Holz-Forshage-Krueger Building

The Holz-Forshage-Krueger Building (1908, 1926) is a 2-story commercial building on the principal commercial thoroughfare of downtown New Braunfels, Comal County. In 1908, Nicholas Holz funded the construction of the building as the site for the N. Holz and Son Implement Company. The family business dealt with farm implements and early transportation vehicles such as buggies and wagons. The Holz-ForshageKrueger Building later served as the business site for a number of significant auto dealerships owned by several families and offering a number of different automobile makes. The property retains a high degree of integrity with all major alterations and additions dating to 1926, within the period of significance. The property is eligible under Criterion C in the area of Architecture at the local level of significance as one of the most intact commercial buildings in New Braunfels and is representative of the community's commercial architecture from the early to the mid-20th century.

Nicholas Holz, the original owner of the Holz-Forshage-Krueger Building, first acquired the property on which this building is built in 1858. Holz's business began as a blacksmith shop that developed into providing a broader service to the largely German agricultural community around New Braunfels. In 1908, Holz built a new building that became a showpiece on West San Antonio Street, the main street of New Braunfels, and the primary route to San Antonio on the south. Although opened as the N. Holz & Son Implement Company, early signs indicate that they were the dealers for Avery Plows and Studebaker Buggies & Carriages. According to one of the old-time residents of New Braunfels, the company also sold Oakland automobiles because she recalls that her father bought an Oakland at this location. Holz also served as an alderman for the city and county commissioner. One of the frequent polling places was his home also on West San Antonio Street. The Holz business functioned as a landmark for many small businesses who referenced a business location as being across the street or next to N. Holz & Son in the local newspaper. Holz also was very active in procuring funds for both the Indianola hurricane relief as well as the Galveston hurricane in 1900. It appears that he was a man of great wit--an 1873 ad offers: "For Sale: 75,000 acres of land on the moon, 50,000 acres of land on the planet Uranus and water power in the Pacific Ocean."

The building apparently remained in the Holz family until 1921 when it was purchased by Louis Forshage. There is little information available on Forshage but it is probable that he had an interest in Sippel Buick Company the next occupant since it was during this period that a major addition was added and the first story facade altered. Historic photographs from the early 1920s indicate that when the building housed the Sippel Buick Company they apparently also handled Chevrolet automobiles In the mid1920s Sippel was succeeded by Becker Chevrolet Company (see Illustration #4). In 1934 Krueger Chevrolet bought Becker Chevrolet when the Becker family moved and took the Dodge/Plymouth franchise changing its name to Becker Motor Company. Becker Motor Company, which was founded in this building, is still in existence today as one of the oldest Chrysler products franchises in the state.