Edna Baird is nursing her.]

Palacios Beacon, April 8, 1921
 

Former Palacios Residents Here For Holiday Visit

Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Bontrager and three daughters, of Elkhart, Ind., came in Thursday. Mr. and Mrs. Bontrager made this city their home a number of years ago and are remembered by quite a few of our residents. Mr. Bontrager is a contractor and builder and under him the Hill brick building at the corner of Commerce and Pavilion was erected, also the Presbyterian church and a number of our most substantial homes. They, no doubt see many changes in the City-by-the-Sea and improvements that have been made since their going away, and we hope their visit here will be one of great pleasure.

Palacios Beacon, December 29, 1927