06/27/2025
Going to be fun! Come join!
"Comfort had received a small cannon from Neu-Braunfels. It was supposed to be fired in case of approaching danger and when all the settlers were to gather for defense. The cannon was only fired once. The celebration of the 4th of July was never neglected. In order to celebrate it better, many of those unmarried settlers would travel to Fredericksburg. In those days the brothers Gooldbeck owned a small store. In those days there was always an inn connected to the store. The beer was supplied by the brewery of Mr.Menger in San Antonio. Unfortunately the beer had the disadvantage that it would spoil easily. The brothers Goldbeck had received several kegs of beer just a few days before July 4th when they found out that a few of the people would celebrate July 4th in Fredericksburg. The beer would spoil, and the brothers would not be able to get over such a loss easily. Fritz Goldbeck had a glorious idea. Two days before July 4th a cannon shot resounded and called the settlers to arm. The workers in the hill-ditch dumped their hoes and shovels. The shingle makers left axes,saws and carving knives behind. Everybody rushed to the assembly place, weapons in hand. Here was Mr. Fritz Goldbeck and explained in a poignant speech to the folks gathered that there was no danger from Indians, but that there was a danger of the beer spoiling, and that one had to make sure that that would not happen. Well, you should have seen the perplexed faces of the fooled men! First they were showing their anger in drastic language. Then the humor got the upper hand. The cannon shot had the desired success; July 4th was celebrated a little earlier, and the beer did not spoil."
- from the Translation of Comfort's 50th Anniversary Commemorative Book