If Walls Could Talk

The Magnolia Hotel’s colorful past started in 1840, when James Campbell, co-founder of Seguin, Texas and a Texas Ranger, built a two-room cabin. His later murder by Comanches led the place to be sold to Joseph F. Johnson.
The cabin transforms into Seguin’s first and only stagecoach station. Joseph F. Johnson’s additions included a 3-room building in the rear, which gave the name The Magnolia Hotel. It was the first hotel the quiet town possessed.
The hotel changed hands once more when in 1846, the building sells to Jeremiah J. Calvert, the Chief Justice of Seguin.
Dr. William Read became proprietor in the 1850s, adding an interior that connected the three buildings. The consolidation made The Magnolia Hotel the largest in Seguin well into the mid-1900s.

A Killer Comes to Town

Lovers of the macabre are no strangers to the hotel’s dark past when a Texas pharmacist butchered a 12-year-old girl and blinded his wife. It happened in 1874 when Wilheim Faust stayed at The Magnolia Hotel for work. Helena, Wilheim Faust’s wife, would often stay with family friends Julius and Louise Voelcker and their 12-year-old at their New Braunfels home when he was away at work.

A Night In Infamy

Mr. Faust had a secret. A scandalous secret and a desire that he reasoned to make into a reality. The truth was he was madly in love with his wife’s sister.
So on July 22, 1874, resolved that he could no longer be married to Helena, he rode into the night towards the Voelcker’s home, ax in hand. He would kill his wife.

Bumps In the Night

When Helena stayed over at the Voelcker’s, she would sleep on the floor of young Emma’s room. Emma, in turn, would sleep in her bed, but for reasons unknown, this night was different. Instead of Emma being nestled solemnly in her bed, as Mr. Faust would have known, it was his wife.
William Faust hovered over the body, lying asleep on the floor, clenched his ax when he launched a fierce attack on the form he believed to be his wife. Quickly he realized his mistake, lunging at his wife, attacking her. His near-fatal blows blinded her for the rest of her life.

In a flash, he left, startled by a noise, but it wasn’t long before townspeople began to talk. Many believed that Wilheim Faust was the prime suspect in this brutal slaying. His lack of empathy did not help the whispers that began circulating in the small town of Seguin.

In October of 1875, Wilheim Faust was convicted of the murder of Emma Voelcker and sentenced to life in prison.

Confessions of a Serial Killer

For his safety, he moved to the old Comal County Courthouse.
Yet on July 28, 1876, an unknown gunman shot through his cell window, killing him.

Few mourned the loss of the local pharmacist, but his wife did. To her dying day, she never believed that her husband tried to kill her and murdered little Emma, despite his full confession at trial.

Some say Wilheim is long dead, suffering elsewhere for his sins, and others say he’s still waiting in the old stagecoach hotel. He is waiting for a chance to finally be united in matrimony to his true love, his wife’s sister. As he creeps up the old worn staircase, he is waiting, his wife asleep, ax in hand, to strike just the right blow to rid of his “problem.”

Many stories surround this historical sight, as any building that has seen its share of time and tragedy. Maybe it’s old rhetoric spoken amongst campers, the gullible and naive. Perhaps it’s well-crafted marketing, maybe part of it’s true, none of it’s true. Perhaps all of it is as real as you and I. What matters is what you believe.

Caught on Tape

Below I have provided a couple of videos by Strange town. Enjoy!

Strange Town | Emma’s Little Secret PT. II: Investigation & Results