Waggoners important to early New Braunfels transportation

By Myra Lee Adams Goff Waggoners or Teamsters were important to early New Braunfels. They not only led the wagon trains of the early German settlers but they hauled freight to and from the frontier, especially the Gulf coast. G. Fred Oheim, editor of the Zeitung’s Jahrbuch in 1943, named

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New Braunfels’ first doctor’s life filled with contradictions

By Myra Lee Adams Goff In the Sophienburg Museum, there is a display of several prominent early civic leaders in New Braunfels. You will see Zink, von Coll, Lindheimer, Seele, Ervendberg, Meusebach and Dr. Theodore Koester. It seems that Koester was the most controversial of all these early leaders. Dr.

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Former NBHS band director Victor Kase wrote alma mater

By Myra Lee Adams Goff In 1916, a unit of United States Army soldiers was on maneuvers from San Antonio and camped on the Landa Ranch overlooking Landa Park. One of those soldiers camping there was young Victor Kase who would return to New Braunfels to become band director at

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1847 New Year almost brought in with Meusebach hanging

By Myra Lee Adams Goff If we could have been in New Braunfels 164 years ago about this time of year (Dec. 31, 1846), we would have witnessed a group of about 130 early settlers on their way to a potential hanging. These new arrivals from Germany were disgruntled about

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Blended cultural traditions form typical Texas Christmas

By Myra Lee Adams Goff Each year, Christmas traditions are observed by Christians around the world. Here in New Braunfels, these traditions vary according to denomination and ancestry, but basically they are a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ more than 2,000 years ago. The Christmas tree idea was

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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

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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