EDW STEIN

In 1870, George Nicholas Saegmuller arrived in the United States from Bavaria, via England. Shortly after arriving in Washington he met his bride and moved onto his wife’s family property of Reserve Hill, he eventually expanded the property to include approximately 240 acres by 1911.

When the original house, that stood on or near where the mansion is now, burned in 1892 Saegmuller decided to build a stone mansion reminiscent of the Nuremberg castle along with some Southern American touches such as the portico. A desire to have running water, the first in then-Alexandria County, led him to replicate a tower found along the Nuremberg city wall. Saegmuller owned a German beer character stein designed in the shape of one of the towers, so he had the builders replicate as closely as possible the tower from his Nuremberg Castle tower stein.

The Reserve Hill Water Tower was built in 1896 according to the ‘date stone’ halfway up the west side of the tower.

The tower at the old Nuremberg Castle is still standing and open to tourists.

The Saegmuller stein is still in the possession of the family where it is treated as the family heirloom it rightfully is. In July, 2006, The History Project was able to track down a near identical stein from the same time period. Character steins in the 19th century, as well as now, were made out of molds, thus multiple copies were created. With the very kind generosity of 17 EDW brothers, ladies and friends we were able to purchase the stein; forever to be known as the EDW Stein. As part of the Council Home renovations a permanent and safe home will be found to display the EDW Stein.

From time to time other Nuremberg tower steins may become available on the open market. If you are interested in purchasing one for yourself or to donate/loan to EDW please contact The History Project and we will put you in contact with the sellers.

A new EDW tradition begins now: When a new EDW Grand Knight, and a new president of the Columbus Club of Arlington, assumes office, they will be permitted to have a ceremonial drink from the EDW Stein. This will be in honor of the great works that previous EDW generations have accomplished before us, and to show our desire that future generations carry on our work as members of the Knights of Columbus, Edward Douglass White Council 2473 located on Reserve Hill. Grand Knight James Walthall and Columbus Club of Arlington President Owen Beirne will inaugurate the EDW Stein in September, 2006.