2013-7 Remembrances Special Edition1
City of Schertz
Remembrance Special Edition 2013-7
Presented by: Schertz Historical Preservation Committee
Riedisheim to Schertz – First Family Origins Spark Historic Society
Friendships
The Schertz Historical Preservation Committee (SHPC) has maintained a six year relationship
with our sister-city historical society of Riedisheim, Alsace, France. It is from that French city
that the ancestors of our city’s namesake family came, i.e., Francois Joseph and Anna Maria
(Wunenburger) Schertz. That relationship began one Sunday afternoon in September of 2007
when SHPC Chairman, Dean Weirtz, visited a distant cousin living in a town nearby Riedisheim.
Knowing that the Schertz family immigrated to America from Riedisheim, Chairman Weirtz
decided to visit the town. It so happened that a historical exhibit was being presented in the
Riedisheim Exhibit Center on the day of the visit. During the visit, Mr. Weirtz was introduced to
the Riedisheim Historical Society President (Georges Meyer). Mr. Meyer expressed a keen
interest in the disclosure that the Schertz family has its origins in Riedisheim. This chance
meeting between Mr. Weirtz and Mr. Meyer led to a pledge from both men that there would be
future communications between the two to promote discussion and discovery of the historical
ties between the communities of Schertz and Riedisheim. The commitment made by the two men
was later endorsed via a Proclamation of Common Friendship signed by then Mayor Baldwin
and the SHPC membership. Mr. Meyer endorsed the pledge of
cooperation and support via his signature and comment contained on the
inside cover of a book on the history of Riedisheim presented as a gift to
Mr. Weirtz at their first meeting. Since that first meeting the Riedisheim
Historical Society has pursued the work of documenting the Schertz
family legacy as it pertains to their French heritage. A second visit to
Riedisheim by Mr. Weirtz in May 2009 was a “red carpet” event as the
French historical society members greeted Mr. Weirtz and his wife with
much fanfare. Present for this 2009 meeting were the Mayor of
Riedisheim, Riedisheim City Council member representatives, and a
local newspaper reporter.
SHPC Proclamation of
Friendship with Riedisheim,
Historical Society
Mr. Meyer signing Riedisheim History Book Riedisheim Coat of Arms Group photo of Riedisheim greeting party at
Upon Mr. Weirtz’s 2007 visit to Riedisheim the start of Mr. Weirtz’s 2009 visit with the
Riedisheim Historical Society
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On May 18, 2013, Mr. Weirtz completed his most recent visit to Riedisheim by attending a
luncheon with Riedisheim Historical Society officers. Mr. Weirtz took the opportunity to thank
the Riedisheim Historical Society for its continued interest and promotion of the Schertz story
within the Alsace community. The work of the Riedisheim Historical Society on behalf of the
SHPC has included publication of feature articles in the Society’s annual Bulletin publication
that discusses Schertz city and family history, as well as discovery and gifting to SHPC historic
documents relating to the Schertz family.
Mr. Meyer presenting Riedisheim’ annual Bulletin publication (2012) with Riedisheim Historical Society Officers
Marriage certificate featured stories of the Schertz historical designation presenting an art gift to Mr. Weirtz
of Joseph & Anna project. Additional feature articles each year since 2008. (May 2013)
Maria Schertz (2009)
During the May 2013 meeting, the Riedisheim Society representatives conveyed gifts to Mr.
Weirtz in the form of artist prints of the town of Riedisheim as painted by one of its talented
artist members and a genealogy research report on the origins of the Schertz family beginning in
1700. In turn, Mr. Weirtz provided the Riedisheim Historical Society President (Richard
Kleinheny) with a picture and sketchbook history of the City of Schertz (translated into French).
Like any friendship, the parties involved need to nurture their relationship through repeated
contacts and shared experiences. The visits by SHPC Chairman Weirtz to Riedisheim and the
sharing of research and information regarding each community’s history serves to help cement
the two societies bond of historical ancestry.