Many Texans were “Treue der Union”
By Myra Lee Adams Goff “Treue der Union”. These are words that memorialize a group of young Texas men who were loyal to the Union during the Civil War. It’s a sad story that has a New Braunfels connection through the three sons of Wilhelm and Caroline Brückisch. Wilhelm Brückisch
Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit!
By Myra Lee Adams Goff Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit! Powerful words for an idea that is truly German. Loosely translated, it means “salute to German fellowship.” According to the late author Curt Schmidt, Gemütlichkeit is a concept that has grown out of thousands of years of German tradition based on
Heritage Society celebrates 25 years
By Myra Lee Adams Goff This year the Heritage Society of New Braunfels is 25 years old. The formation of the Society happened because of a gift of land, buildings, and antique collections from the late Bill and Nan Dillen. Here’s the story: After the 1972 flood here in NB,
City and CC Fair celebrate centennial or “Spass muss sein” in 1946
By Myra Lee Adams Goff The year 1946 was a premium year for celebrations here in New Braunfels. From its beginning in 1845, the town had celebrated almost everything with parades, dances, festivals, (Spass muss sein, or fun must be) but 1946 was special. World War II had ended in
New Braunfels was “on the track”
By Myra Lee Adams Goff It seems to me that New Braunfels is one of those towns that have it all; beautiful rivers, good people, and a very interesting historic background. And NB was one of those fortunate towns that was not bypassed by the railroad and had a train whose
If forefathers could Google would they still have come?
By Myra Lee Adams Goff Would New Braunfels history be different if in 1840 there had been communication technology like Face book, Twitter, Google, e-mail, and texting? Would the Adelsverein and the immigrants have had a better picture of the whole situation here in Texas and more importantly for us,
Hermann Seele would have loved this fine arts class
By Myra Lee Adams Goff This week 164 years ago, on August 11, 1845, Hermann Seele called to order the first school in New Braunfels under elm trees at the bottom of Sophienburg Hill. Fifteen children were taught reading, writing, arithmetic, English and German. The picture shows Austin and Macy
First known view of early New Braunfels – 1847
By Myra Lee Adams Goff Hanging in the Sophienburg Museum is an original stone lithograph that is the first known view of early New Braunfels. The painting from which the lithograph was made was by an artist named Conrad Casper Rohrdorf in 1847. Most of you have seen this panorama,
A night in the Sophienburg Museum
By Myra Lee Adams Goff You know that new movie about spending the night in a museum and the characters come alive? That would never happen in our Sophienburg Museum. Or would it? What if I was accidentally locked in our museum at closing time? Everyone leaves and the lights
President Theodore Roosevelt stops in NB
By Myra Lee Adams Goff An unforgettable event happened here in New Braunfels in 1905. Of course you would have to be at least 104 years old to have been there. I heard it from my parents who heard it from their parents. I’m talking about the day the President