2014 Fall Remembrances Newsletter 1
Remembrances
Newsletter of the Schertz
Historical Preservation
Committee
Fall Edition
2014
The Committee welcomes a new member to its ranks. Judith “Lynn” Foehrkolb was
approved for membership by Schertz City Council and began serving as our Committee
Secretary as of our October 2014 meeting. Welcome aboard Lynn! Committee Chair
Dean Weirtz has been selected as a finalist for the Simonson Award given to the
City’s outstanding citizen volunteer of the year. Congratulations Dean!
Word reached the Committee in August that the Department of Interior has approved
Saint Joseph’s Chapel for placement on the National Register of Historic Places. This
honor is celebrated in this quarter’s Remembrances Special Edition Article 2014-6. The
Committee and the City are very pleased and proud of having the Chapel on the Registry.
Read more about the Chapel’s selection for the Registry in our Remembrances 2014-6
article attached.
This quarter’s Committee Remembrances Special Edition Articles 2014-6 & 2014-7
are titled: Saint Joseph’s Chapel – A National Historic Treasure & Aviation Heights –
Slow to Develop but a Lasting Community Impact
The Committee’s efforts to amend the City of Schertz Unified Development Code
(UDC) regarding inclusion of a “historic district” concept has shifted to supporting a city
staff proposal for instituting a Main Street Preservation Incentive Program. A
presentation was made to City Council at a September workshop and another more
detailed presentation will be presented by city staff in the near future. Schertz Executive
Director, Brian James briefed the Committee on the current status of the project at the
Committee’s October meeting.
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The Outreach Subcommittee continues work on an initiative to try to involve city youth
in the matters of Schertz history and city government. Positive interest has been
shown by the Schertz, Cibolo, Universal City Independent School District (SCUCISD)
administration and we are hopeful to have a program in place before the second semester
of this school year.
As of the September issue of Schertz Magazine, the “Looking Back” feature
developed by the Committee in concert with the staff of Schertz Magazine began to be
published. The feature will appear in each monthly issue of the magazine and is hoped to
be a reminder to readers of the City’s and the State’s historic heritage. We hope all have
seen the new feature. There have also been some interesting historical articles written by
our Committee members Jim and Dianna Web that have appeared in the Schertz
Magazine during the months of August through October.
The Committee has assigned a subcommittee the task of evaluating the possibility of
naming Schertz’s Aviation Heights Subdivision as the City’s second “Heritage
Neighborhood”. The significance of the neighborhood as relates to the City’s early
history is set forth in month’s Remembrances 2014-7 article.
The Committee Outreach Program adopted a restoration/preservation project during
the month of October that entails assisting the small congregation of Vineyard Church
(207 First Street) with the exterior restoration of its church building. This church
building is a designated Schertz Landmark Property based upon its early construction
(approximately 1900) and its many uses in support of Schertz community life. Please
consider joining church and committee members in the work of restoration.
Nominations are now open for candidates to fill Committee officer positions for the
next calendar year. If interested in joining the Committee and serving in one of the
officer positions please contact Dean Weirtz at weirtz1@yahoo.com or via phone at 210-
651-0394.