The Dienger Building - Part of Boerne's History

The Dienger Building is one of the most iconic landmarks in Boerne Texas.  The building was designed by architect Alfred Geils and utilizes a Gingerbread style architecture that you can see in the trim for the column that line the front of the main building. The Dienger was built in 1884 by the son of German Immigrants, Joeseph Dienger. The downstairs was a Dry Goods Store while the upstairs was rented out for special events like weddings and parties.  The one store addition that you see going off to the right of the two-story main building served as a Blacksmith shop and feed store. In 1930 the building was converted to a Savings and Loan and served in that capacity unit 1945 when it returned to its roots and was converted into a Grocery Store. In the 1950's Epperson Motors which sold Oldsmobiles, International Trucks, and Maytag Appliances. 

In 1967 nine local businessmen decided to purchase the Dienger Building and convert it into the Antler Resturant.  The Downstair served as the dining area and they opened a Bar Upstairs. It is at this point that some believe the Dienger Building began to be haunted by Joeseph Dienger who had died in 1950 at the ate of 91.  The story goes, that Joeseph had been an ardent prohibitionist and the opening of the bar upstairs disturbed his rest.  The staff of the Anter began hearing strand noises, knocks on the door with no one there, the phone ringing with no one on the other end and seeing unexplained shadows.   To test this theory the owners of the Anter decided to set a table for Joeseph and his wife Ida, with two full glasses of water.  The story goes that the table was undisturbed by the staff all night, however, when they went to clear the table at the end of the night both glasses were only half full of water.  In 1978 the Antler closed and the Dienger building became a Bank.  At this point, the ghost sitings seemed to have stopped unit 1991 when the building was taken over by the Boerne Public Library.

Reports from staff working late at the Boerne Public Libray tell of unusual noises other oddities, led to an investigation by the Kling Brothers of Everyday Paranormal and host of the show Ghost Lab in 2008. During their overnight investigation, they claim to have recorded a shadowy figure and what sounded like an old-time banjo.  The recording also appears to catch an unidentified voice saying shhhhh there's something up the stairs.

When the Library moved to its current location a few blocks down main street the building remained empty unit 2014 when Raymond Lunsford purchased it and restored it, opening the Dienger Trading Company.

Father of Texas Day

November 3rd is the 225th Birthday of the "Father of Texas" Steven F. Austin.  August of 1821, Austin arrived in Texas and began scouting out the territory between the San Antonio and Brazos rivers.  Under an Agreement with Governor Antonio Maria Martinez, Austin would recruit colonist to Texas and receive 12.5 Cents an acre for each settler he brought in.  In exchange, Austin was responsible for ensuring the good behavior of his colonist. Astin would have to deal with several changes in the Mexican government, but his determination and hard work would help bring hundreds of families to Texas.

Austin worked diligently to ensure the prosperity of Texas and turn this once vast wilderness into a modern society.  He was a strong advocate for both for the rights of the Colonist of Texas and for the colonist to be loyal and law-abiding Mexican citizens. Austin worked tirelessly to reconcile the Texas settlers with their national government in Mexico City, until it was clear that reconciliation was impossible.  He led the Texas volunteer forces that seized San Antonio from the Mexican Army, and served the provisional government of Texas as a commissioner sent to the United States to secure loans and aid in the war for independence from Mexico.  After his return to Texas, he served as the secretary of state until his death on December 27, 1836

Austin said of Texas, "The prosperity of Texas has been the object of my labors, the idol of my existence—it has assumed the character of a religion, for the guidance of my thoughts and actions, for fifteen years."  It is for this sacrifice and service to Texas that Austin is called the "Father of Texas".


Texas State Historical Association

History of Boerne 3rd Grade Field Trip

After weeks of studying and learning about their hometown, third-grade students at Curington Elementary got to get out an explore some of the historical sites of Boerne.  The Boerne Historical Society provided docents to give the student's about the history of Boerne at the Kuhlman-King House and saw how the early settlers of Boerne would have prepared food in the detached kitchen, that had at one time also served as the dining area for the first school in Boerne

Behind the Kuhlman-King House the students got to check out artifacts from the early 20'th century at the Graham House. Where the docent explained what life was like in the early 1900's to the students.  They got to see an actual telephone operators switch-board, a Boerne White Sox Baseball Uniform, and other bits of Boerne History.

At the Theis house the Owner, Mrs. Sultenfuss told the students about the history of the house, built in 1858, talked about the blacksmith shop that used to stand next to the house and showed the children the hand dug well the Theis family used for water.  She then opened the doors and allowed the students to explore the interior of the home that her family had restored and filled with family heirlooms and historic relics from the late 1800's and early 1900's.

At the Fabra Smoke House, Ye Kendall Inn, Old Kendal Country Jail and Courthouse, and the Main Plaza, the students took charge with presentations, showing off all of the research they had done in preparation for the field trip.