The Sophienburg Museum & Archives unveils new brand
New Braunfels founder Prince Carl Solms and his bride Sophia are taking on a hip, modern style in a new branding campaign for The Sophienburg Museum and Archives (SMA) that hopes to generate awareness of the city’s historical significance and the early lives of Germans who settled in Texas. Several
The miraculous electric belt
By Keva Hoffmann Boardman — It’s a crumbling brown leather belt with an insert of linked silver-plated rectangular batteries. It might not look like much, but this curious artifact, an electric belt, represents a weird and wonderful era in the history of electricity. Electrotherapy — using electricity to stimulate nerves
Scholl Peters house gone missing
By Tara V. Kohlenberg — I watch rooftops multiply daily as I look out from our house of more than 30 years. I will not lie. It is distressing. It truly makes me appreciate the beautiful well-built 100-plus-year-old buildings that grace our city. Being a native, I often wonder what
Seven flags over New Braunfels
By Keva Hoffmann Boardman — On February 16, 1963, San Antonio Express and News staff writer Jerry Deal ran a story in the San Antonio Express and News about Laredo, Texas. This is an out take: “… the friendly city of Laredo is not only the oldest independent town established
Sophienburg History Award: Voice of the forgotten
By Tara V. Kohlenberg — For more than 90 years, the Sophienburg Museum and Archives has maintained artifacts and archival documents to keep the history of New Braunfels alive. Part of our mission is to not only preserve the history of New Braunfels, but to share the stories with the
Rabbits, eggs become mainstay Easter traditions
(Reprint of AROUND THE SOPHIENBURG article published March 31, 2009, by Myra Lee Adams Goff) Children don’t question whether it’s possible for rabbits to lay eggs. They just know that when they build a pretty nest of grass and flowers, the Osterhase (Easter Rabbit) lays these beautiful multi-colored eggs. It’s
The Timmermann house: Memory of its haunting beauty is all that is left
By Tara V. Kohlenberg — We are fortunate to live in a community proud of its heritage, culture and architecture. Our historic districts and downtown are proof of that pride. It seems so very idyllic, people creating a community by the river, building homes and businesses. The town prospers and
Posting memories
By Keva Hoffmann Boardman — It used to be when you traveled, you would pick up postcards at all the locations you visited. Then you would either send them home to family and friends or keep them as a souvenir. Postcards were cheap, easy and extremely portable. The coming of
West San Antonio Street — Now and then
By Tara V. Kohlenberg — While scouring an old Herald-Zeitung for some trivial unrelated detail, I came across a photo of an early 20th century view of downtown New Braunfels. It was taken from a postcard of West San Antonio Street. The corresponding article described the names and locations of
Bootlegging and beer bottles
By Keva Hoffmann Boardman — On February 27, 1977, Herb Skoog recorded the 21st interview of the Sophienburg Museum’s “Reflections” oral history program. Herb interviewed Jerome Nowotny. It is one of the best episodes in the series — a real humdinger. Jerome Nowotny is perhaps best remembered for his enormous