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History of Education in Fredericksburg, Texas
As many as 44 rural schools were in operation around Fredericksburg, the county seat of Gillespie County, in the early 20th century. German immigrants had poured into the area that became known as the Texas Hill Country in the mid to late 1800's, starting with the settlements of New Braunfels in 1845 and Fredericksburg in 1846.
These Germans brought with them a keen love of education. The first school in Fredericksburg was erected in the Marketplatz (Market Square) in the center of Main Street in 1847. This Vereins Kirche (Community Church), known as the Church of the Society of Nobles, was to serve as church, school, community meeting hall, and fort, if needed. Comanche Indians roamed the area. The Germans had reached the frontier of Texas before the United States Army.
As families moved onto land more distant from town, the earliest rural educational efforts normally involved hiring a teacher to educate the children in private homes. Eventually, land was donated by a family in the area, and a community school was built, taking names descriptive of nearby natural landmarks, such as Cave Creek, Crabapple, Pecan Creek, or Lower South Grape Creek. The German heritage of Gillespie County is evident in other names like Luckenbach, Meusebach Creek, Rheingold, and Nebgen.
Several of the 12 schools now listed on the National Register date from the 1870's and 1880's. The original Rheingold School is the oldest of the rural schools in Gillespie County.
Many of the Gillespie County rural schools offered courses in both in German and English. The end of the school year was celebrated with an all day affair called the Schulprüfung (school examination). The students demonstrated their knowledge in front of family and friends, followed by a picnic and dancing into the night. The original school closing curtain is still on display in four of the schools, with advertisements for early-day Gillespie County merchants. Three of the schools still have the original student desks and teacher's desk.
History of Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg history begins with the town’s founding. In 1846, John O. Meusebach created Fredericksburg, then called Friedrichsburg, as the second of a pair of settlements for those brought to Texas by the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas, also known as the Adelsverein.
The city was named for Prince Frederick of Prussia, who was the highest member of the Adelsverein. The townsite was situated perfectly in a well-timbered area between Barton and Town Creeks, which would provide the supplies for the settlement to get started. Those who came to the area largely were German immigrants from intellectual, liberal classes, but worship services remained an integral part of their lives.
The Vereins Kirche was the hub of the community, and this building served as the church, community center, and school.
Fredericksburg history Downtown Fredericksburg during the holidays
Today, Fredericksburg strives to remain connected to its German origins while making strides into the future. Its historic district gives visitors and new generations a peek into Fredericksburg history, so they can continue to keep the past alive. Tourism is still a large part of the economy, and fewer people speak German than ever, but this town remains a genuine piece of Texas history, that changes with the times, keeping relevant while preserving its past.
City of Fredericksburg, Texas: History
Texas State Historical Association: Fredericksburg, Texas
Wikipedia: History of Fredericksburg, Texas
Our Mascot
Alter Stolz "Billie Pride"
(FISD Mascot)
There is no delicate way to put this. Fredericksburg High School once had an image problem. Many people outside Gillespie County mistakenly thought the school's mascot was a Hillbilly, not a Battlin' Billie. It took a little PR work and a legendary billy goat named Alter Stolz to clear up the confusion.
In an article in the Fredericksburg Standard some years ago, long-time Fredericksburg head football coach and athletic director Carlin Wicker traced the origins of the FHS mascot controversy to an early 20th century athletic contest between Fredericksburg High School and Main Avenue High School in San Antonio (later Fox Tech). Although Fredericksburg lost a close game, a San Antonio sportswriter wrote "Those boys from up in the hills" battled Main Avenue "like a bunch of billy goats."
The Fredericksburg athletes, students and fans liked what the sportswriter had written and informally adopted the nickname "Hill Billies" (two words) meaning "Billie Goats of the Hills."
As it turned out a billy goat was the ideal mascot for Fredericksburg High School. Goats were very important to the economy of the Hill Country. The Goat King, Adolph Stieler, raised more goats on his ranch between Fredericksburg and Comfort than any rancher in the world.
The problem with the mascot was that the rest of the world didn't get it. Outsiders, through ignorance or otherwise, thought the FHS mascot was a "Hillbilly," (one word) - a person from a hilly or mountainous region that is out of touch with the modern world. San Antonio newspapers regularly called the Fredericksburg athletic teams the "Hillbillies."
The controversy raged for 30 years. FHS head football coach Ewell Sessom made some progress when he began referring to his athletic teams as the "Battlin' Billies," but outside Gillespie County the new name was slow catching on.
When Carlin Wicker arrived in Fredericksburg in 1963 there was still confusion over whether or not FHS was the "Battlin' Billies" or the Hillbillies. Then Alter Stolz made his historic debut as FHS mascot at a pep rally on October 21, 1966, prior to the Fredericksburg/Uvalde football game.
The story goes that Billie Booster Glenn Quinn came up with the idea of using a live goat as the team mascot. Quinn chose a magnificent angora with a spectacular set of horns from Benno Eckert's herd in Willow City. The animal was Benno's bell goat and family pet.
His name was Alter Stolz. It means "Old Pride."
That day at the pep rally, in front of a roaring crowd, Alter Stolz pranced in, nose in the air - looking like he wanted to butt something. He wore a flashy read and white blanket that read "Alter Stolz, FHS, Battlin' Billies." It was a pivotal moment in the history Fredericksburg High School athletics.
Well, Fredericksburg won the game against Uvalde that night and went on to win the district championship. Whether he deserved it or not Ol' Alter Stolz got a lion's share of the credit. "Billie Pride, Uber Alles" became the battle cry that carried the FHS Battlin' Billies to athletic glory.
Glenn Quinn and Sonny Bonn were the goat keepers, and they treated Alter Stolz like a king. His majesty got a royal shearing each year at the Pioneer Museum. Dr. Curtis Eckhardt gave him his yearly checkups. And Alter Stolz, never camera shy, always got a wash and a rinse before having his picture taken for the Mesa.
For several years Alter Stolz traveled with the football team, and he appeared at many special events. He became a part of the culture. He logged close to 7,000 travel miles in his illustrious career. The publicity he received cleared up the mascot question once and for all.
Alter Stolz died in 1973, but in a way he's still around. His mounted head is on display at Fredericksburg High School. The rest of him is buried on a hill overlooking the football stadium where people say his spirit, like a foggy apparition, is sometimes seen, hanging over the field, urging the Battlin' Billies on to victory.
Or maybe it's just smoke from the concession stand.
© Michael Barr
"Hindsights" December 18, 2020 Column
Sources:
"Alter Stolz, School Mascot, Died Last Week," Fredericksburg Standard, January 24, 1973
"FHS Campus Comet," Fredericksburg Standard, September 30, 1970.
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