Pioneer Schandua House
Fredericksburg, Gillespie County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Built before 1880, this house was purchased by John Schandua, a local merchant, shortly after his marriage to Bertha (Klein) in 1883. The front room, called "die stube," served as a bedroom and living area. the back room was used as a bedroom for their children. gingerbread work accents the posts on the front porch. The residence was used for a short time as a Sunday School building for the Bethany Lutheran Church. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1979
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Built before 1880 and bought by merchant John Schandua soon after his 1883 marriage to Bertha Klein, this house kept a distinctly German-Texan plan: a front "stube" that served as both bedroom and living room, with the children's room behind. Gingerbread trim dressed up the porch posts, and for a time the residence even hosted Sunday School for Bethany Lutheran Church. It captures the blended domestic and community life of a Hill Country merchant family.
Why it matters
The home shows how German settlers carried the language, layout, and customs of the old country into their new Texas households.
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Related people
- · John Schandua
- · Bertha Klein
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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