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The Hermit of Fredericksburg Texas

Aug 25, 2009

The Legend of Hermit Berg

imageAt the age of 20, Peter Berg sailed from Germany to the Texas coastline in 1857.  Berg was a talented stone mason and his intention was to work and save money to pay for passage to America for his fiance’.  However, upon hearing tales of horror about the wild frontier and murderous Indians, she rejected him, refused to come and then not long after married another.

Crushed, Berg withdrew from society and became a recluse.  About 8 miles from Fredericksburg Texas Berg built his two story hermitage in a ravine with masonry enclosing the front.  This “cave” along the banks of Cave Creek became his modest home.  Though impaired socially, Peter Berg was a creative and productive individual.  He sewed his own clothing.  He built a stone tower with a Dutch style windmill to pump water and grind cornmeal and he gained a reputation for accurate weather predictions through his observations from the tower.  And incredibly, he built a pipe organ made of scrap wood, paper and brass (see photo).  Berg also built a whiskey still and sold whiskey in Fredericksburg for years until State revenue authorities discovered and arrested him.  He was later released and allowed to return to his meek and now meagre existance in the hills.

Berg returned to Fredericksburg and even though he could not claim the land under his home, the new owner, Mr. Kiehne, gave Berg the right to live on the property for the rest of his life.  Unable to work, the county granted him a special pension of $5 dollars per month.

Though Berg lived a peculiar life, old records from those who knew him stated that people saw him as a “great genius”.  He chose to live in his own way and ultimately chose to die his own way.  Berg arrived in Texas with nothing but he gave our world an inheritance; the elusive legend of the ‘Hermit of The Hills’.

If you are interested in real estate in Fredericksburg Texas, feel free to call me at (830) 456-6243 or email (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).  The Texas Hill Country is a fascinating and beautiful place to live.  Spend some time here and discover what it is like to live the Texas Hill Country lifestyle!