The Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture began as a special gift from Nan and Bill Dillen on whose land the museum is located. The Dillens purchased the Breustedt house in 1965 and it was moved to its present site. The house was restored and made their home for many years. An addition was made to the back of the house, but old materials salvaged from homes that were to be torn down were used to maintain the integrity of the period. Fachwerk construction was also used on the addition to match the older portion of the house. The Dillens were both interior designers and this is reflected in their beautifully appointed home. Nan Dillen’s collection of English ironstone china displayed in the family room, is one of the largest in the state of Texas.

Many of the wood pieces were handmade by local craftsmen and have been handed down through family members. Most are not marked by the cabinetmaker, but some can be identified by unique characteristics attributed to the craftsman. The Biedermeier style comes from the mid-nineteenth century period when these cabinetmakers were trained in Europe. A style had emerged that was later referred to as the Biedermeier period, and means "middle class". The period had ended by the time these craftsmen came to the new world, but since they had been trained in the Biedermeier style, that is the skill they brought with them. In the period between 1850-1870 when most of these pieces were made, there was no market for fancy furniture in the homes of those who were just establishing themselves in the new world, but these pieces were made of substantial and comfortable design, their beauty brought out in the patterns and the local wood that was used. A beautiful walnut wardrobe made by Franz Stautzenberger, formerly a cabinetmaker for the Duke of Nassau, dominates the central hall as you enter the house. The wardrobe was made for Nicholas Holtz and his initials NH, and the date, 1860, at the top, commemorate the year of his marriage. Other prominent cabinetmakers, or Tischlermeisters, whose work can be documented are Johann Michael Jahn, who came to New Braunfels and opened his cabinet shop in 1846; Heinrich Scholl, Jr., whose family landed in Indianola in 1846 from Nassau, Germany; and Friedrich Wilhelm Tietze? who arrived in 1852. Tietze? was actually a window maker who would come to your house, measure, make and install in a day. He also made coffins and some furniture.

The house was originally built in 1858-59 for the Breustedt family on their farm in nearby Neighborsville. Andreas Breustedt arrived in Texas on December 22, 1845. After service in the Texas Rangers, he settled near New Braunfels and built a small log cabin. His family soon joined him from Germany and when he married Caroline Dauer, he built a new house on his 200-acre farm. Twelve children were born to the Breustedts, of which three died as infants. The others all grew to adulthood and were each given a large section of his land between New Braunfels and Seguin when they married. A small outdoor stone kitchen is still in the original location near the New Braunfels Smokehouse restaurant. The house was donated to the Conservation Society, but when no one was able to take on the project, Nan and Bill Dillen decided to take the house. The purchased the present site and the house was moved there. It is one of the best remaining examples of fachwerk construction remaining in the area. Every effort was made to maintain the original structure of the house during restoration while still providing for modern conveniences of kitchen and bath. All closets were removed except for a small one underneath the stairs. Stone from the original fruit cellar was brought to the new site and used for the new fireplace and chimney. The front steps are original and were re-laid just as they were at the old site.

At the top of the ladderlike stairway is the attic where the original fachwerk style construction, using hand-hewn timbers mortised together and secured with wooden pegs can be seen. The attic is furnished in a dormitory style as it was used by the Breustedt family for their older children.

A log cabin built in 1847 by the Reininger family is also at the site. Mr. and Mrs. Reininger resided there until their deaths in 1887 and 1888, and their descendants continuously lived it in until the early 1970’s when Bill and Nan Dillen purchased it, moved it to its present site and lovingly restored it. One room is furnished to show how a family would have lived in a single room.

The Cabinet Shop displays the workshop of an early cabinetmaker. Forty-six cabinetmakers came to New Braunfels from Germany with the original settlers. Many of the tools on display are handmade and would have been brought in a chest from Germany on the ship or were crafted by the cabinetmaker after he arrived in New Braunfels. The workbench of Johann Jahn is displayed along the left wall. On the back wall is a collection of turning saws used to rough cut lumber; a large collection of wood planes is on display, along with mallets, chisels, clamps and a cast iron glue pot used to prepare glue from animal hooves and horns. Other items are a schnitzelbank or cutting bench, and a scroll or jigsaw operated by foot pedal.

A barn houses the Sadue Wagon collection of handmade miniature wagons.

The three and one half acre tree shaded grounds are lovely and can be used for weddings or other outdoor functions.

Source: Chere Stratemann

Visitor’s Guide: The Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture