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Sample Student final exam answers 2016 (2016 final exam assignment) Part 3: Model Research Reports |
LITR 4340
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Christina Maria Sapp
Der Flug Für Freiheit (The Flight For Freedom)
Doing this research has helped me have a better understanding of my heritage and
the German immigrant’s history to Texas. Many Germans who left their fatherland
arrived in the new world of Texas as the Germans called it “Die Neu Welt aus
Texas”. I started my research by analyzing what I already know and from online
research for facts. When I lived in Germany, I became ingrained in the language
and customs of the German people. I am part German from my mother’s side: her
family were some of the first Germans to settle in what is present day New
Braunfels TX. Texans of German descent make up one of the largest cultural
groups in the state from the old world immigrants.
During the 1840s, the 1848 revolution broke out as a failed attempt to unify
German states after the fall of the Holy Roman Empire in 1815. Many Germans were
hoping to find jobs or trying to escape the overcrowding of their country. A
real prince named Prince Carl of Solms Braunfels Germany heard of a new frontier
that offered much needed farmland to Germany’s overcrowded citizens. He
purchased 1,265 acres of land in San Antonio and began immigration of Germans to
Texas. New Braunfels TX was named after this prince. Germans started arriving in
Texas in 1844 on a ship called “The Hershal” which carried 102 passengers
leaving Germany in late September and not arriving in Galveston Texas until
December 5th 1844. In April 1846, “The Anna” sailed with 65 people.
When the immigrants in December 1844 arrived in Galveston, the traveled to
Indianola and waited for wagons to arrive for several months. The first
immigrants arrived in New Braunfels on March 21st 1845 on Good
Friday. I was able to find out this research through a book that I created in
summer school when I was in 5th grade. Every Thursday, the teacher
would walk with us as a class in the historical areas of the town. Some days we
would draw pictures and write research information.
Buildings, houses, and an economy started the footprints for New Braunfels. The
newly arrived immigrants founded a protestant church called First Protestant
church and Saints Peter and Paul catholic parish in 1845. The two churches are
the oldest in town. The catholic parish has been remodeled twice. Once in the
1970s and then again in 1998. I remember the 1998 remodel very well. We had to
have mass in the school and my nephew was baptized in the gymnasium. I was
baptized in the church when I was three months old. The first textile mill was
founded along the river and the original building still stands but the business
had to be relocated because of frequent flooding. I found out about the textile
mill from a YouTube video on the history of New Braunfels. The textile mill was
the main employer of the town. When my grandmother was in high school, many of
her classmates quit school to go work in the mill because the pay and benefits
were great at the time. Two of my aunts used to work in the mill as well.
There’s also the Dittlinger flour mill now called ADM. My grandfather used to
work at the flour mill and this place still exists just under another name. The
first brewery was also founded and the oldest dancehall in Texas called Gruene
hall is in the city. New Braunfels has also founded the brand Gebhart’s chili
powder. The Schmitz hotel was founded in 1854 and Henne’s hardware store was
founded in the 1860s. Nagelin’s
bakery is the oldest in the state founded in 1845.
I am more knowledgeable of New Braunfels than what I knew before. In the
present, New Braunfels still has the German influence but not as strong as in
1845. This is mainly because the next of kin from the old world immigrants have
all assimilated into the dominant culture. Some stores especially in the
downtown area still have Wilkommen (German for welcome) posted on their
entrance. The old Krause’s café has been renamed Friesenhaus and has new
management from Germany. Since the 1960s, a man from Hawaii created a yearly
sausage fest called Wurstfest by learning about New Braunfels’ history. Many
streets have German names; for example Friesenhaus and Sts. Peter and Paul are
located on Castell ST. The two high schools in town still teach the German
language. The town’s most famous restaurant New Braunfels smokehouse is
notorious for their sausages. When I was growing up, Krause’s café and Oma’s
house were the only German restaurants in town. The Schmitz hotel was abandoned
and empty. New Braunfels was just a hole in the wall town with nothing to do and
was dead by 9 PM.
Since 2001, New Braunfels has gotten a makeover with the downtown area
revitalized. Best Buy finally arrived, JC Penney came back, and more than one
Movie Theater arrived. The dominant culture is more prevalent in New Braunfels
than the German culture though. Many citizens have German last names, but
there’s also a lot with Scotch-Irish last names. Most of the restaurants serve
the bland hearty food from the dominant culture. Only two German restaurants
exist after Oma’s Haus closed its doors in 2015. Most of its citizens speak
English and maybe only a handful might know some German. Nagelin’s bakery serves
some German pastries but the vast majority of their sweets are from the dominant
culture. I used to dislike being from New Braunfels and my German heritage. Once
I lived in Germany and moved to Houston, I feel like I am reclaiming my ethnic
identity and can be confident of my heritage and leave the past behind.
Around the same time that Germans were getting comfortable in New Braunfels, San
Antonio started to developed a healthy German population. Over 7,634 Germans
reached Bexar county which they made one-third of the population in 1880. The
German element in San Antonio contributed much in early commerce and business
life. Since 1930, the extent of the German settled area has changed very little.
San Antonio's German culture can be seen in town throughout the various street
signs. There's the most famous Huebner RD named after Joseph Huebner. This is a
major RD in the medical center. Joseph Huebner also had the Onion House built
off of present day Bandera RD in 1862. He lived there until he died in the 1920s
or 1930s. After his death, the Onion family purchased the home. King William ST
named after Kaiser Wilhelm 1 is a major street in Alamo Heights neighborhood
called "King William district". Second most famous street is Wurzbach RD named
after Harry McCearly Wurzbach. He was the first native Texan elected to
congress. There's also Fredricksburg RD which used to be the road to take to get
to Fredricksburg TX. Now people just take Interstate 10.
German food has also been a big part of San Antonio culture and has successfully
blended in with the dominant culture food of S.A. For example, sausage is a
major meat in the German diet. Sausage has also been added to the diet of a lot
of Mexican food. German restaurants aren't very prevalent in the city. The ones
that remain are usually in the tourist areas like downtown. There's the Bier
Garten Riverwalk (Beer Garden Riverwalk) restaurant along the San Antonio
Riverwalk. There's also Schilo's which is located downtown, but away from the
Riverwalk. Apparently these two restaurants are authentic, but I have never been
to these restaurants. There's another German restaurant located in Kirby (a
neighborhood in San Antonio 15 miles north of downtown) called Bavarian
Restaurant. I also haven't been here, but a friend of mine has and she says it's
pretty good. Plus, some of the employees and customers are from Germany.
The Germans not only spread their culture to San Antonio and New Braunfels, but
they also spread their culture to neighboring towns like Schertz which is 25
miles south of New Braunfels. Another honorable mention is a town called
Niederlander located 15 miles south of Austin along Interstate 35.
San Antonio's German culture isn't as well known or noticeable like in New
Braunfels. Much of the German culture has found a way to blend in the dominant
culture of the Scotch-Irish and Mexican that is most well known in the area.
Most people of German descent do not regard themselves as ethnic Germans. This
is mainly because their family has been in the United States for a long time and
have successfully assimilated into mainstream America. I personally have been
trying to reclaim my ethnic identity for 10 years and it has been a personal
struggle. I notice small things that others don't. Some have told me to stop
obsessing over my ethnic identity. I have learned the importance of knowing
where you come from because it gives me confidence, makes me feel alive and
proud that I can say I know my roots. My friend's mother always stresses about
knowing your heritage and the importance of family.
Works Cited:
www.texancultures.com\GermanTexans
You Tube video New Braunfels History from AMMO advertising
Early days in New Braunfels book created in summer 1994
http://www.uiw.edu/sanantonio/SanAntoniosGermanImmigrants
http://www.satxproperty.com/blog/german-influence-in-south-texas-during-the-early-years.html
https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/png02
