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2021 Summer Remembrances Newsletter1 Remembrances Newsletter of the Schertz Historical Preservation Committee Summer Edition 2021 Spring is said to be a time of rebirth and not just for nature. We at the Committee have experienced new growth in our membership. Seven very accomplished individuals with interest in community history have joined our ranks during March thru mid-July 2021. The new members are Jason Blataric, Judith Williams, Susan Raiford, Richard “Monti” Gonzales, Patricia Barnes, Jackie Hollis, and Jesse Gonzales. We look forward to the new members’ contributions towards our 2021 mission objectives. Congratulations to our Committee Chairman, Daniel “Frenchy” Bourgeois. Daniel was selected as the Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee “July Hidden Hero Awardee.” Daniel is an active member of the Military Affairs Committee, and has made significant contributions to the work of that Committee. The Summer Remembrances Special Edition Article 2021-3, “Schertz, Texas – City Blessed with Beauty, History, and Future,” has been published and is appended as an attachment to the newsletter. Installments of Remembrances 2020-5, Part II, continues with an expected completion date of October 2021. The Committee was scheduled to participate in the Schertz/Cibolo/Selma Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit Luncheon event in April. However, the event had to be postponed until August due to the Schertz Civic Center being occupied with COVID-19 vaccine administration through early summer. We will participate in August 2021. The Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio Railroad Line caboose situated at FM 78 has been designated a historic museum venue. The caboose’s interior décor has been video taped and made available for public viewing at the City of Schertz webpage under “Historical Preservation Committee.” A sign containing a QR code image has been placed at the front entrance of the caboose allowing for 2 public viewing of the caboose’s interior and an accompanying narration of railroad history in Schertz. In early May 2021, Committee-sponsored restoration projects were accomplished that involved refurbishing historic markers situated throughout the North Schertz Heritage Neighborhood (formerly Comal Settlement, aka Eight Mile Village, aka Danville). See photos below for a few of the restored markers. North Schertz Heritage Neighborhood restoration work has begun on the former Kneupper General Store at 6565 FM 482 (see photo below, left) by owner Richard Campos. The Kneupper family home, adjacent to the General Store (see photo below, right), had earlier been restored by Mr. Campos. We look forward to reporting more on the General Store restoration at a later date. 1907 General Store Restoration Project Kneupper Family Home Restored On Saturday, May 8, 2021, a Committee-sponsored field trip/tour was undertaken featuring two of the many historic architectural relics still existing within the North Schertz Heritage Neighborhood. That tour prompted the initiation of research work in pursuit of designating the Hansmann Farm as a Schertz Landmark Property. The research effort by Committee members Rosalyn Wise and Howard Alperin led to the completion of an application for Landmark status for the Hansmann property. The Committee’s recommendation for Landmark designation approval will be brought before the City Council for a vote in August. 3 The City Council Main Street Subcommittee continues its staged improvement project work for Main Street, Schertz, to include road repair, bench/trash receptacle placements, historic statue placements, etc. Historic theme banners have been placed all along Main Street. The Schertz Historical Preservation Committee continues to participate as a “stake holder” member of the Subcommittee. The latest meeting held on June 16th included discussion of the two grant programs currently available within the Main Street Project area (Historic Preservation Grant/Land Flavor Street Grant); economic development on Main Street; utility line removal options; and, scope of roadway improvement projects (lighting, drainage, landscaping, etc.). The next meeting of the Subcommittee will be September 1, 2021 and City Council will be briefed on September 6th. .