In the Mission Valley settlement, Walzem Chapel was built to serve Catholics in what was once a remote area. In the mid-1800s, German immigrants came to Texas under the auspices of the Adelsverein in search of freedom and economic opportunity. Johann Joseph and Anna Gertruda Walzem settled in the Mission Valley settlement in the 1850s and built a home, and Johann, a stone mason credited with building several houses there, and his family became important members of the community in the early days of New Braunfels' development. Johann and his sons built the chapel, also known as St. John Chapel, on an acre plot at the north end of their original 160 acre tract. According to legend, after working for several years, Johann visited his homeland and, upon returning to Texas, built the chapel in thanksgiving for a safe trip. The chapel has also been mistakenly called Walzem Mission because of its location in the community. A stone at the top of the entrance marked 1870 indicates its completion date. Its walls were made of locally quarried limestone cut by Johann and his sons and laid with mortar from a local kiln, demonstrating pioneers' ability to survive in the wilderness. In 1871, Johann gave the land and chapel to the Right Reverend Bishop C.M. Dubois of the Catholic Church, and it eventually was purchased by a developer. The homeowners of the subdivision now care for the chapel and property, and although only the stone walls remain, they still evoke the challenges and isolation of the early frontier.