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2012-8 Remembrances Special EditionCity of Schertz Remembrance Special Edition 2012-8 Presented by: Schertz Historical Preservation Committee Schertz’ Comal County Historical Assets Garnering Attention In 2010, Schertz acquired, through annexation, new territory in Comal County along Interstate Highway 35 and along FM 482. Part of the territory in question was once known as the community of Comal, Texas (aka: Comal Settlement, Eight Mile Creek). Comal Settlement has always been a rural farming town. It first survived as a cotton farming community but later transitioned to a live stock ranching, grain farming and more recently pecan orchard growing area. The “roots” of the families living on the farms of the area today go back several generations and a few are descendants of the original settlers of the area. Remnants of much of the community’s early physical infrastructure (cotton gin, one room school house, blacksmith and mechanical shop, country store, community church, two family cemeteries and German shooting range), although deteriorating, have survived after decades of either inactivity or much reduced usage. During the past twelve months the citizens of Comal Settlement have sought to increase public awareness of their community’s historic landmarks. Foremost among the preservation efforts undertaken has been the restoration of the interior of the settlement’s only church, Saint Joseph’s Chapel. The Chapel was originally built in 1905 and sits in the heart of the community along FM 482 near the Schwab Road intersection. This restoration work took place in 2010 and 2011 at the direction of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church of New Braunfels, owner of the Chapel. This chapel was the center piece of religious and social life for the community throughout the early to mid 20th century. The Chapel was designated as a City of Schertz Historic Landmark Property in May of 2011. Near the chapel is Saint Joseph’s Cemetery that has just recently been designated a Historic Landmark Cemetery by the State of Texas and by the City of Schertz. Two project groups have focused their attention on the historical significance of the Comal community during 2011 and another is about to begin yet more study of its historical importance. One of these groups arose when current day Comal Settlement residents with family ties to the early settlers began to see the signs of urban encroachment within the community as big box warehouse facilities (Lack’s Furniture/Sysco) began appearing on the horizon just beyond the main artery of town (FM 482). These residents wanted to put forth an effort to make the public aware of the historical significance of the community. So was born the Comal Settlement Association (CSA), a group of approximately fifteen family representatives from the area. In early 2011, the CSA began a partnership with the Schertz Historical Preservation Committee (SHPC) to see if publicity could be generated that might highlight the community’s history. The two groups began research work that led to City of Schertz historical designations and historical marker placements for seven qualifying facilities within Comal Settlement. Those facilities include: Saint Joseph’s Chapel, Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, Schwab Blacksmith and Mechanical Shop, Alamo Schutzen Verein (shooting range), Friesenhahn Cotton Gin, Ferdinand Frisenhahn’s home (circa 1911), and the Schaefer/Sahm family homestead. In May 2012, the groups published a book on the history of the community under the title Comal, Texas – Community Built on Faith, Family and Sacrifice. The State of Texas Historical Commission has designated Saint Joseph’s Cemetery as a historic cemetery site and awarded the Comal Settlement community a historic marker. Another group that directed its attention to Comal Settlement’s historical resources during 2011 was the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT). TXDOT contracted with Michael Baker Jr., Inc. for a modified reconnaissance-level survey to identify, document, and evaluate all historic resources constructed in 1967 and earlier within what was called the “area of potential effects (APE)”. The APE refers to that area to be effected by the widening of FM 482 from Krueger Canyon Road to FM 2252 (scheduled to occur in 2012), most of which passes directly through Comal Settlement. As a part of their survey the firm identified National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligible resources within the APE. Baker also documented properties near to, but not directly adjoining the APE as well as objects within the APE that may be contributing features to an eligible property. The researchers identified four individual properties within the Comal Settlement area and along the APE that they considered as eligible for U.S. Department of the Interior’s NRHP designation. The resources identified included: (1) 6615 FM 482- Schwab Blacksmith and Mechanical Building (2) 6565 FM 482 – Kneupper General Store and a single family residence nearby (3) Saint Joseph Chapel (4) 6335 & 6360 FM 482 – farmstead property. About to be undertaken in Comal County is a historical survey funded by a Texas Historical Commission (THC) Certified Local Government grant and a matching Comal County Commissioner’s Court grant. That survey will seek to document historic resources within the County, to include Comal Settlement area, and to determine their eligibility for placement on the NRHP listing.