Hah: "Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 and named after Prince Frederick of Prussia. Old-time German residents often referred to Fredericksburg as Fritztown, a nickname that is still used in some businesses."

Even better:

The town is also notable as the home of Texas German, a dialect spoken by the first generations of German settlers who initially refused to learn English. Fredericksburg shares many cultural characteristics with New Braunfels, which had been established by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels the previous year.

Well, there's a story. We'll get to that one of these days.

Ol’ Fredtown. Let’s take a stroll.

Completely intact:

A. L. PATTON.

Who?

Missouri native Albert Lee Patton (1851-1934), trained as a tinsmith, moved to Fredericksburg in the early 1870s. In 1897 he constructed this two-story native limestone building adjacent to the east side of his general mercantile and hardware store. The ground floor housed the Citizens Bank until it closed in 1932 and the second floor area was used as a residence by Patton, his wife Emma (Wahrmund), and their five children.

It’s a B&B now.

Texas-sized porch, son, I say a Texas-sized porch

Ewwww. OUMB:

It’s close to being Not Entirely Bad, but closer to being Mostly, Mostly Bad.

When the severe styles of the time and the desire for economy are confluent trends:

It’s boring, but it says CIVIC STRUCTURE.

I’m starting to think there might be a balcony culture in this fine Texas town.

As tight as they get. Look at that thing. Such self-possession . . .

. . . and pride, of course.

If I had to say, I’d say Bank.

And an unusual one, at that. Needs a bit more on the top, though. Not much. Just a bit.

THE FABRIC OF SPACE ITSELF IS WARPING

An old bank, if you’d wondered:

Wonder when it went bust.

Yes, it’s one building, not two built at different times.

And a former Woolie's. I’d stake my reputation on it. Whatever reputation I have.

Didn’t do a good job of hiding its original purpose, did they?

Opened in 1922, and was in “continuous operation” until 2000.

Don’t know why I snipped this one, unless it’s to suggest that it was a warehouse or commercial structure that’s probably a boo-teek hostel now.

Sociologists speculated that the town was settled by people who had been displaced by floods, and had been so traumatized by the event they vowed to construct an entirely new society on the second floor.

More of the “trees really highlight urban vitality” argument.

Uh

What a strange, bizarre, wonderful building.

It was the White Elephant saloon.

More here.

Let us end with this . . . this thing. “I still can’t see the sea from my bedroom!”

(Two weeks later)

OKAY HOW ABOUT NOW