Issue No. 2
June 28, 2010
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About
Texas Reader is written by Mark Pusateri of
Copano Bay Press (BooksOnTexas.com).
It explores little known facets of Texas history you weren't likely taught in school.
Copano Bay Press (BooksOnTexas.com).
It explores little known facets of Texas history you weren't likely taught in school.
On September 20, 1865, in a field near Luckenbach, a German immigrant climbed inside a strange machine of his own invention.
He had given it wings modeled on those of a bird, a propeller, rudder and even an enclosed cockpit. It was powered by a giant coiled spring like those found in clock mechanisms of the time, but built on a grander scale. It even had a boat propeller in case he was forced to make a water landing.
This was his moment, nearly twenty years in the making.
Jacob Brodbeck was born in Germany and came to Texas as a young man, settling in Fredericksburg in 1847. He taught school and became a surveyor, but above all, he had a Jules Vernesian obsession with things mechanical. He had invented an self winding watch and an ice making contraption, but his magnum opus was his "airship."
Jacob had demonstrated small models of the airship at local fairs and had been encouraged by their success and the public interest. In June of 1865, barely two months after the Civil War had ended, he began selling shares of airship company to investors. Success would make them all richer than the railroad barons.
He had given it wings modeled on those of a bird, a propeller, rudder and even an enclosed cockpit. It was powered by a giant coiled spring like those found in clock mechanisms of the time, but built on a grander scale. It even had a boat propeller in case he was forced to make a water landing.
This was his moment, nearly twenty years in the making.
Jacob Brodbeck was born in Germany and came to Texas as a young man, settling in Fredericksburg in 1847. He taught school and became a surveyor, but above all, he had a Jules Vernesian obsession with things mechanical. He had invented an self winding watch and an ice making contraption, but his magnum opus was his "airship."
Jacob had demonstrated small models of the airship at local fairs and had been encouraged by their success and the public interest. In June of 1865, barely two months after the Civil War had ended, he began selling shares of airship company to investors. Success would make them all richer than the railroad barons.
The Alamo, Unvarnished
The difinitive study on the Alamo
and its defenders.
Dr. Amelia Williams completed
her research in the 1920s, but it
was never offered to the public.
Some questions it answers:
The difinitive study on the Alamo
and its defenders.
Dr. Amelia Williams completed
her research in the 1920s, but it
was never offered to the public.
Some questions it answers:
- Who were the defenders and where they had come from?
- How many Mexicans died in the final assault?
- When did Crockett arrive?
- Did he bring volunteers from Tennessee or did he come alone?
- Who were the brave few from Gonzales?
- Where were the ashes of the Texans finally buried?
Trivia Answer:
After the fall of the Alamo, the mission complex was in a state of ruin. It remained that way until well after Texas was admitted to the union in 1846.
In 1849 the Catholic Church, which owned the mission, leased the chapel to the Army for $150 a month.
The Army intended to use it as a supply depot and proceeded to get the building into shape, shoring up walls, adding its first roof and giving it its iconic roofline.
During the Army's tenure, local Masons held meetings in the chapel.
The Army departed in 1876 when Fort Sam Houston was established.
At about that time, the Catholic Church sold the convent to Honore Grenet, who added a new two-story wooden building to the complex and used it as a mercantile store.
It was later purchased by Hugo & Schmeltzer, which continued to operate until 1903, when the building was purchased by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, preventing it from becoming a hotel.
It was then given to the State of Texas, which had purchased the chapel from the Church in 1883.
After the fall of the Alamo, the mission complex was in a state of ruin. It remained that way until well after Texas was admitted to the union in 1846.
In 1849 the Catholic Church, which owned the mission, leased the chapel to the Army for $150 a month.
The Army intended to use it as a supply depot and proceeded to get the building into shape, shoring up walls, adding its first roof and giving it its iconic roofline.
During the Army's tenure, local Masons held meetings in the chapel.
The Army departed in 1876 when Fort Sam Houston was established.
At about that time, the Catholic Church sold the convent to Honore Grenet, who added a new two-story wooden building to the complex and used it as a mercantile store.
It was later purchased by Hugo & Schmeltzer, which continued to operate until 1903, when the building was purchased by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, preventing it from becoming a hotel.
It was then given to the State of Texas, which had purchased the chapel from the Church in 1883.
Copyright 2010 - Copano Bay Press
The appointed hour came. The crowd was tense with anticipation. Would they see a man soar into the sky, or would they see him torn apart by his invention? Jacob released the mechanism that held back the tension coiled in the big spring.
The airship began to move, first crawling forward, then faster and faster. Eyes were wide and mouths agape. It was off the ground and climbing. It reached an altitude of nearly twelve feet when Mr. Murphy showed up to enforce his law.
Whatever mechanism regulated the spring failed and it unwound like a crazed snake, sending the airship and its inventor careening into a chicken coop. The flight had covered about one hundred feet.
Though there were numerous reliable witnesses and published newspaper accounts, the world took little interest and potential investors shied away.
Maybe there was just too much happening in the wake of the war's end or maybe giving a man money to potentially commit suicide was not to their taste. Though Jacob recovered quickly from his injuries, there would be no money for a second attempt.
The airship began to move, first crawling forward, then faster and faster. Eyes were wide and mouths agape. It was off the ground and climbing. It reached an altitude of nearly twelve feet when Mr. Murphy showed up to enforce his law.
Whatever mechanism regulated the spring failed and it unwound like a crazed snake, sending the airship and its inventor careening into a chicken coop. The flight had covered about one hundred feet.
Though there were numerous reliable witnesses and published newspaper accounts, the world took little interest and potential investors shied away.
Maybe there was just too much happening in the wake of the war's end or maybe giving a man money to potentially commit suicide was not to their taste. Though Jacob recovered quickly from his injuries, there would be no money for a second attempt.
The earliest known photograph of the Alamo,
taken about 1849
taken about 1849
The Alamo as restored by the Army's
Quartermaster corps, giving it its
distinctive roofline.
Quartermaster corps, giving it its
distinctive roofline.
The convento (Long Barrack) with wooden facade during its time as a general mercantile store.
