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

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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

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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

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PHOTO CAPTION: The Holz-Timmermann House, 417 W. San Antonio St., circa 1930s.

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

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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

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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

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Photo Caption: Jerome Nowotny with his "Beer Bottles of the World" collection in 1970.

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

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Turning back time on First National Bank

By Tara V. Kohlenberg — If I had a magic wand, I would restore buildings that were torn down or significantly altered in downtown New Braunfels before the Downtown Historic District was established in 2012. The very first one on the list would be the old JP Morgan Chase Bank

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Tale of two markers

By Keva Hoffmann Boardman — This is the story of two mark­ers. One was put up at Co­mal Springs in 1968, and the other was placed out­side the yard of Franz and Mary Joyce Coreth on Hwy 46 (it now stands in front of Chick-fil-A). They both mark the lo­ca­tion

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The Golden Songbook and Herr Schmidt

By Tara V. Kohlenberg — Some stories write themselves. Some, like this one, began as one idea before evolving into something completely different. The idea stemmed from a visit with Myra Lee Adams Goff, (you know, accomplished author and the one that started this column) when she handed me a

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