Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Market Square (Marktplatz)
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 8, 2010
1. Market Square (Marktplatz) Marker
This Square, originally a two-block area which included what is now called the Courthouse Square, has been at the center of Fredericksburg since the city's founding in 1846. The area was still heavily forested when the town's Vereins Kirche was built in the center of Main street in 1847. The octagonal building served as a community church, meeting place, school, and refuge from possible Indian attacks.
A county jail was built on the Square in 1852. In 1856 a public schoolhouse was constructed and the school classes moved out of the Vereins Kirche. In 1911 the schoolhouse was converted to serve as headquarters for the volunteer fire department.
The Vereins Kirche, demolished in 1897, was reconstructed in 1934-35 as a pioneer memorial, serving as the county's first museum (1936) and library (1939). As part of its centennial celebration, the State of Texas erected a monument on Market Square in honor of Baron Ottfried Hans Freiherr Von Meusebach, whose colonization efforts led to the founding of Fredericksburg. In 1987 the city purchased the property from the school district. The Market Square has served
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Erected 1992 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 10079.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1846.
Location. 30° 16.538′ N, 98° 52.362′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County. Marker is on West Main Street (U.S. 87/290) east of North Crockett Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is in the square north of West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fredericksburg TX 78624, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Gillespie County (within shouting distance of this marker); Gillespie County Armed Services Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of Otfrid Hans Freiherr von Meusebach (within shouting distance of this marker); Early History Of Fredericksburg, Texas (within shouting distance of this marker); Vereins Kirche (within shouting distance of this marker); Gillespie County Country Schools 1846 to 1970's (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Gillespie County Courthouse
Photographed By Brian Anderson, September 15, 2020
2. Market Square (Marktplatz) Marker
Additional keywords. German-Americans; community de Market Square (Marktplatz)
Photographed By Brian Anderson, September 15, 2020
3. Market Square (Marktplatz)
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 8, 2010
4. View of the Vereins Kirche and the Otfrid Hans Frieherr von Meusebach Memorials
Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 983 times since then and 94 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 18, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 2, 3. submitted on October 8, 2020, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas. 4. submitted on September 18, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
