Founders Day Celebration will commemorate 175th anniversary

In honor of the 175th Anniversary of Fredericksburg, a Founders Day Celebration will take place on Saturday, May 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pioneer Museum.

“We hope the citizens of Fredericksburg will come celebrate the city’s 175th Geburtstag at their own Pioneer Museum,” said Marty Kaderli, event organizer. “Free admission for the day with lots of German music, great food from community service organizations, and lots of historical displays and demonstrations that the family will enjoy!”

The Founders Day Celebration will in- clude food, live music and hands-on cultural activities for families.

Activities include:

• Free admission to the Pioneer Museum, Old Jail and Vereins Kirche Museum;

• Family-friendly programming, including blacksmithing, corn shellers, grist mills, fencing and rope making demonstrations as well as early period farm tractors;

• Food available for purchase, including sausage on a stick from the Fredericksburg Kiwanis, hamburgers from the Fredericksburg Lions Club, pulled pork tacos from the Nimitz Rotary Club, and authentic Indian Fry Bread from the Coman - che delegation; • “Main Street Mockingbirds” book launch, including a meet and greet with local author Amy Beicker, as well as the illustrator and sculptor following the conclusion of the 175th Anniversary Parade along Main Street;

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Music by Yodel Blitz;

• 12-noon — Free community ice cream social courtesy of H-E-B and Natural Grocers;

• 1 p.m. — Historic fire engine program presented by Paul Hannemann, president of the Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Department;

• 2-3 p.m. — Music by the Fredericksburg Akkordion Club.

Meusebach-Comanche Peace Treaty on exhibit

The original Meusebach-Comanche Peace Treaty, a Texas State Treasure, will be on exhibit for two days only, Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8, in the Temporary Gallery of the George H.W. Bush Gallery of the National Museum of the Pacific War, located at 311 East Austin Street in Fredericksburg.

Native Americans never broken by either side. The document is normally stored at the Texas State Library and Archives in Austin.

tee had designated the overall theme of the anniversary year as “Lasting Fredericksburg,” with monthly designated themes, as well.

2 Days Only

“The original ‘Meusebach-Comanche Treaty’ was signed between the German Immigration Company and the Comanches on May 9, 1847,” said Mike Hagee, President and CEO of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. “It was the only treaty with

“As part of the 175th anniversary of the founding of Fredericksburg, we are proud to have it on display for viewing at our museum,” Hagee said. “The Temporary Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free. I encourage everyone to take this rare opportunity to view this important historic document.”

The 175th Fredericksburg Anniversary Steering Commit-

The theme for this final month of the celebratory year was designated as “Lasting Friendship” to honor the unbroken peace treaty and the continuing friendship between the Comanche Nation and the peoples of Fredericksburg. A grant from Humanities Texas assisted in the underwriting for the exhibit of the MeusebachComanche Peace Treaty in Fredericksburg and a 175th speaker series that was organized by the History Committee of the 175th

Wreath-laying, Vereins Kirche ceremonies May 8

Fredericksburg will continue to honor its 175th Anniversary with a wreath laying ceremony and commemoration of the building of the Vereins Kirche at Marktplatz at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 8.

Fredericksburg Anniversary Steering Committee, the Pioneer Museum/the Gillespie County Historical Society and the Admiral Nimitz Foundation.

The last lecture of the series will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28 in the ballroom of the Historic Nimitz Hotel, located at 340 East Main Street.

The lecture is open to the public, and free of charge. Noted historians Dr. Dan Gelo and Dr. Chris Wickham will speak on the “Early Germans and the Comanche.”

The lecture will be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person at https://fbg. live/events.

175th Speakers To Address Historic Peace Treaty

In 10 days, the community and its guests will have a unique opportunity to see the historic treaty between the Fredericksburg Germans and the Comanches.

The original Meusebach-Comanche Peace Treaty, a Texas State Treasure, will be on exhibit for two days only, Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8, in the Temporary Gallery of the George H.W. Bush Gallery of the National Museum of the Pacific War, located at 311 East Austin Street.

To speak to this unique relationship with the Germans and Comanches which led to the treaty, on Thursday, April 28, noted scholars, Drs. Dan Gelo and Christopher J. Wickham will speak at the Nimitz ballroom on this historic relationship. The free presentation begins at 7 p.m. The lecture will also be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person at https://fbg.live/events/.

Dr. Gelo, a dean in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts at the University of Texas, San Antonio, is one of the most sought-after experts on the American Indian. And Dr. Wickham is a Professor in the Depart-

Kenny Price, Wanda Jackson and country music legends Willie Nelson and George Strait and the Ace in the Hole Band. Pat’s Hall closed its doors in 1985.

“We are excited to recreate the ambiance of Pat’s Hall, a long-time favorite dance hall of locals,” said Debbie Reeh, 175th committee member. “Since I moved here is the late 1970s, many people have shared wonderful memories listening to music and dancing there.

“One I remember well was the outdoor pavilion and dancing around in a circle un- ment of Modern Languages and Literatures at UTSA.

“The original ‘Meusebach-Comanche Treaty’ was signed between the German Immigration Company and the Comanches on May 9, 1847,” said Mike Hagee, President and CEO of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. “It was the only treaty with Native Americans never broken by either side. The document is normally stored at the Texas State Library and Archives in Austin.

“As part of the 175th anniversary of the founding of Fredericksburg, we are proud to have it on display for viewing at our museum. The Temporary Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free. I encourage everyone to take this rare opportunity to view this important historic document.”

A grant from Humanities Texas assisted in the underwriting for the exhibit of the Meusebach-Comanche Peace Treaty in Fredericksburg and a 175th speaker series that was organized by the History Committee of the 175th Fredericksburg Anni- der the huge oak tree. I, too, got to dance under that tree,” Reeh said. “For our Pat’s Hall evening, Karen Oestreich and I went to Friendly Natives to inquire about a tree. They donated a 22-foot oak tree for us to dance around. The tree will be under the Adelsverein Halle on May 7.”

The live music lineup for Pat’s Hall Night includes:

5-5:45 p.m., Bill Smallwood Band;

6-6:45 p.m., Wagon Aces;

7- 7:30 p.m., Mark Scott; versary Steering Committee, Pioneer Museum/Gillespie County Historical Society and the Admiral Nimitz Foundation.

Gelo is Dean and Professor of Anthropology Emeritus and former Stumberg Distinguished University Chair at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Gelo holds Ph.D., M.Phil., M.A., and B.A. degrees in anthropology from Rutgers University. He is the author of numerous books, including one on the Comanche vocabulary.

Wickham is Professor Emeritus of German at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He earned his B.A.(Hons) and M.Phil. at the University of Reading (UK) and his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He taught at the Universität Regensburg, Germany, Allegheny College, PA, and the University of Illinois at Chicago before moving to UTSA in 1991.

In March, Gelo and Wickham made the first presentation in the speaker series on a historical anthropological analysis of three mid-19th century sketches by a German immigrant to Texas, Wilhelm Friedrich.

7:45-9:30 p.m., Darrel & Mona McCall with Tony Booth; 9:45-11 p.m., George Chambers & The Country Gentlemen. The event is free to attend, and guests are invited to bring their own chairs, drinks and snacks.

★ For free copies of the 188-page 175th Commemorative Magazine “175 Years of Rich History,” call 830-997-2155.

The event will include a wreath laying at the Meusebach bust in front of the Vereins Kirche at Marktplatz, as well as a reading of the Meusebach — Comanche Peace Treaty and commemoration of the building of the Vereins Kirche in 1847.

The Vereins Kirche is the first public building in Fredericksburg which served as a church, school and community meeting hall.

The wreath laying ceremony and commemoration will be led by local historian Glen Treibs.

“The Vereins Kirche has been loved by our people since the earliest days of our town,” Treibs said. “It’s fitting that we commemorate this symbol of Fredericksburg.” The event is free to attend and open to the public.

Pioneer Dinner will honor founding families on May 8

A Pioneer Dinner honoring Fredericksburg’s founding families will take place on Sunday, May 8, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Adelsverein Halle at Marktplatz.

Sponsored by Woolsacks, the event will honor descendants of the original pioneers listed in the 1850 Fredericksburg census who are 75 years of age and older. (Reservations are now closed.)

“Friedrich and Caroline Bartel Koock sailed from Hamburg, Christmas Day 1845, with their five children,” Timothy Koock recalled. “Three children died during the difficult voyage to Indianola. Friedrich, a schoolteacher, died tragically later, Christmas Eve 1846 on Barons Creek, exactly one year from leaving Germany. That had to be a very sad Christmas in our family.

“My great-grandparents, Wilhelm Koock and Wilhelmina Jordan Koock (losing seven of their 12 children) opened a mercantile store in 1868 serving the Hill Country wool and mohair ranchers,” he continued. “Woolsacks continues this family tradition with a great partner, Tom Gromus, now serving this industry across the United States.”

The 1850 census shows that there were 110 family units in Fredericksburg, with the oldest person being 68 years old.

The majority of the residents in 1850 had been born in Germany, with some born in Texas. According to the census, there were also

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