Palo Alto College

San Antonio, Texas

SMALL TOWN HISTORY: Gruene, Texas

Janell M. Richter	Spring 2001
History 1302	R. Hines

ORIGINS:

Gruene, Texas started out originally three miles north of New Braunfels on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Comal County. A community called Goodwin developed which is now known as Gruene. It is now with in the New Braunfels' city limits.

"FOUNDING FATHERS":

The first settlers arrived in Gruene, TX in the middle 1840's. German immigrant farmers settled in the land having very little to start with. Town lots were set up for sale and quickly sold due to the rich and fertile farming lands. Gruene, Tx was named after a well know man named H.D.Gruene. He was the second son of German immigrants Ernst Gruene and Antoinette. They moved to New Braunfels in 1845 and in 1872 they bought over 6,000 acres in the small community called Goodwin. There was very little land available so the decided that the small German settlement Goodwin would be a good start.

ECONOMY:

In 1852, the cotton crop had started to progress in Gruene. H.D. Gruene decided to advertise his interest in sharecropping the cotton fields and within months, over 25 families responded. By the 1870s, cotton was the number one rated crop of the county. Henry D. Gruene built a mercantile store in 1878 to serve only a few dozen families living in the community. This became the foundation of the economy. Not only was it the store, it served as the stagecoach stop between Austin and San Antonio. Many of the customers were sharecropping his land and supported the improvements. He provided land for the Thorn Hill School which in 1940 had the population of only forty students.

The International Great Railroad increased the commercial development in Comal County. Gruene was able to now build a general store selling everything from pots and pans to caskets.

As the town grew, the store moved to a new brick building in 1904. It was the largest store in Comal. Today, the building still stands as the Gruene Antique Co.

Gruene's private office

Gruene also built a cotton gin that was powered by Guadalupe River water. In 1900 Gruene was the banking, ginning and shipping center for the area cotton farmers. In 1922 H.D.Gruene's cotton gin burned down so a new electric gin was built and the remaining fireplace is now in the Grist Mill Restaurant. In 1923 he decided that he needed to build a private office to maintain the finances of the business.

In the 1880's, Gruene Dance Hall and Saloon was a popular social attraction. It provided entertainment for the farmers and tenants.

HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT STORIES:

Gruene Dance Hall

Gruene Hall was the starting place for George Strait, Lyle Lovett, and Jerry Jeff Walker. In their early years they would go out there to make weekly appearances. The stage has seen everyone from Willie Nelson, The Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
The Hall even hosted baseball's greatest, Nolan Ryan's 50th birthday party.

LANDMARKS:

Gruene Mansion Inn

There are so many individual landmarks in Gruene. It would take all day to see everything. From the Gruene Mansion, to the Grist Mill Restaurant, they are all so interesting. Each place at Gruene, has an individual marker, with a detailed explanation of its significance. The Gruene Mansion Inn is located in the heart of Gruene. It was used for the 3500 acres plantation ran by H.D. Gruene. The little cottages surrounding it were little barns as well. It was registered under the National Registration of Historic Places, and is now a Texas Historic Landmark. Check out www.gruenemansioninn.com. for more information on the Gruene Mansion.

EVENTS:

Gruene has Market Days every third weekend during the months of February through November. So many people gather in the streets to select the merchandise that over a hundred venders are selling little cottages

from across the state. Every Thursday night through Sunday night, Gruene Hall offers live music pulling in large crowds from all over.

River rafting

INTERVIEWS:

Chamber of Commerce

Q: What is the best thing about living in Gruene, TX as a resident?
A: Of course all the people that come to share our community and the history.

Q: How long have you been a local resident of Gruene?
A: I have only been here for 10 years.

Q: Did you know of the historical significance before moving here?
A: Actually, I knew very little. I later learned of the detailed information and that kept me here till today.

TIES TO THE COMMUNITY:

Converted Barn

Gruene was left as a ghost town because of bad crops and the depression. In 1920 H.D. Gruene passed away and it lead to the end of Gruene's development. They managed to keep the mercantile store open with credit for the farmers, however, even that had failed. In the 1930s, the population was of seventy-five and by the 1950s, everyone left. In the winter of 1974-1975, the town began piecing itself back together. Business people came in to the town to restore the old buildings and bring it back to life. The restoration would create a town full of arts, crafts, and tourist attractions The Gruene Dance hall is the oldest operating dance hall in Texas. It was the continuous hope
for the town.

Click on map for larger view.

WEBSITES:

Gruene's History and Economy (Official Gruene Texas Website)

Handbook of Texas Online

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Ganes, Gary.(2000). Texas Guide.Fulcrum Pub.Colorado.
I chose this book because of the directions and information pertaining to Gruene.

Texas Hist. Association.(1996).The New Handbook of Texas.(Vol.3)
This was very helpful because it offered information of all the small towns in TX.

Somerset Publishers.(1996).Dictionary of Texas Historic Places.(Vol.1)
This was the only book that actually offered information on the Thorn Hill School.

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