history
Before Schreiner Institute was founded in 1923, the property was developed and occupied by the Presbyterian Church. The Westminster Presbyterian Encampment was founded in 1906 as one of Kerrville's first summer camps, offering a spiritual and physical retreat for campers young and old on its forty-two acre site, featuring 'clean mountain air', religious services and instruction, and swimming in the nearby Guadalupe River.
The Trailhead Beer Garden building on Schreiner University campus was built in 1920 to commemorate Barbara Weber Dullnig, a Presbyterian missionary and elected president of the Foreign Missionary Union of the Presbyterian Churches of the Texas Synod in 1906. She was born in San Antonio in 1874, and died there in 1947 at the age of 72. She was the daughter of immigrants; her father was born in Germany; her mother, France.
According to the 'Pioneer Women of the Presbyterian Church, United States', 'The Dullnig Building is a lasting testimony of the love and appreciation which the women of Texas bear for their former Synodical President. She had had splendid training for the office as a Bible teacher in her home church, then when Western Texas Union was organized she was made the first treasurer, serving for two years, then became president of the Union… Over and over again she toured the State, visiting all of the Presbyterials, strengthening and encouraging weak organizations and getting that personal touch which enabled her to direct the growing work of this tremendous Synodical in a most efficient manner. How she made these long journeys over the State in the early years is past explanation, but they were made by train, buggy or ambulance, and often afoot for many miles, making connections at all hours of the day and night.'
Another local religious group can trace their early days to the same building. In the spring of 1950, Trinity Baptist Church met in the building when the weather was too 'inclement' for the Baptists to worship in the open-air Robbins-Lewis Memorial Auditorium just across the street from the Dullnig Building.
Copyright © Joe Herring Jr.
Photo from collection of Joe Herring Jr.