Wallace - Haunted New Braunfels

Published by Haunted America

A Division of The History Press

Charleston, SC 29403

www.historypress.net

Copyright 2013 by Erin O. Wallace

All rights reserved

Cover: Phoenix Saloon. Photograph by Justin LeVrier.

First published 2013

e-book edition 2013

Manufactured in the United States

ISBN 978.1.61423.911.6

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wallace, Erin O.

Haunted New Braunfels / Erin O. Wallace.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

print edition ISBN 978-1-60949-892-4

1. Ghosts--Texas--New Braunfels--Anecdotes. 2. Haunted places--Texas--New Braunfels--Anecdotes. 3. Parapsychology--Texas--New Braunfels--Anecdotes. 4. Crime--Texas--New Braunfels--Anecdotes. 5. New Braunfels (Tex.)--Social life and customs--Anecdotes. 6. New Braunfels (Tex.)--Biography--Anecdotes. I. Title.

BF1472.U6W3515 2013 133.109764887--dc23

2013010887

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Dedicated to Marguerite Mae Zuercher (19101982), whose stories of her beloved New Braunfels inspired the author to learn more about her German ancestors.

Marguerite Mae Zuercher, descendant of Nicolas Zuercher (18041869), one of the original founders of New Braunfels. Authors collection.

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

On no account was the publication of Haunted New Braunfels an individual task. I wish to express my deepest gratitude to all who assisted me along this journey. These caring volunteers made the experience thrilling, fulfilling and memorable. First and foremost, I want to personally thank everyone who allowed their historical building to be included in this book. Their hospitality and accounts offered invaluable assistance to the project. A big thank-you goes to Christen Thompson of The History Press, whose snap of the whip was a necessary tool to keep me on track and focused. I owe an enormous group hug to my paranormal family, the Ripcrew (RIP) Researching Investigating Paranormal team, whose serious dedication to this endeavor gave crucial evidence to this work. This team consisting of founder Robbie Prince, co-founder Wiley Uzzell, April Prince, Margie Uzzell, R.J. Warren Jr., Tom Bradford and producer/investigator/my partner in crime Will Scoville tirelessly worked around my schedule, for which I am obliged. They gave up valuable family time to make certain this book received the evidence needed to be as accurate as possible. Very special thanks go to my two sisters, Mickey Cavin and Shelley Wade (who is also the case manager for Ripcrew), who continued to motivate me throughout this entire voyage. They were there by my side emotionally every step of the way. I would like to deeply thank Justin LeVrier and Ashley Ghedi LeVrier for their last-minute team effort to provide this publication with an incredible cover shot of the Phoenix Saloon (New Braunfels most haunted building). Justin and Ashley are both talented photographers with additional cover publications on their resumes, and I cannot thank them enough. Finally, I am forever indebted to my sweetheart, Jimmy Ghedi, for his understanding, endless patience and encouragement when it was most required. I could not have completed this without him. This was an experience I will forever cherish.

The Ripcrew Paranormal Team. From left to right: Tom Bradford, Margie Uzzel, Wiley Uzzel, Robbie Prince, Shelley Wade, April Prince and R.J. Warren Jr. Photo by Kay Taylor.

PREFACE

Always remember it was a German prince who brought your ancestors to America. Promise to never, ever forget. You have Zuercher blood in youthis is something to be exceptionally proud of.

These were the last words I can recall my grandmother telling me before she passed away. Although it was a phrase I had heard all my life, this was the one thing she wanted to evoke in my memory before her last breath. My grandmother was the perfect example of how deep German-American pride remains within the descendants of the New Braunfels emigrants. This community-wide pride was something I knew extremely well since I spent most of my youth in Comal County. From Wurstfest, Wassail Strolling, fishing in and tubing on the Guadalupe River and fishing at Landa Park, New Braunfels offered every form of family entertainment.

As a child having heard nothing but tales of an aristocrat bringing my family to Texas and experiencing all the delightful amusements this small settlement offered, New Braunfels had become a sort of paradise in my eyes. Though located between two of the largest cities in Texas, San Antonio and Austin, I believed it had been somehow magically immune to any possibility of hostile influences or unpleasant episodes disrupting its serenity. While the citizens of this quaint town have maintained the charm and attractiveness generated by the original settlers, it has by no means been exempt from the effects of hostile beings. This became evident the moment I began searching the files of the criminal archives in the library.

Group photo of the Zuercher family. Left to right, beginning from top: Lena (Deininger), Emil, William, Catherine (Hohn), Augusta Gussie (Glaubitz) and August Zuercher, son of Nicolas and Elizabeth (Loos) Zuercher. Authors collection.

One reason for New Braunfels continuous illusion of being excused from the usual illegal happenings and wrongdoings of day-to-day life was the lack of having an English-translated newspaper. Dr. Ferdinand Lindheimer (later known as the Father of Texas Botany) had started the Neu Braunfelser Zeitung newspaper in 1852, but it was completely in the old German language. This kept the German-speaking community informed but not the surrounding areas that spoke mostly English. From time to time, if the event was dramatic enough, certain articles would be translated and posted in the outside newspapers, but again, it had to be a rather huge crime. It wasnt until nearly forty years later, in 1892, that another newspaper was created in the English language, the New Braunfels Herald.

Lake Landa in Landa Park. Notice the paddleboat in the foreground. Authors collection.

The Zuercher family showing off their hunt collection while standing on the banks of the Guadalupe River.