History is often measured by battles won, elections decided, or fortunes accumulated. Yet sometimes history is made quietly, in places so small they scarcely appear on a map. Sisterdale, nestled among the limestone hills of western Kendall County, is one of those places. Today, motorists pass through this peaceful Hill Country community without realizing that, … Read more
Correction and Retraction: In a previously published article concerning August Hoffmann, information was included indicating that he died in the 1862 Nueces Massacre (also known as the Battle of the Nueces). Subsequent research has confirmed that August Hoffmann survived that tragic event and went on to live a long and productive life, contributing significantly to … Read more
Willie enjoyed farming and was usually the first person to have his fields worked up each spring. He was a believer in the use of signs of the moon and zodiac in his farming and ranching. He planted, harvested, cultivated, everything by the signs. When he was dying I asked him if he would mind … Read more
Earl Wellborn In July of 1948, the government offered a one-year term of enlistment to any 18-year-old who would enlist in the U.S. Army. At that time there was no draft, and very few people were going into the service. Most of the men and women who had served during WWII were getting out, and … Read more
Men of the Hill Country: Kendall County’s Legacy in America’s 250-Year Story Featuring the Kuhlmann, Fabra, Herff, and Dienger Families As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, communities across the nation are pausing to reflect on the people who shaped their corner of the American story. Here in Kendall County — where limestone bluffs … Read more
I have done my best to explain how unforgiving the terrain is. I have emphasized the uncomfortable fact that there is only one way in and one way out. Rain or shine, cold northern winds or hot, stale summer air, we have no control. The realities of an excursion like this have been conveyed to … Read more
Correction and Retraction: This article previously indicated that August Hoffmann died in the 1862 Nueces Massacre (also known as the Battle of the Nueces). Subsequent research has confirmed that August Hoffmann survived that tragic event and went on to live a long and productive life, contributing significantly to the growth and development of Comfort and … Read more
Published in 2011, the late John Eddie Vogt’s book, Witches, Bitches, and Other Small Town Folks, brings to life the quirky, unforgettable, and entertaining tales of growing up and living in Kendall County from the 1930s through the 1960s. Thanks to the gracious permission of his family, The Kendall Gentleman is honored to share excerpts … Read more
In the Hill Country town of Comfort, where the cypress trees lean over the Guadalupe River and thelimestone hills glow gold in the lateday sun, history is never far from view. It lingers in the old stonebuildings, in the German street names, and in the quiet dignity of the Treue der Union Monument.Among the names … Read more
The Mill Dam on River Road and the swimming hole below the bluff were popular spots for local youth, including Dale Bower and the narrator, who often went swimming despite the cold. However, these locations became polluted over time. Dutch Paul Adler’s cafe sold crawfish and turtle soup, attracting boys for their “bounty.”