Homesite of Albert Paul Kutzer

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm just passin' it along. Now, if you want to understand how a town gets its footing, you look for the people who showed up early and decided to stay busy. In Kendall County, one of those people was Albert Paul Kutzer.

Born in 1871, he was the eldest son of Reinhold and Pauline Kutzer, German immigrants who put down roots and raised a family right here in this county. Albert came into a world still finding its shape, and he spent his life helping shape it. He grew up to be a merchant and a gin operator, and before long he'd earned a reputation as one of Boerne's leading businessmen.

But commerce was only part of the story. The man also served as mayor of Boerne from 1915 to 1920, sat as school board president, and organized the Old Boerne Commercial Club. That's a full plate by anyone's measure.

The marker says he was instrumental in Boerne's early growth, and when you look at that list of roles, it's hard to argue otherwise. Now, the home that stood on this very site was built in 1890, constructed for his parents. Albert and his wife, Lucie Henrietta Kutzer, made it their own family home from 1895 to 1923.

Lucie, who had been a Schwethelm before she married, lived on until 1965. Albert himself passed in 1925. The house that started as a gift to his parents became the center of a life spent building a community.

Some people pass through a place. Albert Paul Kutzer built one.

What the marker says

A native of Kendall County, Albert Paul Kutzer (1871-1925) was the eldest son of German immigrants Reinhold and Pauline (Holzinger) Kutzer. A merchant and gin operator, he became one of Boerne's leading businessman. He also served as mayor from 1915 to 1920, school board president, and organizer of the Old Boerne Commercial Club. Through his public service, he was instrumental in Boerne's early growth. Kutzer and his wife, Lucie Henrietta (Schwethelm) (d. 1965), had their family home here from 1895 to 1923 in a house built for his parents in 1890. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986 Incise on base: Sponsored by First United Methodist Church