Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Birthplace of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN
Typical early Fredericksburg home built 1866 by Carl Basse. Property of the Henke family since 1873. Heinrich Henke, early settler, Confederate freighter, had butcher counter on front porch; meat processing was done in back yard; there the horses that pulled meat vending car were stabled. Shop later built on foundation of stone walls surrounding lot.
He and his wife Dorothea (nee Weirich) added the long dining room and kitchen with sloped roof to accommodate their twelve children. Many of their furnishings are preserved by Udo Henke, a descendant.
In small room to rear of front bedroom, on Feb. 24, 1885, their daughter, Anna Henke Nimitz, gave birth to Chester William Nimitz, destined to command the greatest naval armada in history.
A 1905 honor graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Nimitz was chief of staff to Commander, Atlantic Submarine Fleet, W.W.I. Installed first Naval ROTC unit in U.S. Navy, 1926; selected Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet after attack on Pearl Harbor; appointed Fleet Admiral, U.S. Navy, 1944. As representative of the U.S. he signed Japanese surrender documents on his flagship, USS Missouri, Sept. 2, 1945 in Tokyo Bay. Admiral Nimitz died in San Francisco on Feb. 20, 1966.
Erected 1968 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 10090.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.
Location. 30° 16.363′ N, 98° 52.154′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County. Marker is at the intersection of E. Main Street (U.S. 290) and S. Lincoln Street, on the right when traveling east on E. Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 247 E Main St, 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. Schmidt-Gold House (within shouting distance of this marker); The William Rausch House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wahrmund Millinery, Moellendorf-Dietz Bakery (about 300 feet away); Domino Parlor (about 300 feet away); Maier-Alberthal Building (about 500 feet away); The Schandua Building (about 500 feet away); Fairwater of USS Pintado (SS-387) (about 600 feet away); Early Life in Fredericksburg (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.
Also see . . . Chester William Nimitz. From the Texas State Historical Association’s “Handbook of Texas Online”. (Submitted on April 21, 2016.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,040 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 21, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 3. submitted on July 9, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 4. submitted on October 23, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.