About

Naegelin's Bakery

Naegelin's Bakery, a New Braunfels institution for 142 years, was founded by Edouard Naegelin, Sr. who came to town in 1868 with a sack of flour and less than a dollar cash in his pocket.

Edouard Naegelin was a young man of 24 when he arrived in New Braunfels. Born in Alsace-Lorraine in 1844, he was brought to the United States by his parents when he was two. At 19, he fought in the Civil War, and after the war, opened a bakery in San Antonio, Texas, with a partner. It proved an unsatisfactory association.

His first bakery in New Braunfels was in the Goldebagen building located at the site of the present City Hall. In 1870 he moved to the present title, on South Seguin Avenue, and bought the property in 1874.

Assisted by his wife, Francisca Seekatz Naegelin, and their children, he operated the bakery until his death in 1923. For a tie, his daughter Leonie and son Edward Jr. continued operation of the business. Edward Naegelin and his wife Laura took over management on January 1, 1924, and remodeled the building in 1935. Their son, Clinton Frank, owned and operated the bakery prior to its sale to the Granzin family in the early 1980's.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Naegelin and their two children lived in the apartment above the bakery. While he and their son were occupied in the bakery, Mrs. Naegelin and their daughter Amy Frances handled the walk-in trade. Mrs. Naegelin's lively conversation was as much an attraction as her products. She knew by heart the wants of her regular customers. What is more, she was loyal to hometown trade, which got first consideration when the day's supply began to diminish.

In the early days, bread was delivered as soon as it was ready, hot from the oven, in a delivery wagon that went up one street and down another ringing a loud metal ball. Bread for the regular patrons was left on the customer's porches usually in a container provided by them for that purpose. Sometimes a hungry pet discovered the bread before the family did and this necessitated a trip to the bakery at the customer's expense.