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Meuth Hill On November 30, 1846, two young brothers, Andreas and Franz Meuth, pioneered the way for the future communities of Rockne and String Prairie. Born in Würges, Germany, they settled on a beautiful spot near Sandy Creek known today as Meuth Hill. Here they built a home and a room upstairs with a cupola that served as a church. Four more Meuth brothers had joined Andreas and Franz by 1856. Meuth Hill was probably the first place many immigrants stopped before continuing on to their destination, or building a home of their own. More significantly, church services were held here for the next twenty years.
On April 20, 1997, a celebration at Meuth Hill commemorated the 150th Anniversary of the arrival of the Meuth brothers. The celebration began with a trail ride from Rockne. Women rode in surreys or wagons dressed in traditional long dresses and bonnets. Horses pranced while their proud owners rode the last mile across a field of blue bonnets. Die Junge Herzen Saenger sang German hymns before the 11:00 a.m. Mass of Thanksgiving. Anni Balthaus of Bad Camberg, Germany, represented the connection that binds the communities to their heritage in Würges. She has researched the families who immigrated to Texas from Würges and written the book "Auswanderung nach Texas 1846 � 1883". She spoke to the crowd thanking them for keeping in touch with their "roots". Author, Manfred Kunz, also of Germany was presented with a proclamation from Gov. George Bush declaring him an honorary Texan. A picnic lunch was served afterwards to a crowd of several hundred people. |
