Having visited Fredericksburg, Texas, many times, I was familiar with the idea of the German Sunday House. Essentially, German families had property at some distance from town. In order to worship on Sunday, the farmers built tiny houses for the weekends in town. They arrived Saturday morning, visited with neighbors and shopped for supplies. On Sunday, they went to church together, did community activities and went home (to their far-reaching farms) in the evening. Their farms were as much as 3 or 4 hours away from Fredericksburg.
This book offers insight into the culture and history of this quaint part of Texas. Man's relationship with God is an important part of each of these novellas. They are:
"Hope's Dwelling Place" by Connie Stevens
New teacher Amelia Bachman comes to Fredericksburg in 1897 to replace a teacher who married during the school year. Amelia has no interest in marrying; her parents were prime examples of a loveless marriage. Now her father wants Amelia to marry a rich farmer that she doesn't love.
At that time, teachers were not allowed to marry and continue in their profession. Amelia decides to hide behind the profession of teaching.
"A Shelter from the Storm" by Marjorie Vawter
Mildred Zimmerman is returning from nursing in WWI. It is 1918 and Fredericksburg is in the throes of the pandemic, Spanish Influenza.
"Letters from Home" by Lynette Sowell
During WWII, Trudy Meier wants adventure but must help on the farm. She rents the family Sunday House to a reporter who has come to do a series on the town's war hero.
"A Hint of Lavender," by Eileen Key
This is a contemporary story about Gwen Zimmerman. When family finances become strained, Gwen moves to town and takes a job at her aunt's store. Living in the family's Sunday House, Gwen meets a geologist who was injured, living in the next door house.
I thought each of the stories was rather simplistic. They were steeped in history and added to a reader's understanding of a culture in an earlier time, but the stories lacked depth.
This book offers insight into the culture and history of this quaint part of Texas. Man's relationship with God is an important part of each of these novellas. They are:
"Hope's Dwelling Place" by Connie Stevens
New teacher Amelia Bachman comes to Fredericksburg in 1897 to replace a teacher who married during the school year. Amelia has no interest in marrying; her parents were prime examples of a loveless marriage. Now her father wants Amelia to marry a rich farmer that she doesn't love.
At that time, teachers were not allowed to marry and continue in their profession. Amelia decides to hide behind the profession of teaching.
"A Shelter from the Storm" by Marjorie Vawter
Mildred Zimmerman is returning from nursing in WWI. It is 1918 and Fredericksburg is in the throes of the pandemic, Spanish Influenza.
"Letters from Home" by Lynette Sowell
During WWII, Trudy Meier wants adventure but must help on the farm. She rents the family Sunday House to a reporter who has come to do a series on the town's war hero.
"A Hint of Lavender," by Eileen Key
This is a contemporary story about Gwen Zimmerman. When family finances become strained, Gwen moves to town and takes a job at her aunt's store. Living in the family's Sunday House, Gwen meets a geologist who was injured, living in the next door house.
I thought each of the stories was rather simplistic. They were steeped in history and added to a reader's understanding of a culture in an earlier time, but the stories lacked depth.
