Adelsverein promise of schools came through

By Myra Lee Adams Goff Education for all was one of the promises by the Adelsverein to the German immigrants who came to Texas 165 years ago. Just five months after the first immigrants arrived, this promise began. Rev. Louis Ervendberg who was engaged by Prince Carl to tend to the religious needs of the […]

Comal County’s first death sentence handed out in 1930s

By Myra Lee Adams Goff Have you ever heard the story of Chief Red Wing and how he became the first person to get the death penalty in Comal County? It’s a sad and terrible story. Here’s how it goes: On Oct. 6, 1930, Henry Cavazos, proprietor of the Cuban Shows, pitched a large tent […]

First Comal County Fair was canceled due to lack of rain

By Myra Lee Adams Goff Here we are again: “It’s Fair Time.” This celebration has lasted more than 100 years. Would you like to hear some details of the first Comal County Fair? Read on. An article in the “Neu Braunfelser Zeitung” in 1892 pointed out that Fredericksburg and Lockhart had a successful fair, so, […]

Prince Carl, Seele, Lindheimer, Meusebach to visit Sophienburg Museum

By Myra Lee Adams Goff Did you know that museums come to life at night? The Sophienburg will for two nights on Friday, October 15th and Saturday, October 16th Five well-known characters from old New Braunfels will be there. The program has been written for children and adults alike. Children will come away from the […]

Music tradition strong at Wurstfest

By Myra Lee Adams Goff When the Gemischter Chor Harmonie (Sängerbund) sings on the last Sunday of Wurstfest, they will be upholding a long-standing tradition of celebrating with music. For the past 50 years bands,singers, polka dancers, waltzers, chicken dancers, and some very sophisticated instrumentalists have danced hand and hand through the Wursthalle. The very […]

A treasure hunt looking for El Camino Real

By Myra Lee Adams Goff Let’s go on a treasure hunt. There won’t be a prize but your knowledge of the Old San Antonio Road, alias Kings Highway, alias El Camino Real de los Tejas will be greatly increased. So you always thought that the Camino Real was one road? Wrong. Researchers reveal that what […]

Weihnachtsmarkt here again and with it the Christmas season

By Myra Lee Adams Goff Everyone on Sophie’s Hill is gearing up for the 22nd Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market). This event at the Civic Center is Nov. 19, 20 and 21 and the biggest fund raiser that the Sophienburg Museum and Archives has. A city is judged by how much pride it has in its history […]

Faust family leaves architectural legacy in New Braunfels

By Myra Lee Adams Goff NEW BRAUNFELS – In old New Braunfels, the Faust family was prominent and so were the homes they built. There are actually five buildings that could be referred to as Faust structures either by direct construction or indirect connection to the Faust family. Who were these Fausts that built the […]

A bank robbery in downtown New Braunfels

By Myra Lee Adams Goff A bank robbery in downtown New Braunfels? Yes, it happened on March 10, 1922, and reported a week later in the New Braunfels Herald. Hot news item? Well, remember that the Herald was a weekly newspaper. I’m sure that by that time local communication systems had already kicked into effect: […]

Law enforcement vital

By Myra Lee Adams Goff Safety and protection of citizens and property have always been foremost in the minds of anyone involved in law enforcement in New Braunfels and Comal County and it goes way back. Law enforcement began with Prince Carl who was responsible for the safety of the German emigrants as they made […]