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 […]
Some postmarks tell interesting history
By Myra Lee Adams Goff A young German count, Arnold-Henkel von Donnersmark, came to the New Braunfels settlement in 1845 with Prince Carl. He built a large frame building where he lived and conducted his hotel and saloon business. In less than a year he had accumulated several thousand dollars. This is how he did […]
Indianola important port in the 1840s
By Myra Lee Adams Goff “So, Indianola, has it been with thee, Thou once fair city by the moonlit sea! Thy fame is ended and thy beauty fled- Bleak memory calls them from the silent dead.” (Excerpts from “Indianola” by Jeff McLemore from the book, “Indianola” by Brownson Malsch) The Adelsverein encouraged emigration to the […]
Sophienburg to celebrate Fourth of July on Third
Tune in to KGNB – AM 1420 or KNBT – FM 92.1 for weather announcements for the parade and program. By Myra Lee Adams Goff Guess you think we’re going to celebrate the Fourth of July on the fourth of July. Well, you’re wrong. We’re going to show our independence by celebrating on the third […]
Sophienburg to copy early church records
By Myra Lee Adams Goff A very important agreement has been reached between the Sophienburg Museum and Archives and First Protestant Church, one of extreme historic significance. The church will allow the Sophienburg to copy all early church records, including minutes, birth records, death records, and many more papers of significance. The First Protestant Church […]
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 […]
Ernst and Antoinette Gruene home still standing
By Myra Lee Adams Goff Twenty-six-year-old Ernst Gruene applied for his passport to emigrate to Texas from Germany. He is described in his passport as a very tall, (over 6’2”) blond, handsome man. Later family accounts describe him as not only good-looking, but very charming. In Germany he was a flax farmer and planned for […]
Lost map becomes found treasure
Detail of K. W. Pressler & W. Völker 1851 map of Texas. This map was issued as part of G. M. von Ross’ 1851 book, Der Nordamerikanische Freistaat Texas. By Keva Hoffmann Boardman — Among a stack of “orphaned” papers, I found an old map of Texas. “Orphans” are those papers or artifacts that either […]
Denson-Dedeke’s dedication to historic preservation
By Tara V. Kohlenberg — Shopping for a wedding gift used to be something that I looked forward to. My most recent “gift shopping” experience involved scanning a QR code where I was then directed to a website to choose the appropriate item and clicking to send. Wow! So very anticlimactic. Where is the fun […]
