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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!

Schulenburg Family Fitness & Rehab provides Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Industrial Rehab, Sports Therapy and Aquatic Therapy in our heated indoor pool.

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Serving Fayette, Colorado, Lavaca, Gonzales & Austin counties

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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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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.

53

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

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FLATONIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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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

Located in Historic Downtown Flatonia

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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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Located at 114 N La Grange St. Flatonia, TX 78941 Phone (361) 865-3800 Fax (361) 865-3584

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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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SPRING 2013

Visitors Guide

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.

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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

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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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Visitors Guide

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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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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Visitors Guide

The ribbon cutting for the new Village Market and deli in Carmine.

69

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

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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.

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Sylvan St, Carmine, TX 78932 979 278-3333

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SPRING 2013

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

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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.