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Furniture Museum, New Braunfels, Tx, 78130.

Our Wilhelm and Caroline Bruckisch portraits are back from long term loan from the Bullock Texas State History Museum in austin. The Bruckisch Family immigrated to New Braunfels from Silesia with their five children in 1853. In Europe, Bruckisch was a beekeeper and president of the Silesian Bee-Keeper’s Society. At the time, a lack of bees was preventing fruit pollination and growth in the Guadalupe River valley. Bruckisch was asked to come to Texas and bring several hives of Italian black bees with him. The family settled near Hortontown where Wilhelm continued to work as a beekeeper and horticulturalist until his death in 1877. He contributed greatly to the scholarship of bee keeping. Back in Europe, Bruckisch had been a friend and associate of Pastor Johann Dzierzon, who was considered the bee master of Europe. Bruckisch brought with him to Texas Dzierzon’s writings on bee keeping. He also edited Dzierzon’s writings, publishing six editions of his adapted methods between 1847 and 1861. As a result of the bees Wilhelm brought with him, and his skill as a beekeeper, the New Braunfels area was able to grow and harvest larger and more abundant crops. The Bruckisch family remained in Texas for the remainder of their lives. Their three sons all died during the Civil War. Their two daughters each married German Texans, and their descendants remain in Texas today. #newbraunfels #museumoftexashandmadefurniture #smallmuseums #history #texashillcountry

These deer have no fear

Good morning from Heritage Village! Stormy skies bring a beautiful sunrise. #museumoftexashandmadefurniture #texassunrise #nbtx #texas #folkfestnb #newbraunfelstx #newbraunfels #herritagevillagenb

Heritage Village at dusk #museumoftexashandmadefurniture #newbraunfelstx #nbtx #smallmuseum #texasmuseums

April flowers! #gardening #newbraunfelstx #museumoftexashandmadefurniture #texashillcountry #newbraunfels #smallmuseum

The deer had a lovely, quiet (if a little rainy) Folkfest weekend with no Folkfest due to the current pandemic. We made do by planting a victory garden and doing some much needed cleanup around the property. Hang in there folks and stay well! See you on October 17&18 for a very special harvest Folkfest!

This evening at the museum #museumoftexashandmadefurniture #museum #smallmuseum #nbtx #newbraunfelstx #herritagevillagenb #folkfestnb #texassunset #nature #gametrail #bluebonnet #flowers #stayingpositive #texas #texasisbeautiful #wildflowers #everythingisblooming

At night Heritage Village can be a magical place. #texashillcountry #museumoftexashandmadefurniture #heritagevillage #nbtx #newbraunfelstx #smallmuseum #deer

http://herald-zeitung.com/special/page_c6f9dbb8-38f7-5117-b4a0-1cef8afa135d.html Thanks @newbraunfelshz #newbraunfelstx #nbtx #museumoftexashandmadefurniture #livinghistory #livinghistorian #herritagevillagenb

In other news...this is the current #flower situation at #museumoftexashandmadefurniture #windmill #nbtx #bluebonnet #poppy #wildflowers #newbraunfelstx #smallmuseum #everythingisblooming

FOLKFEST AND KINDERMASKEN 2020 POSTPONED Due to recommendations given by local, state and federal authorities, including the Center for Disease Control, regarding the current health crisis and potential health risks, The Heritage Society of New Braunfels has decided to postpone Folkfest and Folkfest after Dark celebrations scheduled for April 4-5, 2020. Folkfest and Folkfest after Dark has been rescheduled for the weekend of October 17-18, 2020. Similarly, the Kindermasken Parade and Ball scheduled to take place on March 21, 2020, in conjunction with the Founder's Day Parade, has been postponed until a date to be announced sometime in the late Summer or early Fall. As an added precaution, Heritage Village and the Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture will suspend operations until April 1st to ensure the health and safety of museum staff and volunteers. Heritage Society of New Braunfels offices will remain open during normal business hours. We will be working very hard, over the course of the next few days, to reach out to all of our volunteers, vendors, entertainers, and community partners to make arrangements for the rescheduled events. Though this was a difficult decision, we take the health of our community very seriously, and appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate this unexpected situation. We thank you for for your flexibility and support of our museum and events. Questions or concerns about Heritage Society operations should be directed to our office via phone, at 830-629-6504, or email at director@nbheritagesociety.org Justin Ball Executive Director Heritage Society of New Braunfels #museumoftexashandmadefurniture #nbtx #newbraunfels #newbraunfelstx #folkfest #folkfestnb #kindermasken #kindermaskenparade

New lighting fixtures in reininger cabin by 18 electric! The bare bulbs will eventually be housed in period correct lanterns to hide them! It looks so good! #newbraunfels #museumoftexashandmadefurniture #history #logcabin #logcabinliving #texashistory #texashillcountry

Thanks @brauntex materials inc for hooking us up with the materials we needed to fix our roads for Folkfest 2020! You guys rock! #newbraunfels #museumoftexashandmadefurniture #heritage #history #museum

The repairs on Reininger cabin are nearly complete! We are so happy to see this old building shining again just in time for Folkfest! Come see Texas Heritage Construction's handywork and stay for a tour of the Museum! We are open until 4 PM today! #museumoftexashandmadefurniture #history #newbraunfels #texashistory #texashillcountry

#newbraunfels #museumoftexashandmadefurniture #fog #texas

Winter blooms ⚘ Happy New Year to you all! #museumoftexashandmadefurniture #supportlocalmuseums #schnoodlesofinstagram #schnoodle #texaswinter #nbtx #roses #winterrose

We removed the tattered rag rug from the Jahn Bedroom gallery and are so pleased with the state of the beautiful hardwood floor underneath it. Big thank you to @leslie dey for taking on this project and cleaning the floor. After 60+ years it was pretty dusty and nasty! The rag rug was made by Nan Dillen around 1965 using scraps sourced from the old cloth mill. We saved as much as we could and are donating a section to the @sophienburg museum and archives for preservation!

Special thank you to the Lindheimer Chapter of the Native Plant Society and @Pat Henderso n for donating a park bench for the demo garden at the museum enterance! Pictured here are the two gentleman who installed it: Bob and Mickey.

A boy and his camels

Its maypole time!

Our favorite photo from today! Come out tomorrow for more fun and games!

Special shout out to these guys for being such great supporters of Folkfest! See you all out there this weekend!

Celtair string band will be at Folkfest this year, come hear some old timey music and enjoy a trip back in time!

Folk Fest is a celebration of early Texans, come see what all the fuss is about this weekend, April 13 and 14!

Folkfest is only 4 days away! Don't miss out on all the fun!

Folkfest is this weekend! Come experience educational family fun and stay for the food, music, and shopping! This is an event you don't want to miss!

3/14/2020

FOLKFEST 2020 POSTPONED

Due to recommendations given by local, state and federal authorities, including the Center for Disease Control, regarding the current health crisis and potential health risks, The Heritage Society of New Braunfels has decided to postpone Folkfest and Folkfest after Dark celebrations scheduled for April 4-5, 2020. Folkfest and Folkfest after Dark has been rescheduled for the weekend of October 17-18, 2020.

Similarly, the Kindermasken Parade and Ball scheduled to take place on March 21, 2020, in conjunction with the Founder's Day Parade, has been postponed until a date to be announced sometime in the late Summer or early Fall.

As an added precaution, Heritage Village and the Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture will suspend operations until April 1st to ensure the health and safety of museum staff and volunteers. Heritage Society of New Braunfels offices will remain open during normal business hours.

We will be working very hard, over the course of the next few days, to reach out to all of our volunteers, vendors, entertainers, and community partners to make arrangements for the rescheduled events. Though this was a difficult decision, we take the health of our community very seriously, and appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate this unexpected situation.

We thank you for for your flexibility and support of our museum and events. Questions or concerns about Heritage Society operations should be directed to our office via phone, at 830-629-6504, or email at director@nbheritagesociety.org

Justin Ball

Executive Director

Heritage Society of New Braunfels

6/5/2019

Good Morning Everyone,

I want to thank you all for the beautiful print of the museum that you presented to me at the membership picnic in May. What a surprise! It is really beautiful, and every day, when I pass by it in its place of honor in my house, I think of you all and what a privilege it has been to work with each and every one of you in the Heritage Society . You all have been amazing. Nothing seems to faze you and you always step up when something needs to be done. You are thoughtful, creative, full of ideas and don't mind rolling up your sleeves when the hard work is required. Thank you for letting me be your president these past few years. I have learned a lot about our organization, our museum, and our heritage, and I am grateful for the opportunity to get to know you all better in the process.

Every time I look at that print, I will think of you and the work the Heritage Society does. We may be small, but we are mighty and the work we do will have a lasting impact on the community that New Braunfels is and will be for years to come.

Valin Miller

Immediate Past President, Heritage Society of New Braunfels

5/2/2019

Check out this great little article in the Texas State University Alumni magazine featuring our Director Justin Ball!

https://hillviews.txstate.edu/issues/2019/creative-expression/a-passion-for-presenting-history.html?fbclid=IwAR0tMF27rx5efnlRCZeE-kDnkvxiqBr8kxtmWCksiqphTcne9bmUiCXs2Yo

5/1/2019

Heritage Society Meeting/ Spring Picnic

Tuesday, May 14, 2019
6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture (map)

Its that time of year again! Join us at Heritage Village for our annual membership picnic! We will begin the evening with a social hour followed by a pot luck style dinner and the annual meeting of the Heritage Society of New Braunfels. Anyone interested in joining is welcome to attend, members of the museum are encouraged to attend to vote on the new board members for 2019-2020.

4/23/2019

We just found out that out Executive Director, Justin Ball has completed all coursework and successfully passed his comprehensive exams! This means that he will be graduating this May from Texas State University with his Master’s Degree in History with a focus in Public History. Congratulations big guy! You have earned this!

4/21/2019

The museum will be closed today in observance of the Easter holiday. Happy Easter everyone!

4/20/2019

The 163rd annual Kindermasken Parade will be held in conjunction with Wein & Saengerfest again this year on May 4, 2019! Lineup will be at the central fire station off of Hill st. at 11:00 AM. Parade will begin at noon and will travel down San Antonio Street to the Bandstand in the center of town square. This event has been going strong since 1856 so if you have any kids or grandkids who want to dress up and join in on the fun spread the word! Lets keep this wonderful tradition alive! Prizes will be awarded for best costume!

4/18/2019

Hosted a group from South San Antonio High School’s STEM Vocational school today! So wonderful to have so many bright young faces at the museum.

4/17/2019

New website is finally up! Please check back to the Oakenwald Kliene Zeitung Blog for updates and announcements, this site will now be the primary avanue of communication for those that do not have a social media presence! There are some exciting things coming to Heritage Society folks!

4/15/2019

I just wanted to go on record to say that I have one of the coolest jobs in the world! It allows me to do what I love with a group of very special and dedicated people who help to keep our history and heritage alive! I am so thankful for all of the staff, volunteers, vendors, living historians, sponsors, artists and visitors who made my first Folkfest such a fun and entertaining success! See 'yall next year!

Justin Ball
Executive Director
Heritage Society of New Braunfels