Vereins Kirche Keeps Current with Exhibits, Activities Submitted photo
The Vereins Kirche is a unique landmark in the center of downtown Fredericksburg. The octagonal building is owned and operated by the Gillespie County Historical Society. The Vereins Kirche recently underwent a major renovation in 2020 and now includes a brand-new exhibit.
Exhibits for the Vereins Kirche The new permanent exhibit in the Vereins Kirche, 1847 to the Present, tells the history of the two Vereins Kirchen, the original and the replica. The story of the Vereins Kirche begins with the immigration of Germans to Texas in the 1840s. From there, six of the eight walls are each dedicated to the story of the Vereins Kirche fitting into the wall’s overarching theme. Each wall contains information about the Vereins Kirche, Fredericksburg, and the state of Texas. The new interpretation has themes of “Arrival in Texas,” “Building the Vereins Kirche,” “Learning,” “Worshiping,” “Meeting,” and “Preserving.” Local artists, Lee and Matt Casbeer created paintings that line the top of the building depicting different scenes through the buildings’ history. The final panel explains the history of the Gillespie County Historical Society, who have been the stewards of the replica since 1935.
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Owned and managed by the Gillespie County Historical Society, the Vereins Kirche on Marktplatz in downtown Fredericksburg tells the story of this iconic building.
History The original Vereins Kirche served as the town’s first church, school and public meeting place and lookout building for protection against invaders. The replica of the Vereins Kirche was used as a library, home to the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce, a one-day post office and a museum.
The original Vereins Kirche, or Society Church, was used primarily as a church and school for all denominations. School districts were created in Gillespie County in the 1850s and students were no longer using the Vereins Kirche. As with the school, church congregations began building their own churches in town and slowly leaving the Vereins Kirche empty most days.
Fall&Winter2021
