Commemorative trail ride follows historical path to New Braunfels

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

May 5, 2005 - When a group of German "aristocrats" decided to form a special organization to help people travel to Texas in 1842, little did they know that what was started as a way for them to immigrate to the United States ... and Texas in particular ... was an important part of the history of New Braunfels.

The organization was known as a "Verein" in German, or the "Verein zum Schutze deutscher Einwanderer in Texas." It was later known as the "Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas."

The "Verein" chose Prince karl-zu-Solms-Braunfels as the "Commissioner General" for the new colony, and the immigrants began arriving in Texas in September of 1844. They arrived in a port that was called Indian Point, then Karlshafen and, finally, Indianola.

By January of 1845, history shows the group started moving inland, moving many of the German settlers to a small piece of land called New Braunfels, after the leader. On Good Friday, March 21, 1845, the wagons crossed the Guadalupe River ... at 3:15 p.m., so history relates, and set up camp on a bluff overlooking the Comal River. That site is now the location of the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in New Braunfels.

By 1853, it was reported that the "Verein" had settled over 7,000 German emigrants to Texas.

With a history of this proportion, the Heritage Trail Ride Association of New Braunfels, Inc. decided they should celebrate and preserve the "sacrifices and courage" of the German settlers who left Germany for an unknown land. In 1970, the group decided to "trace the footsteps" of those original settlers and make it a special celebration every five years, thus the origin of the "Founders Trail Ride."

Preparations for the ride begin a year ahead of time, and the exact trail is driven, several times, to check road conditions and possible construction sites.

The 2005 ride was led by Trail Boss David Wiedenfeld, who just happens to be the great-great-grandson of an original founder who participated in the original move to New Braunfels from Germany. On March 19, the riders left on the week-long trip, said Marion J. (Jack) Borchers, assistant trail boss and president of the Heritage Trail Ride Association of New Braunfels, Inc. The riders left Indianola and rode from 16 to about 25 miles a day, tracing the path of the original riders.

The ride took them through Placedo, Nursery, Cuero, Oak Forest and Seguin, finally arriving in New Braunfels on Good Friday, March 25, crossing the Guadalupe at the same time the original settlers did. They completed the ride at the same place (the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church).

One thing that was different about this year's ride was the food, said Borchers. The riders were treated to more than barbecue and beans, every day, even having chicken one day. The weather, for the most part, cooperated, except for one night's downpour!

This particular trail ride is special to all of the riders who are eager to preserve the German heritage and history of those settlers who are still in many areas of South Central Texas and the Hill Country.

According to Borchers, this year's ride was dedicated to H.E. (Easy) Hall, one of the original organizers of the Founders' Trail Ride. Hall died in 2002.