The stone ruins of the old Walzem Chapel stand erect on the firm foundation laid in the mid-1800’s. Over the entrance to the abandoned sanctuary the engraved keystone simply reads: 1870. The roof and windows have long since disappeared, but the expertly chiseled stones bear witness to a loving craftsman. Johann Joseph and Anna Gertruda Walzem came to Texas from Prussia around 1851. They settled in what is now known as the Mission Hills Ranch subdivision of New Braunfels. Wi

Thomas J. Pilgrim had been unwell since his birth in Connecticut in 1804. But with sheer determination he pursued a college education at Colgate University in New York. Following graduation, Pilgrim joined a group of about 60 colonists who were immigrating to the Texas frontier. The harrowing story of their trip down the Mississippi River and on to Texas included violent storms, encounters with the Karankawa tribe, and several near-death experiences. Once they arrived in M

Born in Tennessee in 1808, Texas hero Albert Lea graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) ranked third in his...

As newlyweds in 1861, Valentine and Martha Poole moved to Galveston. Though their roots were in New York, they had heard the thrilling...

On April 21, 1836, the Battle of San Jacinto lasted about 18 minutes. Amid shouts of “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!” the...

Mrs. Stecker was my sixth-grade teacher. She was attentive, well-informed, and unamused by pre-teen nonsense. And she was fully engrossed...

In 1884, Henry Navarro owned 520 acres of prime farmland in Atascosa County, south of San Antonio. The census reported that Henry was the...

In the late 19th Century, Texas was a haven for outlaws. And there were plenty of flashpoints to stir tension. From family feuds and...

When the early pioneers came to Texas, it was easy to get lost. From the east Texas Piney Woods to the mountains of west Texas, there...

Blindfolded, Aline could identify the native trees of Texas by touching their bark and leaves. She also acquired a fascination with...