During our hunt for German-speaking communities in the Texas Hill Country on our “Fabric of America” tour, we spotted a town on the map called New Berlin. Considering our history, you know we just had to go there.
We figured, if we couldn’t find any German-speakers in Fredericksburg, Texas, maybe we could find some in New Berlin of all places? Even if there was only a .00001% chance that’d happen, we went anyway. Because, you know how we do.
So, off we went down the back roads of south-central Texas, nearly missing the town entirely! Small is a gross exaggeration – this place is tiny.
We stopped at one of the two open-looking places in town, the central meeting place and restaurant called Brietzke Station. (The other spot was a watering hole.)
We were obviously out of place here, but the ladies working were more than happy to chat with us and talk about the history of the town, which is plastered all over the walls in pictures and newspaper clippings.
We ordered some delicious down-home cooking – always cooked from scratch by the ladies, as it should be – and sat down for some words and drinks.
After chatting for a while, more people started trickling in. And then more. And then more and more. Eventually, we’d been there for over five hours, chit-chatting with the locals, learning their stories, and listening to a history of the area.
Unfortunately, we struck out with German speakers as we were told (yet again) that this person might speak it, or that person might, and those farmers definitely do, but none of them would be around for a while. And so it went.
Regardless of our language strike-out, we had a blast with the ladies and gents we met at Brietzke Station. Every place in the world is interesting beyond what most would imagine, even if that place is a one-horse town with 467 people in the middle of Texas.
We didn’t get a ton of photos – too busy talking, I suppose – but we did get a few, so enjoy what we’ve got to share from this post from our “In Pictures” series.
Have you ever been to New Berlin? Have you ever even heard of it? If so, what’d you think? Let us know in the comments!
Wow! What a gem behind that questionable exterior! Who’d a thunk it? Did you get the stories behind those interesting pictures? And the pies! Whoa!
There were a lot of photos of the families and residents of New Berlin over the last hundred-odd years, as well as newspaper clippings and other interesting stories documenting the town. They do have an historic archive in town as well, but the lady in charge of it wasn’t in town that particular day so we didn’t get to see it or talk to her. And yes, the pie!
Fun fact: There’s a New Berlin, WI! Loving the small town love, even though the placement of the bolt in that sign makes it look like .467 people. Looks like it anyway!
Ah yes, I forgot about that!
Sidenote: When we were in the Texan town, they told us about this German girl who had traveled to all the Berlins in the U.S. and made a documentary about it. Now that you’ve reminded me, I need to go look and see if it ever came out…
Haha .467. Almost felt like it!
Did you visit New Braunfels for German speakers? My great grandparents spoke german, but refused to let my grandmother and her sister speak it much because of the stigma it held during that time period (WWII). My family is from New Braunfels and Cibolo, TX. Just a hop skip and a jump from New Berlin (where my boyfriend lives!).
We did visit New Braunfels and you can find that post here: https://www.jetsliketaxis.com/new-braunfels-texas/
My grandparents used to winter there and I distinctly remember a whole lot of German traditions, but I don’t remember anyone speaking it. My step-grandfather only spoke German as a child, but he was weaned off it like most during and after the war.
We didn’t find anyone in New Braunfels, but there we were more just walking around and checking out the town as I hadn’t been in at least 25 years. We went to the bakery and talked to them a bit. And bought all kinds of delicious pastries!
Thanks for stopping by, Tiffany!
We live here in New Berlin 1 mile from Brietzke’s. My husbands family has been here since the 1800’s we have 3 young kiddos and hope to keep the tradition going. Unfortunately none of us speak German, just don’t tell my high school German teacher I said that! Thanks for visiting our Town!
Haha! Are the kids learning yet? It’s never too early! We really had a blast with everyone in New Berlin and are still very much appreciative of how nice and welcoming they were. We’d go back in a heartbeat. Thanks for reading, Priscilla!
Should have gone to Penshorn’s Meat Market in Marion a little ways down the road from there. The ladies behind the counter speak German.
Aw, shucks! We’ll have to make our way over there next time. If not for the German, for the delicious meats! We didn’t know about Marion when we were there…the info seems to be rather scattershot and it takes a lot of talking and digging to find different places to go. Which is totally fine – we love getting recommendations directly from the source. We just couldn’t hit every single town. :) Thanks for the comments, Devan!
Penshorn’s is a must when I come to the great state of Texas!
We definitely have to check it out next time we’re down there!
I’m part of the 5th generation to grow up in New Berlin, TX. One of my brothers, some cousins and lifelong friends still live there. Wish i could. Yall need to come to the annual Sausage Festival held the Sunday before Labor Day
Did you say sausage festival? We’re in! We just have to get down there again. That’s in New Berlin as well? Thanks for your comments, Debbie!
Yes, it’s held right across the parking lot from Brietzke Station. You can’t miss it. The population of New Berlin, TX quadruples that weekend. ?
That sounds like where we need to be!
This festival is a fund raiser hosted by the New Berlin Vol. Fire Dept. and New Berlin Community Club. The sausage is made from scratch by members of both organizations based of a recipe by Mr. Melvin Strey. It’s every year on Labor Day Sunday. And trust me, if you can make it you won’t miss this, it’s a huge event for such a small community.
Previous New Berlin resident and volunteer firefighter ready to return.
Sounds like a great way to raise money…with good food. :) We won’t be able to get down there any time soon, but we’ll keep it in mind for sure. We have zero problem traveling for food and fun. Thanks, Alan!
I’m from new berlin texas and you literally missed by maybe a few miles the German 9 pin bowling alley where they all speak fluent German, Germania of all names.
Aw man! And no one mentioned it to us the entire time we were there. Maybe they’re all keeping it a secret, and you just let it loose! :) Thanks for the info and thanks for reading, Christopher!
I live there!!!! Small but wonderful town!
We were only there for the day, but it was a nice place to be! Thanks for reading, Stephanie!
My grandparents live in NB as did I, both speaking fluent german, guess they weren’t at Brietzkes that day!
Too bad we didn’t get to meet! :) Thanks for stopping by, Tiffany. Hope all is well in New Berlin!
I love New Berlin. It’s so quiet and peaceful there. A large part of its charm, though, is that most have never heard of it …. So, ssshhhhh! Haha. I’d love to build a house there for my forever home!
It is definitely quiet and peaceful, although it did get loud in Brietzke! We wrote this post in 2013, but it seems it’s making its way around town now haha. I’ll do my best not to ruin the secret anywhere else. Take care, Trixie!
I also am from the little town of New Berlin. In fact I also worked at Brietzke’s Station at the time of your visit, now I’m sorry I missed you. I can not speak German nor Spanish as I am both German and Hispanic but my dad (deceased), his brother and sister grew up speaking it but They do not speak it fluently now. As for 9 pin bowling yes there are 2 about quarter mile apart and in both you can find folks that speak German in them. The little community where the bowlings are is called Zuhle now that’s a place you will find some German speakers. Yes you should return to New Berlin, TX every year Labor Day weekend on Sunday for the Susage Supper, games, dancing, auction, Susage, sauerkraut!
Ah shoot, sorry we missed you, too! Maybe we’ll make it back there sometime…we’re easily tempted. Especially when food is involved! Thanks for sharing a bit of your story with us, Brandy.
I live a few minites from New Berlin! They recently reopened that lil place. It used to be a filling station/local eats. Back then, it was run by Mutzie, who recently retired. Most people knew it as Mrs. B’s back then. It’s a shame that you were not there when we had the local sausage festival!
Everyone’s talking about the festival. We really need to go. Also, I’m hungry now. Haha. Thanks for stopping by, Ashley!
There are actually quite a few of the older folk in Marion that speak German. The Sausage supper is your best bet to see them. And of course, Wurstfest in November in New Braunfels. All the German pride comes out.
I definitely know about the one in New Braunfels due to my grandparents wintering there back when I was a kid. We’ve put our German on the back burner since we’ve been in so many Spanish-speaking countries lately, but there’s nothing like a refresh and a sausage festival sounds like a winner! Take care, Shannon, and thanks for reading!
I used to live there with my parents. My father was the local pastor at Elm Creek Lutheran Church. John David Murdock was his name. He did speak German.
Very cool! Do you ever get back there? Thanks for sharing with us, Marta!
Unfortunately, no I haven’t been back for years. But I still think about my time there as a kid.
Time to go for a visit! :)
I grew up not far from New Berlin in Zuehl. My parents used to speak German all the time especially if they didn’t want us to know what they were talking about. Sometimes when my mother would get on the phone with her brother, you would here the German fly, but sorry to say, it’s been lost on our generation. Some of my cousins still speak it some over in Marion, that’s part of the Penshorn crowd.
Haha, too bad they didn’t teach you! It’s really sad that this was lost, and the reasons it was lost. Such a shame. Thanks for sharing your story, Susan!
Brietzkes station was my first job when I was 16 they treated me like family
Cool! Do you ever get back there? Thanks for reading, Lea!
I’ve been to New Berlin many times, my mom grew up a few miles away and to your story, she spoke a bit of German. She married and moved away but the happiest times we had growing up occurred when we came back on vacation to spend time with our family. We did enjoy more than one or two meals at Brietzke Station! My aunts, uncles and cousins still live in the area– and my mom is now at peace in the Elm Creek Lutheran cemetery, not too far away. My husband, daughter and I look forward to coming back very soon…
Thanks very much for sharing your story with us, Tamra! Tell ’em all we said ‘hi’ next time you head over there. :)
My family lives about 5 miles from new Berlin. They speak german. If you know old time Germans then you should know that they don’t go out to eat much. They are too tight.
Haha! We know how that goes. Do you speak it at all? Thanks for sharing with us, and take care!
You’re a century too late.
My Papa grew up in Laverna, about 15 miles from New Berlin (btw, for those who don’t know, it’s pronounced “BER lin”, the imphasis is on the first sylable, not the second like Berlin, Germany). To the day he died, he sounded like he’d just gotten off the boat from Germany. He spoke nothing but German until he was 8, when WWI broke out and in a fit of anti-German sentiment, Texas passed a law requiring all schools to teach exclusively in English.
My Granny, who was I think 6 years younger spoke only a little German because she of the anti-German feelings during and following the War.
On the plus side, St. Joseph’s church in down town San Antonio was built by German settlers and still does an all German service on the 3rd Sunday of the month. If you make it back to town at the right time, you might enjoy it. The Church is on Commerce, surrounded by River Center Mall.
Yeah, the history of why it declined over the past 100 years is rather sad. Such is the way of war, though, I suppose. Thanks for sharing your story and for the info!