Based on the real-life events of Jacob Brodbeck, WINGS OVER LUCKENBACH, takes the reader on a journey of Brodbeck's life-long quest to construct and fly an air ship in 1865. As he confronts the obstacles of human flight, he is aided by his loyal brother, Johann. Leaving Germany for the freedom-loving republic of Texas, the brothers endure a treacherous ocean crossing before arriving in Galveston, Texas, in 1846. The harsh and rugged conditions of the Texas frontier force them to learn survival skills before inventor/teacher Jacob can explore his newly found dream of conquering human flight. From the Texas coastline encampment of Indianola to the settlements of Fredericksburg and Luckenbach, the brothers face the daunting task of building homes and schools while contending with the ever present danger of the Comanche Indians and roving outlaws. Love and the loss of love test the fiber of these men's souls as Jacob, aided by Johann's support, steadfastly believes God's calling on his life to bring flight to mankind.

There is sometimes a fine line between history and folklore. This Publication of the Texas Folklore Society features articles that tell stories about real-life characters from the historical past of Texas, as well as offer personal reflections about life from diverse perspectives throughout the last century. These contributors go beyond merely stating facts about dates or locations or names of the events and people that can be found in court documents or genealogical records; several of these authors provide a very intimate connection to the tales they share. These articles are not just about people that we read about as school children, and they do not merely describe how our culture used to be, or how vastly it has changed; rather, they emphasize the ways we keep our culture alive through the retelling of the events and customs and major figures that are important enough to pass on from one generation to the next. The first section covers legendary characters like Davy Crockett, Mody Boatright, Sam Houston, and Cynthia Ann Parker from our state’s past, as well as people who were bigger or bolder than others, yet seem to have been forgotten. Some of those characters came from different countries, while others are connected directly to our Texas Folklore Society family tree. The second section includes works that examine songs of our youth, as well as the customs and social constructs associated with music, whether it’s on a football field or in a prison yard. The works in the final section recall memories of a simpler time, when cars and home appliances lacked modern conveniences we now take for granted, before Facebook and YouTube allowed us to become Internet movie stars, and when it was a treat just to go and “visit” with family and friends.