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| Vereins Kirche ~ originally built in 1847 but torn down after the 50th anniversary of Fredericksburg’s founding, was rebuilt in 1934 to honor the first German settlers of Fredericksburg, Texas. |
Continuing in our travel series
Places to Visit
I thought we’d go and explore the
Texas Hill Country town
of
Fredericksburg, Texas…
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| Love the old “false~fronts” on these 1870’s brick buildings here! |
Fredericksburg is a lovely restored town with
many places to shop including antique shops, restaurants, and
old five~and~dimes like the one shown above.
Per Wikipedia, Fredericksburg “was founded in 1846 and
Old-time German residents often referred to
Fredericksburg as Fritztown
spoken by the first generations of German settlers who
initially refused to learn English.”
On the Saturday afternoon we were there
hundreds of people wandered their way from shop to shop.
Finding a parking spot was NOT an option as every stall along
the main street was full so we drove down a side street to park
over a few streets.
I had {quite literally} an hour to run around
and photograph as much as I could
{never mind even window shopping…}.
We’d been up since 5:00am and had driven 400~plus miles
already that day as we were really on our way
through the state to bring our daughter and all her things
to her new home
another couple of hours away.
So…
This post is just a quick overview.
Next time I hope to share some of the wonderful
shops with you!
This lovely park was not far from where we parked
and may be an old Victorian park where then and possibly now
Fourth of July band concerts and other events
would happen under the shade of this large gazebo with its
fashionable painted red tin roof. One can just imagine the first
immigrants who settled the area coming and picnicking
underneath these large leafy trees
all the while tapping their toes as
the day’s entertainers played many a
rousing song…
This is Fredericksburg’s jail built in 1885 ~ it served as the
fourth jail in Gillespie county where Fredericksburg is situated.
Fredericksburg is in the heart of the Texas Hill Country at
an elevation of 1693′ above sea level.
Snowfall is pretty non~existent here with less than an inch
and only in 1941 having had a record of 8 inches!
Fredericksburg receives around 28″ of rain during the year
making for some of the most beautiful wildflower shows
you will find anywhere!
Limestone buildings are common in this area
as well as throughout Texas, I’ve noticed.
Fort Martin Scott
was built and used by the US Army for a short time in the 1850’s
and is just to the southwest of Fredericksburg.
Below is a photograph of a painting
of the fort shown on a larger information billboard
near the limestone two~story building,
above left.
Pioneer Memorial Library
is the building in the upper lefthand photograph.
Freidhelm’s Bavarian Inn and Restaurant
is the quaint German~style building
in the photograph on the right.
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| Fort Martin Scott as it was in the early 1850’s. |
My husband wandered on foot to a different area
than where I was and found this park with statues depicting
the smoking of a peace pipe and the signing of the peace treaty
between
John O. Meusebach and Commanche chief Santanna, 1847.
This treaty was between the people of Fredericksburg, Texas and
the people of the Commanche Nation.
To this day, this treaty is thought to be the only one known to
not have been broken
between any Native American tribal nation and
any white settlers within the United States.
My brother Gene was stationed nearby in the
Dallas~Fort Worth area, about four hours away, when
I drove out with my two kids to spend Easter with his family
over spring break in 1998.
It seemed then that everywhere we drove in the
Texas Hill Country
there were masses of
bluebonnets and wildflowers!
Driving around the Hill Country this summer was
really a treat bringing back
fond memories
of our kids’ early years and the special time
we had back then visiting with family.
The Saturday we visited
Fredericksburg,
I had {quite literally}
an hour to run around and photograph
as much as I could
{never mind even window shopping…}.
We’d been up since 5:00am and had driven 400~plus miles
already that day as we were really on our way
through the state to bring our daughter and all her things
to her new home another couple of hours away.
So…
This post is just a quick overview.
Next time I will share some of Fredericksburg’s wonderful
shops with you!
For more information on
Fredericksburg
please click on the name above.
Let me know how you liked this
little tour of Fredericksburg, Texas!
I look forward to hearing
from you!
Blessings to you,
Sharing with
Feathered Nest Friday ~ French Country Cottage
