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One of the first buildings German pioneers constructed in Fredericksburg in the summer of 1847 was the Vereinskirche (Union Church). The building was originally located in very center of Main Street between the courthouse and Market Square. During the fifty years that is was in use, it served as a community hall, schoolhouse, church and, occasionally, a fort.
Because of its octagonal shape, The original structure was affectionately called “Die Kaffee-Muehle” (the coffee mill). It was designed by a Dr. Schubert, and modeled on an ancient German style known as the "Carolingian octagon," exemplified by the original portion of the cathedral of Charlemagne at Aachen.
Dr. Schubert had strategic reasons to choose an octagon. The town had peaceful relations with the Comanche people but in case things would go bad, the church would have to serve as a fort and an octagonal building offered the best all-around view. As it turned out, as of today, the German/Comanche Peace Treaty is the only treat between white settlers and Native Americans that has never been broken.
The Vereins-Kirche was used until 1896 when it became unstable and was consequently razed. When the Gillespie County Historical Society was formed in 1934, its first goal was the construction of a replica of the old church, with the assistance of the Civil Works Administration, to be completed in time for the Texas Centennial celebration in 1936. The replica used the original cornerstone and is designed like the old Vereins-Kirche, though its walls are stone instead timber. Lee Kiehne was the architect, and used the same dimensions as the original building. The new building was constructed 300 feet north of its original location, in the center of Marktplatz (the Market Square). The replica of the Vereins-Kirche was originally used as a museum and library. It is now houses the archives for the Gillespie County Historical Society
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