Fredericksburg Standard from Fredericksburg, Texas • Page 36

The Face of A City Changes but its charm remains mwmr State LOOKING EAST ON MAIN STREET IN THE SAME SCENE TODAY SECTION FOUR MORE ON EARLY DAYS Gdition 1846- mi Many Original Settlers Present for 1896 Event May 8, 1846, a Friday, the first settlers reached their destination, Fredericksburg. May 8, 1896, also a Friday, there were many among these same first settlers who were still alive to rejoice Pioneer Recalls 25th Anniversary Celebration Here In the 1946 Centennial Edition of the Fredericksburg Standard appeared the following article written by John Kraus, describing the 25th Anniversary Celebration held here in 1871. It is reprinted in this 125th Anniversary Edition of the Standard so our readers may contrast events of 100 years ago with those that are scheduled for the 1971 observance. At the 25th anniversary of the founding of the town of Fredericksburg a parade was formed at the first public school here, where the Fire Station is now located. note: the present City Hall).

Heinrich Ochs and Christian Kraus Sr. were the teachers at that time and they led the children in the parade singing German songs. At the Nimitz Hotel the parade turned right, crossed Creek and marched to the dance hall on top of a small hill, the location of I the present locker plant. (Fredericksburg ck s) Most of the people were walking, others rode in spring wagons and oxen wagons, with a band in the lead. There were drink stands, benches and card tables for the older folks, the young men amused themselves by pitching horseshoes, gambling for small stakes or drinks.

After dinner the band started playing for the grand ball. Soon all the grown folks were dancing, the ladies in hoop men with sabers, knives or pistols fastened to their belts. Those long skirts worn by the ladies proved to be of great help in keeping the dance floor clean. During the afternoon with four or five playmates, started to explore the postoak thicket on the Continued on page 2, Sec. 4 with the others who came after them in the Golden Jubilee Celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of Fredericksburg.

And what a grand celebration was planned! The ringing of church bells, a tradition on the Sabbath eve or other festive occasions, awakened the citizens of Fredericksburg. A more abrupt awakening, perhaps, was the salutes that were amboss war That was quite an art, and involved an anvil (amboss) and the exploding of gunpowder, resulting in a very loud noise. The little colony had grown into a sizeable village, and the citizens did all they could to make it festive for the occasion. The original Vereins Kir- che which stood in the mid- die of Main Street between the Courthouse and Market Squares was draped in ing. Some of the side walls were removed to make a pavilion, and additional cedar arbors provided more space for Even the stores and the homes were decorated, and Main Street, then still called San Saba Street, was bedecked with bunting and flags.

On the Market Square many brush and cedar arbors had been constructed. Here families had concessions such as and places where the beer flowed freely. On the Market Square and along the sides of Main Street hacks and wagons were parked, teams were staked out, and from 9 a. m. to 12 noon on this first day, Friday, there was a concert and address of as noted in the official for the day.

From 2 to 6 p. m. an and vocal was rendered. To end the first day there was a torchlight procession with music by bands, bonfires on the hills around town and Just what the latter meant is not clear from the program. Saturday the activities began with a Festival through the town, this followed with speeches.

In the afternoon between 2 and 6 p. m. there was time for fellowship, music by the bands and singing by the local societies, as well as dan- Continued on page 12, sec. 4 ENGELBERT KRAUSKOPF, early settler, Indian fighter, freighter, guide, hunter and pioneer businessman who founded the present-day firm of Krauskoptf Bros. During Civil War days he teamed up with Adolph Lungkwitz to make ammunition for the people in this area.

His shop stood at the site of what is now Community Savings and Loan Association and an historical marker has been erected at the site. Engelbert Krauskopf Early Day Gunsmith In the early days of the frontier to stay alive and healthy was a struggle in itself. Out of these conditions emerged E. Krauskopf, pioneer extraordinary. He was a man of many skills and interests, and founded what is considered by Dun and Bradstreet to be the oldest business in Texas still actively run by the same family.

In his native Germany he learned the trade of cabinet making, but once on the frontier of Texas, he soon turned to led to his establishing, during the Civil War days, what was said to have been the only cap factory in Texas. Yet in the midst of these days of dire need and struggle for survival, he found time for an interest in the flora of Texas. Though the name of Krauskopf is well known in the THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY PARAOE OF business field in Fredericksburg where his descendants are carrying on in the same location on Main Street where he settled, the name of Engelbert Krauskopf will be perpetuated forever in the botanical records the flora of Texas, as the of the well- known Red-Flowered Yucca, He was born at Bendorf on the Rhine near Coblenz in Germany on August 21, 1820. An uncle introduced him to the trade of cabinet making with the promise of inheriting the business if he stayed with the trade. But he also had another uncle who was in charge of locks and guns at a royal palace.

Here Krauskopf spent all of his spare time studying the guns, and promised himself he would someday learn the gunsmithing trade. In those days, cabinet makers often were called upon to make coffins, and at times they even had to help with funeral proceedings. Once when he was helping take a coffin which held the corpse of a young girl, his down some stairs, the coffm slipped away from the bearers and fell, breaking open. The shock of this incident was so great to young Krauskopf that it was probably the turning point in his decision to change trades, and in time leave his native country. He left Germany on October 1, 1845, sailing on the ship, Hortensia, and arrived on the Texas coast on New Day, 1846.

He came through New Braunfels, arriving in Fredericksburg in 1846. Another passenger on this same ship was Rosa Herbst, who later became his wife. Her fortitude and courage Continued on page 2, Sec. 4 Immigrants Letter Back HomeTellsOf 1845-46 Hardships in Coastal Cities Manifold Problems On Arrival Kurt Kiotzbach of Dortmund, editor of one of West largest newspapers, visited in Fredericksburg several years ago, and was interested in the history of early settlers who came here from Germany. He discovered a letter in the Dortmund City Archives and translated it, sending a copy to the Fredericksburg Standard.

The letter is reprinted here, almost in its entirety, because it gives such a revealing light into the life of the colonists who settled Fredericksburg 125 years ago, the hardships they faced, the problems they overcame, and of the faith and confidence they had in the future of this land. Mr. Kiotzbach, in his brief remarks concerning the writer of the letter has this to say about him: Koehler and his wife, Chariotte, nee Jaeger, and their children, Karl, Charlotte and Edward, came to Galveston on the ship Johann Dethardt in 1845. This letter was written to a friend in Dortmund, Germany, I found it in the Dortmund Ciity Archives when I searched for further Westphalians who immigrated to Texas 120 years ago. was a bookbinder by profession, lived in Kreuzburg (Sachsen-Weimar), but worked for some time in Dortmund, Westphalia, probably at the Wochen- blatt fuer die Stadt und den Kreis Dortmund that printed part of his letter in August letter follows: Galveston, February 1846.

Dear Friend: If I should follow my intention to write you only from my place of destination (Fredericksburg) I guess you would receive this letter very late in summer for our trip goes so slowly that we are still staying at our landing place after eighteen weeks. Therefore 1 can't help writing to you now so you will quiet Continued on page 4, sec. 4 SBpif rnf faff fur bir md Nro. 33 1846 a a 11 (). SDci Sricb(id) finding ifl Gommunal Crrnutor fur ben Umtfebtiirf anjf.

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10 nt. frnn man -t 'Puiirb etbatten, einen roilb. bat Da 'INunifoiten beflcbrn birr in I Dollar KOEHLER'S LETTER, as it appeared in part, in the Dortmund Wochenblatt in Germany in their issue of August 15, 1846. The English translation of Kurt Klotz.bach, Dortmund newspaper editor, for the Fredericksburg Standard is published almost in its entirety in this issue. Picturesque Lange Mill Played Key Role In Area's Development In the midst of Doss Valley, in tne northwestern part of Gillespie County, stands an old mill, the rustic beauty of which is matched only its historical significance.

This is Mill. It is a two-story, native rock and frame structure located on the banks of Threadgill Creek. The murmur of rushing water in the miilrace still resounds as it did in days long ago, and many of the same stately cypress and pecan trees stand as sentienels over the the old mill. The placid millpond is now covered with myriads of water lilies. The peaceful quietude is broken only by the honking of ducks and geese Continued on page 6, sec.

4 Historical Markers Abound In County Gillespie County is one of the leading areas in the State of Texas so far as the number of historical markers that have been placed on buildings or landmarks in comparison with its population is concerned. Some early markers were placed by the State of Texas during the Centennial in 1936. Most of these were gray granite historical markers which denote places and events whose importance to the Texas Heritage occurred prior to the end of the Civil War, including the eras of the Texas War for Independence and the Republic of Texas. County information markers are granite blocks with inscription and the state seal which give the pertinent facts about the county. These are placed by the State of Texas and are usually in a roadside park.

Since the Texas State Historical Survey Committee, the official state agency for historical marking and preservation, began its RAMPS program in cooperation with the 254 County Historical Survey Committees, over 4,000 such markers have been placed in the state. RAMPS was designed to save the priceless heritage of Texas by Recordation, Appreciation, Marking, Preservation and Surveys of Texas history. Historical Building Medallions and plates identify authentic homes and buildings of historical and cultural significance. The plates interpret the history of the tures. Aluminum Historical Markers direct interest to sites of historical importance of either local or statewide significance.

According to the Gillespie County Historical Survey Committee, by the time of the 125th Anniversary Celebration there will be additional historical markers on other buildings in addition to those described and listed when this article was written for publication. Continued on page lik, sec. 4.