Comfort Heritage Foundation

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Ingenhuett-Karger Saloon - Marker in/near Comfort
Photo Credit: Bryden Moon	Ingenhuett-Karger Saloon Marker #15937 - 2009

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Post Oak Spring Ranch - Marker in/near Post Oak

Photo Credit: Dietert Historical Archives -
Patrick Heath Public Library (Boerne)

Marker #16064 - 1936   Post Oak Spring Ranch, the Home, From 1861 to 1867, of George Wilkins Kendall, Born August 22, 1809, Mont Vernon, New Hampshire, Died Here October 21, 1867, Founder of the New Orleans Picayune, January 25, 1837, Chronicler of the Santa Fe Expedition, First Correspondent in the War Between the United States and Mexico, 1846-1848, to Send Personal Dispatches From the Battlefields, Printer, Journalist, Author, Farmer, Eminent in All

Dr. Ferdinand Ludwig Von Herff - Marker in/near Boerne

Photo Credit: Dietert Historical Archives -
Patrick Heath Public Library (Boerne)

Marker #1268 - 1982   Dr. Ferdinand Ludwig Von Herff, Nov. 29, 1820-May 18, 1912), the son of a prominent German family and a veteran of the Prussian army, physician Ferdinand Ludwig von Herff first came to Texas in 1847. By the 1860s he had set up practice in San Antonio, where he was an active civic leader. His medical innovations made him a prominent physician in the southwest. Dr. Herff and his wife, Mathilde, 1823-1910, owned a ranch at this site and, through their interest in the area, led in the development of Boerne. Local residents honored their many contributions with a monument here on Malakopf Mountain, a site favored by the Herffs. "After seventy years of weather exposure and vandalism, the original rock obelisk had deteriorated to the extent that doctors John B. and Ferdinand Peter Herff, grandsons of Ferdinand Ludwig Von Herff, had it completely rebuilt with limestone blocks in 1952."- [quoted from Garland Perry, "Our Heritage" series] Texas Historical Commission honored Dr. Herff by designating this monument with a Texas Historical Marker in 1982. (on Malakopf Mountain, 1.5 mile NE of Boerne Via FM 474 and Kennon Ranch Road)The monument is on a hill overlooking Boerne across Hwy 474 from Spring Creek Road exit. The trees are too high to see the monument from FM 474 but If one turns right on Spring Creek Road, and then turns around at the first house, and then stops about 50 yards or so down road, now facing FM 474, you can see where it is with the naked eye. Binoculars are helpful. See picture below on the right.

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Ludwig von Herrf, Dr. Ferdinand - Marker in/near Boerne
Photo Credit: Dietert Historical Archives - Patrick Heath Public Library (Boerne)	Marker #14328 - 1982 More info and Map Link

The Gass Schmiede - Marker in/near Comfort

Photo Credit: Dietert Historical Archives -
Patrick Heath Public Library (Boerne)

Marker #5343 - 1986   This limestone-block building was built in 1890 as a blacksmith shop ("schmiede") for Jacob Gass (1845-1913). Rock mason J. Gottlieb Lorbeer worked on the lower level for almost a year, walking to the job each week from Sisterdale (5 mi. E). The upper level was finished quickly with machinery and was used as a residence. Paul Ingenhuett bought the building in 1903, and his family made it available for a museum and public library in 1932. (8th and High Streets, Comfort)

The limestone-block building was built by J. Gottlieb Lorbeer as a blacksmith shop in 1890. The rock mason worked on the lower level for almost a year, walking to the job each week from Sisterdale (15 miles). The upper level was finished quickly with machinery and was used by Jacob Gass as a residence.

In 1903, Paul Ingenhuett bought the building and used it for storage in connection with his general store next door. The Members of the Literary Social Club, with the able help of Mrs. Paul Ingenhuett, converted the building for use as a private museum in 1933. Her daughter, Paula Ingenhuett, continued to make it available as a museum. For many years it was opened each Saturday by Mr. and Mrs. Guido Ransleben. He is the author of "A Hundred Years of Comfort in Texas". This building was designated as Texas Historical Landmark in 1986.

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Beseler House - Marker in/near Boerne

Photo Credit: Jay Pennington click to their website

Marker #383 - 1985   Civic leader and Boerne businessman Maxmillian Beseler (1866-1939) had this stone Victorian cottage built for his parents, Charles and Minna Beseler, in 1903. A native of Prussia, Charles Beseler came to Texas in 1848 and served for many years as a Kendall County public official. Constructed by Ed Clemens of locally quarried rock, the home features a curved front porch, decorative woodwork, and shingle detailing. It remained in the Beseler family for over 80 years. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1985.

One and one-half story, native limestone rock; quarried at Ranger Creek. Rectangular blocks and frilly Victorian/neoclassical motifs on porch. Deep pitched roofs with dormer over front porch; many gables. Roof recently changed to tin standing seam.

Built by Ed Clemens, a well-known builder in Boerne, in 1903. The house originally consisted of a kitchen, two bedrooms, one later used as a dining room and still later as a TV room, two sitting rooms, both converted to bedrooms and a large hallway. All rooms are spacious and have been redone through the years with different pastelshades with creamy white acoustical ceilings. Clothes closets were built in all the bedrooms in the early 1940s.

There were two large porches, the back one being in part converted into a bathroom in later years. This porch was completely enclosed with shutters. Close type shutters were also used on the windows. Later the shutters were replaced with ordinary screens. The front porch is rounded on one end. Three large round wooden columns, 10" in diameter at the base tapering to about 8 1/2 inches at the top with a decorative entablature at the top of each and all along the porch roof; as well as an ornate wooden balustrade enclose the porch area. Balustrades form the handrails on each side of the front steps.

The roof on the house proper was cedar shingle and the porches had tin roofs. The stone which surrounds the house was quarried in large chunks at Ranger Creek, brought to town and sawed into 30" by 14" rectangles. There are no fireplaces in the house. At first wood burningstoves and later kerosene circulating heaters were used for heat. In the early1960s, gas connections were installed.

An ornate wrought iron fencesurrounds the front yard area. Many trees and shrubs were planted but most of the big hackberry trees and several pecan trees died during the drought of the late 1940s and early 1950s.
A wash house, a work shop,garage, metal rainwater tank, chicken coop and swine shed were early out-buildings. Later, a one room house, where Max Beseler slept while he lived there with his daughter, Edna, was built. It was fondly called "Opa's room". In between this and the old wash house a flower house was built to store potplants during the winter. The wash house was rebuilt in 1971 to serve as agarage, the old garage being antiquated and used for only storage. When the children were young, Herbert built a play house in the yard for them.

When Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beseler were alive, the whole backyard was plowed and planted in cabbage. Some fruit trees were also planted. Charles Beseler lived in this house only five years before he died,but his wife, Minna, lived here for twenty-two years. When Mrs. Beseler lived here there was no sink in the kitchen, but running water was already piped in. Later the kitchen was remodeled to add a sink and cabinets for thedishes. The kitchen was originally painted maroon.

When Edna Beseler Harz died in 1982, her heirs sold the house to Waldo Lynch, who put wrought iron bars on all of the windows and doors. Then in 1984 the house was sold to Dr. Richard Schatz and his wife, Dr. Renee Rose and they completely restored and remodeled the house.

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Early Boerne Schoolhouses - Marker in/near Boerne

Photo Credit: Dietert Historical Archives -
Patrick Heath Public Library (Boerne)

Marker #1337 - 1986   The origins of public schools in Boerne date to 1873, when the Boerne Gesangenverein donated land on which to erect a schoolhouse. A two-room stone building was completed in 1874 and served children in all grades. A small frame building was added to the property around the turn of the century, and the upper and lower grades were separated. In 1910 a new two-story stone school was built. It served students of all ages until a high school was built on Johns Road in 1929. The 1910 building was sold to the City of Boerne Utilities in 1951. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986 (At city hall 402 E. Blanco)

On September 15, 1871, the Boerne Gesangenverein purchased Boerne Lots 119 and 120 of the Kuhlmann and Ryan Addition. On Jun 17, 1873, the Gesangenverein, at a regular meeting, resolved that they donate lots 119 and 120 to the Boerne School Society provided and on the condition that the Boerne School Society will within one year build a schoolhouse with at least two rooms. On August 18, 1874, the Gesangenverein resolved that whereas the Boerne School Society had completed a two room schoolhouse on Lots 119 and 120 by June 17, 1874, that they be granted the deed to the two lots, "in consideration of the benefit accruing to us and our children from the establishment of an institute of learning in the Town of Boerne." This, then, was the beginning of the first official public school in Boerne. This building was used as classrooms, a lunch room, exercise room at various times while a school. It became a workshop and storage area, then finally, offices for the city after the property was purchased for the City Utilities.

 One story stone rubble, symmetrical with porch across front, chimneys at both ends, 2 over 2 windows, two doors at front and back, large stone lintels, no sills.

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The Honorable Samuel Boyd Patton - Marker in/near Kendalia

Photo Credit: Sue Scruggs

Marker #5353 - 1996   Born in South Carolina in 1787, Samuel Boyd Patton moved to Tennessee as a youth. After serving in the war of 1812, he moved to Alabama, where he held public office and served in the state legislature. In 1837 Patton moved to Texas. He was appointed to the Board of Land Commissioners and was a member of Congress of the Republic of Texas. He helped organize Blanco County and served as the first chief justice (county judge) from 1858-60. He was the second chief justice in Kendall County in 1865. He died in 1869 and is buried across the field nearby. (1996) (FM 3351, 2.8 miles west of Kendalia)

One marker was placed at the gravesite of Samuel Boyd Patton. Another sign was placed to mark the road on FM 3351 in 1996.
Samuel Boyd Patton was born in 1787 in South Carolina. He died in 1869 and was buried in Kendall County on the land he pioneered, fought and settled. His grave site is on his old homestead beneath a huge, oak tree. Patton served in the War of 1812. He moved to Alabama where he held public office and served in the state legislature. In 1837 he moved to Texas where he was appointed to the Board of Land Commissioners and was a member of Congress of the Republic of Texas. He helped organize Blanco County and served as the first County Judge in that county from 1858-1860. He later (1865) served as County Judge in Kendall County.

Ingenhuett-Karger Saloon