Preservation
Historic Landmark
As an active and historic landmark, Der Stadt Friedhof continues to serve our community today.
Our ongoing mission is to preserve and maintain these sacred grounds so future generations can honor and connect with Fredericksburg’s history.
All donations will go into a fund used for the restoration, preservation, and maintenance of Der Stadt Friedhof Cemetery.
Projects will be completed under the direction of the Board of Directors and paid for in full at the time of completion.
Projected Improvements
Historic rock wall repair and fencing as needed.
Publicizing the project internationally to locate descendants from around the world who can help us tell the stories of those buried here.
Completing the rehabilitation of the drainage channel.
Landscape improvements.
Adding a seal coat over existing pavement after all construction is completed.
Working to create historical cemetery tours.
Building an endowment fund for ongoing support and maintenance.
Possibly hiring two employees to oversee the grounds, sales, bookkeeping, and maintenance.
Future land acquisitions for expansion.
Collecting and archiving written and video materials to record and preserve the history of those interred in Der Stadt Friedhof.
Working to ensure the cemetery is adequately funded and maintained throughout eternity and never falls into a state of disrepair again.
Timeline - Completed Improvements
2023
Master Plan Created
Donated by Der Stadt Friedhof Board Members, underground plumbing and electrical work was laid, connecting the future chapel project area to the City of Fredericksburg utilities prior to paving cemetery roads.
In an effort to combat erosion from water runoff from city streets and deterioration over the last 178 years, roads in the cemetery were paved.
Hill Country Pump Service provided, at no cost, a port-a-toilet for use at the cemetery.
Waymaker Surveyors donated their equipment and the time of an employee. Alan Saenger and Carey Bonn also contributed as they resurveyed the cemetery and provided an updated survey.
Gillespie Waste Services provided eight new trash bins and other donated services.
Removal of mesquite trees by Glenn Koennecke.
Master Plan created
2023
2024
New kiosks purchased using Hotel Occupancy Tax(HOT) Funds awarded by the City of Fredericksburg.
HOT Funds from Gillespie County and the City of Fredericksburg were utilized to restore over 240 historic headstones and graves. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) located 8 unmarked graves and a mass grave area.
A volunteer workday brought out over 20 volunteers that repaired the historic metal fences surrounding the historic graves in Sections A & B.
The Texas A&M Forest service utilized their time and resources to do training and hazard mitigation by clearing underbrush and removing a homeless encampment.
The Texas A&M Forest Service and our local FVFD were on site to control the burning of unsightly brush piles.
Trees were trimmed that were hanging too low over the roads and interfering with mowing.
Entrance arches were re-painted.
2024
2025
HOT Funds from Gillespie County and the City of Fredericksburg were utilized to rehabilitate an existing drainage channel from Lee Street to the open culvert at the cemetery crossroad.
Began updating record-keeping software.
Replace and light flagpole. A flag now flies over our nearly 600 known veterans.
A Texas Historic Marker for Section C, the African American section, was unveiled in June 2025.
Applied for and approved for a second Texas Historic Marker that represents the entire cemetery.
Donating 500+ hours, the historical information for both markers was researched by Dr. John H. Benedict, Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M University-CS and Archeological Steward for Texas Historical Commission.
2025
2025-2026
Building an open-air chapel with a restroom and electricity for graveside services, plus accessibility for the elderly.
Building a columbarium and landscaping the area. Initial grade and design work was donated by Stan Klein, Architect.
2025-2026
2026
Development of a website to tell the stories of our town’s founders and provide an on-line space for public information and a donation portal.
Continue landscaping to beautify the cemetery.
2026