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Visitors Guide
ONLINE RESERVATIONS SELECT IT! CLICK IT! BOOK IT!
Country Butler
Guest Lodging facilities for you in Fayette County and surrounding communities. Homes, Rooms, and Cottages. We have a variety of properties for your visit and relaxation. We have an automated on-line reservation system, where you can view the properties and book it yourself on-line. or, you can call us and we will help with the process if you need more than one place for an event or have a special need or requirement. We can help you with information about your visit to our area.
Lodging & Reservations Jordan Fischman, Broker
979.476.2757
EVENTS • REUNIONS • WEEKEND ESCAPES WEDDING ACCOMMODATIONS • BIKE RIDER HOUSING
www.countrybutlertexas.com countrybutler@aol.com
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101 N. Rusk-Offices • Fayetteville, Texas 78940
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Lodging & Guest House Owners
What can the Country Butler do for you? Country Butler aims to provide peace of mind. We offer a range of services dedicated to home owners on a regular basis.
Let Country Butler Manage Your Reservations & Bookings With On-Line & Live Reservations
• On-Line Calander • On-Line Deposit & Payment • Photos & Text of Your Property • Front Desk & House Keeping Reports • Cleaning Services Available • Maintenance Service Available • Lock Box Controls • Hotel Tax Payment Processing
• Full Service Painting Inside/Outside • Lawn Mowing Service
Country Butler can play a crucial role in helping you maintain your investment as a relaxing and worry free experience.
Imagine arriving at your property to find your driveway cleaned, your house immaculate, air conditioned, and stocked with provisions, for your enjoyment. FREEZE & STORM PROGRAMS
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Don’t see a service you need, call Country Butler! We aim to please
. . .
Jordan Fischman
A Texas resident for 34+ years, and a property owner in Fayette County, for over 13 years, Jordan Fischman knows what you need and more importantly, knows what you expect. A strong commitment to prompt, professional and reliable service is the primary focus of the company and all associated with it.
Whether you need Property Care & Services, or need a great place to relax with our Lodging & Reservations Program, we aim to please and make it enjoyable. Insured and Bonded • References on request
“Kick Back & Relax, Let Country Butler Do The Work”
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
Though situated in the middle of the triangle formed by Houston, Austin and San Antonio, Fayette County retains its rural roots.
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Photo by Jerry Herring
Heritage. Countryside. Arts. Heritage. Countryside. Arts. A recent study by a marketing firm found these three things to be the “pillars” of what Fayette County was all about. And those of us who live here think that’s about right. Fayette County was founded by settlers from several different cultures – predominately Czechs and Germans – and everywhere you look, from our Painted Churches to our painstakingly restored town squares, we’ve tried to hold tight to that heritage and preserve it for future generations to enjoy. The local countryside – from rolling hills to hardwood forests – stands out in stark contrast to the bustling cities and suburbs of Houston, Austin and San Antonio which are all less than two hours away. Meanwhile, the arts scene in Fayette County can properly be called a masterpiece – thriving galleries and concert halls that range from intimate to majestic. We hope guideDate helpsxx, you2009 enjoy your time here in Fayette CountyT–HE where Heritage, Countryside and Arts converge. Page x •thisDay, FAYETTE COUNTY RECORD – Jeff Wick, Editor, Fayette County Record
So Glad You’re Here
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Fayette County.
Fayette County Judge Edward F. Janecka
ORS ISIT D V FIN ERE WH WAYS LY D AL IEN ! A FR COME L WE
We in Fayette County are extremely proud of our county and the people that live here and believe in preserving our heritage and history. You will find the citizens of Fayette County friendly, courteous and always willing to help. Please make yourself at home and visit our historical sites and our many points of interest. You will find the food delicious and accommodations comfortable. I hope your experience is a pleasant one and hope you will come back to see us soon.
Edward F. Janecka Fayette County Judge
A healthy dose of European culture can be found all over Fayette Countty, but especially at the Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange.
This Visitors Guide is produced annually by the Fayette County Record in support of Fayette County communities. The independently-owned Record is in its 91st year of service to its readers and has the fifth-largest paid circulation of all twice-weekly newspapers in the state of Texas. To view a copy of this guide on the web (or to subscribe or view the e-edition of our newspaper) go to fayettecountyrecord.com On the cover: St. Mary’s Church in Ellinger amidst the bluebonnets (photo by Jerry Herring); Shopping in La Grange; and Colorado River fishing (Photo by Diane Mueller); Cover design by John Castaneda.
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Visitors Guide
Event-Full
Life is Great in...
SPRING 2013
No matter the time of year, you can find a festival to interest you here in Fayette County A partial list of our annual events:
APRIL
& Everyone Knows it.
Antiques Festival in Round Top and surrounding communities. Nationally recognized as one of the largest antiques markets in America, drawing thousands of dealers to tents, fields and buildings from Fayetteville to Burton. Continues through first full weekend of April (and Octorber). BP MS-150. A two day, 150-mile bicycle journey from Houston to Austin to raise money for the fight against MS. This is the largest event of its kind in North America. In 2012, 13,000 cyclists raised more than $16 million for multiple sclerosis. Riders spend Saturday night at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in La Grange. Day Two starts at the fairgrounds and ends at the State Capitol. April 20-21. 11th Annual Poetry Forum, Festival Hill, April 26. Flatonia Crawfest. Crawfish, shrimp and more, music and dancing at American Legion Hall April 20.
MAY
Art Walk, sponsored by Arts for Rural Texas. Fayetteville Square, May 4-5. May Fest (Slavnost) at Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center. A celebration of Czech music and culture. May 19. Fayetteville Chamber Music Festival. Great classical masterworks performed by international performers at the historic Country Place Hotel on the Fayetteville square. May 10-18. Tomato Festival, Ellinger. Last Sunday in May. Annual Memorial Day ceremony, 10 a.m. May 27. Koenig & Strickland Funeral Home, La Grange.
JUNE
Main Street Flag Day celebration, June 14. Courthouse Square, La Grange.
e g n a r G a L f o y it the C invites you to... 7th Annual
Schmeckenfest
La Grange’s Annual Wassail Tasting and Christmas Celebration Fun for the whole family!
Thursday, Dec. 5th, 2013 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Festivities will take place On the Square! Sponsored by La Grange Main Street For more information, call 979-968-8701
www.CityofLG.com A Main Street City
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo, above, is every August. There’s also rodeo performances as part of the Schulenburg Festival that month. Photo by Tom Wood
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
The Round Top Fourth of July Parade is part of the oldest continous Independence Day celebration West of the MIssissippi. Photo by Jeff Wick
Juneteenth Parade & Celebration, weekend nearest June 19, La Grange Opening Concert, in the 1,000-seat Concert Hall at Round Top for the 43rd annual summer Festival-Institute for classical music students. Public concerts June 8-July 13.
JULY
Round Top 4th of July Parade, oldest continuous Independence Day parade west of the Mississippi River. Patriotic Concert at Festival Hill, July 30.
AUGUST
Schulenburg Festival, the “National Party of Texas.” Three big days of live music and fun. Wolters Park, Aug. 3-5. Plus rodeo preceding the festival. Fayette County Sheriff’s Posse Bull Riding and Rodeo Event, Sheriff’s Posse Arena, La Grange, Mid-August
SEPTEMBER
Fayette County Fair, La Grange, always Labor Day weekend. Music, dances, livestock shows, home ec exhibits, cookoffs, softball tournament. Aug. 30-Sept. 2. Texas Heroes Day, Monument Hill & Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites, La Grange. Sept. 21. 8 am-noon. Free Admission.
OCTOBER
Muziky, Muziky, an annual celebration of Czech music and culture, at the Sanford Schmid Amphitheater on the Fayette County Fairgrounds. Fall Antiques Festival in Round Top and surrounding communities. Nationally recognized as one of the largest antiques events in America, drawing thousands of dealers to tents, fields and buildings from Fayetteville to Burton. Late Sept. through early October.
Events Calender Continues on Page 6
Looking for a
LocaL Phone number
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Scan In The
Colorado Valley Telephone Cooperative White Pages Get a phone book at any of these Fayette County locations:
wColorado Valley Telephone Cooperativew wFayetteville Bank-Fayetteville Branchw wFlatonia ChamberwLa Grange Chamberw wCity of Round TopwSchulenburg Chamberw Compliments of Colorado Valley Telephone Cooperative 4915 South US Hwy 77wLa Grangew979.242.5911
find our online directory at cvctx .com
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Visitors Guide
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Events Abound Year ‘Round in Fayette County Continued from Page 5
Czhilispiel, Flatonia. One of the oldest and biggest chili cookoffs in Texas. Every fourth full weekend of October. Three days of live music, dancing and lots of chili. Oct. 25-27, 2013. Lickskillet Festival, Fayetteville. Polka music, barbecue cookoff, street dance, parade, queen’s pageant. Oct. 19-20, 2013.
For rural financing... We’re the answer. Rural Land Loans Residential Home Loans
Trick-or-Treat on the Square, Free trick-or-treating for children in daylight hours around the courthouse square. Date varies.
NOVEMBER
Praha Veterans’ Day Events, The southern Fayette County community of Praha lost nine of its own in battles in World War II, even though the town itself has less than 100 residents. Every year on the Sunday before Veterans Day (this year its Nov. 11) there is a Memorial Mass at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, followed by a outdoor program attended by hundreds to honor all veterans followed by a fried chicken dinner and festivities at the church hall and grounds.
DECEMBER
Farm & Ranch Loans Livestock & Equipment Loans
La Grange Credit Office
Operating Capital Real Estate Appraisal Services
456 N. Jefferson
979.968.5750 local
Agribusiness Financing
877.688.5500 toll free
Leasing
CapitalFarmCredit.com
TEXAS’ LARGEST RURAL LENDER
Schmeckenfest, La Grange’s Old World Christmas celebration on the courthouse square. Sample wassail from participating merchants. German dancing, bell choirs, carolling, booths. Christmas in Flatonia. Lighting of Christmas village and Santa’s arrival one evening. Christmas Market on a Saturday.
FEBRUARY
Best Little Quilt Show in Texas, Quilt
The historic Kreische House at state park is the center of the Monument Hill Trail of Lights which is held on weekends in December. Photo by Brian Frazier
extravaganza at the Fayette County Fairgrounds. Last Friday and Saturday in February.
MARCH
Best Little Cowboy Gathering in Texas, Fayette County Fairgrounds, La Grange. Chuckwagon exhibits, Western trade
show, Horse Clinic, BBQ Cookoff, Cowgirl’s Ball, children’s activities, cowboy poetry and Story Tellin’. What I Like About Texas Festival, Downtown Schulenburg. La Grange Uncorked, Courthouse Square, Wine and food festival.
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available at the garden company
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The gift boutique you will want to keep all for yourself.
Voted Best Gift Shop in Fayette County!
Yellow Box Shoes • Chamilia Jewelry • Tyler Candles Baby & Childrens Gifts • Home & Garden Seasonal Decor • Custom Silk Florals
979.249.5132 • 2204 E. St. Hwy. 71, La Grange M-F 9-6 • Sat 9-5 • Sun 12-5
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Visitors Guide
What You’ll Find At The Only Quilt Museum In The Southwest • • • Changing exhibits in three spacious, high-ceilinged galleries within meticulously restored 19th century buildings, winners of Preservation Texas and Main Street awards A Museum store featuring quilt-themed products and artisan-created gifts Quilts. ..History in the Making, a specially designed 13x85 foot outdoor mural painted by a well-known Texas muralist Grandmother’s Flower Garden, a period “town” garden typical of Texas gardens between 1893-1930, planned to inspire creativity and contemplation The Pearce Memorial Library and Material Culture Center, where research can take place in a quiet setting, and researchers can apply for a grant to conduct extended study (open by appointment) Space for educational lectures and presentations
On Exhibit • • • Until March 31 Gallery I: “Winning Quilts” Top quilts from the 2012 International Quilt Association’s Judged Show Gallery II: “In the American Tradition” Contemporary quilts with the look of the past. Gallery III: “Studio Art Quilt Associates: Seasonal Palette” Art quilts depicting the seasons of the year.
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Photo by Dana Waldon Photography Check out the article on the Museum in the current issue of Where Women Create magazine!
Next Up! April 4-June 30 Galleries I & III: “Flower Power” What could be more appropriate to the season than floral quilts celebrating Nature in all its glory? Gallery II: “The Stitch Makes the Quilt” Works by Hazel Canny Beautiful quilting is the common thread in this exhibit of a Houston quilt artist’s works.
Photo by Gensler
OPEN Thursdays through Saturdays ......10 - 4 Sundays ................................................. Noon - 4 Check website for holiday scheduling ADMISSION General .............................................................$8 Seniors & Students ..........................................$6 Tours of 20+ when arranged in advance .....$6
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Photo by Hester+Hardaway, Photographers
Voted Best Museum in Fayette County!
s
140 West Colorado • La Grange, Texas • 78945 • Phone 979-968-3104 • Fax 979-968-6010 • projects@TexasQuiltMuseum.org • www.TexasQuiltMuseum.org
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Visitors Guide
La Grange Proud Home of The Texas Quilt Museum
Visitors admire the quilts that were on display on the first day the Texas Quilt Museum was open to the public in November 2011. An entirely new exhibit opens every few months.
La Grange became the unofficial quilting capital of Texas on Nov. 13, 2011, as the Texas Quilt Museum opened in downtown La Grange. And ever since a steady stream of tour buses have been descending upon the two-building complex that also includes a massive 75-foot mural and turn-of-the-century garden. “These are not your grandmother’s quilts,” said Karey Bresenhan, co-founder of the museum, who also founded the Houston International Quilt Festival “These are quilts like you’ve never seen before.” The museum was the idea Bresenhan and her cousin Nancy O’Bryant Puentes, who together have written a trilogy of books on Texas Quilts. The choice to bring the museum to La Grange was an easy one, said Bresenhan. “La Grange is right in the middle of Austin, Houston and San Antonio. It’s a crossroads to all these areas,” Bresenhan said prior to the museum opening. Even before the museum opened this area was already home to a vibrant quilting community. The Colorado Valley Quilt Guild holds “The Best Little Quilt Show in Texas” in La Grange every February. But the museum has sparked even more interest in quilting locally. The quilts on display change every few months. In addition to a gift shop, the museum also houses the Pearce Memorial Library and Material Culture Center which features reference books about quilting and fabric collections. The museum’s hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $8 per person but is $6 for seniors, students and groups of 20 or more when arranged in advance. For more information check out www.texasquiltmuseum.org or call them at 979-968-3104.
Shop Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. & Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Lawn and Garden Supplies • Hardware • Paint • Tools Electrical and Plumbing Supplies • Housewares
• Home Decor • Unique Gifts • Swan Creek & Circle E Candles • Stone Junkie • Jellybean Rugs
Ful-o-Pep Livestock Feeds • Crystalyz Livestock Supplements • Chaffhaye Alfalfa Forage Mountain Cedar Posts, Treated Posts & T-posts • Barbed Wire Concrete Blocks • Sacked Concrete Products
3611 W. State Hwy. 71 • La Grange, TX 78945
979.242.5146 or 1.800.688.0272
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
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State Park Mix of History & Hops
This massive memorial tower at Monument Hill State Park honors soldiers that fought in the Texas War for Independence. Photo by Russell Bennett
Situated on a bluff overlooking the Colorado River, this beautiful state park is one of the hidden gems of the system since it’s only a day park and no camping is allowed. The name Monument Hill refers to the 48-foot art-deco stone monument inside the park commemorating heroes of the Texas War for Independence, including the men of the Dawson Massacre and Mier Expeditions, that are buried on the park grounds. In the Mier Expedition, which was a reponse to the Dawson Massacre, a group of 176 Texan revolutionaries trying to avenge those massacred at Salado Creek were captured, marched toward Mexico City, and attempted an escape, General Santa Anna ordered that they all be executed, but the Governor of Coahuila begged for mercy. Santa Anna’s compromise was to draw from a jar of beans anyone who drew one of the seventeen black beans was to be executed and those that drew a white bean were spared. The 17 men who drew black beans are buried at Monument Hill. Texas Heroes Day is an annual event at the park on the Saturday closest to September 18. It’s a day of cermonies and music and exhibitions honoring those who fought and died for the Republic of Texas. The ruins of the Kreische Brewery are also located at Monument Hill State Park.
It was the third largest brewery in the State of Texas at peak of it’s popularity. Heinrich Kreische began a brewery on this site in 1860, utilizing the cool waters of the Colorado to help bottle his beer. The Kreische brewing operation did not continue because despite having six children, none of them had children of their own. The elder Kreische died in 1882. The park is located at 414 State Loop 92 in La Grange. It’s open seven days a week yearround and admission is free. Hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and it is closed on Christmas Day.
INFAMOUS 1925 MURDER REVISITED
Monument Hill & Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites Activities:
•Historic Sites High on the bluff overlooking La Grange •Picnic Area •Hiking Trails 414 State Loop 92 •Guided Tours La Grange, TX, 78945 •Scenic Views •Wildlife Viewing •GeoCaching
Free Admission
(979)968-5658 Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Daily
The book “The Bridge” relates the true story of the assault, mutilation and murder involving two innocent teenage sisters at the hand of the scion of a wealthy and influential family of Chappell Hill, Texas.
Copies are available at genefreudenberg.com
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SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
Fayette County Filled With Museums – From Railroads to Model Planes Seeking genealogical information? Check with the extensive records in the Fayette Heritage Museum Archives. Are you a railroad buff? Visit the La Grange Depot Museum or in Flatonia, the Flatonia Rail Park and Central Texas Rail History Center. Music and decorative arts your thing? The International Festival Institute Library and Museum near Round Top will ring your bell. Does architecture of the 19th century appeal? Go to Winedale near Round Top, Henkel Square on the Round Top square, the Faison House, Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center and Old Fayette County Jail in La Grange plus the Kreische Home on Monument Hill to tour restored and furnished homes and buildings. (Or just look around you at the wonderful 100-year-old-plus homes folks are still living in all over the county.) Interested in local, county and Texas settlement history? Try the Fayetteville Area Heritage Museum, Round Top Historical Society and E.A. Arnim Archive and Museum (Flatonia). Model airplanes? The Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum in Schulenburg. In short, there is a museum in our coun-
Old Fayette County Jail: Law enforcement history in F ayette C ounty from its beginnings in 1883. S ee a remaining j ail cell from the first j ail. 171 South Main, La Grange. Phone: 800-524-7264 E-mail: tourism@lagrangetx.org Open: MondayFriday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Round Top Historical Society: Memorabilia, historical books, records and genealogy. 397 E. Mill Street, Round Top. E-mail: rtahs@cvctx.com Open: Friday-Saturday, 12 - 3 p.m., or by appointment 979-2495058. Texas Quilt Museum: Opened in Nov, 2011, features some of the most stunning quilts ever made by Texans. 140 W. Colorado St. in La Grange. Open 10 a.m. to to
The La Grange Depot at the corner of Washington and LaFayette Streets in La Grange is a beautifully restored museum that is open Saturdays. Photo by Russell Bennett
4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. 979-9683104.
La Grange Depot Museum: History of MKT (Katy) Railroad & Southern Pacific Rail service. Artifacts and original furnishings. Active track right outsider! Washington and Lafayette Sts., La Grange Phone: 979-968-9416 or 979-968-5756 E-mail: farssr@farssr.com Open: Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Czech Music Museum of Texas: Opened in 2012, focuses on different varieties of C z ech Music ( Polka, F olk, R eligious and C lassical) . Located next to the Czech Heritage and Cultural Center north of La Grange on Highway 77 by the fairgrounds. 1-888-785-4500. Hours vary.
ty for almost anyone’s interest. Just check out the times, fees and directions below. Central Texas Rail History Museum: Artifacts, photos and documents. 104 E. South Main, Flatonia Sat. 1-3 or by appointment. (361) 865- 3003.
Pat & Jerry Schmidt WELCOME YOU TO THE
Phone/Fax: 979-247-4770 Cell: 713-412-8086 714 E. Radhost School Rd • La Grange, Tx 78945
w w w. b i g t i n f l a g . n e t bigtinflag@cvctx.com
2202 E. St. Hwy. 71, La Grange • 979.249.3280 Now Offering Financing & Accepting Major Credit Cards
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
Festival Institute, Library & Museum: American furniture, china, paintings, music and archives of Texas composer D avid R . Guion; the Anders Gustav F redrick & J osephine Oxehufwund C ollection of three centuries of S wedish D ecorative Arts. D edicated to music, arts and humanities. Preserves rare books, manuscripts, photographs, recordings and art; the personal library of former Texas S tate Librarian, D r. D orman W infrey. C oncert hall built by local craftsmen. Performances by international artists and musicians. 248 J aster Rd. off State Highway 237, Round Top. Phone: 979-249-3129 Web: www.festivalhill.org E-mail: info@festivalhill.org Open: B y appointment, Mondays-Fridays. Monument Hill & Kreische Brewery State Park: R emains of the early brewery and monument to the men of the 1842 D awson Mier E xpedition who drew the “ black beans of death” after their capture by the Mexican Army at S alado C reek. S ee an outstanding view of downtown La Grange and the C olorado R iver. A Texas H eroes D ay is held at Monument H ill every S eptember featuring re-enactors and guest speakers. 414 State Loop 92 off U .S. 77 ( on the bluff) Phone: 979-968-5658 Open every day but Christmas 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Call for tour information. Texas Polka Museum: Opened in April 2010, this museum is located at 625 North
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Main in downtown S chulenburg, across the street from the C hamber of C ommerce. I t features exhibits of instruments, pictures, costumes, and music of Texas polka bands. For more information call 979-743-4752. Website: www.texaspolk amuseum.com Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum: The history of the S tanz el brothers’ role in the development of fly-by-wire model airplanes. S ee the “ Barn” where the early work was done by the S tanz els. 311 B aumgarten St., Schulenburg ( Off U .S. 77) . Phone: 979-743-6559 Web: www.stanzelmuseum. org E-mail: museum@stanzelmuseum.org Open: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. ( A dmission fee requi red) . Fayetteville Area Heritage Museum: H istory of F ayetteville area. C ollection of the Teddy S chultz model trains & railroads. 117 N . Washington on the Squar e in Fayetteville Phone: 979-378-2742, 979-3782378 Open: Friday and Sunday, 2 - 4 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - noon, 2 - 4 p.m. Flatonia Rail Park: S outhern Pacific Tower #3 and S outhern Pacific C aboose #4743 ( open by appointment) ; covered railroad photo pavilion ( open 24/ 7) . Main Street at Railroad Track s Phone: 979-7435366 E-mail: bandit1@peguins.net.
More Museums on Page 12
Lunch & Dinner Happy Hour 3-6 | Lots of TV’s!
Restaurant Hours:
Thurs | Sun | Mon | 11 am - 8 pm Fri | Sat | 11 am - 9 pm
The Old Fayette County Jail (located at 171 S. Main in La Grange) has a history of local law enforcement, one remaining jail cell, and also houses the La Grange Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Russell Bennett
Certified Angus Beef®
Housemade Chili
Brisket Bierocks
Bakery Breads
Scratch Made Sides & Sauces
Pulled Pork Tacos
Craft Beer &Wine Selection
Bar-Burritos
AUSTIN
HOUSTON
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SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
Fayette County Museum Listings, Continued Fayette Heritage Museum Archives: R otating displays on F ayette C ounty history. E xtensive collection of county genealogy, microfilmed publications, local documents, photographs and data from the early 1800s . 855 South J efferson, La Grange. Phone: 979-968-6418 E-mail: library@cityoflg. com Open: Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 - 5 p.m. Mt. Olive Museum & Cultural Center: H istory of the Armstrong C olony, an early settlement of freed slaves. The building was a school during segregation. R ecords of slave transactions. 835 A rmstrong D erry Rd., Waelder ( Gonzales County) Phone: 361-865-2902 Open: Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 - 3 p.m. Call for special tour. E.A. Arnim Archives & Museum: Artifacts dating from the founding of F latonia in 1873. New 3,000-square foot veterans museum. Out back is a livery stable with wagons, buggies, vintage tack and farm implements. 101 E. N orth Main, Flatonia Phone: 361-865-3455 E-mail: arnimmuseum@att.net; Open: Thursday-Friday, 1 - 4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and by appointment.
Henkel Square: A circle of restored pioneer buildings from all over the county, now containing shops. On the squar e in Round Top; www.texaspioneerarts.com. Texas Basketball Museum: A treasury of Texas basketball memorabilia ranging from S haquille O’Neal’s high school j ersey to early basketballs and scoreboards. I t opened in 2009 . A H all of F ame R oom details exploits of famous Texas prep basketball players. The museum is run by Bob S pringer, a former college basketball player and coach, who now publishes Texas Basketball magaz ine. Many items in the museum S pringer collected himself over the past 4 0 years. Located in Carmine on the corner of A ugsburg A ve. and Hauptstrasse Street. Hours vary. For more information or to set up a tour call 979278-4222. Schulenburg Historical Museum: The main focus of this museum is to feature the equipment and methods used by early settlers to the area, 631 N o. Main St., Schulenburg across the street from the Chamber of Commerce; Open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for special events. Call 979-743-3614 for more information.
‘Located on the Square’
235 W. Travis • La Grange, Texas • 979.968.9200
The Faison Home, at 822 S. Jefferson Street is one of the oldest structures in La Grange, and welcomes visitors and tour groups. The home generally is open to the public the second Saturday of each month from 1-4 p.m., during special community events, and by appointment. Admission is free. Group tours can be arranged by calling the La Grange Area Chamber of Commerce at 979-968-5756 or by email mariewatts@cvctx.com Photo by Russell Bennett
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
La Grange Area Dining Guide LA GRANGE
Sonic Drive-In 717 E.Travis St. (979) 968-6421
Bistro 108 108 S. Main Street. (979)968-9108 (979) 968-9431
Subway 109 S. Jefferson (979) 966-0724
Bodega Wine Market 201 W. Travis (979) 968-3964
Taqueria Rio Verde 1330 N. Jefferson (979) 968-2074
Dairy Queen 311 N. Jefferson St. (979) 968-5861
The Back Porch BBQ 1602 N. Jefferson (979) 968-1580
Cafe Dobre 235 W. Travis St. (979) 968-9200 Golden Chick 312 E. Travis St. (979) 968-9200 Gold’n Crisp Fried Chicken 922 E. Travis St. (979) 968-3033 Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant 403 N. Jefferson (979) 968-5935 (979) 966-0154 Hank’s Express 154 S. Jefferson (979) 966-0500 Kasper’s Steak House 710 W. Travis St. 968-5720 La Marina Restaurant 1502 W. State Hwy. 71 (979) 968-2065 (979) 968-2607
Kolaches can be bought in La Grange at Weikel’s, above, and at Lukas Bakery on the courthouse square.
Texas OneStop BBQ and Bakery 1704 E. Hwy. 71 Bypass (979) 968-8100 Weikel’s Bakery 2247 W. Hwy 71 Business. (979) 968-9413
Las Fuentes 658 S.Jefferson St. (979) 968-8957 (979) 968-8958
Pizza Hut 2230 W. State Hwy. 7l (979) 968-3125 (979) 968-3126
Whataburger 1800 E. State Hwy. 71 (979) 968-9565 (979) 968-2329
Latte On the Square 219 W. Travis St. (979) 968-9545
Prause Meat Market 253 W. Travis Street. (979) 968-3259
HOLMAN
Legal Tender Brisket and Brew 23932 Hwy. 77 (979) 242-2458
Reba’s 539 E. Colorado (979) 968-3100
McDonald’s 2304 W. Hwy. 71 (979) 968-5098
Riverside Cafe 1225 Carroll Ln. (979) 968-5506 Sealand Seafood 2359 Hwy. 71 W. (979) 968-6139
“It’s hard to name it and it has nothing to do with its size.…. but some rooms have it and some rooms don’t... The Bugle Boy has got it.” - Eliza Gilkyson
Holman Valley Steakhouse, 10204 FM 155 La Grange (979) 263-4188
WEST POINT
Nana’s Kitchen 120 West Point Loop, West Point (979) 242-3048
Experience Original, Live Music In One Of America’s Premier Listening Rooms THE BUGLE BOY offers a wide variety of concerts of American Roots music by regional, national, and international, independent artists, performing original works that include blues, folk, jazz, rock, swing, country, western, and singer/songwriters. We serve coffees, espresso, milkshakes, wine and beer. Concerts are sponsored by the Bugle Boy Foundation
LL AN INT A H T IMATE CONCER These ladies were members of the Queen’s Court that rode in the Fayette County Fair parade. The parade is always the Saturday morning of fair weekend.
Fayette County Fair Has Become A Labor Day Weekend Tradition
F or 8 4 years the F ayette C ounty F air has treated local folks and area visitors to the biggest party between H ouston and Austin. This year marks the 8 5th edition of the fair, which is always held the ThursdayS unday of Labor D ay W eekend, Aug. 29 S ept. 1, at the F ayette C ounty F airgrounds j ust north of La Grange on H ighway 77. The four day-extravanganz a is packed with events too numerous to mention, but here are a few that are always included:
* A Queen’s Contest on opening night. * A Saturday morning parade through downtown La Grange. * A Carnival.
* Weekend Barbecue cookoff. * Softball Tournament. * Petting Zoo. * A wide array of local food vendors and live music at the German-Czech Mart. * Fine Arts Exhibits. * Livestock shows. * A Country Store. * Talent Show. * Headline performers every night on the main stage. * Horseshoe and washer pitching tournaments. * A Commercial Exhibit Hall filled with vendors.
S eason tickets go on sale in J uly, sold by candidates for F air Queen, or one-day admission tickets can be bought at the gate. Also see www.fayettecountyfair.org.
CONCERTS EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. SHOWTIME 8:00 PM. DOORS OPEN 7:00 PM. 1051 N. Jefferson (US 77 N) La Grange, Texas 979-968-9944 For Information and Tickets:
WWW.THEBUGLEBOY.ORG
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Visitors Guide
Some Interesting Facts About La Grange • Sam Houston, as President of the Republic of Texas, vetoed a bill in 1838 making La Grange the State capitol. The area was to be named “Austin “ and a square mile was to be set aside for a university. Instead, the town of Houston, founded in 1836 and named in his honor, continued to serve as the capital of the Republic until it was later moved to present-day Austin. • La Grange is home to many majestic oak trees, many of which grow in streets (watch out for them!) including the historic Muster Oak located on the town square. It is still in good health for an old-timer. • The town is named after Marquis de Lafayette, a revolutionary war hero and his home in France near the Swiss border. • As immigrants continued to pour into the area, by 1890 approximately 25% of the local population was foreign-born. La Grange boasted two foreign newspapers one in Czech and another in German. • Probably the best known chapter in relativelyrecent La Grange history was the legendary Chicken Ranch, a brothel made famous by a stage play, movie and the lyrics of a popular song. It officially closed in 1973 and part of the one-story complex was eventually hauled to Dallas. All that’s left these days is the legend and some fading memories. – LouAnn Adcox
Since 1842 the Muster Oak in downtown La Grange has been used a rallying point for local soldiers to gather under before departing for battle in the Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American War and the two World Wars. In years past, part of its trunk was fortified with concrete and the massive Livo Oak is still standing strong. Photo by Russell Bennett
The Colorado Valley Quilt Guild Presents the 17th Annual
Best Little Quilt Show in Texas Friday & Saturday, February 21 & 22, 2014
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fayette County Fairgrounds, La Grange, Texas More than just a quilt show... More Quilt Exhibits at the following locations in 2014 In La Grange: Texas Quilt Museum, Quilts on the Square, Faison House, Chamber of Commerce, and the Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center And in Fayette County: Winedale Historical Center & the Copper Shade Tree Gallery, Round Top For more information visit our website:
www.cvquiltguild.com
SPRING 2013
County’s Courthouse Is A 122-year-old Jewel In Downtown La Grange The F ayette C ounty C ourthouse in La Grange is a must-see for any visitor. H ere’s a look at some of the history of the 122-year-old building: S an Antonio architect J . R iely Gordon designed the F ayette C ounty C ourthouse, as well as 13 other Texas county courthouses, in addition to the state capitol in Ariz ona. This is F ayette C ounty’s fourth courthouse. On April 9 , 18 9 1, the cornerstone for the current F ayette C ounty C ourthouse was laid by the local Masonic Lodge. A celebration with dining and dancing, attended by about 2,000 people, went on into the early hours of the next day. The three-story building is a masonry and stone R omanesque R evival structure with a clock tower rising over the main entrance. All offices and the courtroom are arranged around a 30foot by 30-foot square central courtyard. The exterior walls are built of Belton white limestone, complemented with blue sandstone quarried at the nearby F ayette C ounty community of Muldoon. R ed Pecos sandstone stringcourses ( decorative horiz ontal moldings) and pink Burnet granite columns and steps add to the richness of the building. At the base of the clock tower is a large stone slab on which is carved a large American eagle. On the corners of the tower and above the entrances are dragons carved out of the eight ridge points. The roof is covered with S panish tile made from slate.
Visitors Guide
We are a full-service yarn and fiber shop carrying gorgeous yarns, fibers and tools for knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and other fiber artists. Specializing in hand-dyed and handspun yarns, fibers and woven textiles, including our own unique line. Dealer for Schacht, Glimakra, Louet, and New Voyager spinning and weaving tools, along with hand-crafted drop spindles, shuttles and much more! 130 Gonzales Street, Paige, TX 78659 - 512-253-0100 - www.yarnorama.com
The central courtyard, which was closed-in to make space for a vault and more offices in 19 4 9 , was reclaimed during the restoration of the courthouse and now is filled with plants and a fountain. The courtroom, 8 5feet by 4 2-feet in siz e, is shaped like a half moon and has been used as a set for several movies, including “ Michael” featuring J ohn Travolta. The upper courtroom gallery can seat 500 people. W hen the F ayette C ounty C ommissioners’ C ourt formally accepted the new building on D ecember 1, 18 9 1, the total cost was $ 9 9 ,4 07.04 . F unding for the construction was provided by the
sale of 9 0 $ 1,000 bonds. I n late F ebruary 18 9 3, the courthouse was lit with electricity for the first time. I n 19 13, the basement and the first floor was flooded with five feet of water. The F ayette C ounty C ourthouse has been festooned in red, white and blue in celebration of peace and memorial occasions. The streets outside now are paved and the horse and buggy have given way to cars, S U V s and pickup trucks. After a complete restoration, the F ayette C ounty C ourthouse was rededicated on J une 25, 2005. I t stands as a timehonored symbol of j ustice in F ayette C ounty.
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Visitors Guide
What I Love About La Grange By ALYSON SVEC
Fayette County Record
This spot in “Grandmother’s Garden” near the Texas Quilt Museum affords a great view of downtown La Grange. Photo by Larry Jackson
By LOUANN ADCOX
The Fayette County Record
When I first moved to La Grange many years back, coming from a large city, I could not understand how small it was. People quickly knew me by my first name and said hello in passing. The city traffic certainly wasn’t missed since it took but a
few minutes to get to and from work. You could make a doctors appointment and not have to wait for months. The town was so clean and continues to be that way. There is a sense of civic pride around the square and also in the neighborhoods. My two children were raised here. It seemed as if everyone knew them and I
I am proud to have been born and raised in the quaint town of La Grange. After living in San Marcos for two and a half years for college, I came back and realized how much I appreciate living in a small town and that’s the way I’d like it to stay. When I attended school in La Grange, there were lots of ‘oh, there’s nothing to do here,’ and ‘I can’t wait to get out of here’ but it’s the perfect town for me. We may not get the luxuries of the big city life, but I’d say they’re missing out as well. La Grange has a lot to offer: parks, bakeries, the river, museums, a school, clothing shops, cafes and so much more. La Grange also has one of the most beautiful and historic courthouses I’ve seen.
And what other town has a large concrete gorilla on the winding bluff that ‘dresses’ perfectly for every holiday occassion. My favorite activities in La Grange are visiting the parks, the beautiful Colorado River and attending the yearly county fair. The people here are very friendly and I just feel like I belong. There is so much history in La Grange and the town just continues to thrive while still being able to keep a lot of its old traditions.
Bible
Baptist Church
Independent • Fundamental knew their friends, who their parents were and saw them regularly at school and sporting events. La Grange is a community which takes pride in showing off its diverse (Anglo-German-Czech-Hispanic) cultural heritage. Those who live here appreciate the close- knit atmosphere of the small community.
820 N. Jefferson
La Grange, Texas 78945
979-968-4981
www.orgsites.com/tx/bbclgt/index.html
making you comfortable since 1948. Home of Fine Furniture Smithville Serving Fayette and Surrounding Counties
Great Brands. Great Prices & Selections. & More
“We Service, nce Deliver and Fina What We Sell”
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-5:30 • Saturday 9:00-2:00
206 NW Loop 230 • Smithville • 512-237-2432 • www.miltonsfurniture.com
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
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The annual Flag Day celebration on the courthouse square in La Grange is like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting complete with boy scouts, vets and hot dogs. Photo by Jeff Wick
La Grange – Alive With History
By Lucy Carr
Our little town is home to a number of fantastic museums, some well-established, some new, some even with international reputations. Take our most recent addition, the Texas Quilt Museum, which opened in late 2011. R un by two renowned figures in the quilting world, K arey Bresenhan and Nancy O’Bryant, the museum hosts an exhibition of stunning quilts from all over America, and beyond – don’t let the name fool you, this is more than j ust a museum about quilting in Texas. S ince it opened, a steady stream of quilters has passed through its doors, and will be guaranteed to return as the exhibit changes every few months. Open Thursday to S aturday 10am to 4 pm, S unday noon to 4 pm. E ntry $ 8 , www.texasquiltmuseum.org J ust down the road from the quilt museum is the town’s railway museum, which celebrates the history of the La Grange M-K -T R ailroad D epot. I nside the museum, alongside artifacts such as the original pot-belly stove and the stationmaster’s desk, is a photograph showing Theodore
R oosevelt addressing the crowds from the back of a train which passed through La Grange on March 12, 19 11. The museum is open S aturdays from 10am to 4 pm. To get a sense of what life was like for La Grange residents in the late 18 00’s, visit the F aison H ouse on S outh J efferson S treet. This living museum is a family home that was occupied by generations of the F aison family until the 19 6 0s when it was bought by The La Grange Garden C lub, who have restored it to its former glory. Take a tour around the parlor, bedroom, dining room and kitchen and you can feel the ghosts of residents past walking beside you. One of those residents was Louisiana Brown, a former slave who was bequeathed the house by her employer, Nathaniel F aison. S he became the first African American woman to own property in La Grange. F ree guided tours of the house are available on the second S aturday in the month or by appointment.www.faisonhouse.org F or another fine example of a preserved family home, visit the K reische house at the Monument H ill S tate H istor-
ic S ite. This property was occupied by the K reische family from the 18 50s to the 18 8 0s. They lived and worked here, opening a brewery further down the hill from the house, using the natural spring water to brew the beer. W hen a new batch was ready, Mr K reische would raise a flag saying ‘ F risch Auf! ’ meaning F reshen U p! , so the locals would know to come to get refreshed. The phrase stuck and is now the name of the local golf and country club. As well as Germans, many C z echs came to settle in La Grange and the surrounding F ayette C ounty. To find out more about the C z ech history in the area, visit the Texas C z ech H eritage and C ultural C enter, next to the F ayette C ounty F airgrounds on N H ighway 77. At the site, you can take guided or self-guided tours around the Texas C z ech V illage, a community of restored homes and buildings originally built and occupied by C z ech settlers, which have been donated to the center. There’s also a museum and a library to help people find out more about their C z ech roots.
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SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
Fayette County – The Big Picture CARMINE
LEDBETTER 290 1291
237
WINEDALE
2714
448
WINCHESTER
RABBS PRAIRIE
WEST POINT
71
2145
71
MULDOON
155
609 3171
95
1965
SWISS ALP FREYBURG
2762 2238
1383
HIGH HILL
77
DUBINA 615
90
10
1295
90
ENGLE
SCHULENBURG
ST JOHN
HOLMAN
AMMANNSVILLE
956 2672
95
REK HILL
FAYETTEVILLE
MULLINS PRAIRIE
3233
O’QUINN
PRAHA
159
159
2503
HOSTYN
FLATONIA
1291
955
2237
1115
PARK
389
ROZNOV
RUTERSVILLE
LA GRANGE
95
CISTERN
954
OLDENBURG 159
PLUM
154
WARRENTON 237
2981
KIRTLEY
1457
1291
WALHALLA
153
ROUND TOP
WALDECK
WARDA NECHANITZ 3011 77
957
1579
ELLINGER
WILLOW SPRINGS
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
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The Communities That Make Up Fayette County Ammannsville
ebrated July Fourth celebration west of the Mississippi, since 1851.
FM 1383, 9 m. SE of La Grange Settled during the 1870s by German and Czech immigrant farmers. The first settler in the community was Andrew Ammann, who arrived on March 12, 1870. He was a noted architect as well as a farmer.
Rutersville
State Hwy. 159, 5 mi. NE of La Grange This site on the La Bahía Road was surveyed in 1838 and incorporated by the Republic of Texas on Jan. 26, 1839. Rutersville College, chartered in 1840 by the Republic of Texas, was the first Protestant college in Texas. In 1856, by an act of Congress, Rutersville College was consolidated with the Texas Military Institute of Galveston.
Carmine
U.S. 290, at Washington Co. line Still an incorporated city, Carmine and Round Top share a school system. The elementary is in Round Top, the high school in Carmine. The Carmine bank was robbed by Ray Hamilton and others from the Barrow Gang in the 1930s. Now it’s known for its antique dealers.
Schulenburg
Interstate 10 at U.S. 77 Founded in 1873, when the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway built through the site, it was named for Louis Schulenburg, who donated land for the railroad. The community was granted a post office in 1874 and incorporated in 1875.
Cistern
State Hwy. 95, 12 mi. NW of Flatonia Settled during the 1850s on a hill overlooking fertile prairie land. Water wells in the area contained such high concentration of minerals that residents were forced to build cisterns to trap rainwater for domestic use.
Swiss Alp
Dubina
FM 1383, 2 mi. N of U.S. 90 First Czech settlement in Texas, beginning in November 1856. Named Dubina (Czech for “oak grove”). As favorable reports about Texas reached the old country, the number of Czech settlers entering Dubina increased greatly, and Dubina became the stopover place for Czechs entering Texas. In 1873, the railroad bypassed Dubina.
Father Daniel K alich hopped on this antique tractor to promote the annual P lum parish picnic which is held every J une. E ven the smallest communities in Fayette C ounty organize annual festivals. F il e p hoto by Jeff Wick
Ellinger
Freyburg
Hwy. 71 at FM 2503 Famed for kolaches and barbecue, Ellinger is 11 miles southeast of La Grange. It was established as a point on the La Grange Tap spur of the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway.
Engle
U.S. 90 between Schulenburg and Flatonia Settled by Bohemian and Czech immigrants in the 1850s. Named for J. E. Engle, an engineer on Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway line. Post office established in 1888 and the first store in 1890.
Fayetteville
State Hwy. 159 at FM 955 The Congress of the Republic of Texas established Fayette County in 1837, and the community of Fayetteville was officially founded shortly thereafter. Fayetteville had a post office and postmaster during the Republic of Texas, and has had continuous postal service since 1850.
Flatonia
Interstate 10 at Texas 95 Established on April 8, 1874, on land acquired by the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway, it was named for pioneer merchant F. W. Flato. At that time residents of the original Flatonia settlement, one mile southeast, and Oso, three miles northeast, loaded their homes and businesses on wagons and moved to the new location on the tracks. The post office that had been established at old Flatonia in 1870 was moved to the new town without changing its name. Flatonia was incorporated on November 10, 1875.
FM 956 at FM 2238 Founded about 1868 by Germans and named for a town in Germany. In 2004 the recently restored Freyburg Methodist Church celebrated its 125th anniversary.
High Hill
FM 2672, 14 mi. SW of La Grange Settled in the 1830s. According to some sources, residents of High Hill refused to allow the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway to build through their community in 1874, fearing the railroad would destroy the tranquility and culture of the town. The line went to nearby Schulenburg and many of High Hill’s residents moved there. St. Mary’s Church is on the National Register of Historic place.
La Grange
State Hwy. 71 at U.S. 77 The county seat of Fayette County, this is where La Bahia Road crossed the Colorado River. Aylett C. Buckner settled near here about 1819 and in 1826 John Henry Moore built a twin blockhouse within what are now the city limits. A town was platted in 1837. The Republic of Texas named Fayette County in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette. La Grange was the name of Lafayette’s home, which came from his wife’s family.
Ledbetter
U.S. 290, 8 mi. E of Giddings In extreme north Fayette County, it was the first community in the county to be served by a railroad, which reached it in 1870.
Nechanitz
FM 3011 at FM 2145 Settled in 1853 by Wenzel Matejowsky, the first settler from Bohemia to enter Fayette County, it was named after his native city in Bohemia.
Muldoon
U.S. 77, 11 mi. S of La Grange Established about 1865 by German settlers, who were followed by Wendish families from Serbin in Lee County. Post office opened in 1877. Area has dairy farms and cattle operations.
Waldeck
FM 1291 at FM 2145 Purchased in 1843 by Count Ludwig Joseph von BoosWaldeck, who was an agent for the Adelsverein, an association of German noblemen who planned for emigration to the Republic of Texas.
Warda
U.S. 77, 10 mi. N of La Grange Named for Wartha, Saxony. Wendish immigrant A.E. Falke established a general store here in 1874 and other Wends soon arrived. Central focus is still Holy Cross Lutheran Church.
FM 154, 9 mi. N of Flatonia On a grant of land originally made in 1831 to Father Michael Muldoon, the Irish Catholic priest who officially “converted” non-Hispanic Texas settlers to meet the legal requirements of Mexico. The town was not platted until 1886, when the Waco branch of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway extended its line between West Point and Flatonia.
Warrenton
Plum
Hwy. 71, 12 mi. W of La Grange Intersection of Union Pacific’s north-south tracks (Waco to Victoria) and east-west tracks (Houston to Smithville, formerly MKT Railroad).
Hwy. 71, 8 mi. W of La Grange Plum Grove is the second oldest established community in Fayette County, dating to 1828. It still has its own post office, which was first established in 1880.
Praha
FM 1295, 3 mi. E of Flatonia In 1858 the Bohemian settlers changed the town’s name from Mulberry to Praha in honor of Prague, the capital of their homeland. Since 1855 the community has celebrated the Feast of the Assumption on August 15. The event now attracts more than 5,000 visitors, many of them Czechoslovakian.
Round Top
State Hwy. 237 One of the smallest incorporated communities in Texas, on the old La Bahía Road between La Grange and Brenham. Area first settled in 1826. Oldest continually cel-
State Hwy. 237, 12 miles NE of La Grange Founded by William Neese, who landed in Galveston in 1847 and named the new settlement that grew around his store for Warren Ligon, another early colonist. A post office was established in 1873.
West Point
Winchester
FM 153 at FM 448 First settled in 1827. The town was platted in 1857 and named for Winchester, Tenn. It was a shipping point on the Waco branch of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway, which later became part of the Southern Pacific.
Winedale
FM 2714, 4 mi. NE of Round Top Winedale Historical Center, in northeast Fayette County near Round Top, includes several outstanding examples of early Texas architecture. Ima Hogg purchased more than 130 acres, restoring the buildings and eventually donating them to the University of Texas, which now uses it for drama, history and other programs.
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Visitors Guide
Local Lodgings: Where to Stay When You Come Our Way FAYETTEVILLE 1850 House
1537 Kramr Road Fayetteville, TX 78940 713-818-9766 www.blackbirdfarmtexas.com
Guesthouse at Meadow Creek West of Fayetteville on FM 955 Fayetteville, TX 78940 (979) 378-2500 joanneda@netzero.com
Arbor House @ Las Brisas Farm 1108 Ross Prairie Church Road Fayetteville,TX 78940 (979) 378-1108 www.LasBrisasFarm.com
Blisswood Bed & Breakfast
13300 Lehmann Legacy Lane Cat Spring,TX 78933 (713) 301-3235 www.blisswood.net
Cedars Cabins
4257 Blezinger Rd New Ulm, Texas 78950 (866) 625 4607 lodging@cedarscabins.com
Cottage Garden Guest House 102 S Scott St Fayetteville,TX 78940 (281) 794-2970
Cottages on the Square 110 W Main Fayetteville, TX 78940 (318) 465-1603
Country Butler, LLC
P.O. Box 101 Fayetteville,TX 78940 (281) 389-2727 www.countrybutlertexas.com
Country Place Hotel
201 W. Fayette Street Fayetteville, TX 78940 (979) 378-2077 www.countryplacehotel.com
Cummins Creek Cottage B&B 4826 E. Hwy 159 Fayetteville,TX 78940 (979) 966-3116 jaimiegilbreath@yahoo.com
Dewberry
5036 Hawcreek Rd Fayetteville, TX 78940 (713) 622-2255
Double Tree Ranch Lodging 5849 FM 1291 Ledbetter, TX 78946 (979) 249-3424
Fayetteville Bed & Breakfast 106 N Rusk Fayetteville,TX 78940 (713) 202-8610
Fayette House B&B Guesthouse 211 Fayette St Fayetteville, TX 78940 (713) 777-5333 yvonne_mccowen@app.net
Granny’s Retreat
3506 Skalisky Rd Fayetteville, TX 78940 (281) 229-8045
Heritage Ridge Guest House
3 mi. west of Fayetteville on FM 955 2915 FM 955 Fayetteville, TX 78940 (979) 378-2247 www.heritageridgetexas.com
Honeysuckle Gallery Guesthouse
Lodge on Lake Siesta
Las Brisas Cottages
Longhorn Frog Ranch
5145 FM 153 La Grange (979) 732-1256 www.lodgeonlakesiesta.com
111 E Fayette Fayetteville, TX 78940 (979) 378-3026 jbrownj@cvctx.com
La Grange (979) 242-5496
1108 Ross Prairie Church Road Fayetteville, TX 78940 (979) 378-1108 www.lasbrisasfarm.com
Le Billet Doux
701 Ross Prairie Rd Fayetteville,TX 78940 (979) 378-2222
Skyrunner Guest house 6020 FM 154 Flatonia, TX 78941 (361) 865-2323 www.floyfarm.com
Guest Cottage
206 N Live Oak Fayetteville, TX 78940 (800) 438-2281 www.weekendcottages.com
Martha’s Kitchen Cottage
309 Franklin Fayetteville, TX 78940 (800) 438-2281 www.weekendcottages.com
Mia Bella Locanda
207 Bell Street Fayetteville, TX 78940 (409) 771-5989
Red and White Inn on the Square 102 West Main Fayetteville, TX 78940 713-818-9766 www.blackbirdfarmtexas.com
Rolling 7 Guest Cottage 1377 E Hwy 159 Fayetteville, TX 78940 (979) 250-3720
Pearson’s Ponderosa
3 mi. north of Fayetteville Fayetteville, TX 78940 (979) 249-5077 papatom2@cvctx.com
Sealy House
1537 Kramr Road Fayetteville, TX 78940 713-818-9766 www.blackbirdfarmtexas.com
Star Bar Farm
1569 Ehlinger Rd Fayetteville, TX 78940 512-589-7765
The Texas Rose
Just off the Square Fayetteville, TX 78940 (985) 789-2277
The Cottage
8235 FM 2981 Fayetteville,TX 78940 (979) 249-3541 www.tiptoncottage.com
ELLINGER Cedar Cabins @ Blackbird Farm 1488 FM 2503 Ellinger Tx 78938 (713) 818-9766
FLATONIA Bar SR Ranch
FM 154 Flatonia, Tx 78941 (281) 596-9996
Carefree Inn
I-10 & FM 609 Flatonia, TX 78941 (361) 865-2906 www.carefreeinnflatonie.com
Floy Farm & Gardens
Gladys’ Ranch House
Cistern, Texas (800) 725-5254 www.gladysranchhouse.com
Goose’s Roost Ranch Cottages 815 Scott’s School Rd, Flatonia, TX 78941 (361) 772-8093 www.goosesroost.com
Grumpy’s Motel
420 EI-10, Flatonia, TX 78941 (361) 865-2911 www.grumpysmotorinn.com
Olle Hotel
218 S. Market Street Flatonia, TX 78941 (361) 772-0310 www.ollehotel.com
Town Cottages
705 East North Main Flatonia, TX 78941 (361) 772-3234 www.towncottagesflatonia.com
Two Bit Ranch B&B
2444 Armstrong Derry Rd Waelder, Tx 78959 (361) 865-2528 wobitranchbandb.com
LA GRANGE BED & BREAKFASTS Ammannsville Cottages 9018 FM 1383 La Grange,TX 78945 (979) 561-8691
Bed & Breakfast on Main 512 S Main La Grange,TX 78945 (979) 968-9535
Big Tin Flag Bed & Breakfast 714 E. Radhost School Road La Grange,TX 78945 (979) 247-4770 www.bigtinflag.net
Blue Willow Farm B & B
1412 S. US Hwy 77 La Grange, TX 78945 (979)968-5964 www.faycovet.com/BB.html
Brendan Manor Bed & Breakfast 345 E.Travis Street La Grange, TX 78945 (979) 968-2028 www.brendanmanor.com
Guest House at Dos Lagos 3045 Valenta Road La Grange, TX 78945 (979) 247-4465
Heaven’s Gate Ranch 9200 Hwy 77 N La Grange (281) 491-2122
340 FM 155 La Grange, TX 78945 (979) 966-9698 www.skyrunnerguesthouse.com
Texana Trails and Lodge, LLC 2647 Kallus Road La Grange,TX 78945 (979) 247-4457 www.texanatrailslodge.com
Waldhutte
La Grange (979) 247-4802 www.centraltexascabin.com
HOTELS/MOTELS Best Western (La Grange Inn) 600 E. State Hwy 71 Bypass La Grange,TX 78945 (979) 968-6800 www.bestwestern.com
Cottonwood Inn
1494 W. State Hwy 71 La Grange,TX 78945 (979) 968-3175 www.lagangecottonwoodinn.com
Executive Inn & Suites
1708 W State Hwy 71 La Grange,TX 78945 (979) 968-2600 www.lagrangeexecutiveinn.com
Hampton Inn
1624 W State Hwy 71 La Grange, TX 78945 (979) 968-4900 www.LaGrange.hamptoninn.com
The Oak Motel
277 S. Jefferson Street La Grange, TX 78945 (979) 968-3133
River Valley Motor Inn
1575 W. State Hwy 71 La Grange, TX 78945 (979) 9688314 www.rivervalleyinn.com
ROUND TOP-CARMINE A Light Unto My Path
2117 FM 1457 Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 249-5620
A Green House at Waldeck Acres 7839 Waldeck Cemetery Road Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 278-4211
Abbie’s Addition
2336 St Hwy 237 Round Top, TX 78954 (405) 301-1874
Audrey’s Cottage
204 W Wantke Street Round Top, TX 78954 (832) 671-7821
Aunt Clara’s Cottage 333 E Cig Ten (713) 569-9274 Carmine , TX 78932
Round Top Inn
102 Bauer Rummel Rd. Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 249-5294
Belle Of Round Top
Rose Hill Cottages
Bootstrap At Round Top
Round Top Cottages
230 Days End Rd. Round Top , TX 78954 (979) 249-4134 5100 Roznov, Round Top, TX 78954 (713) 502-0328 www.bootstraptexas.com
Briarfield Bed & Breakfast
219 FM 954 Round Top , TX 78954 (979) 249-3973 www.briarfieldatroundtop.com
Cole Cottage
203 W. Wantke St. Round Top, TX 78954 (888) 922-4179
Das Blaue Haus
4337 S. St. Hwy 237 Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 249-3131 www.dasblauehaus.com
Dragonfly Ranch
524 FM 954 Round Top, TX 78954 310-918-7001
Elisa’s Sunday Haus
599 Bybee Road Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 249-5522 www.roundtopbnb.com
The Front Porch
12135 Young Circle, Carmine (979) 278-3809 www.roundtoplodging.com
Farmhouse Round Top
5686 FM 1457 Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 249-3868 www.farmhouseroundtop.com
Hackberry Hill Farm
3438 Hartfield Rd Round Top, TX 78954 (713) 417-5828
Hartfield House
1900 Hartfield Rd. Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 966-9003 www.heartfieldhouse.com
Jaster Road Ranch
1109 Jaster Rd. Round Top, TX 78954 (713) 628-6190 www.jasterroadranch.com
Lulubelle Designs
1913 St Loop 458 Carmine, TX 789 (832) 372-7217
Meyerland Farm
5696 Wagner Road Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 836-9450
Pecan Grove Inn
233 Augsburg St. Carmine, TX 78932 (281) 433-8845 www.pecangroveinn.com
Peck House
311 N. Live Oak, Round Top (979) 249-3972 www.greenpeck.com
Post Oak Savannah Round Top (979) 249-2572
Prairie Wind Farm
4507 Havemann Road, Carmine (979) 278-3208
304 West Mill St., Round Top (281) 630-5675 www.rosehillroundtop.com Round Top (800) 775-1860 www.roundtopcottages.com
Round Top Farms
301 S Washington Round Top, TX (979) 249-3977 www.roundtoplodging.com
Round Top Inn
407 S White St Round Top, TX (979) 249-5294 www.roundtopinn.com
Round Top Retreat
Andreas Road, Round Top (979) 249-3542 www.roundtopretreat.org
Rusty Bike Inn
302 White Street Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 289-2128
Schumacher Ranch
2433 Keiler Lane Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 249-5596
Sugar Hill Retreat B&B Carmine, TX 78932 (979) 278-3039
Summerhaus Warrrentop
11400 Schuster Rd., Round Top (512) 413-1728 www.warrentopfarm.com
Sunnymede Farm
5400 Florida Chapel Rd., Round Top (713) 781-9770
Texana Lodge
Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 968-3495 x200
The Bunkhouse
1419 State Hwy 237 Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 249-6213 www.happytrailsbunkhouse.com
The Barn
6148 Florida Chapel Rd Round Top, TX 78954 (310) 561-5002 www.summitcreekranch.com
The Ghost House
700 Rohde Road Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 249-3749
The Longhorn Inn
1227 & 1231 S Hwy 237 Round Top, TX 78954 (281) 389-2727 www.thelonghorninntexas.com
The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell 5808 Wagner Rd Round Top, TX 78954 (310) 338-8505 x102
The Rose Peddlers Inn 116 White Street Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 249-4111
The Vintage Round Top 1450 N Hwy 237 Round Top, TX 78954 (713) 859-5993
Tilworth Retreat
Hartfield Road Round Top, TX 78954
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
21
Local Lodgings, Continued GREATER ROUND TOP AREA
SCHULENBURG
Cooper Farm
Ammansville Cottages
2001 Waldeck Rd Ledbetter, TX 78946 (979) 249-5674
9018 FM 1383 (979) 561 8691
Best Western Schulenburg Inn & Suites
Ledbetter Bed & Breakfast Ledbetter, TX 789.. (979) 249-3066
101 Huser Blvd. Schulenburg, TX 78956 (979) 743-2030 www.bestwestern.com
Ledbetter-Pietsch Farmhouse 3348 Goehring Ledbetter, TX 78946 (979) 249-3315
Executive Inn & Suites
800 N. US hwy. 77 Schulenburg, TX 78956 (979) 743-4590 www.executiveinnschulenburg.com
Hillcrest Inn At Warrenton 4339 S St Hwy 237 Warrenton, TX 78961 (979) 249-3074
Farmhouse & Cabin at Freyburg Abbott’s Grove School Rd, Schulenburg, TX 78956 (800) 438-2281 www.weekendcottages.com
Oldenburg Sunday Haus
928 E State Hwy 237 Oldenburg, TX (979) 249-5440 www.oldenburgsundayhaus.com
Mimi’s Bed & Breakfast 2925 Piano Bridge Rd.
Schulenburg (979) 561-8233
Oakridge Motor Inn
205 W I-10 Frontage Rd. Schulenburg, TX 78956 (979) 743-4192
Von Minden Hotel
607 Lyons Ave. Schulenburg, TX 78956 (979) 743-3714
Bill & Charlo Horton 64 E. Bluff View La Grange, TX 78945 (979) 968-9465 (979) 968-9055 www.coloradolanding. com
Dillards RV Park
(979) 278-3805 www.southfortyrvpark.com
Flatonia RV Ranch
2500 FM 609, Flatonia 78941 361-865-9295
Dippel’s RV Park
RPMF, Inc.-Lake Fayette Parks Oak Thicket & Park Prairie Parks
Dixieland Texas Retreat RV Park
S&H RV Park
Warrenton, TX 78961 (979) 249-3779
Harvey Dippel 702 Rohde Road Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 249-3749
Paula and Phil Watkins 249 Dixieland RV Park Lane Carmine, TX 78932
Rosalie Graeter 4819 W State Hwy 159 Fayetteville, TX 78940 (979) 249-3504 (979) 249-3623 www.fayettecountybassfishing.com
Sheila & Harry Wiggins 3517 Post Oak Road
-All Year Around Feed Animals Milk a Cow Hay Rides Hay Maze
Wildlife Guesthouse
7707 US Hwy 90 Schulenburg, TX 78956 (979) 224-6234 www.wguesthouse.com
OTHER Plum Gardens
Carl & Peggy-Anderson Mapes 318 Railroad Street Plum,TX 78952 (979) 242-3382 (512) 921-0679 www.plumgardenstx.com
Fayette County RV Parks Colorado Landing RV, Inc.
…a REAL farm experience!
Raw Milk from Pastured Jersey Cows Free Range Eggs Farmstead Cheese Gourmet Products
La Grange, TX 78945 (979) 249-2050
Schulenburg RV Park
Loretta Baumgarten 65 N. Kessler Avenue Schulenburg, TX 78956 (979) 743-4388 (979) 743-2858 www.schulenburgrvpark. com
Suncatcher RV Park
Morning of Saturday, March 30, 2013 (Always the Saturday of Easter Weekend)
Del & Sandy DelVecchio 3033 S. US Hwy 77 La Grange, TX 78945 (979) 968-6868 www.dixielandrvpark.com
Tree Park RV Park 4635 S. Hwy.237, Warrenton. TX 78961 (979) 249-5588
Last Week of September through October!
Featured In – Texas Highways Texas Country Reporter Longhorn Network – “Sam Out of the City” Cowboys & Indians Successful Farming
C elebrity designer Rachel A shwell owns The P rairie B ed and B reakfast in Round Top, and stays on the property several weeks during the year. I t was named one of the best new hotels in the world last year by C onde Nast Traveler magazi ne.
www.texasjersey.com Email - barnyard@cvctx.com 979-249-3406
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SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
This is the start of the K anoe K lassica canoe race started at P lum P ark last summer and ended at B oat Ramp P ark in La Grange.
Bed & Breakfast On Main Located in a restored, 100+ year-old home w/ three bedrooms, two with 1/2 baths, one with a lav, a full bath and separate shower room. Each room sleeps three. Central heat and air, full kitchen and separate dining room. Four blocks off the square in La Grange at 512 S. Main Street.
(979) 968-9535 • (979) 338-9326
A Paradise of Parks I f you want to get out and play in F ayette C ounty, you’ve got choices – l ots of them. W hether you and the family are
seeking boating, swimming, camping or fishing opportunities – or j ust out for a stroll or picnic – F ayette C ounty has your prescription for
outdoor recreation. R ead all about them on the the next few pages.
Flatonia City Park
Plum Park on the Colorado:
This park has a swimming pool, playground, sand volleyball court, two baseball fields, a softball field and a covered pavilion. F or information on use, contact the city of F latonia at ( 361) 865- 3548.
C anoe put-in on the river between S mithville and La Grange. $ 5 fee per vehicle to enter. Offers open range for primitive camping with picnic tables, fire rings and grills. Permit information 1-8 00-776 -5272, E xt. 336 6 .
in Flatonia:
Fayette County-Welcome Home!
Since 1890, Woodmen of the World has remained strong through the ups and downs in our nation’s history. Recently, our strength was reaffirmed by A.M. Best, one of the nation’s leading independent rating organizations, when they awarded us an A+ (Superior) rating, the second-highest of 15 ratings. Woodmen of the World is dedicated to providing valued financial solutions, along with customer benefits and opportunities for community involvement. Woodmen of the World products1 include:
Customer benefits2 include:
• Whole Life Insurance • Universal Life Insurance • Term Life Insurance • Family Term Life Insurance • Annuities • Cancer Insurance • IRAs including Roth IRAs
• Youth Program including Summer Camp3 • Orphan’s Care Benefit • Newborn Benefit • Catastrophic Illness Benefit
If you would like more information about Woodmen of the World products and membership4, please contact:
! " ## !
CD0517WOW 9/12
1. Not all products are available in all states. 2. Fraternal benefits are not contractual, are subject to change and have specific eligibility requirements. 3. Youth programs, summer camp and senior camps are not available in all areas. Camps are independently owned and operated by a third party. 4. An individual becomes a member by purchasing a Woodmen of the World product.
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
23
Boat Ramp Park in La Grange:
E asy access to C olorado R iver for fishing, tubing, and canoe trips. F ishing pier, boat ramp, volleyball court, picnic tables. Open daily dawn to dusk. H andicap accessible. Located under Business 71 bridge over river.
Northside Park in La Grange:
F ishing access on C olorado R iver, fishing pier, boat ramp, volleyball court, picnic tables, restroom. Located off H anacek R oad. handicap accessible. Open daily dawn to dusk.
Fayette County Fairgrounds in La Grange:
Baseball field, two softball fields, camping ( primitive) , rodeo arena. Open daily dawn to dusk. U S 77 north of city.
Kruschel Park
Railroad Park
in La Grange:
in Flatonia:
F latonia is one of the few cities in the U .S . to have a railroad with both North-S outh and E ast-W est routes. R ailfans love this park, including the nearby elevated platform that’s a “ picture-taking place.” S idetrack Tommy has given hundreds of tours of F latonia’s railroad tower to visitors all across the country. To tour the Historic Tower #3 and S.P. Caboose #4743, contact info@railcrossroadstx.com.
S wimming pool, walking trail, two Little League baseball fields, basketball court, picnic tables, playground, volleyball court, Open daily dawn to dusk. 480 W . C olorado S t. C all ( 979) 968 -5600 for more information about the pool. ( 3.64 a cres) H andicap accessible.
Thank you for voting us the Best Salsa, Best Mexican Food, and Best Margarita!
Fina Cosina Mexicana
•
Y E TTE C FA NTY • OU
B E S T OF
Mexican Restaurant & Bar
979.968.8957
658 S. Jefferson • La Grange, Tx
www.lasfuentesmexicanrestaurant.net
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Visitors Guide
Monument Hill & Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites on “The Bluff”:
S cenic, wooded park with monument to Texas heroes of the Mier and D awson expeditions ( 1840 s) . H ome and ruins of historic brewery built by early German settler. 40.4 acres located one mile south of La Grange off U S 77. W alking paths; guided and self-guided tours; picknicking, nature and historical study. Arrangements can be made with park staff for weddings, family reunions or other group functions in the picnic or historical facilities. Open seven days a week from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; no fee. 414 S tate Loop 92, L a Grange ( 979) 9685658 ; monument.hill@ tpwd.state.tx.us.
Wolters Park
in Schulenburg: I ncludes a swimming pool, areas for picnicing and other facilities such as a basketball court, gaz ebo and playground. W olters Park also includes J acob W olters’ 1835 log cabin. Located at south end of Bohlmann S treet.
Park Prairie Park at Lake Fayette:
Boat ramp, 12 tent- only campsites, and picnic facilities make a comfortable base for recreation at Lake F ayette. Group camping area ( up to 24 people) with screened shelter ( sleeps four) electricity, three campsites, picnic tables, and a grill. R eservations: see information at left for Oak Thicket Park.
Oak Thicket Park
The rope swing at W hite Rock P ark in La Grange may be the best on the entire C olorado River. Photo by Jeff Wick
White Rock Park
On 2,000-acre F ayette Lake. F eatures R V and tent sites, screened shelters, a large pavilion, picnic facilities, hiking trails, a sandy beach, a playground, interpretive nature exhibit, two-bedroom and bunk-house cabins and a boat ramp. Here you can bike, boat, fish, hike and swim. R eservations: call Texas Parks and W ildlife R eservation C enter ( 512) 389- 8900 more than 48 hours in advance. To make reservations less than 48 hour s in advance, call the park at ( 979) 249- 3504.
D ay-use park ( 23.5 acres) , one of the largest on the lower C olorado R iver. Operated by the C ity of La Grange, ( 979) 9685805. Located approximately one mile downstream of the U .S . 77 bridge in La Grange. F acilities include a canoe launch area, baseball fields, a playground, picnic areas, restrooms, paved area parking and a fishing pier.
YE
T T E COU
NT
ES
Ys
T O F FA
at Lake Fayette:
in La Grange:
sB
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
The Colorado River carves its way from one end of Fayette County to the other.
25
Photo by Russell Bennett
A River Runs Through It
The Colorado River Is Why La Grange Was Settled and Continues to Impact its Present and Future By H.H. HOWZE The Fayette County Record
The Colorado River is probably the most defining natural feature in Fayette County. The river was a corridor for settlement and transportation in frontier times. Today, tamed by upstream dams, it provides residents and visitors alike with access to the natural – and human – history of the area. **************** Ten miles downstream from the Fayette-Bastrop County
line is the first public access to the river at the Lower Colorado River Authority’s Plum Park. The Colorado River as it flows from Plum to La Grange is full of surprises around every turn – and there are a lot of turns. Several species of birds frequent this stretch of the river: barred owls, green and blue herons, American egrets, hawks, crows, green kingfishers and black vultures. Further downriver, a sheer white chalk bluff rises 200 feet on the east side
while needle-nose gar snap at dragonflies and butterflies on the smooth surface. A two-hour float from Plum brings travelers to the broad mouth of Rabb’s Creek. This is where William Rabb and his family, members of Stephen F. Austin’s “Old Three Hundred,” settled on a threeleague headright (about 12,000 acres) in 1822. Rabb received so much land because he promised to establish a mill to grind corn for the colony on the large creek
Continued on next page
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SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
River Filled With History/ Wildlife Continued from previous page which drained his grant of land. “The Indians were so bad we could not move to the mill; the men went up alone to work,” William Rabb’s wife Mary wrote in a reminiscence. Some historians believe that French explorer La Salle and his party, still looking for the Mississippi, crossed the Colorado near present-day La Grange in March, 1687. Two years later, in 1689, Spaniard Alonso De Leon followed La Salle’s trail searching for stragglers of his last ill-fated expedition. A century and a half later the young settlement of La Grange, was established in the 1830s on the east side of a pre-historic “buffalo crossing.” Today the LCRA maintains a convenient boat ramp for river tourists under the Business 71 bridge. The river authority also provides a river guide to other put-ins and takeouts along the river. Below La Grange, the next public take-out is White Rock Park on river left, a short but scenic one hour float. Immediately downstream from the “buffalo crossing” ramp under Business 71, Buckner’s Creek comes in on river
right. The creek is named after trader Aylett “Strap” Buckner who faced down empresario Stephen F. Austin over his claim to the land around the creek. In the early 1820s, before “don’t mess with Texas,” the word was out in Austin’s colony – “don’t mess with Strap Buckner.” Just downriver, on the prominent bluff which forces the river into a 90-degree left turn, a monument to heroes of the Republic of Texas at Monument Hill State Park is visible from the river. Watch for a small inlet suitable for a ferryboat against the base of the cliff, the location of the “lower ferry,” where
Continued on next page
In part because of the Colorado River, Fayette County has a very diverse collection of wildlife. Shown here are roseate spoonbills at rest on the banks of the river. In addition to being a prime bird-watching venue, the Colorado River is also a favorite of fishermen. Photos by Jeff Wick
Ice Cream Parlor Old Fashion: • Sundae’s • Milkshakes • Malts • Floats • Sandwiches • Antique & Giftshop
Large outdoor seating area available. Groups welcome. Hours: Fridays 2-6 pm. Saturdays and Sundays 12- 6 pm. Other times by appointment. 979-249-5652 • 6002 FM 2981 • La Grange, TX 78945
Free K iddy Rides 211 W. Front Street • Winchester, Texas 979.242.3354
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
27
Sam Houston Crossed the River In Fayette County While Fleeing Santa Anna Continued from previous page German immigrant Heinrich Kreische shuttled customers to his ingenious brewery and biergarten (also on the Bluff at Monument Hill State Park) for several decades after the Civil War. Don’t miss the White Rock Park takeout just below the high US 77 bridge because the next public access after that is almost 40 river miles in Colorado County at Columbus. That stretch is best done with an overnight camp on a public-domain mid-river island. Several miles downriver, but still in Fayette County, is the site of Burnam’s Crossing, where General Sam Houston led the Texas forces and terrified settlers away from an advancing Mexican Army in 1836. A local guide or outfitter can point out the spot. Didn’t bring a boat? No problem. The city of La Grange rents kayaks. Just call the city recreation department at 968-5805. We recommend putting in at the boat ramp beneath the Colorado River bridge on Business 71. Take out at White Rock Park. The trip will probably take you about an hour.
BE
TY •
ST OF
E T T E CO AY
UN
•
Lukas Bakery
F
The trees around the Colorado River in fall turn all sorts of colors.
Photo by Lisa Corker
Family Owned & Operated Since 1947
Homestyle Bread • Pigs in a Blanket • Doughnuts • Kolaches • Pastries • Cookies
979.968.3052
135 N. Main • La Grange, Texas Mon.- Sat. 5 a.m. - 1 p.m.
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SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
A local trendy, gently used clothing store targeting teens/young adults
We provide:
“Enter as strangers, leave as friends.”
•the best name brand clothing & accessories at a fraction of the price •a small selection of new boutique apparel •chic home decor •unique refurbished furniture.
The Rev. Daryl T. Hay, Rector Sunday Service Times The Holy Eucharist: Rite One - 8:00 a.m. The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two - 10:30 a.m.
Clean out your closet. Load up your gently used clothing, fashion accessories, shoes, furniture & home decor; Receive cash or store credit for your items
156 North Monroe Street P. O. Box 507 La Grange, Texas 78945 www.stjameslagrange.org
Tamara Freedman
Church Office - (979) 968-3910 - email: st-james@cmaaccess.com Preschool - (979) 968-9501—email: st-james-preschool@cmaaccess.com
STONE COMPANY Let us
ROCK
Your World! • Oklahoma Flagstone • Moss Rock • Flat Creek Rock • Boulders • Builder’s Chop Blocks • Texas Flagstone • Sand Stone
Richard Schmidt J E W E L R Y D E S I G N
118 N. Washington L A G RANGE , T EXAS 979-968-5149
R
(979) 968-4025
ROCKRIDGE
Je w el r y with So u l
•
Mon - Tue: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm 420 W. Travis St. Ste 101 Wed - Fri: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm TheSwapLG@gmail.com Sat: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm facebook.com/TheSwap.LaGrange La Grange, TX 78945
MON. - FRI. 8 A.M. - 5 P.M. • SAT. 8 A.M. - 12 P.M.
S
J
www. ichard chmidt ewelry.com
•
979.242.5003
4830 W. State Hwy. 71 • La Grange, Tx 78945 ~ Jerry Schneider, Owner ~
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
The Fayette Public Library &
County & Family History ReseaRch centeR
Connecting our guests by engaging them in quality experiences to advance lifelong memories
Experience La Grange! Be part of a charming town, ready to welcome you. Have some kolaches and pigs in a blanket for breakfast. Visit historical sites while strolling the vibrant Fayette County Courthouse square. Stand where Texas Revolutionary fighters stood before marching off to battle for the Texas Republic’s independence. Your children can play in local parks, at ballgames, and on public and private school yards. Experience the architecture of the rich German and Czech heritage. Be surrounded by the beauty of a town that preserves its huge oak trees and measures its wealth by honoring its past. • Faison Home
• Heritage House of Worship Tour
• Old Fayette County Jail
• Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center Trail
• Fayette County Courthouse
• Texas Quilt Museum
• Historic Oak Tree
• Fayette Heritage Museum (Closed Mondays)
•Monument Hill/Kreische Brewery State Park • The Jersey Barnyard (dairy farm, hayrides, Country Store, farm animals) • True Texas Tour
• Country Music Opry
• Fishing on Fayette Lake • Historic Dance Halls
• Walking Tour & Local Shopping
• Old Railroad Depot
Fayette Heritage Museum & Archives
• Travel wildflower trails March thru May • Bike Routes
• Canoe Rentals on the Colorado River
• Polka Lovers Club of Texas Museum
1-800-LAGRANG
171 S. Main, La Grange, TX 78945 Phone: (979) 968-5756 Fax: (979) 968-8000
Toll Free: 1-800-524-7264
www.lagrangetx.org chamber@lagrangetx.org
ool P re-s c h e im Sto r y T ay ednesd every W a.m. at 10
every
June
& Jul
y
Annual
Friends of the Library
Book Sale
Fourth Weekend of April
Free Public Access Computers and Wi-Fi
Great Books, Movies, Music e! and So Much Mor 855 South Jefferson
Hours Sunday - 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Closed Tues. -Thurs. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
e-books available
La Grange, Texas
Library 979-968-3765 Museum 979-968-6418 E-mail: library@cityoflg.com www.cityoflg.com/library.htm
Library and Archives Catalogs are available online
“The Unique Gift Shop” We’re Growing To Better Serve You! Visit our website - www.farmerslumber.com
YOUR DO-IT-YOURSELF HEADQUARTERS 515 E. Travis • La Grange
• Landscaping & Lawn Supplies • Roofing Materials • Paneling • Hardware • Builders Hardware • Tools • Plumbing Fixtures & Supplies • Electrical Supplies • Farm & Ranch Supplies • Valspar Paint - “The Beauty Goes On”
WE DELIVER / FREE ESTIMATES
MON.-FRI. 7:30 A.M. - 5:30 P.M. SATURDAY 7:30 A.M. - 12:00 NOON
YOUR LUMBER NUMBER
979-968-3161
COMPLETE LINE OF LUMBER & BUILDING MATERIALS
29
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SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
Save the Bees – Drink Mead
Fayette Co. Home to State’s First Meadery, Plus Winery And Breweries Old & New By ALYSON SVEC
The Fayette County Record
The Germans and Czechs who settled this area loved their beer – dating back to 1860 when Heinrich Kreische started one of Texas’ first commercial breweries on the bluff above the Colorado River here. Today, Fayette County visitors and residents alike can enjoy a wide-range of locally crafted beverages. Mead is a form of wine made from honey and is believed to be the oldest form of alcohol. The Rohan Meadery opened their tasting room in February 2011 at 6002 FM 2981. Owned and operated by John and Wendy Rohan, visitors can try such honey wines as Rasberry Melomel, Apple Cyser, Temperament, Peachy Keen and Kumquat Honeywine. Most of their bottles are $20. They also have a couple varieties that are more ($22). Their traditional Honeymoon mead is $27. The Rohans raise ten hives of Italian
John Rohan works with bees at the Rohan Meadery, the first commerical honey-wine making spot in the state just outside La Grange.
Honeybees. Depending on the weather, they can get 90 pounds of honey per hive. It takes 300 pounds minimum of honey to make a single batch. When they first opened, they only had six or seven varities of mead. Now, they are working on their 12th. The meadery is open to visitors Fri-
day from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. They will most likely be open more hours in the summer. “It’s been going really great,” Wendy Rohan said. We’ve had so much support from the local community. We get a lot of Houston and Austin traffic.”
The “Daytripper” episode on KLRU really helped them draw in a lot of people and let them know more about the meadery. Visitors vary from weekend to weekend. Summer months are the busiest (June and July) It’s a very labor-intensive two-year process to make mead. The Rohans get their honey from Wendy and Kenny Reed of BeeWilde Honey in Montgomery. A motto of Rohans Meadery is “Save the Bees, Drink Mead.” This is to promote awareness of the difficulties bees face with the use of pesticides and insecticides. The meadery sells T-shirts and all proceeds go to bee research. “We definetely want to give back as much to beekeeping because we benefit so much from it.” For more information go to their website rohanmeadery.com. • Nechanitz was the first home to the only meadery in Texas. Since then, three other meadery’s have opened and a fourth is on its way. Continued on next page
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Meyerson Custom Builders “Three Generations Building In Texas”
Commercial & Residential • Remodel • Custom Homes
2011 Extreme Makeover Builder FREE CONSULTATIONS
P.O. Box 921 • Smithville, TX 78957 • (512) 237-3500 • Sanford Meyerson
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
La Grange Filled With All Sorts of Brews News Continued from previous page These include: Dancing Bee Winery in Rogers, Enchanted Manor Meadery in Tomball, and Texas Mead Works in Sequin. The fourth is Meridian Hive and it will be located in Austin. As for the grape, there’s: •Rosemary’s Vineyard and Winery located at 5501 Highway 71 East, five miles east of La Grange. The first vines there were planted in 2000 and Rosemary’s opened for business in 2006. Take a stroll through their vineyard and see such grapes as Lenoir and Blanc du Bois growing on the vine before heading to the adjacent tasting room. They are open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday afternoons. • The Stone Cellar in Round Top holds separate Beer and Wine Festivals each year. Ceck the website for details. • A Wine Walk through downtown Schulenburg is held every winter. Check out www.schulenburgchamber.org for information on this event.
•A building on Reynolds Street in La Grange has been rented by Vincent Wright, who is in the process of starting a microbrewery there. He’s hoping to start brewing the beer later this year. •Check out how Kreische brewed beer and see his ingenious system of keeping it cool with spring water go to Monument Hill-Kreische Brewery State Park at 414 State Loop 92 in La Grange. Open seven days a week (except Christmas Day) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. free admission.
Rosemary’s winery in La Grange produces all sorts of wines.
“Best Buys For Country Properties” New Fashion Trends Arriving Daily • Juniors, Misses, Ladies Sizes • Visit our new Plus Size Section
Robert Ruckert ★ 979.249.7300 Ray Streger ★ 979.966.9506 Terrell Newton ★ 979.249.6345
• Jewelry, Shoes Accessories & so much more
www. landbroker sreal es t ate. com 123 North Main ~ La Grange, Texas 78945 Store: 979.968.3900 ~ Cell: 713.299.9201 Mon-Sat 10am - 6 pm
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A central facility for the preservation and promotion of the history, language, culture and heritage of individuals of Czech ethnicity.
Czech Classes March - Texans of Czech Ancestry Awards Dinner May - Slavnost “May Fest” & Tribute to Immigrants Celebration June – TCHCC & CHS Youth Family Day Amphitheater performances Spring & Fall Genealogy Conferences October - Heritage Festival and Muziky, Muziky Performance December - Christmas Open House TCHCC Annual Gala
Museum • Genealogy Library • Hanslik Banquet Hall Gift Shop • Amphitheater • Pavilion Czech Music Museum of Texas Restored Historical Czech Family Homes & Buildings
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Visitors Guide
Shopping Abounds in Downtown La Grange
E
very Friday is “Black Friday” in La Grange where weekly nearly 100 people line up to be the first through the door at Second Chance Emporium, which might be the most popular resale store in the entire state. Selling clothes, jewerly, furniture, and household items (often for a little as a quarter) Second Chance has made more than $1 million since it opened in 1996, with much of the money being donated to charities. It is operated by seven La Grange churches (none of which get money from Second Chance) and a whole army of volunteers – and a whole county of donors. The store is open for sales from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday only. You will not be first in line on a Friday even if you get there an hour before opening! If you’re in the mood for something a little fancier, the nearby courthouse square has everything from handmade jewelry to a gourmet cooking store.
A regular sight on Friday mornings in La Grange at Second Chance Emporium at 529 W. Travis St.
The courthouse square in La Grange is a feast for the eyes, inside and outside the historic buildings.
Club Connect at Camp Lone Star Christian Care and Fun!
• Children ages 5 to 14 during summer day camp weeks • Children in grades 3 to 6 for after school and during school holidays
Serving You is Our Mission www.LOMT.com 979-968-1657
• Motel-style lodging and in-house meals • Large & small meeting spaces • Hosting regional quilt guilds for 20 years
Adult Retreats at Camp Lone Star
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Mary Ann’s Rare Treasures & Antiques
Linens & Glassware • Vintage Jewelry Hats • Antiques • Home Decor Look for MARTA’S at the Old Depot in Round Top from March 25th-April 6th!
Gifts & GReeting Cards for All Occasions
Thursday & Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. • Sunday 12 - 4 p.m.
Hallmark KeepsaKe Ornaments
979-966-3134 • 308 N. Washington St. • La Grange (Across the tracks from the Train Depot)
YanKee & Woodwick Candles InspiRational Gifts • Stationery & Albums GiftwRap & Balloons Collectibles • Fashion Jewelry
“Not the usual Hallmark Store!”
Custom and Luxury Homes Robert D. Hill, Texas Builder 2004 S. US Hwy 77 | La Grange, TX 78945 | (979) 968-5122 M-F 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Saturday by Appointment
Gary & Gale LIncKe, OwneRS
w w w . h i l l c r e s t h o m e s o f t e x a s . c o m
Two ways to enjoy & entertain in La Grange. A fun little ‘Good Food’ Bistro. Catering too!
&
A convivial Shop/Bar /Bar. /Bar Bar. Wine Shop/Bar. Private Events too!
Serving up great lunch and dinner selections Tuesday through Saturday and brunch on Sunday. Using the freshest ingredients like US harvested fish, flown in fresh twice a week, and Niman Ranch beef. Great pastas, and wines, too! info@bistro108.com
An in-town wine shop & your go-to place for nearly any type of private function. A fun place to meet and linger on the square for wine, premium beer, sparkling cider or range of beverages. Enjoy tasty small plates, too. Weekly 6-pack and case specials at great prices. info@bistro108.com
Celebrations! by
108 S. Main Street • 979/968-9108
www.bistro108.com
127 N. Main Street • 979/966-9959
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Visitors Guide
Library Home to More Than Just Books
The scenic grounds surrounding Fayette Public Library often host community events like the annual Easter Egg Hunt, above. The library is located at 855 South Jefferson Street in La Grange. Photo by Jeff Wick
“COME AS YOU ARE!” You’re always welcome to worship with us the risen Christ Join our Church family for worship Sundays: 9:00 a.m. Traditional Service 11:10 a.m. Contemporary Service Wednesday: 6:00 p.m. Midweek Service Our worship center is located 1215 N. VonMinden, La Grange, TX one block east of the intersection of Highway 77 and Bypass 71 For more information visit our website www.lgfumc.org or call 979.968.8323
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Providing Auto Rental Services to Fayette & Surrounding Counties
The Ghost Haus
Dippel’s
RV Park
Country Living at its Best!
In the heart of Warrenton Accomodates four guests 979.966.3221 rdippel@cvctx.com
702 Rohde Road in Warrenton, TX 979.249.3749 • 979.966.3479
Lindemann Real Estate
Residential • Commercial • Farm & Ranch • Acreage • Lots
Katy Michalke
Voted Best Real Estate Agent in Fayette County
Gus F. Lindemann ★ Joslyn Hensley Betty Bauer ★ Kim Filla ★ Bill Kilty
979.968.5803
821 E. Travis • La Grange, Texas 78945
w w w. l i n d e m a n n r e a l e s t a t e . c o m gflind@verizon.net
Serving Fayette and Surrounding Counties since 1958!
Though part of a country club, the golf course at Frisch Auf! is also open to the public and offers lots of challenging holes with water hazards and elevation changes.
Fore! Galore
Fayette County boasts two nine-hole golf courses that are open to the public – and one disc golf course. The La Grange golf course is at Frisch Auf! Valley Country Club, but non-members can play there. It’s located at 576 Country Club Drive at the base of the bluff formed by the Colorado River. Greens fees are $20 during the week and $24 on weekends. Call 979-968-6113 for more information. The Flatonia course is at 1245 E. Highway 90 and opened in 1993. Weekend rates there are $17 and $12 Monday through Thursday. Tuesday through Thursday senior rates are $10. For more information call 361-8652922. Carts are available for rental at both courses. If disc golf is your game, Snow Farm is a 21- hole course located in the far northern tip of Fayette County on Muske-Ulrich Road. Call ahead for reservations from owner/operator Randon Dillingham at (979) 278-3536. It’s $6 to play and primitive camping is available for $6. Several large disc golf tournaments are held there every year.
Built in 2012, there is now a free disc golf course at the Fayette County fairgrounds as weel.
Randon Dillingham takes a toss at Snow Farm Disc Golf Course. Photo by Jeff Wick
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Step Back in Time Nearly 200 Years at La Grange City Cemetery From the Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives This burial ground dates back to the early days of La Grange and Fayette County. The oldest marked burial is for Joseph G. King who died July 30, 1840. On the 21st of May 1853, before the incorporation of La Grange and 13 years after the first burial, the “Old Cemetery”
was owned by James Seaton Lester, Albert C. Horton, Joseph Shaw and P.V. Shaw. They conveyed the property to George W. Sinks, Wm. G. Webb, Charles S. Longcope, John H. Carter and F.W. Grassmeyer to hold it in trust for the citizens of La Grange as a burying ground. After the town was incorporated, and on the 3rd day of July 1854, the trustees above named, conveyed it to the city of
Resting in peace and beauty, a walk through the Old City Cemetery between Travis and Colorado Streets in La Grange is well worth the trip. Photos by Regina Keilers
Serving Fayette County & Surrounding Areas Since 1986 Kenneth & David Berger - Owners bergersauto@verizon.net
• Collision Repair • Auto Painting • Frame Work • Domestic or Import • Wrecker Service
La Grange. In 1867 the “Yellow Fever Scourge” befell the small town of La Grange. From August to November the epidemic ran its course and left more than 200 dead, nearly one-fifth the population of the town. Many deaths went unreported; bodies rudely prepared for burial stood in piles within the cemetery fence. Mass burials took place, with 6 or 7 bodies to a grave. By 1872, the cemetery was a wilderness of grass and weeds, cattle and hogs were frequent trespassers, monuments had been injured and graves trampled on. No one ever thought of visiting there, except to bury another “pilgrim”. On April 17, 1873, fourteen ladies met and organized the Ladies Cemetery Association. It was the first such organization chartered in Texas. These women raised money and replaced the wooden fence surrounding the site with an iron fence in 1883. Later they added a waterworks, settees, and a covered restingplace in the center of the cemetery. A sexton was hired to do additional work. The group was active until the late 1970’s when the upkeep of the cemetery was turned back to the City of La
Grange. The cemetery has suffered from acts of vandalism over the years. The cemetery is divided into 2 sections. Section 1 contains lots 1 through 135; Section 2 contains lots 1 through 161. Lot numbers used are shown inside a O on the map. A map of the cemetery is located in the archives reading room. At present the cemetery is enclosed by an iron fence and is bordered by Travis (Business Hwy 77), College, & Colorado Streets.
The grave of 7-year-old Nellie Mann, who died Jan. 3 1898.
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Try A Taste of La Grange
Second Baptist Church 1010 Von Minden Rd La Grange, TX
One Person’s Guide to the Best Places to Eat In Town
By Lucy Carr
If you love fine wines and quality, home-cooked food then you have come to the right place. La Grange is packed with great places to eat and have a relaxing drink. Here are just a selection:
Join Us for these Ser vice Times Sunday Morning:
Bible Study 9:15a Worship 10:30a
Sunday Evening:
Student Ministry Discipleship 6p Children’s Bible Drill 6p Adult Bible Study 6p Wednesday Evening:
Meal 5:30p Children’s Ministry 6p Student Ministry 7p Adult Bible Study 6:15p
979•968•5953
www.sblg.org
For coffee and cake Latte on the Square
A cute coffee shop, sandwich bar and internet café situated on the square, serving quality coffee, cappuccinos and lattes, as well as all manner of treats made from scratch, including fresh-baked scones and generously portions of delicious pies and cakes. Sandwiches and paninis on homemade bread are available all week, while on weekdays there’s also homemade soup and a salad bar.
For wine-lovers - Bodega
This wine bar on the south-eastern corner of the square offers a wide selection of quality Texan, American and international wines in a sophisticated setting. To accom-
pany the wine, which they sell by the glass or the bottle, a range of tasty cheeses and pastries are for sale. It’s a great place to sit, sip and watch the world go by.
For fine dining - Bistro 108
This is La Grange’s ‘fancy’ restaurant, located on the south-western corner of the square. Open for lunch and dinner (there’s an early-bird sitting too), when the white table cloths come out, this small restaurant is a popular spot with both locals and visitors. It’s advisable to book in advance as the dining area isn’t huge but the demand for a table certainly is!
For BBQ - Prause’s
Just across the street from the bistro is the wonderfully quirky Prause’s Meat Market, which serves amazing barbecue from its back room. This is a no-frills kind of place where the quality of the cooking and the meat is left to speak for itself. Rub elbows with the locals at the cafeteria-style tables in back after choosing from a selection of
mouthwatering meats and sides.
For kolaches – Weikels and Lukas Bakery
This sweet, bread-like cake surrounding a generous dollop of fruit or flavored cream is a Czech version of a Danish pastry. Two bakeries in town, Weikels Bakery on West State Highway 71, and Lukas Bakery, located on the square, specialize in these delicious sweet treats, as well as in the equally popular ‘pigs in a blanket,’ a sausage wrapped in a sweet dough.
For pizza - Reba’s
Want a slice of pizza? Then head to Reba’s Village Deli and Pizzeria, just a few blocks from the main square, on East Colorado Street. Their signature “hand-tossed, brick-oven baked, New York-style” pizzas are famous across town. There’s a decent selection of toppings and the portions are generous. Plus there are excellent sandwiches and subs, lots of soups and salads.
4 Peas Resale • • • • • • •
Vintage Clothing Name Brand Clothing Children’s Clothing Frames Books Replacement dishes Garden Decor
• Original & Not so original Artwork • Rusty Relics • VHS & DVD’s • Furniture • Items for DIY enthusiasts • Home decor
• • • • • • •
Vinyl Records Baskets Purses Chandeliers Lamps Antiques Fabrics
Prepare to be amazed. Almost 4,000 sq. ft. of resale heaven. 1346 N. Jefferson, Ste. E 979.968.4940 4peasresale@cvctx.com facebook.com/4PeasResale
Tuesday - Friday 9 am-6pm Saturday 9 am-4pm March 17 - April 7 *Will be open Sundays & Mondays 11-4 (excludes Easter Sunday)
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Visitors Guide
Live Music And Dancehalls Are Easy To Find Here Fayette County is blessed with an abundance of great music and music venues. Originals to covers – classical to country – folk, rock and polka – it is getting harder and harder to keep up with all the great music available in our rolling hills. While we have our fair share of country dance bands, it is the variety of music that makes this area stand out. Visitors happening into any of several area music venues or dance halls such as Swiss Alp, the Chicken Ranch Dance Hall, the Cistern Store or Schoolhouse or any of several others listed below might think they are in the music capital of Texas, nevermind Austin’s claim! The Bugle Boy, a well-known “listening room,” features original artists almost exclusively. Sengelmann Hall, a recently restored 19th-century saloon and dance hall in Schulenburg, has music some weekends. Out on the beautiful campus of Festival Hill near Round Top, founding maestro and guiding genius James Dick continues to train young musicians for professional careers. If you like classical music (or think you might like it) don’t miss a chance to experience it in the world class concert hall at Festival Hill this June and July. Here’s a look at the venues: The Bugle Boy The “Best Little Listening Room in Texas,” features original music Fridays, Saturdays and some Sundays. Smoke-free with about 80 seats. <www.thebugleboy.com>
Sengelmann Hall Located in downtown Schulenburg sponsors wellknown musical acts and features a restaurant, biergarten and bakery. <www.sengelmannhall.com> Festival Hill Just outside Round Top, it is famous for productions of piano, guitar, orchestral and chamber music in their European-style Concert Hall.
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Monthly calendar of events plus the summer Festival Institute dedicated to “Orchestral, Chamber Music and Solo Performance.” <www.festivalhill.org> Fayetteville’s Pickin’ Park Hosts acoustic jam sessions on the square in a familyfriendly, alcohol-free atmosphere.<www.texaspickinpark.
Continued on next page
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Company has been in business since 1999
We offer services such as:
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for all types of septic systems whether they’re residential or commerical. We’re here to serve the needs of the residents of Fayette County residents so don’t hesitate to call us today for your septic needs.
Jerrial Brown, President Contact us at (979) 966-7378 or you may visit our website at www.brownaerobic.com
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Live Music/Dance Venues Continued from previous page The Stone Cellar Located in Bybee Square in Round Top hosts music most weekends. Fayetteville Chamber Music Festival Held annually over two weekends in mid-May in the historic Countryplace Hotel on the town square. <info@fayettevillemusic.org> com>
Aaron Watson at the Chicken Ranch Dance Hall in January
Swiss Alp Dance Hall Legendary venue between Schulenburg and La Grange on US 77, has music every weekend, mostly country.<www.swissalptexas.com>
La Grange Knights of Columbus Hall Hosts the Fayette County Opry featuring local and area singers sitting in with an excellent house band on the third Monday of every month. (979) 968-5117 Chicken Ranch Dance Hall In Nechanitz, this event center books musical acts in its spacious ballroom. (979)966-
8033 chickenranchdancehall.com
Post Oak Inn On the Bluff in La Grange, books country dance bands intermittently. (979) 247-4347
Cistern Store Has karaoke or live music every weekend. 12604 S.H. 95 (361) 865-3655 cisternstore_bar@yahoo.com
Adolph’s In the Tenth Frame Bowling Alley in Schulenburg occasionally hosts rock, country and karaoke. (979) 943-6585
Cistern Schoolhouse Has live music jams most Fridays. Look for the old schoolbus on FM 2237.
g! It’s Getting Bigger all the time!
We’re Growin
Always appearing at The Best Little Cowboy Gathering the 2nd weekend in March
Keep on coming!
Come Enjoy the beauty of Fayette County
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
Bikers at the start of the Good Old Summertime Classic which begins in the square in Fayetteville in June.
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Photo by Jerry Herring
Coming to Fayette County? Bring Your Bike By JEFF WICK The Fayette County Record
The scenic, winding country roads of Fayette County make this area a magnet for cyclists year-round.
But every April more cyclists converge on Fayette County than anywhere else in the world. La Grange is the overnight stopping point for the MS 150, the largest charity bike ride in the world, which raises money for multiple sclerosis research and treatment. Some 12,000 bikers make their way from Houston to Austin in the two-day event and for the last 27 years La Grange has served as the extended pit-stop. Last year $16.9 million was raised for the National MS Society and since the MS 150 started $148 million has been raised. The Fayette County Fairgrounds turns into bicyclecentral.
Dozens of circus tents go up where bikers rest and relax from the ride in from Houston. Bands perform and community members come together to make sure all the bikers and support staff are fed and taken care of. Even if you aren’t riding yourself, the Day One finish line at the fairgrounds is a sight to behold. Hundreds form lines on either side of the road to cheer the riders on through their last few yards as an announcer spouts biographical details about many of the bikers as they pass through. Even after they finish, not all the riders stay at the fairgrounds. Many local families open up their homes to host the same riders year after year –but most local hotels and campgrounds are filled to the brim that weekend as well. It’s quite a different event than the first one back in 1985 when less than 200 riders stayed overnight at the La Grange Knights of Columbus Hall and showered at the high school. But one constant over the years is how this area Continued on Page 42
Every April bikers swarm the Fayette County Fairgrounds, which is the midway point of the MS 150 Bikeathon. Photo by Jeff Wick
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CASH FOR
YOUR GOLD
We Buy Gold, Silver & Platinum.
WE PAY MORE! Bullion Gold Pocket Watches Tea Sets Rare Coins Wedding Bands Sterling Scrap
Antiques ~ Collectibles Yard Art ~ & More
Sterling Flatware Silver Bars Jewelry Gold Coins Paper Money
LADD’S COINS
Ken Ladd, Owner
512-321-4937
566 Hwy 95 N, Bastrop License #0101056 Member ANA and CDN
OPEN MON-FRI 9A-4P
Facebook Ladds Coins of Bastrop, Texas 462 E. Guadalupe St. in La Grange
HOURS: THURSDAY - SATURDAY 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.
WE BUY GOLD ± WE BUY GOLD ± WE BUY GOLD ± WE BUY GOLD
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
The take-off at Day 2 of the MS 150 is quite the site as cyclists depart the fairgrounds in a huge group.
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Photo by Jeff Wick
Bikeathon Every April Turns Fayette County into Cyclist-Central Continued from Page 41 continues to embrace the event. Three years ago St. Marks Medical Center donated 30 acres of land across from the fairgrounds as an additional overnight camping area for the riders. Sunday morning the riders are off to Austin, but that
doesn’t mean the cycling fun is over in Fayette County. Fayetteville has an active cycling club (fayettevilletxcc@gmail.com) and hosts the Good Old Summertime Classic race evey June. The La Grange Chamber of Commerce has put together a dozen scenic bike routes that really show the character of Fayette County which can be found at www.lagrangetx.org
And the MS 150 isn’t the only big cycling event in Fayette County. Flatonia and Schulenburg in the southern part of the county are on the Texas Independence Bike Relay, a 40-leg team race from Gonzales (where the Texas Revolution began) to the San Jacinto Monument (at the site of the battle where Texas won its independence).
New Event Center Now Open
“Wine Still Made The Old-Fashioned Way” Specializing in Small Quantity, Handcrafted Wines to Insure the Highest Quality.
Open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sunday 12 - 7 p.m.
979.249.2109
5521 Hwy. 71 East • La Grange, Tx 78945 (Only 5 miles east of La Grange or 6 miles west of Ellinger on Hwy. 71) rosemarysvineyard1@yahoo.com
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Tara’s Boutique
Cafe Dobre
Juniors, Misses, Plus Sizes Jewelry, Accessories & So Much More! Mon-Sat 10 am - 6 pm
Serving Burgers, Soups, Sandwiches, Salads & Southern Favorites Tues-Sat 11 am - 3 pm; 5 - 9 pm Sunday Brunch 10 am - 3 pm
Man’s D&Z Shop Men’s Wear, Western Wear, Tuxedo Rental Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 5:30 pm Sat 8:30 am - 1 pm
Heritage Hallmark Cards, Gifts & Collectibles Mon-Sat 9 am - 5:30 pm Sun 12:30 - 4:30 pm
Richard Schmidt Jewelry
Olive Branch
“Jewelry with Soul” richardschmidtjewelry.com Mon-Fri 9 am - 5:30 pm Sat 10 am - 5 pm
Le Petite Gourmet Shoppe
Urban Nest
Let Us Feather Your Nest “Fine Furnishings for your Heart and Home” Mon-Fri 10 am - 5:30 pm Sat 9 am - 5 pm
lepetitegourmetshoppe.com
Tres Chic N Sassy
Ladies & Children’s Clothing Jewelry, Accessories, Home Décor, Candles, Gifts, Gourmet Items Mon-Fri 10 am - 5:30 pm Sat 10 am - 4 pm
Bakeware, Spices, Teas & Coffees, Bridal Registries Mon-Fri 10 am - 6 pm Sat 10 am - 5 pm • Sun 12:30 - 4:30 pm
Inspirational Books, Cards, Gifts & Apparel Mon-Fri 9-5 Sat 9-3
The Mustard Seed
Apparel, Jewelry, & Whimsical Items Tues-Fri 9:30 am - 5:30 pm Sat 10 am - 5 pm
Cottage Gatherings Serving Up Helpings of Fabulous Frou-Frou - Southern, Hippy, Classy Mon-Fri 10 am - 5:30 pm Sat 9 am - 5 pm
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Medical Care
Just in Case You Need It You probably don’t think too much about health care when you’re on vacation. But Fayette County does. Full-time, professional emergency medical personnel are on duty 24 hours a day in all parts of the county, ready to respond to urgent calls. Helicopters are even available to transport patients elsewhere for specialty care. And an excellent Emergency Room is provided by St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange. A broken arm, a chipped tooth or a medical emergency can happen anywhere – even on vacation. It’s comforting to know that help is ready if needed. And because first-time visitors sometimes become later-on residents, we want you to know Fayette County is a great choice for a home, too. St. Mark’s Medical Center is just one example of why. From advanced technologies rivaling those of major metropolitan institutions to a level of service surpassing the expected, St. Mark’s is making compassionate care the center of everything the hospital does. Its guiding principles focus on respect and care for the whole person. “Our beliefs center on the Golden Rule as the standard by which we treat every individual,” the hospital says. Physicians clinics in Schulenburg and Flatonia also stand ready to serve, affiliated with St. Mark’s. And numerous specialists practice in La Grange and Fayette County, assuring the highest standards of modern medicine for the whole family. Tejas Health Care is a non-profit
clinic that puts an emphasis on providing service to the uninsured and under-insured, especially health care for children. The U.S. Veterans Administration even has a clinic in La Grange, providing medical services close to home for veterans in this area. Physicians and surgeons, dentists and chiropractors, rehab experts and physical therapists, skilled nurses and EMTs all contribute to the confidence you can feel as a visitor or resident in Fayette County. Whether it’s as simple as replacing a lost contact lens or dealing with the trauma of a medical emergency, Fayette County is prepared to meet your needs.
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Se Habla Español
Providing Quality Care Since 2009
Family Practice - All Ages Well Woman Exams Texas Health Steps Exams Pediatric Care • Dental Care Accepting Medicare, Medicaid, CHIPS & Private Insurance Discounted Rates for the Uninsured
Located in the Riverside Shopping Center
Located in the Giddings Professional Crossing
1495 Hwy 71 West, Ste. F
283 E. Railroad Avenue
979.968.3377
979.542.7300
La Grange, Tx 78945
Giddings, Tx 78942
Proudly Serving Fayette & Lee County Accepting All Major Insurances Including Medicare and Medicaid.
Working with all local doctors to meet your needs www.jonesandcowen.com
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Visitors Guide
Some Fayette County Facts By AILEEN LOEHR The Fayette County Record
La Grange (Fayette County) is the home of the first state roadside park built along Hwy. 71 W. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy the grounds. The famous Chicken Ranch of La Grange was closed in 1973 by Marvin Zindler. Sheriff Jim Flournoy was forced to shut it down by state authorities. In 2012, the last madam of The Chicken Ranch, Ms. Edna, died. Private funeral was held with only her family attending. Are you a genealogist? Visit the Fayette Heritage Museum Archives, 855 S. Jefferson. Enjoy rotating displays in the museum on Fayette County History. Visit the genealogy research center where there is extensive collection of materials on county genealogy, microfilm publications, local documents, photographs and data from the early 1800s. Open Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. (979) 968-6418. library@cityoflg.com.
What Makes A Good Doctor?
Visit the Sanford Schmid Amphitheater on the Fayette County Fairgrounds in October to see Muziky, Muziky, an annual celebration of Czech music and culture. Take your restless children to the Heritage Park next to the Fayette Public Library at 855 S. Jefferson. It has playground equipment, picn ic tables, gazebo and is open daily dawn to dusk. It is used during the summer for the Library’s Children’s Summer program. Interested in cemeteries? Visit the old La Grange Cemetery between E. Colorado Street and Hwy. 71 East. Here you will some of the most beautiful tombstones. See is you can find the one on the person who fought at Waterloo! Did you know that the first plane in the US Air Force to fly supersonically is on display at the Fayette Regional Air Center. The majestic wild flowers tour takes place around Easter.You can drive the old roadways in the county and see all the beautiful wild flowers blooming. Very picturesque.
G L S C T
Genuine concern for the patients physical WHAT MAKES A GOOD DOCTOR? and emotional well being.
Local involvement and visibility within the community with care close to home. Skilled in the most up-to-date surgical techniques and procedures. Compassion for the patient and family members. Trust between doctor and patient, building a true relationship.
Gastrointestinal Surgery • Endoscopy • Endocrine Surgery Surgical Oncology • Minimally Invasive Surgery
DanielA. A. White, Daniel White, M.D., F.A.C.S F.A.C.S. M.D.,
GLSCT RED LOGO 3.2012
AlbertL. L. Chorens, Chorens Albert M.D., F.A.C.S. F.A.C.S. M.D.,
AnantC. C. Praba, Anant Praba, M.D., F.A.C.S. F.A.C.S. M.D.,
The Sanford Schmidt amphitheater in La Grange.
Photo by Russell Bennett
Routine Restorative Care (Fillings) Preventive Care Crowns, Bridges, Dentures & Partials Porcelain Veneers, Bonding & Bleaching Implant Restorations
Advanced Board-Certified Surgery Close to Home Most Insurance Accepted New Patients Always Welcome
Karen A. Roberts, DDS Michael C. Nondorf, DDS
(979) 968-9451 Fax (979) 968-8608
279 E. Colorado St. La Grange, TX 78945
www.iluvcornerstone.com
TWO ST. MARK'S PLACE, SUITE 130 · LAGRANGE, TEXAS 78945 979-242-5605
Two St. Mark’s Place, Suite 130 La Grange, Texas 78945 979.242.5605
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Visitors Guide 205 East Ave., Ste. B Schulenburg, Tx. 78956
www.srnctx.com
Single level apartments or garden homes with attached covered parking Noon & Evening meals daily in clubhouse dining room with great menu selections Weekly housekeeping services All utilities & cable paid Fully equipped kitchen Washer & Dryer in each apartment Very Active social calendar Scheduled transportation to doctors, shopping, etc. Full membership to on-site Health & Fitness Center with heated indoor pool Emergency Medical Call System and much more!! All of the above amenities included in your monthly rent starting at $1,675 for a one bedroom - one bath apartment.
We are Licensed to Provide A Higher Level of Assistance.
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The Place for Independence and Assistance! 911 S. Jefferson â&#x20AC;˘ La Grange, TX 78945 â&#x20AC;˘ 979-968-9161
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Skilled Nursing Care & Rehabilitation 111 College St., Schulenburg, TX
979-743-6537 www.srnctx.com
Let us be YOUR CHOICE for Home Health Care!
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New Clinic Open in Schulenburg A brand new medical clinic building has opened in Schulenburg, one more evidence of the growing depth of health
care in Fayette County. The new clinic consists of a complete family practice and pediatric care, and also includes
expanding multi-specialty physicians providing care in cardiology, orthopedic, surgery, dermatology, ear, nose and throat,
Some Important Phone Numbers Columbus Eye Associates 108 N. Washington, LG 979-968-3953 Cornerstone Dental Clinic 279 E. Colorado, La Grange 979-968-9451 Fayette Alternative Medicine Clinic 1495 W. State Hwy. 71, LG 979-968-6400 Fayette Co. Public Health 275 Ellinger Road, La Grange 979-968-9454 Fayette Co. WIC Clinic 275 S. Ellinger Rd., LG 979-968-6391 Fayette Family Chiropractic 464 E. Guadalupe St., LG 979-966-0601 Fitzpatrick Chiropractic Clinic 250 E. Colorado, La Grange 979-968-3340 Flatonia Community Clinic 113 W. South Main, Flatonia 361-865-3561 General & Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Two St. Mark’s Place, LG 979-242-5605 Hatfield Dental Clinic 110 N. Washington St., LG 979-968-5813 Juno Medical Clinic 1720 Von Minden Rd., LG 979-968-2700
La Grange Family Health Clinic 1253 N. Von Minden, LG 979-968-8493 La Grange Vision Center 1630 W. Hwy. 71, La Grange 979-968-8987 Neely Neck & Back Clinic 117 N. Main St., La Grange 979-968-6500 St. Mark’s Medical Center One St. Mark’s Pl., La Grange 979-242-2200 Schulenburg Chiropractic Clinic 703 Lyons, Schulenburg 979-743-4543 Schulenburg Community Clinic 511 Summit, Schulenburg 979-743-4131 Tejas Healthcare Clinic 753 E. Travis, La Grange 979-968-2000 Texas Brain & Spine Institute - Neurosurgery Main: 8441 St. Hwy. 47, Ste. 4300, Bryan, TX 77807 La Grange: St. Mark’s Medical Arts Bldg. - Specialty Clinic Telephone 1-800-793-9106
Byron D. Neely, M.D.
OB-GYN and several other sub-specialties. The latest in laboratory services, radiology and scans is provided through the clinic’s association with St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange, which serves a multi-county region. The new clinic is in Schulenburg’s new Mid Cities Business Park, a multiuse development on the southeast corner of the intersection of U.S. 77 and I-10 in Schulenburg. A site near the lake on the property was selected. Developers plan for the overall tract to include a hotel and businesses, as well as the clinic and residential sections. Construction on the 10,000 square foot clinic began in March 2012 and was completed last fall.
St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange
Remarkable St. Mark’s
One reason so many newcomers are moving to Fayette County is its growing reputation as a regional center for health care. Not only is St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange the leading hospital in the region, but numerous doctors and clinics serve people from pre-natal to geriatric. St. Mark’s Medical Center utilizes the most advanced technologies rivaling those of major cities in a comfortable environment close to home. It offers inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services with compassionate care, focus-
ing on respect and care for the whole person. The Laboratories at St. Mark’s offer a comprehensive range of laboratory tests to support physician, hospitals, and other healthcare entities. Its lab services are fully accredited by COLA with proficiency testing monitored by the American Proficiency Institute. St. Mark’s consulting pathologists are board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology with subspecialties in cytopathology, dermatopathology, and hematopathology. The main phone number is (979) 242-2200.
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1720 N Von Minden
La Grange, Texas 78945
979-968-2700 TAKING NEW PATIENTS
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Visitors Guide
Of
Q
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Fayette County EMS Has Four Local Stations
Wherever you may be in Fayette County, emergency medical help is nearby. The Fayette County EMS System operates four stations – in La Grange, Schulenburg, Fayetteville, and Flatonia. The county-sponsored agency is assisted by 10 First Responder agencies, further assuring rapid response. Each of the stations is staffed with a Paramedic/EMT team 24 hours a day, seven days a week. EMS operates a fleet of seven ambulances and two support vehicles equipped with Mobile Intensive Care Unit capabilities. They respond to approximately 300 emergency and non-emergency calls per
month. They maintain a full-time staff of 27 EMT’s and Paramedics and a part-time staff of 12 EMT’s/Paramedics. The Fayette County EMS System is a clinically sophisticated, customer service oriented community service. They are able to accomplish there goals through a team approach. The team is comprised of 911 call takers and dispatchers, Fire Departments, stand alone First Responder agencies, EMS Paramedics, EMT’s, and emergency room physicians and nurses. For additional information or questions, contact Fayette County EMS at (979) 968-8991.
St. Mark’s – Hometown Healthcare Emergencies happen every day – even when people are on vacation. St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange is dedicated to caring for visitors and local residents alike when an emergency strikes. Its Emergency Department is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a medical care team specifically trained and available to handle your emergency. The emergency medical team consists of the Medical Director who is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine and a multidisciplinary nursing staff all trained in Emergency Medicine, with 90 perecent of the nursing staff Board Certified in Emergency Medicine, as well. St. Mark’s is proud to offer the town and region a Level IV Trauma Designated Facility, which means they have met and maintained the standards directed by the Texas Department of State and Health Services. The multidisciplinary team consisting of local, county, and statewide services provides rapid response to the critically in-
jured patient including a dedicated trauma room. St. Mark’s also has two rooms especially for those patients arriving at the Emergency Department with chest pain. St. Mark’s Medical Center Emergency Services provides the best medical care available and is fortunate to have strong relationships with all the healthcare agencies in our community such as ambulance services and an air-transport service, which is conveniently located right at the hospital’s back door. Kids are thought of, too. Your child will receive care from a health care team who has received training in pediatric emergencies. There is comfort in knowing that compassionate care for you or your loved one is provided by trained specialists. They want St. Mark’s Medical Center to be the place you think of first when you are faced with a medical emergency. The well-trained support staff and volunteers will greet you at the door.
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Physicians & Specialists Providing Advanced Hometown Healthcare CARDIOLOGY Austin Heart Clinic Phillip E. Burket, M.D. Stanley Wang, M.D., JD, MPH Suzanne Wetherold, M.D. Paul Pagley, M.D. Matthew Selmon, M.D., FACC David Tschopp, M.D., FACC William Bailey, M.D.
979-242-5677
OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY Shannon Juno, M.D. 979-968-2700 Thomas Patton, M.D. 979-242-2883
FAMILY PRACTICE, Including Pediatrics Wess Blackwell, M.D. 979-968-8493 Laura Birnbaum, M.D. 979-542-9000 FAMILY PRACTICE Thomas Borgstedte, D.O. Juan Ortega, M.D. Teresa Kinsfather, D.O. Bill D. Nolen, D.O. Wm. Mike McBroom, M.D. Debra Irwin, M.D. SCHULENBURG CLINIC Donald Kocurek, M.D. Michelle James, M.D. Pam Slaton, FNP Lindsey Styles, M.D.
ST. MARK’S MEDICAL CLINIC, FLATONIA Judy Vire, RN, FNP, BC 361-865-3302
979-968-8493 979-968-8493 979-542-4357 979-242-5878 979-968-8493 979-968-2000 979-743-3520 Family Practice Pediatrics Family Practice
PEDIATRICS Amy Jatzlau, M.D. Crystal Banks, M.D. Greg Kostur, M.D.
979-542-0710 979-542-0710 979-242-2883
NEUROLOGY/NEUROSURGERY Herbert Edmundson, M.D. 713-772-4600 William H. Fleming, M.D. 713-772-4600 Byron Neely, M.D. 979-968-6500 J. Bradley White, M.D., Ph.D. 800-793-9106 GENERAL SURGERY General & Laparoendoscopic Surgeons of Central Texas Albert L. Chorens, M.D. Anant Praba, M.D. Daniel A. White, M.D. General Surgery Russell Juno, M.D.
ORTHOPEDICS Sandy Bahm, M.D. Eugene P. Schoch III, M.D.
979-242-2205 512-477-6341
ALLERGY Paul Jantzi, M.D.
800-362-9633
DERMATOLOGY Daniel Ladd, Jr., D.O.
512-451-0139
EAR, NOSE & THROAT Andrew L. deJong, M.D. Thomas Salzer, M.D. Steven Wright, M.D.
877-377-4368 979-680-8808 979-680-8808
PODIATRY Paul Gee, D.P.M. Gerald Zeringue, D.P.M.
979-242-2205 512-447-2025
UROLOGY David W. Freidberg, M.D. Steven H. Pickett, M.D. David Phillips, M.D. Peter Ruff, M.D.
512-349-7150 512-416-0444 512-443-5988 512-416-0444
979-242-5605
979-968-2700
St. Mark’s Medical Center
Located just North of La Grange on Hwy. 77 www.smmctx.org | One St. Mark’s Place | La Grange, Tx 78945 | 979.242.2200
For more information on St. Mark’s Physicians, call 979-242-2205
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
A homemade ice-cream making competition is part of the Independence Day festivities in downtown beautiful downtown Flatonia.
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Photo by Jeff Wick
Flatonia – Preserving the Past While Steaming Into Amtrak’s Future By JEFF WICK The Fayette County Record
Flatonia’s past is tied to the railroads and so is their future as in the Fall of 2012 Amtrak officials announced that the quaint town in southern Fayette County would soon become a permanant stop in the Sunset Limited train line. Recently the first comprehensive study about the potential impact of Flatonia’s new Amtrak train stop has been released – and the numbers are significant. According to a study done by LCRA’s Community and Economic Development Department using updated Amtrak ridership figures, an estimated 3,570 riders a
This is an artist’s rendering of what the new downtown Flatonia Amtrak train stop/bus station could look like.
year would get on or off the train in Flatonia, each spending an average of $115 a day. Add that up and the study concludes
“an annual projected total economic impact of the Amtrak stop to Flatonia and the surrounding area is $410,550.”
“Those numbers are a lot higher than we thought they would be,” said Mark Continued on next page
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Flatonia Has Trains in It’s Past and Future Continued previous page Eversole, who along with Kirk Pate and Kathy Collins, started the Flatonia Rail Park Project Task Force three years ago. “I think this is something the whole region would be happy with.” Flatonia city manager Scott Dixon said lots of areas will feel the impact of those thousands of train riders. “This Amtrak stop is a tremendous asset for this region,” Dixon said. “There’s going
to be people getting off the train here in Flatonia and going to the Quilt Museum in La Grange, or going to visit Shiner, and staying in Bed and Breakfasts all around.” “The private citizens group has done 100-percent of the work and deserves 100-percent of the credit for this.” Amtrak was so impressed with the Flatonia Rail Park Station proposal that they are using that as an example show other towns interested in getting a stop how to go
about it. It could be more than a year before Amtrak actually begins letting off or taking on passengers in Flatonia along its Sunset Limited Route, which runs from New Orleans to Los Angeles and vice versa. The train as it heads east will stop in Flatonia at 9 a.m. Heading west, the train would stop at 9 p.m. Eversole said the next step in the process is the arrival of a formal Memorandum of Understanding from Amtrak (which is expected this month) which will outline Flatonia’s responsibilities for building a train platform, etc. to accommodate passengers. Eventually the task force plans to begin fundraising to build a contemporary version of the old Flatonia train depot (which was built in 1926 but torn down in the 1970s). That is planned to be located at the corner of 10th street and Highway 90 on the north side of the tracks in dowtown Flatonia. That sparkling facility will not only be a train station, but Eversole said it will also be a Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) bus hub. It’s quite an transportation future for a town so steeped in train tradition. F l a t oni a i s one of t he fe w c i t i e s i n t he U .S . t o ha ve a r a i l r oa d w i t h bot h N or t h- S out h a nd E a s t - W e s t r out e s .
Flatonia was on one of this state’s earliest railroads (chartered 1841 by the Republic of Texas). Situated on land granted in 1840s to rancher William A. Faires. Germans began to settle there in 1860s, and soon needed a shipping point for their products. Sailing master Friedrich Wilhelm Flato (1820-1899) and his wife Sophie, of the German Colony, had a store about two miles south of town. In the 1870s, Czech immigrants arrived, and the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad (delayed by Civil War, 1861-65) was built to Flatonia. John Cline, F. W. Flato, John Lattimore, and railroad president T. W. Pierce founded Flatonia on Oct. 16, 1873, naming it for the Flato family. At the same time, adjacent landowners Anton Freytag and James Faires platted Freytag and Faires’ additions to the town. The post office opened in 1874 and in 1886 a second railroad, the San Antonio and Aransas Pass reached Flatonia. Now fast forward 120 years and the city is going to be a daily stop on the Sunset Limited route between New Orleans and Los Angeles.
2013 Annual Events Mar. 23:
Spring Market Day & Texas Independence Relay April 6: Flatonia Spring Rail Fan Pavilion Party April 20: Flatonia Crawfest with Live Entertainment May 26: Flatonia American Legion Memorial Day Service June 2: Flatonia Sacred Heart Parish Picnic June 29: Flatonia Freedom Fest & Wing Fling Cook Off Aug. 15: St. Mary’s Prazska Pout Picnic, Praha Oct. 25-27: Czhilispiel 41 Nov. 2: Flatonia Fall Rail Fan Pavilion Party Nov. 9: E. A. Arnim Museum Annual Fundraiser Dinner, Play & Auction Nov. 10: All Veteran’s Day Memorial Service, Praha Dec. 6: Wonderful Winter Wine Walk Dec. 7: Christmas in Flatonia
Area Attractions E.A. ARNIM ARCHIVES MUSEUM
CENTRAL TEXAS RAIL HISTORY CENTER FLATONIA GOLF COURSE
.
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ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, PRAHA
CZHILISPIEL 41 -
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CZHILI & BAR-B-Q COOK-OFF LIVE MUSIC, BIERGARTEN & CARNIVAL
FLATONIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GREAT SHOPPING & RESTAURANTS
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SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
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Flatonia Area Dining Guide Brenda’s Backyard 1143 E. Hwy. 90, Flatonia (361) 865-3391 Cistern Country Store and Bar FM 2237, Cistern (361) 865-3655 City Market Cafe 124 E. South Main, Flatonia (361) 865-3381
Flatonia Country Store and McDonald’s 709 La Grange, Flatonia (361) 865-3308 Happy Eatery 714 N. La Grange, Flatonia (361) 865-3300 Joel’s BBQ 1200 Slaughter House Rd, Flatonia (361) 865-2454
Railroad Track Cafe 306 E. North Main, Flatonia (361) 865-3611 Red Vault Bistro 124 E South Main, Flatonia (361) 865-3663 Robert’s Steakhouse 1241 N State Hwy. 95, Flatonia (361) 865-3099 San Jose Mexican Restaurant 507 E. IH-10, Flatonia
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The reigning Czhilispiel court.
Photo by Beverly Ponder
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Visitors Guide
Flatonia’s Czhilispiel Started As a Way to Raise Funds to Hire a Doctor By H.H. HOWZE
The Fayette County Record
What’s in a name? Take “Czhilispiel” for instance. The famous chili cookoff and community celebration with the funny name causes newcomers to want to know: Exactly what kind of word is that? “We needed a catchy name,” retired 155th District Judge Dan Beck said. Beck is the man most often given credit for initiating the annual event. “The ‘Chilympiad,’ one of the original chili cookoffs, was already a big deal.” Chili plus “spiel” (German for “play”) was Beck’s suggestion. Long-time Flatonian Edwin Zapalac claims credit for the “z” in “czhili.” “It acknowledges that there are Czechs as well as Germans in town,” he said in a phone call. That was actually year two. The first cookoff – without the distinctive name – was part of the town’s centennial celebration in 1973. Beck wants to set the record straight as to whose idea the first chili cookoff really was: “Mike Herzik was a young lawyer – even younger than me – and he came up with the idea of a chili cookoff to help celebrate the centennial.”
The Czhilispiel Queen’s Court makes the rounds at all the area parades. Photo by Jeff Wick
Herzik was from Praha and still practices law in Katy, according to Beck, his old employer and friend. “He’s done very well as a lawyer – no doubt as a result of the excellent training he got in my office,” Beck laughed. The centennial was a one-time event.
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Why did the chili cookoff re-appear the next year with the unusual name? “We needed a doctor.” Beck said. “Flatonia was a one-doctor town and old Doc Moorehead had died. It was a one-lawyer town too – but there were three of us,” he added with a chuckle.
The idea was to raise money to help send a young person to medical school who would agree to come back and serve the town for at least five years. It worked like a charm. “We got a committee together and decided to continue the cookoff and dedicate the proceeds to the medical education of a young woman. She graduated and practiced medicine in Flatonia for a lot longer than five years,” Beck said. Czhilipiel’s cookoff started off small with 10-12 entrants, but grew rapidly. In those days chili cookoffs were in their heyday. “At one time it claimed to be the secondbiggest cookoff in Texas with 150 to 175 cookers,” Beck recalled. He estimated the current number at 50 to 60. Now music is a big draw. There is always lots of bands, lots of dancing and lots of beer. The big show takes a big tent, and Czhilispiel boasts the “World’s Largest Tented Beer Garden.” For the actual event, “We shut down U.S. 90,” he said. “Arts and crafts and food booths line the streets.” Czhilispiel clearly still brings a lot of welcome cash into the local economy.
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Visitors Guide
Text from historical marker in downtown Flatonia erected in 1973: Flatonia M a r ke t t ow n f or r i c h a gr i c ul t ur a l a r e a , on one of t hi s s t a t e ’ s e a r l i e s t r a i l r oa ds ( c ha r t e r e d 184 by t he R e publ i c of T e xa s ) . S i t ua t e d on l a nd gr a nt e d i n 1840s to r a nc he r W i l l i a m A . F a i r e s . G e r m a ns be ga n t o s e t t l e he r e i n 18 60s , a nd s on ne e d e d a s hi pi gn poi nt for t he i r pr oduc t s . S a i l i ng m a s t e r F r i e dr i c h W i l he l m F l a t o ( 1820189) a nd hi s w i fe S ophi e , of t he G e r m a n C ol ony , ha d a s t or e a bout 2 m i l e s s ou t h of he r e . I n t he 1870s , C z e c h i m m i gr a nt s a r r i ve d, a n d t he G a l ve s t on, H a r r i s bur g & S a n A nt oni o R a i l r oa d ( de l a ye d by C i vi l W a r , 1866 5) w a s bui l t t o t hi s poi nt . J o hn C l i ne , F . W . F l a t o, J ohn L a t t i m or e , a nd r a i l r oa d pr e s i de nt T . W . P i e r c e founde d F l a t o ni a on O c t . 16, 1873, na m i ng i t for t he F l a t o f a m i l y . A t t he s a m e t i m e , a dj a c e nt l a ndow ne r s A nt on F r e yt a g a nd J a m e s F a i r e s pl a t t e d F r e yt a g a nd F a i r e s ’ a di t i ons t o t he t ow n. P os t of fi c e ope ne d i n 1 874. T ow n w a s i nc or por a t e d N ov . 8, 1875. S on i t ha d c hur c he s , a s c hol , c ot t on gi ns , a ne w s pa pe r ( T he F l a t oni a “ A r gus ” ) , a c ot t ons e e d oi l m i l l , a nd ot he r bus i ne s s e s . A c a s i no w a s bui l t for pol i t i c a l ga t he r i ngs , da nc e s , dr a m a s , a nd ot he r us e s . I n 186, a s e c ond r a i l r oa d, t he S a n A nt oni o & A r a ns a s P a s s , r e a c he d he r e . T hr ought i t s fi r s t c e nt ur y , t he t ow n ha s r e m a i ne d i ndus t r i ous , t hr i ft y , a nd s t a bl e .
A downtown Flatonia parade, 1885.
Courtesy of the E. A. Arnim Museum & Archives
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Visitors Guide
It’s Called What?
The Interesting Stories Behind How Some Fayette County Communities Got Their Names By Katie Janda Fayette County has no shortage of interesting communities with interesting names, especially in the southern part of the county, which was filled with Czech and German settlers eager to honor their origins. Here’s a few examples of how these towns got their names:
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Cistern
The community of Cistern, located in the far southwestern region of Fayette County, was first settled in 1852 by Starks Cockrill and his brother A.A. (Pod) Cockrill who came from Missouri. According to Juanita Beck in Fayette County, Texas Heritage Vol. I, the first settlers called their new settlement “Whiteside Prairie.” Cockrill became a businessman who soon built a general merchandise store. It wasn’t long after this that the community’s name was changed to “Cockrill’s Hill”. Beck also notes that in 1857 the townspeople applied for a post office permit under yet another town name, “Milton,” in honor of another prominent Cockrill (Starks’ son). They were denied, however, because Milton was already in use. Mrs. Beck states that according to local legend, the townspeople discussed other names for their community. They eventually settled on Cistern. Due to the minerals in the wells of the area, the drinking water did not taste good. Everyone in the area had to get drinking water from a large underground rainwater cistern located at the mercantile store in town. As Mrs. Beck casually states, “when
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people were asked where they were going, the most likely answer would be ‘to the cistern.’ ” On March 31, 1858, the Cistern Post Office was officially opened and the community began to blossom.
Hostýn
Hostýn is situated on the western end of the Bluff, which beautifully overlooks the Colorado River and La Grange. The central area of the Bluff was initially settled in the 1830s by German and Anglo settlers who called the area Bluff. Bluff was a thriving community filled with names (some that are still around today) such as Willrich, Kreische, Hausmann, Loehr, Laux, Huebner, Fietsam, and Hensel to name a few. They were drawn to the area because of its rich river bottom soil, numerous springs, pools, and waterfalls, and scenic vantage points. In late 1856, a group of Czech families came across the Atlantic in search of a place to call home. Some of the group eventually formed and settled the town of Dubina, Texas. The other half ventured towards Bluff. As more Czechs came, they began to heavily settle the western section of Bluff. By
the 1880s, that western section was known as Moravan. They called it this because of a hall for a Czech Catholic society there that had that name. But as Fayette County Judge Ed Janecka states in one of his articles, the name was officially changed from Bluff/ Moravan to Hostýn in 1923 by Father Paul Kašpar. They chose this name because of the similarity to Hostýn, Moravia (in the current Czech Republic). The original Hostýn was a revered pilgrimage site with a church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Catholic Czech heritage of Hostýn has remained a fixture of the town since its beginning.
Dubina
The history of Dubina, located in the southeast part of the county, is steeped in rich culture and religion. Dubina is famous for being the first solely Czech settlement. In late 1856 a group of Czechs came to Texas in search of a home. The Czechs who settled Dubina were on the same ship as the Czechs who settled in the western region of Bluff, the community now known as Hostyn. While one group of Czechs was settling into life in the already populated Bluff
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Community Origins, Continued region, the other group ventured out into the unknown. On a stormy night in November of that year, that second group of Czechs spent their first night in their new home under a large oak tree in the area that was to become Dubina. These Czech settlers braved many obstacles from that first night. According to Judge Ed Janecka, the community they settled was first called Navidad and later, Bohemian Navidad. When faced with coming up with a proper name for the community, August Haidusek said a simple word, dub – the Czech word for oak. Since coming over from Europe with his father in 1856, Haidusek had progressed into a very prominent citizen of the area. He served in the Civil War, was the first lawyer in the country of Czech descent, the mayor of La Grange, a state legislator for Fayette and Lee Counties, Fayette County Judge, and the publisher of the weekly Czech newspaper from La Grange, the Svoboda. Judge Janecka notes in his article that after Haidusek uttered the word, “dub,” someone else added the “ina”, thus giving us the name, Dubina, which means Oak Grove in Czech.
Flatonia
The town of Flatonia (another town the railroad built) is located in the southwestern section of Fayette County. The largest developed town in the southwest section of Fayette County, Flatonia sits in the best part of the mineral region of the county. The town came into existence at about the same time Schulenburg did. The land it stands on was bought from the Faires brothers (the league Flatonia sits in is the Wm. A. Faires League) by F.W. Flato, John Kline, and John Lattimore. This group of men gave half the interest of the land to the president of the Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio Railway. By 1872, the railroad was completed and the town began to grow with F.W. Flato selling land sites in and around the town. With the creation of Flatonia came the closing of two older communities, Old Flatonia (one mile southeast of Flatonia) and Oso (three miles northwest of Flatonia). There was mass migration in 1874 from these towns to the new town; people even moved their houses. The new town of Flatonia was named after F.W. Flato and was officially incorporated on November 10th, 1875, about six months after Schulenburg.
Our speciality is low prices! Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 128 E. South Main Flatonia, Texas 361-865-3844 Free WiFi
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a d u t V e l Bi s t ro R e h T A Resaurant & Art Gallery Located in Downtown Flatonia 124 E. South Main Street 361-865-3663 (FOOD)
Open Wednesday thru Sunday The Proprietors Gabriel & Elizabeth Lunch – 11:00 am - 2:00pm Dinner -- 5:30 pm - 10:00pm Call for Information
On Our Catering Services We Cater Large & Small Groups
Large Selection of Imported Beer & Wine The Red Vault
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E. A. Arnim Archives & Museum oF Flatonia
Flatonia is Defending State Softball Champ
Two buildings house a unique collection featuring Flatonia area history and culture. Hours: Thursday & Friday 1-4 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. Or by appointment, Tel. 361-865-3455
101 E. North Main, Flatonia, Texas The Flatonia High School softball team, led by pitcher Katie Steinhauser won the 2012 state 1A softball title. Photo by Stephanie Steinhauser
Cistern Country Store/Bar Live Music Karaoke Pool Tables
12604 STATE HWY 95 @ FM 2237 (Downtown Cistern!) (Between Smithville & Flatonia)
361-865-3655
BBQ DELI SANDWICHES BURGERS SNACKS ICE
WWW.CISTERNSTORE-BAR.COM
Visitors Guide
SPRING 2013
St. Mary’s in HIgh Hill is just outside Schulenburg and is considered the “Queen of the Painted Churches.” It recently underwent a massive restoration project.
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Photo by Jeff Wick
Schulenburg – Gateway to the Painted Churches, and a Whole Lot More By Mike Stroup Schulenburg is perhaps best known as the official home of the Painted Churches of Texas. Guided tours facilitated by the Greater Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce are an easy way to enjoy these treasures.
The little city at the intersection of I-10 and U.S. 77 is also the site of many festivals and events throughout the year including: • the Schulenburg Festival, a music and family fun-filled extravaganza each August • the Art, Wine & Music Fest in March
• the Holiday Arts & Crafts Show • also rodeos, church picnics and a Songwriter Serenade Then there’s the beautiful new park on North Main Street built by the Schulenburg Lion’s Club with the city’s assistance. The city is thriving economically. During the past year several new business have
opened or are under construction including a bank, a new hotel and a medical clinic. The developing Mid-Cities Business Park, located at the U.S. 77/I-10 intersection, has provided a focus for new and prospective businesses. The City of Schulenburg has assisted this growth with new streets, a bridge and other infrastructure.
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Painted Churches
Fayette County’s Famous
Specializing in Native & English Gardens, Xeriscaping, and Contemporary Landscapes Floral Designs for Weddings & Special Events
Give us a call or e-mail gardenco@verizon.net.
C a t h o l i c i m m i g r a n t s fr o m E u r o p e b r o u g h t id e a s o fw h a t a c h u rc h s h o u ld lo o k lik e w ith th e m w h e n th e y c a m e to F a y e tte C o u n ty in th e 1 8 0 0 s – it s h o u ld lo o k a s m u c h a s p o s s ib le lik e th e g re a t c a th e d ra ls th e y w e re u s e d to . T h a t’s th e re a s o n c o n g re g a tio n s p a id itin e ra n t p a in te rs to c re a te in te rio rs th a t a p p e a re d to h a v e m a rb le c o lu m n s a n d v a u lte d c e ilin g s . E la b o ra te g o ld -le a f o rn a m e n ta tio n a n d s ta tu a ry o n th e a lta rs a u g m e n te d th e illu s io n o f g r a n d e u r . T h e p a i n t e d e ffe c t s a r e s t i l l v i b r a n t to d a y . T h e P a in te d C h u rc h T o u r s e rv e s a s th e c e n t e r - p i e c e fo r t h e S c h u l e n b u r g C h a m b e r o f C o m m e rc e . “ T h e s tru c tu re s , lo c a te d in th e c o m m u n itie s o fD u b in a , H ig h H ill, A m m a n n s v ille , a n d P ra h a a p p e a r u n a s s u m in g a s y o u a p p ro a c h t h e m , b u t a s y o u e n t e r t h e fr o n t d o o r s p r e p a r e to h a v e y o u r b re a th ta k e n a w a y b y th e b e a u ty fo u n d i n s i d e , ” t h e c h a m b e r s a y s . “ T h e c o l o r fu l s p r i n g fl o w e r s e n h a n c e t h e c o u n try c h u rc h e s , b u t th e y d o n ’t c o m p a re to th e v iv id h u e s o fth e in te r io r s .” T h e re a re m o re th a n 2 0 p a in te d c h u rc h e s a r o u n d T e x a s , r a n g i n g fr o m s i m p l e t o e x tr e m e ly e la b o r a te . I n 1 9 8 4 , 1 5 o fth e c h u r c h e s w e re lis te d in th e N a tio n a l R e g is tre r o f H is to ric P la c e s . T h e P a i n t e d C h u r c h e s h a v e b e e n fe a t u r e d
in n u m e ro u s m a g a z in e s , te le v is io n p ro g ra m s a n d n e w s p a p e r a rtic le s . A s c e n ic to u r o f th e c h u rc h e s in F a y e tte C o u n ty is a n e a s y d a y trip fr o m A u s t i n , H o u s t o n o r S a n A n t o n i o . B ro c h u re s a re a v a ila b le o u ts id e th e S c h u le n b u r g c h a m b e r o f c o m m e r c e o ffi c e , 6 1 8 N . M a in S tre e t. (9 7 9 ) 7 4 3 -4 5 1 4 . S e v e ra l to u r g r o u p s o ffe r t r i p s t o t h e P a i n t e d C h u r c h e s . I n fo r m a t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e fr o m t h e c h a m b e r . M a n y o f t h e c h u r c h e s h a v e fa s c i n a t i n g s to rie s b e h in d th e m . A c c o r d i n g t o A l a n Oa k e s , C . S . P . , S t . M a r y ’s in P r a h a h a s o n e o fth e b e s t. “ L o c a l h is to r y s a y s th a t a k e g o fb e e r w a s o ffe r e d t o t h e m a n w h o d a r e d t o p t h e c h u r c h s t e e p l e w i t h a c r o s s . A t o v e r 1 3 0 fe e t , c l i m b i n g t o t h e t o p w a s n o d o u b t a h a r r o w i n g fe a t . E v id e n tly a m a n w h o p u t c ro s s e s o n s te e p le s fo r a l i v i n g t o o k t h e c o m m u n i t y u p o n t h e i r o ffe r . A ft e r h e b r a v e l y a ffi x e d t h e c r o s s t o t h e to p o fth e s te e p le th e m a n p r o c e e d e d to d o a h a n d s ta n d o n to p o fth e c r o s s . M a k e s m e w o n d e r ifh e m ig h t h a v e b e e n s ip p in g s o m e o f t h e w i n n i n g s b e fo r e t h e c l i m b , ” s a y s t h e C a th o lic p rie s t, w h o w a s e x e c u tiv e p ro d u c e r o fa te le v is io n d o c u m e n ta r y o n th e P a in te d C h u rc h e s. V is ito rs c a n le a rn s im ila r s to rie s a t a ll th e c h u r c h e s , ifth e y ta k e a little tim e to m e e t th e p e o p l e o f t h e s e fa s c i n a t i n g c o m m u n i t i e s .
St. Mary’s Church of the Assumption 821 FM 1295, Praha community.
L oc ate d j us t s out h of the r ailr oad tr ac k s that r un par alle l to SH 90, P r aha is lis te d in L inds ay B ak e r ’ s G hos t T ow ns of T e x as . P r ior to the c om ing of the C z e c hs , P r aha w as c alle d M ul be r r y by the A ngl o s e ttle r s . P r aha has a huge gat h e r ing e v e r y y e ar w he n thous ands de s c e nd on the c hur c h gr ounds f or a v e te r an’ s r e uni on. B ui lt: 1895 A r c hi te c t: O .K r am e r A r tis t: G ottf r ie d Flur y , R e v . L oui s N e tar dus , and G e ne A . M ik ul ik M as s T im e s : W e e k e nds : Sat ur day 5 p.m . Sunday 8: 30 a.m . W e e k day s : M onday , T ue s day , T hur s day , Fr iday 8: 30 a.m . W e dne s day 7 p.m . ( 1s t) F r iday 6: 30p.m . T ih s c hur c h is c ur r e ntly r goi ng an e x te ns iv e rp e s e r v ationw or k . unde
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Fayette County’s Famous Painted Churches, continued... Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
Fe atur ing s im pl e s te nc iling and f r am e d St ations of the C r os s , the c hur c h is j us t w e s t of W e im ar of f old H w y 90. O the r than Sunday , the c hur c h c an b e v ie w e d f r om the e ntr y only . I t c an b e ope ne d f or gr oups . J us t nor th of the c hur c h is the old D ubi na gr oc e r y . Follow ing the r oad ar ound the c or ne r w ill tak e y ou ov e r the “ P iano B r idge ” – one of the f e w r e m aining ir on br idge s inF ay e tte C ount y . P ainte d: 190 A r c hi te c t: L e oD ie lm ann A r tis t: U nk now n M as s T im e s : W e e k e nds : Sat ur da y at4 p.m .,Sunday at 10: 15a.m .
T he C athol ic c hur c h and a s c hool ope ne d in 1890. D e s tr oy e d by the hur r ic ane of 190, the c hur c h w as r e bui lt. I t bur ne d s ho r tly the r e af te r and had to be r e bui lt a s e c ond tim e . B ui lt: 198 P ainte d: 19 A r c hi te c t: J ohnB uj noc h A r tis t: F r e dD one c k e r andSons M as s T im e s : W e e k e nd s : Sat ur day 5 p.m . ( O d M onths ) . Sunday 9: 30 a.m . ( e v e n m onths ) . W e e k day s : Fr iday 5p.m .
FM 1383 Dubina community.
7745 Mensik Rd., Ammansville community.
Texas T-shirts Gifts ★ Boots Jeans ★ Hats & Much More!
979.743.3322 Open 7 Days a Week 7 am - 9 pm
979-743-3555 Fax 979-743-4354 franks.restaurant@gmail.com
INTERSECTION OF Hwy. 77 and I-10
(SCHULENBURG)
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Fayette County’s Famous Painted Churches, continued...
St. Mary: Nativity of Mary, Blessed Virgin 2833 FM 2672, High Hill community.
E labor ate f aux - m ar bl e c olum ns and v aul te d c urh c h one of the one s not to m is s . T he gr ay is h the utb tr e s s e s and ac c e nting the br ic k w as quar r tow nof M ul doon. B ui lt: 1906 M as s T im e P ainte d: 192 W e e k e nds : A r c hi te c t: L e oD ie lm ann W e e k day s : A r tis t: St oc k e r tandK e rn B ui lde r : F r ank B ohl m an
c e ilings m ak e thi s lb ue s tone c apip ng ie d f r om the ne ar by s: Sat ru day :6 30p.m M onday 6a.m
GRAHMANN’S The store The store with almost with almost everything! everything!
◊ Hardware ◊ Paint ◊ Hardware ◊ Giftware ◊ Giftware ◊ Yankee Candles YankeeRegistry Candles ◊◊Bridal Housewares ◊◊Housewares Lawn&&Garden Garden ◊◊Lawn Plumbing & Electrical ◊◊Hunting Supplies ◊◊Plumbing & Electrical Farm & Ranch Supplies ◊ Farm & Ranch Supplies ◊ Outdoor Living 979-743-4332 515 N. Main
979-743-4332 Schulenburg, Texas
515 N. Main, Schulenburg
.
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Got Gas?
HARDWARE
Tank Rentals Sales & Service
TEX PROPANE
Needs new art
COMPANY
S e r v in g B a s tr o p , C o lo r a d o , F a y e tte , G o n z a le s A n d L a v a c a C o u n tie s S in c e 1 9 6 5
800-343-7065
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H eld a t the H i stori c M ora vi a P a ri sh H a ll, M ora vi a , TX. Centra lly loca ted between H ouston, A usti n & Sa n A ntoni o. G e n e r a l A d m is s io n T ic k e ts $ 1 0 . A d v a nce p urcha se recommend ed .
Schulenburg Art, Music & Wine Festival Always the 2nd Saturday of March
P i cni c f a ci li ti es/ F ood & beve ra ge concessi ons on si te
TEXAS KITCHEN BURGERS•BBQ FRIED CHICKEN Bakery & Homemade Fudge
We have SEAFOOD Thursday-Sunday! Homemade Buns Baked Fresh Daily
S
Open 7 Days A Week • 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
I-10 & Hwy 77 in Schulenburg 979.743.2900
www.paddystx.com
Schulenburg
The Greater
Chamber of Commerce
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Schulenburg Historical Museum
The mission of the Schulenburg Historical Museum is to identify, preserve and display historical artifacts and events and to educate our current and future generations about the lifestyle of their ancestors
Collections include:
•178 types of barbed wire dated from 1868 to 1977 •Arrow heads dated back to 6,000 B.C. •Local wedding pictures dated back to the early 1920’s •Early Crosley Ice Maker •Other early Household items Information on the Lyons family & other settlers is available for research.
Hours:
Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for special events
631 North Main Street Schulenburg, Texas 78956
For group or private tours call: Florence Farek at 979.743.3614 or email: flofarek@cmaaccess.com
Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum a Gem in Schulenburg The main museum features interactive exhibits and 30 static displays. The tour begins with a multimedia presentation showing the history of flight and how it passionately influenced Victor and Joe Stanzel. The factory wing of the museum gives visitors an opportunity to experience the development and manufacturing of model aircraft in an era when aviation and rocket technology was in its infancy. Adjacent to the museum is the historic home of Victor and Joe Stanzel’s grandparents, restored and furnished as it appeared in the late 1800s.
ADDRESS The Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum 311 Baumgarten Street Schulenburg, TX 78956 Phone 979-743-6559 email: museum@stanzelmuseum.org HOURS/ADMISSION Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. General Admission $4.00 Senior Citizens $2.00 Children under 12 FREE School Groups FREE
Schulenburg Area Dining Guide Chez Grill Seafood and Steak 50 N. Kessler Ave. (979) 743-5011
Oakridge Smokehouse 712 N. U.S. 77, Schulenburg (979) 743-3372
Kountry Bakery 110 N Kessler Ave, Schulenburg (979) 743-4342
Potter Country Store North U.S. 77, Schulenburg (979) 743-2600
Mc Donald’s 718 N US - 77, Schulenburg (979) 743-2027
Momma’s at Sengelmann Hall 531 N. Main Schulenburg (979) 743-2300
El Taqueria El Ray (979)-743-3127
Mi Casita Restaurant 514 Summit St., Schulenburg (979) 743-4780
Subway 14 N Kessler Ave, Schulenburg (979) 743-4492
Frank’s Restaurant 11 N Kessler Ave, Schulenburg (979) 743-3555
Carol’s Cafe 746 E. Hwy. 90, Schulenburg (979) 743-2867
The Shop Downtown 621 Main St., Schulenburg (979) 743-4505
Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant 104 Kessler Ave, Schulenburg (979) 743-2722
Momma’s Pizza Kitchen 607 Lyons Ave, Schulenburg (979) 743-3714
Whataburger 40 N Kessler Ave, (979) 743-9166
City Market 109 Kessler Ave, (979) 743-3440
at
Dairy Queen 77 N Kessler Ave, Schulenburg (979) 743-3687
Meet At Momma’s Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Iron Horse Filling Station 405 Summit St, Schulenburg (979) 743-4392
Closed Closed 10:00 am – 5:00 pm 10:00 am – 5:00 pm 10:00 am – 5:00 pm 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Closed
senglemannhall.com
facebook.com/sengleman.hall
Paddy’s Texas Kitchen 22 N Kessler Ave, (979) 743-2900
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Colorful Carmine If the bright colors of Carmine’s antiques shops don’t catch your attention, the deals will.
By H.H. HOWZE The Fayette County Record
I
f you call the little town in the northeastern corner of Fayette County “CarMine,” instead of “CarMean,” folks might remark “you’re not from around here, are you?” Carmine is on U.S. 290 between Austin and Houston, which means a lot of traffic whizzes by day and night. Until recently, there wasn’t much reason to stop unless you wanted to shop for antiques. The town has ten antiques stores, including one in an old lumber
yard which houses several dealers. But this year Carmine got a real grocery store – the town had been getting by with a convenience store/barbecue joint – when local entreprenuer Jeff Wunderlich opened the Village Market adjacent to his other venture,
the wildly successful J.W.’s Steakhouse. There’s an attached event center on one end and Valero gas pumps on the other. Like a lot of small Fayette County towns, Carmine used to have a more diversified business community.
The main drag in Carmine ses an estimated 10,000 cars pass by a day.
Photo by H.H. Howze
“When I grew up there were a lot of little restaurants around here,” Wunderlich said at the grand opening of his new venture in March. But although commerce waned over the years, the village retained its core. It’s an organized community
with a city government, a consolidated high school (Round Top-Carmine), and a well-established bank that’s locally famous for once being robbed by Raymond Hamilton and Gene O’Dare, members of the Barrow gang – as in Bonnie and Clyde. Since 2009, the town’s also been the home of Bob Springer’s Texas Basketball Museum. But the real game changer was the opening of J.W.’s Steakhouse in 2008. Wunderlich’s new restaurant was an immediate sucContinued on Page 69
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Shopped CARMINE Lately? Be sure to check out the Little City with the BIG Heart.
Carmine City Hall 979-278-3273 www.cityofcarmine.org Chamber of Commerce 979-278-4200
Market Realty 979-830-9600 Wellmann Insurance 979-836-3613 Ronnie Eckhart
HALLS for RENT Carmine Lions Club 979-278-3613 Carmine Hall 979-278-9990 Carmine Volunteer Fire Dept. 979-278-3250 Carmine’s Muehlbrad- Albers Pavilion 979-278-3273
FOOD 4G Convenience Store 979-278-3000 JW’S Steakhouse 979-278-4240 Crooked Floor Cafe 979-278-3525 The Village Market 979-278-3333
MUSEUMS Carmine Chamber of Commerce Museum & Visitors’ Center 979-278-4200 Texas Basketball Museum 979-278-4222 SERVICES Carmine Charolais Ranch 979-278 3270 Carmine State Bank 979-278-3244 www.csbcarmine.com Carmine Feed & Fertilizer 979-278-3111 City Garage 979-278-3377 Darlene’s Custom Sewing 979-278-3325 Diane Langley, Realtor Associate Round Top Real Estate 979-525-1324 Honest to Goodness Growers 979-278-3053 J.R Flasowski Septic Service 979-830-3643 L.A. Mayer Enterprises Monty Mayer 979-542-7988 Lila Garlin, Realtor Associate Round Top Real Estate 281-705-4647 Lisa Mayer, Broker Associate Round Top Real Estate 979-966-3686
BUSINESSES D&T Antiques 979-865-2136 Hour Glass Trading Co. 979-278-4040 Jayne’s Place Antique Mall 979-278-3866 Hill Country Collectibles 979-278-3314 Texas Trash & Treasures 979-278-3404 Neese’s Antiques & Collectibles 979-278-3280 Stoney Creek Antiques 713-898-7667 Texas Casual Cottages 979-278-3015 Trendy Chicks 832-928-4398 Unique Antiques 979-278-3690 West of Brazos Trading Co. 979-278-3010 LODGING Aunt Clara’s Guest House 713-569-9274 Sugar Hill Retreat Bed & Breakfast 979-278-3039 Pecan Grove Inn 979-278-3965 RV PARK Dixieland RV Park 979-278-3805
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The ribbon cutting for the new Village Market and deli in Carmine.
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Photo by H.H. Howze
With a Growing Infrastructure, Carmine Can Be Base Camp For Adventure in Northern Fayette Co. Continued from Page 67 cess with area locals and the word spread quickly to adjacent counties and weekenders. On big weekends there’s a waiting list and it’s a good idea to call ahead. The first real economic indicator of how the restaurant was doing were the quarterly sales tax reports from the state comptroller – they spiked and stayed up quarter after quarter. Round Top real estate broker Grover Hilbolt summed up his feelings about it this way: “It’s great. We’ve seen so many things come and go over the years in Carmine. Since J.W.’s opened, the town is going up.” The modern grocery-bakery-deli sets the town up for another burst of economic development. “I’ve been thinking of doing this for some time,” Wunderlich said. He likened his efforts to establish commercial anchors in Carmine to what happened in Round Top. “I’ve always thought the Round Top Mercantile really helped the growth of Round Top,” he said.
Carmine At a Glance Two major highways cross Fayette County at its “top” and “bottom.” To the south is Interstate 10, while across the northern tip of the county, U.S. 290 connects Austin with Houston. Of the six incorporated towns in Fayette County, Carmine is the northernmost, watching over 10,000 vehicles a day pass through on U.S. 290. Founded in 1883, Carmine is located in the heart of Central Texas, serving as the mid-point between the cities of Houston and Austin. This makes it a major gateway to all the other communities of Fayette County. The small population and quiet atmosphere allows for a great getaway from the stress of the larger cities.
Come Experience the Country Prairie Wind Farm Carmine, Texas 979•278•3208
www.pwfarmtexas.com Mention this ad and get 10% off of your next stay at our B&B.
Carmine is only about a 1½-hour drive from Austin or Houston. Visitors enjoy shopping for antiques, visiting the many area attractions and events, and experiencing overnight accommodations at a Bed & Breakfast. It’s also the home of the Texas Basketball Museum. Carmine is a great place to live if you are raising a family or looking for a place to retire. If you are looking for a place to start a small business, consider Carmine. There are many business opportunities in Carmine, including low taxes, local incentives and a supportive community. The City of Carmine provides a l½ acre park, which is open to the public. The park is equipped with picnic tables, barbecue pits and playgrounds for children. A pavilion is also located within the park, which is available for rental through the city.
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JW’s Steakhouse
Steaks • Salads •Seafood • Large selection of fine wines
Old things and fresh faces descend on Fayette County every Spring and Fall. Photo by Diane Mueller
Shopper’s Heaven
World’s Largest Antiques Show Takes Over Northern Fayette County Twice a Year
By H.H. HOWZE
The Fayette County Record
It is our mission to serve you fresh, top quality, home-cooked, wholesome food in a comfortable atmosphere.
We proudly serve Certified Angus Beef Steaks
Monday thru Thursday: 11 am to 9 pm Friday & Saturday: 11 am to 10 pm Closed Sundays 122 S. Hauptstrasse Street • Carmine, TX 78932
979-278-4240
jw-steakhouse.com
Mention “Round Top” to a woman anywhere in the United States, and – if she’s heard of it at all – she’ll probably say something like, “Isn’t that where they have that antiques thing?” It’s known colloquially as “Round Top,” and for good reason. It started there in 1967, but long ago outgrew its origins and spread all over the countryside. The shows now encompass six little towns, sixty venues and thousands of vendors, quickly followed by tens of thousands of shoppers. Traditional dates are “the first full weekends of April and October,” but in practice, many venue owners require 10-16 day booth space rental. Setting up, tearing down and moving out take another 10 days. All in all, it’s about a month of paranormal activities in the countryside twice a year. Lines of vehicles on farm-to-market roads are the key indicator – along with miles of white tents and almostcontinuous roadside attractions – that the semiContinued on next page
If you’ve got the time to search through the wares of the thousands of vendors you can find just about anything.
Moving trucks are at a premium locally during the antique markets days between people moving in things to sell and buyers hauling finds home.
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roduce • eat • rocery • Snacks Coffee ar • T • Hand dipped lue ell
Locally Owned by the Wunderlich Family Mark Schneider, General Manager The population of Warrenton, above, swells from a few hundred to a few thousand every April and September for the antiques markets.
‘Just Wandering Around Works Fine’ Continued from previous page annual event is Fayette County. Rooms are booked in all area motels, B&Bs and private homes far in advance. There’s no overall organizing authority, according to Robert Alvarado, who probably has a better grasp of the phenomenon than anyone. He has been publishing his guide to the venues, Show Daily, since 2000. It is the serious shoppers’ Bible, but there’s so much to see, just wandering around also works fine for most people. In the last several years, some female vendors and shoppers have cultivated a characteristic style of dress or “look” which might be described as a combination of “gypsy cowgirl” and “shabby chic.” It consists of tapered jeans or flowing skirts, high western boots and straw cowboy hats. The fashion statement has been popularized by the Junk Gypsies, a College Station mother-and-sisters act, who have a cable TV reality show. The Gypsies’ tongue-in-cheek name for themselves reflects a departure from the rather hoity-toity tone of the original antiques show in Round Top. Although their original venue location is in Warrenton, a new Junk Gypsy “world headquarters” is located near the banks of Cummins Creek near Round Top. Their website says it won’t be ready for this spring, but should be open in time for the fall show. Another change with an international flavor is the new headquarters of “Shabby Chic” fashionista Rachel Ashwell, northeast of Round Top on the way to Shelby. It’s dubbed “The Prairie.” Ashwell and the Junk Gypsies reflect the notion that much of the “antiques” market has become more like an English flea market. Londoner Ashwell makes no bones about developing her aesthetic using “fabu-
lous flea market finds.” The irony is that what is now a mass phenomenon started as a rather exclusive party for wealthy Houstonians. How it grew so big – some say it’s the largest antiques market in the country – is an interesting tale. The original Round Top antiques show was the idea of three Houston matrons way back in 1967. There was one venue – the historic Round Top Rifle Hall. Hazel Ledbetter, Faith Bybee and, most notably, philantropist Ima Hogg, were all involved with the “discovery” of the rich local heritage of European-influenced art, craft and architecture. Their interest in buying, restoring and furnishing 19th-century homes in the area
• alero fuel • akery kolaches, pig in a blankets, cakes, pies • eli ariety of meats cheeses including oar s Head • Clean and spacious restrooms • ver 12 different varieties of beer • riendly staff...and so much more
Continued on Next Page
Hours- Monday to Sunday: 7am-9pm You name it, there’s a vendor here selling it, like this guy who specializes in gas station related items.
11
Sylvan St, Carmine, TX 78932 979 278-3333
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Visitors Guide
Now There Are Thousands But...
First Antiques Show Here Started With 22 Vendors Continued from previous page
– especially Hogg’s work at Winedale and Bybee’s in Round Top – attracted the interest of their circle of friends in Houston, some of whom bought ranches and built
homes in the area. They became known locally as the “mink and manure set.” In 1967, Ledbetter, Bybee and Hogg recruited their antiques dealer friend, Emma Lee Turney, to set up the first Round Top
GATEWAY TO THE ANTIQUE FESTIVAL
www.carminetx.com
show. It was scheduled to coordinate with activites at Winedale. The show was intended to be a rural entertainment for country gentry and others drawn by the restoration efforts. Ralph Willard, one of Turney’s original 22 vendors, described it as “a real sort of society thing.” There were the usual fine American and European antiques, but the hottest items were pieces of handmade 19-century Texas furniture which had suddenly become “country-chic” due to the collecting efforts of Hogg and Bybee. The show became a regular event on the River Oaks social calendar in the late 60s and early 70s. As concerts and other cultural activities flourished at Hogg’s Winedale and Bybee’s Henkel Square (including piano concerts by Hogg’s artistic protege, James
Dick,) the antiques show grew too, becoming a semi-annual – spring and fall – event. Money attracted money and social cachet didn’t hurt. Quite soon, Round Top was not just another dying little agricultural town – it was re-invented, much in the manner of Santa Fe, as a cultural and artistic center. Meanwhile, in the late-1980s, down the road in Warrenton, the growing popularity of the Round Top shows was not going unnoticed. Bernitta McCormick and her neighbor B. J. Renck both opened up venues along SH 237. It was the beginning of the Warrenton shows It was also the beginning of a friendly rivalry, not unlike that of Ima Hogg and Faith Bybee according to Fayetteville artist Pat Johnson, one of the early vendors.
The Junk Gypsies, above, are not only show vendors who sponsor an annual Junk-ORama Prom during the antiques show, but they have featured on a HGTV reality show. They recently moved their business to Round Top from College Station.
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Visitors Guide
Iconic Royers Cafe in downtown Round Top is as flavorful inside as it is interesting outside.
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Photo by Whitney Faske
Round Top: Where Everything Can Be Elevated to an Art Form, Even Relaxation By Kathy Johnston
On any given
weekend, a stop in the quaint central Texas town of Round Top will treat its visitors to a surprising amount of activity. The town, located on State Highway 237 half way between Brenham and La Grange, is reputed to be among the smallest incorporated cities in Texas with a population of 90. This historical treasure is at once charming in its authenticity and a surprisingly exciting place to be, when one experiences it fully. For, what could easily be just a sleepy, don’t blink or you’ll miss it, point in the road has now become a destination and center for arts and diverse fun. So, slow down at the flashing yellow light that marks arrival at the town’s square with its historic courthouse, and turn in to
experience most of the action. Round Top offers virtually something for everyone from beer and wine festivals to Shakespeare, and music - from classical to hoe-down, traditional polkas and classic rock. Well-known for its twice annual (Fall & Spring) antique fairs that span miles and attract thousands, there’s lots more to enjoy in the interim periods. There are five art galleries including one that has featured works by internationally known watercolorists, underscoring the fact that Round Top has truly become an artful destination. Others feature everything from folk art, top quality western art, to craft as art, as well as traditional media. For a one-square mile town, there is also a wide variety of shops tucked on the Square, and around it in historic Henkel Square Market, and Bybee Square. One can locate
everything from antiques, quality gifts, fashionable clothing, lovely jewelry, and home decor, both sophisticated and ranch-like; and there’s not a ‘kitschy’ tee shirt in sight; how refreshing. Round Top’s German heritage is noticeable even today as architectural controls have preserved many of the town’s earliest structures. Not to be missed are such original homes as can be found on the grounds of the Round Top Inn, the historic Bethlemem Lutheran Church, and the Round Top Library’s Rummel House. Many of the structures on Bybee Square and Henkel Square are original to Round Top, or the nearby area. It’s nice to see that so much has not only been preserved, but given new life in such charming ways. If you haven’t arrived hungry, after your walk about, you will be. So don’t travel any further because within two See Round Top, Next Page
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Visitors Guide
Round Top Bills Itself the Artful Escape –And With Good Reason Continued from previous page blocks in any direction you’ll find great food and good variety. Sample any place and it won’t disappoint from Italian style, thin crust pizza at The Stone Cellar, to top notch steaks, pastas and seafood at Round Top’s famous Royers’ Round Top Cafe. Los Patrones on SH 237 at the Square has excellent Mexican fare and serious Margaritas. Down-home country comfort food is always to be found at Scotty’s & Friends - fried green tomatoes, anyone? If you’re eating ‘on the fly’, try a top notch, made-to-order — 20th Annual —
La Bahia
Antique Show & Sale - Over 80 Dealers -
March 30th - April 6th • 8 a.m. • FREE ADMISSION • FREE PARKING • GREAT FOOD Porcelain Restoration at Show
La Bahia Hall
www.labahiaantiques.com 979.289.2684 Located on 290 W/Tx 237 Burton, Texas Next Show Sept. 28th - Oct. 5th
deli sandwich from Round Top Mercantile or grab a piece of pie, savory or sweet, with a latte from Royers’ Pie Haven in Henkel Square Market. Travelers here will no doubt be plain tuckered out after their Round Top experience. So, why go home? Instead, go to www. roundtop.org to choose from any number of charming accommodations, B&B or guest house style, located in Round Top proper or the surrounding area. No hotel chains here, just abundant hospitality, and the perfect flavor of evening respite after a long day (and perhaps, night) of enjoying Round Top’s offerings. Here, the welcome mat is always out, and your accommodation will come with an evening sky where you can virtually pick the stars out of the night. Not to be missed Sites & Events: • Round Top Festival Institute, with acres of gardens & 1200-seat concert hall plays host to both a summer festival, monthly concerts and year-round programs • Henkel Square Market & Bybee Square - quaint shops & galleries, all in historically significant structures • Round Top Family Library, a community treasure and a beautiful garden • Historic Bethlehem Lutheran Church • Five Art Galleries in and around Round Top, including those located in Bybee
The firing of the Civil War-era cannon on the town square sounds the beginning of the July 4th parade every year in Round Top. Photo by Jeff Wick
Square and Henkel Square Market Annual Events: • Spring Beer Festival • Fall Wine Festival • Spring & Fall Antiques Festival (October & April) • Spring Guitar Festival, Summer Concert Series & monthly Concerts and/or events at Round Top Festival Institute • Fall Quilt Festival • Numerous gallery openings and shows • Harvestfest at Henkel Square Market
• Fourth of July Celebration (longest continuously celebrated this side of the Mississippi) • Summer Shakespeare Festival • Christmas town-wide celebration with Santa on the Square • Annual Chili Cook-off sponsored by the Round Top Family Library, the smallest accredited Library in the state of Texas And, much more. For complete and periodic information, the Chambers website is the place to go: www.roundtop.org
BLUE DOOR decor,etc. Custom Lamps,
Pillows & Table Linens
One-of-a-Kind China Baroque Jewelry & Repurposed Furniture Savannah Bee Products Patio Pots & Decor and
So Much More
Treasures for the Home & You
In Henkel Square Market on Round Top’s Square 832/671-7821
Wed 12-4
Thu, Fri, Sat 10-5 Sun 11-4
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Visitors Guide
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We’re Your Everyday Store, Plus A Whole Lot More! Family Owned and Operated since 1984
•24-hour Pay-at-the-Pump Shell Gasoline & Diesel •Authorized STIHL and BOB-CAT (Zero Turn Mowers) dealer •On-site Small Engine Repair •Fresh made sandwiches w/ Boar’s Head Meats & Cheeses •Full Service Hardware & Farm & Ranch Supply
Hours:
Monday to Saturday 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Sunday 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
•Full Grocery and Gourmet Food Selection •Extensive Imported Beer & Wine Selection •Fresh Meat: Beef, Pork & Chicken •ACCO and FORAGE STAR feeds •Party Trays
438 North Washington Street (Highway 237) Round Top, TX Phone (979) 249-3117 and Fax (979) 249-3168 Email: info@roundtopmercantile.com Visit our website; like our facebook
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Join us for our Annual Events: 4th of July Parade, BBQ and Dance Blasmusik – Free Concert (Aug 3rd)
Schützenfest Dance (Sept 22nd ) New Year’s Eve Dance Our historic hall is available to rent for your special event: wedding receptions, reunions, or any celebration you are planning. Visit us at www.roundtoprifle.com for our history,, pictures, and calendar of events. Contact us at info@roundtoprifle.com
Round Top’s precinct courthouse was built in 1924.
Round Top, But Square Center Chartered in 1870, Round Top is located on Cummins Creek in northern Fayette County. The town is said to have received its name from “the house with the round top,” an early stagecoach mileage designation that, at the time, was located about a mile northeast of the town’s present site. The original 1880s courthouse in Round Top burned in 1924 and was rebuilt at the present location on the town square.
Indian Creek Men’s Outpost Artisan Gifts, Home Decor & Accessories Featuring: • Wonderful Gifts • Home Accessories • Jewelry • Floral Arrangements • Candles
Watch th e outdoor games on our TV at th e “Outpo st”.
• Concealed Carry Vests & Bags • Columbia Shirts • Case Knives • Traxxas RC Cars • Rods & Reels
Shop Hours Thursday - Saturday 10AM - 5 PM Wednesday & Sunday Noon - 4 PM
Indian Creek & Men’s Outpost | Henkel Square Market | Round Top, Texas 78954 | 979-249-5455 | 979-249-5456
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Visitors Guide
Festival Hill Going Strong at Forty-Two It began as a dream. What’s it’s become is almost magical. W ho would dare to stand in a cow pasture in the heart of central Tex as, and declare it to be the future site of one of the world’s greatest performance and learning centers? A young concert pianist from H utchinson, K ansas by the name of J ames D ick. O ver the nex t 40 years, he would guide the development of the Round Top Festival I nstitute and its campus, Festival H ill. H ow did this internationally famous Center for P erformance and L earning, situated a half mile from the town square of Round Top Tex as come to be? P erhaps because of the music, the achitecture, the ambience, the gardens, and the beauty of this magical place Something for everyone. The architectural styles and decorative motifs offer something to appeal to every taste.The custom woodwork in the concert hall features musical lyres with L one S tars in their centers. O ther sites to see are the pharmacy garden, stone bridges and wooded areas, the plaz a, the B ig B arn and the G reat S hed, the E dythe B ates O ld Chapel, the M enke H ouse and Clayton H ouses, the D avid W . G uion Room and the O x ehufwud Room. Take a guided tour and see it all. If you dream, dream big. There were two dreams in J ames D ick’s life. To create and grow Festival H ill and to become an internationally famous concert pianist. B oth would come true. J ames D ick began his career by playing the triangle in his kindergarten classroom. E ncouraged by his parents, he eventually, would study piano with D alies Frantz , a noted A merican pianist at the U niversity of Tex as at A ustin. A fter graduating with honors in piano, J ames received two back- toback Fulbright Fellowships, and has received many honors, including the 2009 Tex as M edal of A rts and the D istinguished A lumnus A ward from his alma mater. H e also took top priz es at the Tchaikosky, B usoni and L eventritt I nternational Competitions. B esides his own concert career, J ames D ick had another burning passion. To establish a teaching institute. H e recogniz ed how important his teachers and mentors had been to him, and he wanted to pass this gift along to others. Build it and they will come. S everal locations were considered but, ultimately, Round Top was chosen. M iss I ma H ogg was an early J ames D ick fan, and noted for her knowledge of historic homes, beauty, craftsmanship and gardens.
W ith Richard Royall – a recent P rinceton and U niversity of Tex as L aw S chool graduate – as managing director, J ames started Round Top Festival I nstitute, the sole endeavor of The J ames D ick Foundation for the P erforming A rts. The effort to attract talented faculty, motivated students with professional aspirations, appreciative audiences, and philanthropic support began. The goal was to raise full scholarships for each participating young artist.
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ROUND TOP FESTIVAL INSTITUTE
Bring your lawnchair. I n the early years, piano- only performances were held in rented space, with ten young artists studying and performing with the I nstitute for two weeks of the summer. P ractice areas and lodging for students and faculty was provided in the homes of interested neighbors throughout the nearby country side, including the Round Top home of M iss I ma H ogg. Location, location, location. W hile Round Top is tiny, its location turned out to be the perfect place to build a dream. A place that provides year- round arts and humanities programs, houses museum and library collections, and continues with its centerpiece proj ect, the S ummer M usic Festival, now providing training and orchestral performance opportunity to eighty- five young artists each summer. Listen, look around you and look up. The pattern of a crystal plate, part of the D avid W . G uion Collection given to Festival H ill, prompted the design for the concert hall ceiling. H elping this vision have been many philanthropists. M iss I ma H ogg, the S id Richardson Foundation, and the B ass brothers. The W illiam L ockhart Clayton H ouse at Festival H ill is named for the man who drafted the M arshall P lan and part of an ex tended family of philanthropists who have provided significant, ongoing help to the I nstitute. A many splendored thing. W ater features are sprinkled across the landscape, a counter to the Tex as heat. Flags wave above the green representing the nationalities of the young artists present for the S ummer M usic Festival. B looming plants attract hundreds of butterflies, while the acreage with garden space, water and bridges make a perfect setting for the special symphonic and chamber programs offered year round. Festival H ill truly is a special, magical place where everyone who loves music, art, and beautiful things has an opportunity to come marvel at what it means to be inquisitive. Come visit Festival H ill... a true Tex as Treasure.
CENTER FOR PERFORMANCE & LEARNING CONCERTS CONFERENCES WEDDINGS PHOTO SHOOTS
FORUMS RETREATS TOURS RECEPTIONS
AUGUST-TO-APRIL SERIES Year-Round Events
2013 ROUND TOP MUSIC FESTIVAL June 2 - July 14 (979) 249-3129 festivalhill.org
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ROUND TOP, TX 78954
Y
our Artful Escape begins right here. Discover the art of
delectable food and fine wine; the art of comfort in well appointed accommodations; the art of ‘shop ‘til you drop’ in fabulous boutiques that hold everything from clothing to one-of-a-kind decor & gifts. Perfect the ar t of bootscootin’, just as well as porch sitting. Revel in artful pursuits such as world-class music, and exhibitions in several highly respected galleries. And, Round Top’s Festivals are varied, fun & frequent. So, plan your Artful Escape soon, or right now by visiting...
www.roundtop.org
artful escape
ROUND TOP AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide
Northern Fayette County Dining Guide CARMINE JW’s Steakhouse
122 S Hauptstrasse St, Carmine (979) 278-4240
Scotty & Friends
Third Base
The Stone Cellar
WINCHESTER
109 Bauer Rummel Rd, Village Green, Round Top (979) 249-5512 Bybee Square, Round Top (979) 249-3390
ROUND TOP Los Patrones
101 S Washington, Round Top (979) 249-5696
Royer’s Round Top Cafe
WARRENTON The Oaks Restaurant 5507 S St Hwy. 237, Round Top (979) 249-5909
105 Main St, Round Top (979) 249-3611
4400 S St Hwy 237, Round Top (979) 249-3805
Hajek’s Country Store & More
Hwy. 77 N. at FM 153, La Grange (979) 242-3291
Murphy’s Steakhouse
204 Thomas Street, Winchester (979) 242-3433
Winchester Store
8902 FM 153., Winchester (979) 242-5597
Pizza at the Stone Cellar
on Bybee Square in the Heart of Round Top
Wine Cellar ~ Old World Pub Gourmet Pizzeria Open Thursday through Sunday
Live Music
Every Friday and Saturday
w w w.stonecellar wines.com
979.249.3390
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Winedale and Shakespeare
Visitors Guide
Celebrating Summer Together for 43 Years
Every summer, Shakespeare comes to life in the Theater Barn at Winedale.
Miss Hogg had recently restored and donated to the University the Winedale Historical Center, a 270-acre area of pasture, woodland and historic pioneer buildings in central Texas. Noting the resemblance of an 1880s hay barn to an Elizabethan theater, she suggested that Ayres try having his students perform Shakespeare there. He
Presented by Emma Lee Turney
April 3, 4, 5 & 6 2013
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
ROUND TOP ARTS CENTER 1235 Highway 237 at the edge of Round Top HAILED AS “BEST OF THE BEST”
Enhance your interior and outdoor decor with great style: Chardonnay Farms Garden Bldgs., Art Restoration, “outsider”, steel, note cards, traditional and contemporary art, lighted glass, blue bonnet pottery, Shaker style containers, sport prints, hand crafted silk, fabrics, everlastings, little girl to adult fashions, all styles hand crafted jewelry, classical music, furniture and more. Some shown with antiques & vintage pieces to fit country and big city lifestyles.
Free Parking • Air Conditioned
Food catered by Scotty & Friends, Round Top 281-493-5501 • Fax: 281-293-0320 turneyshow@aol.com www.roundtopfolkartfair.com
Fabulous Jewelry • Chardonnay Farms Garden Bldgs. • Art Restoration
Paintings • Photography Art • Personal Printing • Bronzes • Furniture
Just like Fayette County music ranges from polkas to symphonies, there’s worldclass theater here, too. It’s heart lies in Winedale. That’s the tiny Texas community that Miss Ima Hogg fell in love with and literally bought – then turned it over to The University of Texas. Shakespeare at Winedale began as an English Department course in 1970. It grew out of a meeting between Professor James Ayres (“Doc” to his students) and Miss Hogg, the philanthropist regarded as “the First Lady of Texas.”
agreed, and Shakespeare at Winedale was born. As the program grew in size and reputation, it began to attract students from outside the English Department and eventually beyond the University of Texas. The broad spectrum of students served by the program reflects its emphasis on perfor-
SPRING 2013
mance as a learning method and a means of self-discovery, rather than an end in itself. For more than 40 years, Shakespeare at Winedale has drawn students with different cultural and academic backgrounds from universities around the United States. Their interests have ranged from medicine, law and physics to music, theatre, and English. They’ve met every June at Winedale to begin a journey that takes them well beyond their expectations and themselves. The program has now expanded to include year-round activities, including special programs for younger children such as Camp Shakespeare and an Educational Outreach Program. The Winedale Historical Center is part of the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas. To get there, go to Round Top, then at the blinking light, turn right onto FM 1457. After about 3 miles, turn left onto FM 2714. Drive one mile down the road. When you get to Winedale, there will be a split rail fence on the right. The visitor’s center is on your left and the Meadows Conference Center is just past the visitor’s center.
Library Services: • Computers with Internet Access • WIFI • eBooks • eMovies • Lending Books, Audio Books, CD’s, DVD’s, Video Cassettes • Reference Library and Assistance • Periodicals • TV/VCR/DVD • Photocopying; Fax; Scanner
©Jeanette Bergen with Permission
Smallest accredited Library in Texas! Community Services: Summer Reading Club; Adult Book Club; Art Classes; Music Classes; Yoga; Story Time; Aid Home School Patrons; ESL; Spanish; FYI- and Literary Events; Computer Classes; Chess; Kids Garden Club; Sr. Citizens Activities;Play-scape and Area for Kids Parties; Partnership with other institutions.
206 West Mill • P.O. Box 245 • Round Top, Texas 78954 Phone: 979.249.2700 • Fax: 979.249.2563 info@ilovetoread.org • www.ilovetoread.org
SPRING 2013
Visitors Guide The beautifully restored Haw Creek Church & new Henkel Hall are now available to accommodate stunning events.
Henkel Square Market
979/249-5840
One of Round Top’s historical treasures is now a shopper’s delight. Wed 12-4 • Thu-Sat 10-5 • Sun 11-4
The Apothecary
Copper Shade Tree
Indian Creek
Featuring seasonal decor and gifts, including a large selection of The Round Top Collection 979-249-5200 www.theapothecaryatroundtop.com
An American Fine Craft Gallery featuring decorative and functional crafts handmade by American artisans 979-249-4127 www.coppershadetree.com
Beth Anderson Gallery
Second Market & Company
Nationally recognized local artist capturing the beauty of the Texas landscape in original oils
An eclectic array of gifts, collectibles and treasures including vintage jewelry and antique furniture. 713-854-8413
www.henkelsquareroundtop.com
Artisan gifts, candles, jewelry, accessories, custom florals, home decor & much more 979-249-5455 Fax 979-249-5030 www.icrtt.com
Blue Door Decor
One-of-a-kind lamps, custom linens and decorative pillows, China Baroque jewelry, treasures for the home & you! 832-671-7821
Men’s Outpost
Fabulous gifts clothing & more for the guys! While you shop, he can watch a game on our front porch! 979-249-5455 Fax 979-249-5456 www.icrtt.com
Royers Pie Haven
Famous pies from savory to sweet. Great lattes and more! royerspiehaven.com
artful escape
It Fits!
Fashions for Real Women! Accessories too! Featuring beautiful clothing in Women’s Sizes from 16W-28W 979-249-3570 512-787-8679
Round Top Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor’s Center
979-249-4042 888-368-4783 www.roundtop.org
Round Top, La Grange Bellville & Brenham
Offices in
Count on our Houston connection to expand your marketing opportunities E-CountryProperties-com
Moth and Rust
Vintage furnishings & textiles, adornments, curiosities, artisan bridal jewelry & accessories, stash leather. 979-530-6839
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2013—Celebrating 25 Years of Real Estate Excellence
Henkel Square, Where Shopping and History Meet
Open 7 Days a Week Whether buying or selling, call or stop by and let us show you why we have been in business over 25 years. 979.249.5732 101 Main Street Round Top, TX 78954 RoundTopRealEstate.com
The site that is today Henkel Square Market, has been known as “Henkel Square” since Charles L. And Faith P. Bybee, Houston philanthropists and collectors of American and Texas Pioneer antiques, purchased the 6-acre parcel in the late 1960’s. Since the 1800’s, it was both a residential and commercial area. Numerous pictures exist that show the Square as the commercial/residential center in Round Top life. The Bybee’s saved German immigrant structures from Round Top and the surrounding areas, establishing a Museum Village under the stewardship of their Texas Pioneer Arts Foundation. In 2010, MLD Holdings, LLC of Houston acquired the property and its historic structures. Today, Henkel Square has been revived by its new owners; its buildings saved once again. The entrepreneurial spirit of Texas’ earliest German pioneers seems to have revived as well, with a host of retail and commercial enterprises calling this beautiful part of Round Top home. We invite you to take a walk through this historic village to enjoy the history and the premier shopping experience.
Round Top State Bank TOM BAKER INSURANCE AGENCY
•Traditional Banking Services •Mortgage Lending •Home Equity •ATM at each location •Commercial and Consumer Online Banking
• ROUND TOP 301 N. Washington 979-249-3151 • GIDDINGS 1442 E. Austin 979-542-7872 ROUND TOP STATE BANK INSURANCE AGENCY Your local Germania Agent - Tim Huebner Not a Deposit. Not FDIC Insured. Not Insured by any Federal Governmental Agency. Not Guaranteed by the Bank.
Full Service Agency Located at Round Top State Bank - Tommy Baker III, Agent Not a Deposit. Not FDIC Insured. Not Insured by any Federal Governmental Agency. Not Guaranteed by the Bank.
979-249-2126 • JARRELL (Eagle Bank - a Branch of Round Top State Bank) 12345 N. IH 35 512-746-2531
• LA GRANGE 2010 Hwy. 71 West 979-966-0556 • LEXINGTON 8681 St. Hwy. 77 979-773-2227 ROUND TOP FINANCIAL SERVICES
Full Service Brokerage - Reece Cernoch, Broker and Tom Baker III, Broker
EOE Member FDIC
Your Hometown Bank Since 1912 www.roundtopstatebank.com
Securities and insurance products are not FDIC or NCUA insured, not bank or credit guaranteed, may lose value, not insured by any federal government agency, and not a bank or credit union deposit. Securities and insurance products offered by LPL Financial and its affiliates, member FINRA/SIPC. LPL Financial and Round Top State Financial Services are independent entities.
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Visitors Guide
Festival Hill Has Kid’s Concert
Every June as part of their Summer Institute, Festival Hill invites kids for a special afternoon free concert followed by an instrument “petting zoo.” After the concert of kid-themed music is over, children are invited on stage to learn more about the instruments and are even allowed to try to play them. Check out festivalhill.org for when this year’s kids concert will be. Photo by Jeff Wick
Wine and Snacks Served Thursday Friday, & Saturday after 1:00 pm
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Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only one you.
Shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t your home fit who you are? Austin
Round Top
Shiloh Travis Office 512-444-0777 Cell 979-966-7126
Christopher K. Travis Office 979-249-5961 Cell 979-249-6957
shiloh.travis@truehome.net
christopher.travis@truehome.net Serving homeowners since 1992 with design and construction in Fayette, Austin, Colorado, Lee, Washington, and Bastrop counties Serving quality design profesionals in the Austin environs
New Homes - Green Building - Major Remodeling - Historic Restoration - Recycled Architecture sentientarchitecture.com and truehome.net/DesignServices facebook.com/Sentientarchitecture
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Visitors Guide
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Fayetteville Has Become a Magnet For Artists of All Kinds
Guitar players inside the old fire station at the Pickin’ Park gathering on the Fayetteville square.
Photo by Joan Herring
By PAT JOHNSON
Thirty-five years ago
visual artists, architects and musicians began to call Fayetteville home. Drawn to it beauty, pastoral landscapes, and close proximity to three major art hubs it continues to support the influx of artists. Now Fayetteville is home to the Fayette Area Heritage Museum, an annual Artwalk, a world class chamber music festival, country music events and gallery openings. The recent opening of the Red and White Inn and Gallery has placed Fayetteville even more on the art radar. The old Red and White, built in 1835, has had many businesses in it over the years including the original grocery store. New owners Joan and Jerry Herring have turned the upstairs of the historic two story building into a 4-bed, 4-bathroom inn. On the first floor the Red and White Gallery will show oneperson and group exhibitions. The gallery opened in December 2012 with Edgar von Minden’s Fayetteville Building. The next opening featured Jesus Moroles, internationally recognized sculptor and 2008 recipient of the National Medal of Arts. He exhibited work in granite, steel and paper. Upcoming shows include William Anzalone, Mary Quiros and Pat Johnson. And if you have art you certainly need photography and a frame shop. Joe and Addie Dybala have just opened Dy-
The scenic town square in Fayetteville is often a gathering space for antique shows, musical performances or, like above, for the town’s celebration of the Fayetteville Lions 2012 state baseball championship. Photo by Jeff Wick
bala Photography on the square. They have returned to the family farm to enjoy working and living in Fayetteville. Joe began his career in Rosenberg in 1974 and established his own photography studio in 1981. He has received many state, regional and national awards including the Masters of Photography Degree presented by the Professional Photographers of American for superior photographic excellence. The studio will specialize in portraiture, photo res-
toration and custom framing. Arts for Rural Texas (ARTS), headquartered in Fayetteville, enhances the area’s exposure to the visual and performing arts. Founded in 2003, they have been augmenting school art programs in Fayette, Colorado and Austin counties with Art After School and Fine Art Assemblies. The assemblies bring individual artists and groups, such Continued on Page 88
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Fayetteville H I S T O R I C
Antiques on the Square
Country Place Hotel
Antique Show Thurs, March 28 – Wed, April 3 Old Firehouse & Courthouse Lawn 9 am – 9 pm
Historic Fayetteville Square A National Historic District (979) 966-7771 www.countryplacehotel.com
Arts for Rural Texas
Dybala Photography & Framing
Art for Everyone – Old and Young! Bringing fine arts to our communities (979) 378-2113 www.artsforruraltexas.org
Custom Framing Photo Restorations & Portraiture (979) 702-0729 www.dybalaphotography.com
Bob Green Fishing
Fayetteville Chamber Music Festival
Full and Half Day Trips Available All Gear Provided (281) 460-9200 www.fayettecountybassfishing.com
May 10-19, 2013 Country Place Hotel, On the Square (979) 249-5035 www.fayettevillemusic.org
Cottages on the Square
Fayette Realty, Inc.
Bed, Beverages & Snacks Two Quaint Country Cottages email: dietlisa949@yahoo.com (318) 465-1603
Residential, Farm & Ranch Small Town Friendliness... Big Results (979) 378-4100 www.fayette-realty.com
Country Place Gallery
Honeysuckle Gallery B&B
Featuring Clovis Heimsath, Michael Clann & Other Artists 207 W. Fayette St. michaelclann.com & clovisheimsath.com
One Block off the Historic Square Rock on the Porch, 111 E. Fayette St. (979) 378-3026 jbrownj@cvctx.com
E A T, S L E E P, S H O P & E N J O Y I N FA Y E T T E V I L L E
Fayetteville2013 Two-Page Ad_3_Layout 1 3/11/13 11:51 AM Page 2 SPRING
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FAYETTEVILLE — THE WAY TEXAS USED TO BE!
Jane’s Joy
Oak Thicket & Park Prairie
Garden Shop – Florist Pleaseantries 103 N. Washington (979) 966-9838
RV, Cabins & Tent Camping LCRA Park Reservations (855) 392-7638 www.lcra.org/reserve (979) 249-3504 & (979) 249-3344
Jerry’s General Store Groceries, Produce & Supplies M-F 7-5:30, Sat. 7:30-4:30, Sun. 8-11 128 N. Live Oak St. (979) 378-2111
Sunday – Thursday 8 am – 9:30 pm Friday – Saturday 8 am – 10 pm Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner (979) 378-2719
Joe’s Place
Red & White Inn
Wednesday – Sunday 11 am – Late Evening 120 N. Live Oak (979) 378-9035
4 Individual Rooms With Private Baths On the Historic Square Joan Herring (713) 818-9766 www.blackbirdfarmtexas.com
Orsak’s Cafe
Las Brisas Farm
Rolling 7 Guest Cottage
Elegant, Outdoor Weddings 1108 Ross Prairie Church Rd. (979) 378-5035 www.lasbrisasfarm.org
1377 E. State Hwy. 159 mestein1949@hotmail.com www.rolling7cottage.com (979) 250-3720
Live Oak Guest Cottage
Yesterday’s Past
Charming Guest Cottage on the Square Minutes from Lake Fayette Visit Historical Fayetteville Today! www.liveoakguestcottage.com
Wednesday-Friday 11 am – 5 pm Saturday 11 am – 5:30 pm Antiques & Sundries (979) 378-4273
E A T, S L E E P, S H O P & E N J O Y I N FA Y E T T E V I L L E
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More and More People Discovering the Magic of Fayetteville Continued from Page 85 as the Houston Grand Opera and the Austin Ballet, to perform and teach in local schools. Summer Art Camp is held annually for area school children. It provides art enrichment through five-week summer sessions. They also host art exhibitions, music events and film screenings. ArtWalk is their annual outdoor juried fine art show on the square in Fayetteville held May 5 – May 6, 2013. The two-day event draws people from around the state to view fine arts and crafts for sale, and to enjoy wine and food served on the historic courthouse lawn. Fayetteville is no sleeper in understanding the need for music. Traditional Czech music can still be heard on the square during the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Lickskillet Days with Larry Sodek and the Central Texas Sounds heading the bill the third weekend in October. The Texas Pickin Park sponsoring bluegrass held the second Saturday, April through November on the courthouse lawn attracts pickers from all over the state. The Fayetteville Country Music Show featuring county and gospel performers is held the last Monday of the month in the St. John’s Catholic Church Recreation Hall. Checkout the “Live and Local” section of the Fayette County Record
Fayetteville’s ArtWalk
for dates and times of these events. Each May, the Fayetteville Chamber Music Festival presents concerts of chamber music during which the audience sits near the musicians and experiences the music close-up. World-class musicians from New York, Hungary, Poland, Houston and Austin perform in the Moravian Room at the Country Place Hotel in downtown historic Fayetteville where the natural acoustics bring a perfect warm, intimate sound to the musicians’ violin, clarinet and piano. The repertoire includes classics by Brahms, Mozart, Beethoven, and Czech favorites by Dvorak and Janacek, among others. Friday and Sat-
hibitions held during the National Council on Education for Ceramics Arts Conference in Houston this year. Johnson was commissioned by Fayette County to produce a bust of the Marquis de la Fayette for the County Courthouse.. Her studio is open by appointment only. One of Fayetteville real art treasures is a group of paintings located in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Recovered and restored in the early 1990’s they were discovered to have been painted by Moravian painter, Ignaz Johann Berger, born July 8, 1932 and died June 29, 1901. Ignaz Berger was most well known for his religious paintings. He was commissioned to paint the images in St. John’s in the late 1800’s by the Fayetteville parishioners. The paintings in St. John’s are impressive for their scale and intense detail. Berger’s works shows his early training in Vienna and reflect a highly skilled and educated artist. Even after his death, his work was seen and appreciated as etchings used to illustrate calendars, hymnbooks and religious texts. The church is open during the week so visitors may view the six paintings. For more information on the many arts events in Fayetteville and how to contact the artists check out the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce website.
urday concerts will be held May 10 through the 18th. Many events make the Country Place Hotel a center for the arts. The Country Pace Gallery is located across the garden from the Country Place Hotel and is also the studio for local artists Clovis Heimsath and Mike Clann. Watercolor master Mary Quiros, photographer Kathleen Kramr and other local artists also show their work there. The gallery is open on weekends and whenever Clovis or Mike are painting. Other studios around the square include stained-glass artist Dick Bour who has been producing large scale stained glass projects with the assistance of Fayetteville High School students. Religiously themed work is a Bour Studio specialty. Fine Art photographer, Jerry D. Brown, also calls Fayetteville home. He has exhibited in one man and group shows on the east coast, Paris France, International Fotofest, and venues around Texas. He has works in a number of personal collections and in the permanent collection at the Live Oak Art Center in Columbus, Texas and the Harry Ranson Collection at the University of Texas. Artist Pat Johnson has been working in clay for over 25 years in the old Schuhmacher Bank Building on Live Oak Street. She was recently included in four major ex-
What’s going on in Fayetteville? Last Monday of the Month All Year
Fayetteville Country Music Show www.tfcms.webs.com
Friday-Saturday Second & Third Weekend of May
Fayetteville Chamber Music Festival www.fayettevillemusic.org
Spring & Fall, Week Before Marburger
Antiques on the Square First Sunday of June
Good Old Summertime Bicycle Classic
Second Saturday, April-November
Fayetteville
EAT, SLEEP & ENJOY THE WAY TEXAS USED TO BE! OUR ENTIRE TOWN IS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
FOR AREA INFORMATION: www.FayettevilleTxChamber.org
Texas Pickin’ Park www.texaspickinpark.com
Second Weekend of July
City Wide Garage Sale & Shop Local Days
Third Saturday of April
BP MS 150 Bike Ride http://main.nationalmssociety.org
Saturday-Sunday Third Weekend of October
First Weekend of May
Lickskillet Days Music, BBQ Cook-off, 5K Czech Singers & Dancers
ArtWalk www.artsforruraltexas.org First Saturday of May
Fayetteville Volunteer Fire Department Fundraiser & Dance
Second Saturday of December
Country Christmas & Home Tour
VISIT US!
Historic Square, Great Food, Heritage Museum, Galleries, Shops, Festivals, Live Music, Recreation, Charming B&Bs, Historic Hotel and Inns
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The Red and White building is one of several historic structures on the Fayetteville town square.
A
The Rebirth of a Fayetteville Icon
fter the Court House, Fayetteville’s most recognized structure may well be the iconic Red & White Building, located on the historic town square. One easily associates the Red & White with its bright red paint, an obvious tie-in to the building’s name. But the name came first, long before the building was actually painted red.
A Little History
Once known as The Old Munger Store House, the Red & White Building is believed to be the oldest commercial building still standing in Fayette County. The building was built by Sylvester Munger and his wife Sarah Jane sometime between 1846 and 1850. The reason the date is not exact is because the building was already built by the time it was mentioned in a legal document: The Mungers were married in Fort Bend County in 1846, moved to Fayetteville shortly thereafter and built the building and an additional residence on property belonging to Alexander Thompson, who had received a league of land from the Mexican government. In 1850 P. J. Shaver purchased the property from Mr. Thompson and sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Munger. A document dated March 12, 1850 legalized this transaction and includes the words “...the same lot of ground on which the said Munger has erected a dwelling and store house...” The building was originally built as a general store house, and years later housed a grocery store when it was a part of the Red & White Grocery Store chain, from which it gets its current name. Rudolph Mynar and his wife Lud-
Artist Jesus Moroles talks to vistors during a recent showing at the Red and White Gallery.
mila operated the grocery and lived over the store (she for 42 years). The Red & White has also been an opera house, a Masonic Hall, a hat shop, an ice cream parlor, a doctor’s office and an antique store. In the 1880s it contained the H. Kurtz
Furniture Store. Over the years some of the other owners have lived above the store, and for the past 17 years it has been a private residence. An attached addition on the right side of the Red & See Red and White, Page 91
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St. Mary
St. Mary Catholic Church Catholic Church St. Mary’s Church 815815 St Mary’s Church Rd. Rd Ellinger, Texas Ellinger Sunday MassMass Sunday 8:00 8:00 A.M.A.M. Website: www.stmaryellinger.com Office: 979.378.2277 Office: 979.378.2277 Email: stsjnoma@cvctx.com
Website: www.stma yellin e .com Email: stsjm@stjohnfayetteville.com
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church 207 E. Bell Street Fayetteville, Texas
Masses: Saturday 6:00 P.M. Masses: Sunday 10:00 A.M. Office: 979-378-2277 Website: www.stjohnfayetteville.com Email: stsjm@stjohnfayetteville.com
Fayetteville Bank
Always The First Saturday & Sunday in May May 4th, 10am-5pm & May 5th, 11am-4pm
Over 60 Artists on Historic Square Fine Art, Jewelry, Food,Wine Tasting & Fun for Children
Benefitting Rural Art Programs
Just 75 miles from Houston or Austin
www.artsforruraltexas.org
WESTSIDE GROCERY
Traditional banking that’s here to stay!
Come bank with us and see the difference •Great Rates! •Exceptional Customer Service •Business Accounts •Consumer, Commercial & Real Estate loans •Free Bill pay •Free online banking •Free e-statements •Free checking •Money Market, Savings & CD’s •Full-service Brokerage Services •Full-service Insurance Services •Mobile Banking
Local community bank since 1917
AND MUCH MORE! Fayetteville 123 N Washington Fayetteville, TX 979.378.4261
La Grange 366 W Travis La Grange, TX 979.968.3200
Schulenburg 200 N Kessler Schulenburg, TX 979.743.4576
www.fayettevillebank.com Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC
306 North Rusk Fayetteville, TX 78940 (979) 378-2215 (979) 277-8519 American owned and operated
Come in and get: Your Lottery, Beverages, Fuel, Live Bait, etc….
Open 7 days a week 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
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Red and White is Part Gallery, Part Inn in Fayetteville White Building was the Dawn Theatre from the early 1900s to the 1960s. The large, unairconditioned room has had a life of its own as well, being a dry cleaners, a doctor’s office and a work shop after the theater’s final picture show. In 1980 Leon Hale visited the vacant, dusty theater and met with Joe Mynar, who operated the theater in its closing days. Today, many in Fayetteville remember the Dawn Theater fondly, and will find pleasure in the old building coming back to life.
A Rebirth
In 2012, Joan and Jerry Herring bought the Red & White from Mary and George Sumner, who had been living in the building as their private residence. The Herrings have invited the public back into the building with an art gallery on the first floor and the 4-bed, 4-bath Red & White Inn on the upper floor. The Red & White Gallery takes up both large rooms on the first floor. Jesús
Moroles, internationally acclaimed granite sculptor, opened the year with a show in the new gallery, and William Anzalone is showing oil paintings and pastels in May in one of his rare exhibits outside of Houston. Evan Quiros unveiled a stained glass project, and Pat Johnson and Mary Quiros have major shows on the schedule as well.
The Color
For over 100 years the building currently known as the Red & White was unpainted,
as were many buildings of that era. The siding had faded to a soft gray by the time the owner at the time, Bill Rogers, who also owned the Slick Willie’s Pool Halls in Houston, decided to paint the building a steel gray some 25 years ago. He left the Red & White grocery store sign on the front facade, and eventually, in the 1980s, repainted the building to match the sign... bright red with white trim. It has been the same since.
C O T TA G E 1377 E. St. Hwy. 159 Fayetteville, Texas 78940
979.250.3720
mestein1949@hotmail.com Find us on Facebook! W W W. R O L L I N G 7 C O T T A G E . C O M
One of the inn rooms at the Red and White.
Your Spirit will Fly! Our Mission The mission of Arts for Rural Texas (ARTS) is to heighten the visual and performing arts experience in our rural communities with an emphasis on providing educational opportunities for children.
979-378-2113 114 N. Live Oak St. • Fayetteville, TX 78940
Vi sit our website for upcoming events!
www.artsforruraltexas.org
May 10-19, 2013
Join us for our 7th Annual Festival! Country Place Hotel • Downtown Fayetteville, Texas Tickets & Information at www.fayettevillemusic.org Jorja Fleezanis, Amy Schwartz Moretti Violin Rebecca Albers Viola Julie Albers Cello Phillip Bush & Nanako Urase Piano Vincenzo Lai Flute James Ryon Oboe Ben Kamins Bassoon Karl Kramer Horn Artistic Director Håkan Rosengren, clarinet The Festival is a Texas 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
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The Big Bass Always Seem To Be Biting At Lake Fayette
Retired Houston cop John Sparks runs a guide service on Fayette Lake. Here he holds up one of several nice bass he caught near the lake’s dam.
Fayetteville Store
For fishing, boating or just relaxing, one of Texas’ finest small lakes is found in Fayette County. Lake Fayette is located 10 miles east of La Grange off SH 159. For the past 30 years, bass lovers have flocked to it. You’ll need a state fishing license available at Walmart in La Grange. There is a 14-24 inch slot limit on black bass. Anglers may keep five bass 14 inches or less and one bass 24 inches or over. Lake Fayette was constructed by the LCRA and the City of Austin as a 2,400acre cooling pond for the Fayette Power Project. Warm water discharged into the lake means that it can be fished year round. Park Prairie and Oak Thicket Parks Two parks provide access to Lake Fayette for boating, fishing, camping or family reunions. Park Prairie and Oak Thicket parks are located on the north end of the lake. Daily access fees are $4 for adults; $2 for seniors (65+); children 13 and under are free. Oak Thicket Park At 85 acres, Oak Thicket is the largest and most developed park on the lake.
Twenty RV sites with water, 30-50 amp hookups and a dump station are available. There are also cedar cabins of various sizes, screened shelters and tent sites. Amenities also include a pavillion for large gatherings, a children’s playground and a birdwatching and nature loop. A multi-use trail runs from Oak Thicket Park around the perimeter of the lake to Park Prairie Park. Park Prairie Park Park Prairie is the smaller of the two parks at 14 acres. It features a boat ramp, dock and pier, tent camping and restrooms Potable water is available. Reservations for facilities at both parks can be made by calling the Texas Parks and Wildlife reservation line: (512) 389-8900 (choose option 2) or on short notice (979) 249-3344. Have fun!
Lake Fayette Guides: Shawn Cluff (832) 482-8627 Mark Fransen (713) 542-0466 Bob Green (281) 480-9200 Weldon Kirk (979) 229-3103 Phillip Mattern (903) 724-8291
re… a s r e w fflo lo lo best fl re e the
h w w I kno
On the Square In Fayetteville
979-378-2010 Open 10 to 5 Tues.-Sat.
A little Country Store with a lot of Country Charm
Stop on by for all your Grocery + Beer + Wine + Lotto + Gas + Ice + and Diesel Needs! Our business hours are Monday thru Saturday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
we’re located on the Corner of FM 159 & FM 1291 in Fayetteville. Phone: (979) 378-2237
Garden, Florist & Gift Shop Flowers • Herbs • Vegetable Plants • Nature’s Friends Awesome Flower Arrangements!
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Visitors Guide
Fayetteville: What’s in a Name? Fayetteville had many monikers, names and nicknames in its early years. The settlement was called Wadis Post Office in 1835. In 1837, Jesse H. Cartwright, a sort of early real estate agent, placed an advertisement in the Telegraph and Texas Register selling lots in “Fayetteville,” though in early 1838 the town was referred to as “Alexander’s voting place” by the Commissioner’s Court of Fayette County; Samuel Alexander was Justice of the Peace and Jerome B. Alexander a district clerk. Fayetteville was also known as Lick Skillet (Lickskillet), supposedly for the fact that latecomers to the numerous community festivals who complained that all the food was gone were told to “lick the
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skillet.” Following the establishment of Fayette County in 1837 by the Congress of the Republic of Texas came the official founding of the community of Fayetteville. Suggestion was likely made that the new town be called “Shaverville” after civic leader Philip J. Shaver. But instead it was named Fayetteville in 1844, for Shaver’s birthplace of Fayetteville, North Carolina. In 1847, Shaver systematically surveyed and laid out the streets and blocks. He seems to have bought most of the land still available, donating lots to the Fayetteville Academy, the Union Church and the City Cemetery. Fayetteville was incorporated on March 2, 1882.
The Town Courthouse – $800 Well Spent Built in 1880 at the cost of $800, it is a two-story precinct courthouse in which the old jail still exists on the second floor, complete with leg irons attached. The structure is mostly mortised with few nails used, and opened for its first court on February 17, 1881. A calaboose was added in 1887 at the cost of $11. There was a city attorney’s office here at one time as well as the constable’s office. The bandstand gazebo was built in 1932, and the four-faced town clock erected in 1934 by the Fayetteville women’s “Do Your Duty” club, in advance of the Texas Centennial. The clock still strikes the hour and the half-hour, making Fayetteville the smallest town with a working four-faced town clock. On the Square’s southeast corner, the Picnic Oak tree is over 100 years old! The two granite markers on the west
side of the Square commemorate Fayetteville’s founders (erected in 1936) and the 1937 sewer project.
Fayetteville knows its baseball. The Lions won the 2012 Class 1A high school state baseball title. Photo by Tom Wood
Tuck Your Boots under a Table For Great Food & Refreshments at
They say the three most important words in Real Estate are:
Location Location Location
They also say that if you’re buying or selling Fayette County Real Estate always call:
Joe Babin • Diane Tinsley • Jim King 979.378.4100
212 W. Fayette Street, Fayetteville, TX www.fayette-realty.com
“Small Town Friendliness ... Big Results”
JOE’S PLACE @ BACA’S SALOON
ON THE SQUARE IN FAYETTEVILLE, TX Steakhouse & BBQ • Catering JOE SIMPSON , OWNER
979-378-9035
Open Tuesday - Sunday 11 a.m. until…
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Visitors Guide
Fayette County: How It All Began
SPRING 2013
European Settlement, Indian Trouble, and the Almost Capital of Texas Texas State Historical Commission
P rior to E uropean settlement L ipan A paches and Tonkawa I ndians inhabited parts of what is now Fayette County. M any I ndian artifacts have been found, especially along the Colorado River and near Round Top. A few miles north of the Colorado River, above L ittle P in O ak Creek, a stratified multicomponent campsite was found, with Clovis, P lainview, and other later artifacts. I n the early eighteenth century S panish expl orers passed through the area. L a B ahí a Road, which ran southwest to northeast and crossed the river at the site of present L a G range, was the maj or route for travel during the M exi can period. The area was part of S tephen F. A ustin’s first colony, and formal settlement began in 1822 with the arrival of the A ustin colonists. From 1824 to 1828 ten members of the O ld Three H undred received title to their land grants in the fertile Colorado River valley; W illiam Rabb received four leagues in order to build a mill. A total
of ninety- two M exi can land grants were granted in the area that is now Fayette County. The earliest settlers gathered at W ood’s Fort, M oore’s Fort ( L a G range) , the J ames Ross home, and J esse B urnam’s blockhouse, twelve miles below L a G range. Ferries were used to cross the Colorado River until the first bridge was built at L a G range by private subscription in 1883. O n D ecember 14, 1837, upon petition of the citiz ens, the Congress of the Republic of Texa s established the county of Fayette, named in honor of the M arquis de L afayette. L a G range, the name of the chateau to which L afayette retired, was designated the county seat. The citiz ens organiz ed the county government on J anuary 18, 1838, and the southwestern boundary of the county was ext ended westward on M ay 3, 1838. The county lost territory in the south to L avaca County in 1854 and in the north to L ee County in 1874. The early settlers’ life revolved around their plantations, but problems with I ndians occupied much of their time. S ometimes the settlers felt so
Indian arrowheads and spearpoints, like this one unearthed in Round Top by Franklin Schobel are commonly found in Fayette County. Photo by Jeff Wick
threatened that they moved down to the lower Colorado River area. A t other times they grouped together, sometimes aided by L ipan A pache and Tonkawa I ndians who were friendly to the settlers, to resist marauding bands of Comanches, W acos, and K ichais. Fayette County men were prominent in the Texa s Revolution; more than fifty men
participated in the battle of S an J acinto, including J oel W alter Robinson, one of the captors of A ntonio L ópe z de S anta A nna. The S omervell, M ier, and D awson expe ditions were composed mostly of Fayette County men. I n 1848 the remains of the men killed in the D awson M assacre and in P erote P rison were returned to Fayette County and interred on M onument H ill; in 1933 a granite tomb was dedicated there. The historic M uster O ak, still standing on the square, has been a rallying site since the early settlement. W illiam M enefee, a signer of the Texa s D eclaration of I ndependence, was from Fayette County. A proposal to permanently locate the state capital in Fayette County was approved on A pril 11, 1838, by an overwhelming maj ority of the S econd Congress. L ocal citiz ens arranged for the purchase of the E blin league on the east side of the Colorado River near L a G range, reserving all vacant lands within a nine- mile radius. The measure was vetoed by S am H ouston, however, and the capital was located upriver in what later became A ustin.
Blackbird Farm Lodging
Comfortable cabins, classic Texas country houses and a 4-bed, 4-bath Inn on an historic square — all near Fayetteville and Round Top. Contact Joan at 713-818-9766 or Joan@BlackbirdFarmTexas.com www.BlackbirdFarmTexas.com
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Visitors Guide
Jill Stueber
ST OF F BE
TY •
Owner/Manager
E T T E CO AY UN
Voted Best Homecooking in Fayette County
•
Fun, Friendly Atmosphere Daily Hot Plate Specials
Soups Salads Sandwiches Wraps
Homeade Pies & Casseroles to Order
Grill Open Monday through Friday 5 pm to 8 pm Monday - Friday: 10:30 am - 2 pm 5 - 8 pm Sunday: 11am - 2 pm
Extended Antique Show Hours Open until 9pm Open 5-9 pm on Saturdays March 23 – April 6
979.966.0500 154 S. Jefferson La Grange, TX 78945 www.hanks-express.com hanksexpress@cvctx.com
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