Seele describes first school day in 1845
By Myra Lee Adams Goff “O wie herrlich, o wie schӧn Ist es in die Schule Gehn.” (Oh how splendid; oh, how lovely It is to go to school) With this song, Hermann Seele inspired his first students in New Braunfels. It was August 11, 1845, and the location was
Murchison should be remembered
By Myra Lee Adams Goff A month from this day on March 21, New Braunfels will once again observe Founder’s Day. It was the year 1845 when the first emigrants crossed over the Guadalupe River and made their way into what would become their new homeland. Germany was left far
Weihnachtsmarkt is coming to town
By Myra Lee Adams Goff Now everybody sing: “You better watch out, you better not pout, “You better not cry, I’m telling you why, “Weihnachtsmarkt is coming to town.” Yes, indeed, Weihnachtsmarkt begins Friday morning at New Braunfels Civic Convention Center. The local Christmas Market, patterned after those in Germany,
What’s the connection between von Coll and Clemens Dam?
By Myra Lee Adams Goff Did you know that there was a connection between Jean Jacques von Coll, the Adelsverein’s bookkeeper, and the tube chute at Clemens Dam? It’s not inner tubes. Give up? In my last column, I wrote about why von Coll came to Texas. (See Sophienburg.com, July
New Braunfels newspaper has changed with the times
By Myra Lee Adams Goff When our town was only 7 years old, citizens saw a need for a newspaper. These citizens organized themselves into a company and through public subscription financed what became the second oldest continuous newspaper in Texas. It was in German because that was the mother
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.
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
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