The Church of Saints Peter and Paul

Duane's take

The official marker's the source here, and I'll tell it to you straight in my own way. Now settle in, because this one starts with a hill that's got a name worth savoring. Happy Stocking Hill.

That's what they called it, on account of its shape, right there in what would become New Braunfels. The Germans had a word for it, Lustiger Strumpf, and when you say it out loud it sounds almost like the hill itself is in a good mood. Which, as it turns out, it had reason to be.

German Catholic colonists arrived in New Braunfels in 1845, and they had been promised a church and a school. Now, a promise made to people who crossed an ocean is not a promise you want to let slide. They held onto it, and in 1847 Bishop John M.

Odin was deeded four lots right there on Happy Stocking Hill. Four lots. The foundation of something that intended to last.

And last it did, though it didn't start grand. First there was a log cabin. Just a log cabin, doing the work of a church, the way things often begin in Texas.

Then came a chapel built of walnut wood, which is already a step up, something with a little dignity to it. But the hill had bigger plans. Since 1871, a Gothic church of native limestone has stood at the top of that rise, crowning it, as the marker says, and that is exactly the right word.

Crowned. Now, limestone doesn't flinch easy, but 1881 brought a storm that felled the church steeple. Felled it.

You don't forget a storm like that in a congregation's memory. But they rebuilt it, and when they did, they added a clock in 1889. Because if you're going to put the steeple back up, you might as well make sure the whole town knows what time it is.

Over the years, Franciscan Conventual Fathers, Benedictines, and Sisters of Divine Providence have each, by turns, conducted school on that hill. Different hands, different orders, same hill. Same limestone church looking out over Comal County the way it has since 1871.

Happy Stocking Hill earned its good mood.

What the marker says

German Catholic colonists, who came to New Braunfels in 1845, obtained their promised church and school site (1847) when Bishop John M. Odin was deeded four lots here on "Lustiger Strumpf" (Happy Stocking) Hill -- so called from its shape. A log cabin at first, and then a walnut wood chapel stood here. Since 1871 this Gothic church of native limestone has crowned the hill. The church steeple, felled by an 1881 storm, was rebuilt and had a clock added in 1889. Franciscan Conventual Fathers, Benedictines, and Sisters of Divine Providence have, by turns, conducted school. (1976)