2014 Winter Remembrances Newsletter 1
Remembrances
Newsletter of the Schertz
Historical Preservation
Committee
Winter Edition
2014
Welcome to the New Year! The year 2013 began with a sense of satisfaction as to what
had been accomplished in 2012 and with much anticipation for what was ahead in 2013.
The goals for 2013 included eight historic recognition related projects, three historic
publication projects and a joint historic initiative project. Seven of the eight 2013 historic
recognition projects have been completed, two of the three publication projects were
finished, and the joint historic initiative project was cancelled. Much time and effort was
devoted to the City Code amendment project with a disappointing reception of
Committee recommendations by City Staff and the City Council. After three years of
Committee prompting and proposal design the latter issue remains pending.
The Committee’s Annual Report (dated Jan. 2014) to City Council contains the more
detailed report of our 2013 activities and projects.
Moving day finally arrived for the Committee’s archived artifacts. The items collected
over the past six years have now been placed in permanent storage at a central location.
All the items were previously kept in storage at member residences and others still
remain on display in public and private buildings around the City.
This quarter’s Committee Remembrances Special Edition Article 2014-1 is titled:
“Schertz in the 1960s – A Turning Point” and describes the Schertz city government
initiatives of that decade that made such an important impact on the community’s future.
On December 9, 2013, the Schertz City Council voted to approve naming four structures
within the city as “Landmark Properties”. The four properties include: Former
Kneuper General Store, (circa 1907-1908), 6565 FM 482; Single-family residence at 104
Church St. (circa 1916); former Wm. Schertz Mercantile Store, 509 Main St. (circa pre-
1906); and, former Schertz State Bank (circa 1913), 513 Main Street.
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Congratulations to Committee member Gail Hyatt! Gail was one of only two finalist
for the Steve Simonson Community Service Award. The award recognizes Schertz
citizens who during the eligibility year exhibited selfless commitment to his or her
community via volunteer efforts that made a difference in other lives.
Committee officer elections for Calendar Year 2014 occurred at the January 2014
meeting and officers were elected for positions as Chairman (Dean Weirtz), Vice
Chairman (Debbie Krause), Secretary (Stefeni Warshaw) and Treasure (Jim Webb).
The Comal County Historical Resource Inventory Survey performed by an Austin,
Texas firm (Hardy, Heck & Moore, Inc.) has completed work and published its report for
three-fourths of the Comal County area. Schertz is included in a portion of the survey
that covers our northern most boundary (Comal Settlement area). The findings report that
901 historic resources (1945 and earlier) were identified for the overall area and 25 of
those were reported as potentially eligible for listing on the National Registry of Historic
Places. Three of those 25 resources were identified to be in the Schertz-Comal Settlement
area.
The Committee continues to monitor efforts of the Comal Settlement Association to
have Saint Joseph’s Chapel designated as a listing on the National Registry of Historic
Places as well as the Association’s efforts to pursue a landscape initiative for the area
surrounding the State of Texas community historical marker at Comal Settlement.
Placement of the Schertz historic mural on the west exterior wall of the Randolph
Masonic Lodge Bldg. (507 Main St.) has been completed. This project is a Cibolo
Valley Community Museum Association initiative. Drive by the building and admire
this tribute to our area’s and city’s history.
“Schertz Through the Centuries” Mural
The Committee’s sister historical society in Riedisheim, France included two feature
articles about Schertz in its annual “Bulletin” publication and sent the Committee a
copy of the publication. This is the fourth consecutive year in which the Riedisheim
Historical Society featured stories about Schertz in its Bulletin. Both articles are in
French of course so an interpreter is needed.