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History in a Pecan
Shell
Father Joseph R. Reisdorff and Hugo Herchenbach are credited
with settling the community in 1895. These men formed a German Catholic colony
with the cooperation of J. C. League who donated 12,000 which was named for the
Rhineland region in Germany.
It was officially established in February
1895, but despite an aggressive newspaper ad campaign, the town got off to a slow
start. It wasn't until 1899 when a schoolhouse was first built - and a more substantial
brick building was built in 1926, providing schooling through high school.
The
population was a mere 75 people in 1950 although it had increased to nearly 200
by 1980. The Rhineland post office closed and the school merged with those in
nearby Munday.
See St.
Joseph's Catholic Church | Rhineland
Texas Forum Subject:
Oldest resident of Rhineland
My grandma, Rose Decker Birkenfeld was born
in 1909 at Rhineland, Texas. She raised 8 children (Alber Leslie, Bryan, Clarence,
Joe Lynn, John Ronald, Carol, Stephane, Vernie) When she was 60 years old, after
the loss of one of her sons and husband she took in 2 grandkids (Kirsten and Bridget)
to raise them as her own. She quilted and painted some, but her heart was in cooking.
She lived in her Nazareth
home until the ripe age of 95 1/2. She then moved into a nursing home. In 1997
she became the oldest resident of Nazareth.
Being 97 is no shock to the Decker family. Her oldest brother lived in Rhineland
until he was 106 years. They mentioned at Rhineland's 100th year anniversary that
Joe Decker was older than the town. Rose's brother Frank lived in Alberqueque
until he was 96, her sister, Annie, lived in Oklahoma until she was 92, and her
oldest sister, Mary, lived to be 96. Thank you. - Bridget Birkenfeld, March
19, 2006
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