Source: Haas, Oscar. History of New
Braunfels and Comal County, Texas, 1844-1946; Hart Graphics,
Inc.; Austin, TX, 1968, p. 106.
Used with permission.
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Germania Gesangverein
Germania, the first German Singing Society of New Braunfels, was organized on Texas Independence Day, 2 Mar 1850. Members pictured in a painting made by Carl G. Iwonsky in 1857 are: Ed. Rische, F. Moureau, A. Baier, H. Conring, C. Holtz, Aug. Bechstedt, Jul. Bremer, H. Seele, E. Vom Stein (sic), G. Eisenlohr, A. Schlameus, J. Rennert, A. Hartmann, and H. Schimmelpfenning.
Saengerfests and home talent plays were staged in "Saengerhalle," the many-windowed building near the early Hermann Seele residence at the junction of Seele and Saenger streets in New Braunfels. The Seele place on the banks of the Guadalupe was called "Elisenruhe."
It was here that the Germania Singing Society sponsored the first Texas State German Singing Societies Festival 15-16 Oct 1853. For the fiftieth anniversary of that event, a triumphal arch was raised at the San Antonio Street entrance to the plaza in Oct 1903. The fiftieth Saengerfest of the Texas State German Singers League and the nineteenth of Texas Hills Singers League were jointly celebrated. The Texas State Singers League was organized 1853 in New Braunfels.