* Official TEXAS Forum - PHOTO Thread * (San Antonio, Fort Worth: design, architectural, park)

[french paris]

Great job as usual!!

[winkosmosis]

Texas Independence reenactors

[elnina]

Boerne, Texas

Founded in 1852 by German settlers and incorporated in 1909, the City of Boerne (named in honor of Ludwig Börne, a German poet and publicist) was one of the area's most strategic transportation locations on routes for those traveling into San Antonio or the Texas hill country by horse, wagon, train, and motorized vehicle. German cultural tradition dominate the community in many ways: Boerne Gesangverein, or singing society, Boerne Village Band, Schuetzen Verein, a shooting club, and annual the Berges Fest, since 1967.

The first St. Peter’s Church was completed in 1866, after the Civil War, although it was started years before. It was built outside of the city limits at that time because "Free-thinkers" kept religion out of Boerne in earlier days. The new St. Peter’s Church was built in 1923 next to the old church and was modeled after San Antonio's Mission de la Purisma (1730).





St Helena's Episcopal Church

Because Boerne had been established by “free thinkers” – Germans, who had no religion – churches were not permitted in Boerne. Legend tells of signs posted outside the city limits warning that preachers found inside the town after sunset would be shot. The first church built inside the city limits was the Episcopal Church, erected in 1881 by British settlers and designed using Gothic Revival architecture with stonework.







This church was open so I was able to take few pictures of the interior:









The Boerne Public Library is in the historic Dienger Building (1884) on the Main Plaza. It features a 1614 Low German (Platte Deutsch) Bible - one of only six known to exist. There is also free internet access.



The Main Plaza. In June and July, the Boerne Village Band plays German music at the Abendkonzerte (evening concerts) on the main plaza. People bring their blankets, lawn chairs and ice chests to relax and listen, or dance a polka. The Boerne Village Band has been playing true old-country German music for 139 consecutive years. In fact, it's the oldest German band in the country, and the oldest in the world outside of Germany.



The Kendall Inn building dates from 1859. It was formerly a stagecoach stop. The Limestone Grille is located there. Great restaurant.



Crescent Quarters: All modern amenities are found in this newly constructed Texas Hill Country hotel
that provides inn-style accommodations completely inspired by New Orleans French Quarter architecture.
The second floor balcony that replicates a French Quarter panorama and is illuminated by the glow of gas lanterns. It has 100 year-old brick façade.





Many antiques shops, boutiques, and small restaurants are located nearby:

[elnina]

Boerne, TX, cont...

[elnina]

Boerne, TX architecture:

[elnina]

Boerne, TX cemetery: Very disorganized, vandalized and neglected.
The cemetery dates back to 1867. The earliest known graves are those of the Bickel family. They were scalped and killed by Indians in 1868. The Boerne cemetery reflects the history of Kendall County and is a Texas Historical Cemetery. About 4000 people are buried there.
There are many very old graves, but the names are now almost impossible to read.

[elnina]

Comfort, TX:
The town was laid out near the site of an Indian village in 1854 by Ernst Hermann Altgelt, though its history goes back to a group of Germans from New Braunfels. Freemasons, freethinkers, and political activists, middle-class German families, and liberals from Bettina and Sisterdale settled the area. The town was a center of Union sentiment during the Civil War and lost many young men at the battle of the Nueces in 1862. Much of the original townsite is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Significant architectural sites include Bolshevik Hall, Turner Hall, a theater, and numerous half-timber and Victorian structures that survived a disastrous flood in 1978.
The downtown area is possibly one of the most well-preserved historic business districts in Texas. There are well over 100 structures in the area dating back to the 1800s.

The scenic road (IH10) from Boerne, to Comfort:



Historic 1920’s rock church. The church was in operation as a Methodist church until 2001, now beautiful a romantic wedding venue: Cathedral Wedding Venue & Hall.





Many rock buildings and businesses remain in a splendid state of preservation and did not have to go through the rigors of restoration.
Built in 1907, it served Comforts banking needs until 1960. Beautiful hand-cut stone, polished red granite columns, round-headed windows and corner entrance. The bank building now serves as a museum:




August Faltin Building: The Victorian Italian edifice was completed in 1879. That same year an addition to the building was completed. also designed by Giles included second floor space for meetings of fraternal and civic groups
Updated Storefront ~ Left portion of the building is from 1879.



Old Post Office Building: build in 1908 this one story brick building was used as the Comfort Post Office until 1952.
Designed by Alfred Giles who retired nearby to raise sheep.



"Treue der Union" Monument: This memorial is for German settlers who were established here, but were killed on their way to Mexico during the Civil War. They were attacked by Confederate forces near Brackettville on August 10, 1862. The bodies were not buried and the bones were retrieved and placed here in 1865. It is one of only six National Cemeteries permitted to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff.















Comfort Community Church:





Historic architecture:

The Otto Brinkman House was built in 1861.



Built in 1869 as the Meyer family home, The Old Homestead is now the Innkeepers Residence.

[elnina]

Comfort, TX cont....

Built in 1890 this former blacksmith shop is unique among blacksmith shops … it was constructed of limestone and had a second story used for living quarters. The historical plaque told us that the rock mason worked on the lower level for almost a year, walking to the job each week from Sisterdale, a small town 15 miles away.



Fortunately many of Comfort’s historic structures survived the disastrous flood that occurred in 1978. Here are some examples:

[elnina]

The cemetery:

The Comfort cemetery in contrary to Boerne, is very well organized and cared for.



Many of the graves in the Comfort Cemetery in central Texas are covered in seashells. The practice of decorating graves with seashells can be seen throughout the German communities. The rounded graves topped with straight rows of cockleshells were either fashioned by German-born craftsman Henry Theodore Mordhorst or by an imitator. They supposed to represent eternal life or rebirth.

[KathrynAragon]

Here are a few shots from this past week, down by the Frio River in south Texas: