Sophienburg Museum and Archives

Emigrants unprepared for conditions in ships

March 10, 2013

By Myra Lee Adams Goff In your imagination, go back to 1845. The German immigrants will be crossing the Guadalupe River into what would become the settlement of New Braunfels. The date is March 21st and in 1845, it was Good Friday. As we know, Good Friday is not often

Christmas icons help us celebrate the season

December 16, 2012

Around the Sophienburg, Sophienblog

By Myra Lee Adams Goff I’m writing about iconology, the study of icons. The word “icon” has been stretched thin over the years. Originally it referred to “a painting of religious personages on a wooden panel in the Eastern Church”. In advertising, we have icons for almost everything. Christmas icons

New businesses develop during Reconstruction

December 2, 2012

Around the Sophienburg, Sophienblog

By Myra Lee Adams Goff Before we say goodbye to the Civil War, let’s look at what the period immediately after the war known as Reconstruction, brought to Comal County. When the war was over in 1865, many did not return home, putting a terrible hardship on the families. Many

1850s Mill Street house being restored

March 6, 2012

Around the Sophienburg, Sophienblog

By Myra Lee Adams Goff What’s happening to the old house at 230 W. Mill St? I found out. Jeff and Denise Mund have bought the old Georg Pfeuffer house and they are restoring it. Records show that this is the sixth time that there have been major additions and

Haelbig made lasting music impression

January 24, 2012

Around the Sophienburg, Sophienblog

By Myra Lee Adams Goff An outstanding early citizen of New Braunfels and one who contributed much to the culture of the community was a man named Stefan Haelbig. Haelbig organized many of the early musical groups and was the music instructor of hundreds of children and adults alike in

More Meriwether story revealed

December 14, 2011

Around the Sophienburg, Sophienblog

By Myra Lee Adams Goff After writing the column about the digging of the Comal Canal by William Hunter Meriwether, much personal information has come to light about this man about whom we knew so little, but was so important to the development of New Braunfels. Refresh your memory in

New Braunfels Coffee Company popular until 1950

August 23, 2011

Around the Sophienburg, Sophienblog

By Myra Lee Adams Goff The Zuehl Family Book at the Sophienburg contains a rather well-known story to local historians. It was written by Wilhelm Zuehl when he was in his 70s as he recalled coming to Texas with his family as an 18-year-old in 1846. His family was on