DUANE
Duane's take
The way the marker tells it, here's what happened on this spot in Comal County. Back in the days when New Braunfels was young and epidemics moved through settlements like unwelcome guests who wouldn't leave, there was a pastor by the name of L. C.
Ervendberg. He looked out at his community and saw something that couldn't be ignored — children, homeless children, left behind by those severe outbreaks of disease. And he decided to do something about it.
Now, some folks talk about a problem. Ervendberg chartered an orphanage. In 1848, he drew up the papers for what he called the Western Texas Orphan Asylum, and that institution would go on to earn a distinction that still carries weight — known as the first orphanage in the state of Texas.
The first one. In the whole state. Right here.
On this ground, Ervendberg built the house that still stands on this site, much remodeled by now, but standing. He started a farm. He held classes.
He taught farming techniques. And alongside all of that, he raised nineteen orphans under this roof, in addition to his own five children. Twenty-four children in one household, with crops to tend and lessons to learn.
His wife was right there with him, teaching the children housekeeping. This was not a charitable institution at arm's length — this was a family, deliberately assembled in the middle of hardship. Ervendberg himself passed in 1863, and what he left behind was a house, a farm, and a legacy that Texas saw fit to call its very first.
That's the kind of thing that tends to hold up.
What the marker says
Known as first orphanage in State of Texas. Chartered in 1848 as "Western Texas Orphan Asylum" by L. C. Ervendberg (d. 1863), pastor of New Braunfels. Because of severe epidemics, many children were homeless. At this site Ervendberg built this house (now much remodeled) and began a farm. Here he reared 19 orphans as well as his own 5 children. He also held classes and taught farming techniques. His wife taught housekeeping. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark--1970