28 Gruene/New Braunfels

     We left San Antonio on Jan 4th with a light drizzle falling.
     I think Jeff Foxworthy would probably say  "When a person appearing to be homeless stationed between the lane of cars at a busy traffic light collecting funds, comes up and says " and I thought I was cold, y'all must be miserable"  you know you must look pitiful (the kicker would have been if he reached in his cup and gave "us" money)  A brief but interesting conversation before the light changed and the miserable looking couple sped off into the rain. You are always curious about the circumstances that put a person there?  Especially with recent investigations finding that some of the people that are doing this are not in a desperate situation and have just found a way to make money.   One of  our hosts had  mentioned viet nam imposters and one in a wheel chair with leg folded underneath one on occasions the victim would have the wrong leg down.
     We traveled the interstate which is unusual for us turning off at the New Braunfels exit.  My niece Carmen's husband Chris had told us about the Gruene music hall and we wanted to see it.  The hall was built in 1878 and claims to be the oldest continually run dance hall in Texas.  In the era before every type of entertainment was channeled into your living room or available in your pocket places like this hall provided a gathering place to unwind and listen to local entertainers.   It was a friendly group in the bar area when we arrived.  I expected it looked pretty much like it did years ago except for all of the neon beer signs.  I suppose our rain gear set us apart as we warmed ourselves by the wood burning stove.  We started to take each others picture beneath the "welcome Cowboy's"  sign. One of the young Texas ladies volunteered to take our picture together and her group invited us to join them.  Maybe we do fit in?
     This particular hall became a stepping stone for many stars.  Many I recognized.   One particular photo story on the wall was of a popular local band that entertained frequently, in 1981 they went to Nashville for the last time saying "if something doesn't happen this time it will be our last try."  and now we all know George Strait.  Jerry lee Lewis and Bo Diddley have also played there. The hall has two free shows daily with feature entertainment on weekends.  The free shows give newcomers a great place to start and showcase their talents.  The movie "Michael" with John Travolta used the hall as a set. 
     The wooden structure because of shrinkage has left gaps between the boards, as a result light streams in and the sound of music radiates from every wall.    We listened to a couple of solo entertainers for a short while in the afternoon ( we were hungry again)  with the thought of returning in the evening after eating and finding lodging.

     It was here that we found a real gem.  From the outside we weren't even sure if it was open.  Located a short ways behind the hall on a high bank Guadalupe river,  the wooden exterior reminded me of a granary on the farm where I grew up.  The wood was so weathered if it had been painted at one time there wasn't any trace of it.  We found a plaque telling us the history, a cotton gin powered by the river below had been built on the site of a grist mill,  It was destroyed by fire in 1922 and then in 1925 the cotton crop was lost to a boll weevil infestation.  

  Around the side we found an entrance and on entering were greeted by another small wood burning stove.  There was only one couple in the bar and a hostess in a door way inquired as to how many were in our party?  Not what we had expected.  We followed her thru several spacious warm rooms with massive burning fireplaces.  It seats over a thousand and has multilevel out door tables under the shade of trees. We may have created a monster here as Ruthie is getting used to having her own camera.  Lots of pictures of this Gristmill Restaurent, I will include a few.

 In the middle eighteen hundreds Germany had to many people and to little land Texas had the reverse problem.  Many German immigrants came to Texas with the help of Prince Carl, New Braunfels is one of those settlements and has bascially swallowed Gruene.  

Upside down Christmas tree or Ruthie's balancing act?

We found a wonderful bed and breakfast Inn built in 1898 that has an addition that was once a  feed store and livery stable. The Prince Solms Inn with a piano bar in the cellar.  When we left the music hall we stopped to see what it was like and listen to the music.  A local man bought us both a drink as soon as we walked in.  I guess we are fitting in here.  We found out later he was buying drinks for everyone.  You should thank me, I only added two pictures one of the inside and one from the exterior.  Ruthie really liked this place.  If you want more I will email them to you or stop by this summer and take a look. 

     As you are probably aware I'm having trouble knowing when to stop sharing.  We have seen so much on this trip.  I will cut this post off here and get some rest.