T RAILHEA D BANDERA BULLETIN
G AT E WAY T O T H E T E X A S H I L L C O U N T R Y
WINTER 2020 WWW.BANDERABULLETIN.COM
T RAILHEA D BANDERA BULLETIN
OUR TEAM Publisher JONATHAN DEELEY Editor DANIEL TUCKER Office Manager & Bookkeeper FRAN FOX Sales & Advertising SHANNON LINCOLN Magazine Designer MATT HELLMAN
Since 1945 The Bandera Bulletin has been reporting events in "The Cowboy Capital of the World.” We cover all of Bandera County including Bandera, Medina, Pipe Creek, Lakehills, Tarpley, Utopia and Vanderpool. We find out what is happening by attending local events, contacting local authorities and most importantly, by listening to you tell us what is going on.
P.O. Box 697 606 Hwy 16 South Bandera, TX 78003 For advertising, call 830-796-3718 www.banderabulletin.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
TABLE OF CONTENTS........................................................ PAGE 2 WELCOME FROM THE PUBLISHER.................................. PAGE 4 WINTER EVENTS CALENDAR............................................. PAGE 6 MUSEUM OF WESTERN ART........................................... PAGE 10 KERRVILLE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL............................... PAGE 10 COWBOY MARDI GRAS................................................... PAGE 12 A CURE FOR WHATEVER ALES YOU................................ PAGE 16 WILD GAME DINNER...................................................... PAGE 16 14 YEARS FOR BOOTS AND BAUBLES............................. PAGE 17 BANDERA NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM ����������������������� PAGE 18 BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING.................................. PAGE 19 DISPATCH FROM FRONTIER TIMES MUSEUM ��������������� PAGE 21 85TH JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW.................................... PAGE 22
Welcome to the Trailhead BY JONATHAN DEELEY Bandera Bulletin Publisher
Tis the season to say tis. As the country wakes from its corona coma, many businesses are restocking, resupplying and re-hiring. Unfortunately, some businesses are having a difficult time finding adequate help. One business in particular, a restaurant owned by my friend Solomon, can’t even attract applicants. Even with a sign in his storefront window, and a want ad placed in a newspaper in San Antonio – with bold type and a black box surrounding the ad for extra exposure and an additional charge, they were not affective. He asked for my help in writing a new help wanted ad, replacing the ineffective ad currently running. So, I poured a glass of wine, removed all distractions (my dog Buck and the television), and wrote the following ad for my friend. Let’s try this again: Waitress/bartender wanted. Experience is a plus, but not necessary as we will teach you everything you need to know (we kind of factor in you buggering something up along the way). 4
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The sorts of people we think will be good for this job: Arts, Architecture and Humanities students. Nurses and teachers are awesome too. The sorts of people we think won’t be a good fit: Political Science students: Nothing personal, we just don’t understand you. Drug addicts: Again, nothing personal. It's just that the benefit of you being able to work seven shifts in a row is pretty much outweighed by the probability that you will one day flip out, grab a knife and become 'Mr. Stabby.' So, if working with us sounds like something you might like to do, come see us. I gave the ad time to work, approximately a week, before I called Solomon for a report on the ad’s effectiveness. My friend told me, while the ad worked in attracting applicants, it needed amending in an effort to provide some screening. So, I wrote a new ad and submitted it for publication. Sober, sane, and non-dramatic waitress needed. Appreciation of skillful sarcasm helpful. ID required. Another week, and another amendment to the ad for clarification.
Waitress wanted. Food experience a must (this is a restaurant). Based on my friend’s feedback, I amended the ad yet again. This version more politically correct and less offensive to the sensitive. Wanted: Part-time wait person who won't quit after two months, who works hard and doesn't think she/he is doing me a favor by working here, who can take a joke and won't cry every day on the floor. Another amendment. Please do not apply if you: Oversleep, have no alarm clock, have no car, have court often, have no babysitter — every other day, experience flat tires every week, have to hold on to cell phone all day, or become an expert at your job with no need to learn or take advice after the first day. Must be able to remember to come back to work after lunch. Should not expect to receive Purple Ribbons or Gold Stars for showing up to work on time. I hope my friend found the perfect waitperson. I’ve stopped taking his calls. In the meantime, I’ve placed my own want ad. Wanted: Someone to grind or chew hay for horse with bad teeth.
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Winter Events Call us at 830-796-3718 to sumbit your events for the next calendar. All events subject to change. Old West Christmas Light Fest Dec. 17 - 25 Enchanted Springs Ranch, 242 State Hwy 46 W. Featuring a full lit-up western town, this festive holiday experience includes a light show, laser tag in the lights, mechanical bull rides, Santa's Holly Jolly Herd of longhorns, live music, food, and straight from the North Pole, Santa Claus himself. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Tickets, which include parking, are priced at $15. Military and first responders and their families are $10. Family 5-pack is $60. Prices do not include sales tax. Masks are required when not eating. Visit christmaslightsfest.com for more information
Happy Trails Animal Parade Dec. 19, 11 a.m. Bandera Natural History Museum, 267 Old Bandera Highway Happy Tails Entertainment will bring its collection of animals, including an alpaca, porcupine and tortoise, for a parade and interactive show for all ages. There will be lots of interaction with animals, chances to see natural behaviors up close and focused discussions and specialized talks. The outside event is free, but inside admission to the museum costs $10 for adults, $6 for children aged 3-12, free for those 3 and under and free for active service men and women.
Fish for Fun Dec. 16, 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. Bandera City Park, 1102 Maple St Bring the family to fish at the Bandera City Park, located at 1102 Maple St. Fishing poles, tackle, beanies, mittens, food and drink will be provided at the free event. No more than five trout or two poles per person. Anyone under 17 years does not need a fishing license.
children 12 and under. Everyone is invited to attend. Masks are required, and there will be a wellness checkpoint at entry. For more information, contact Kelly at 719-266-6550. Singing in the Saddle Dec. 19 Bandera City Park, 1102 Maple Street Join Santa and real modern-day cowboys for a caroling trail ride ‘round Bandera. Bring your guitar and own horse if you wish. Stops may include local nursing homes. Ride leaves promptly at 1 p.m. Arrive early for a head count beginning at noon. Wagons/buggies will be available for non-riders, as space allows. For more information, call 951-7572118.
Christmas Under the Stars Dec. 19, 5 - 8 p.m. Lakehills Civic Center, 11225 PR 37, Lakehills Walk through Bethlehem at this free outdoor event that will also feature a Christmas tree, Santa refreshments, and gifts for Kerville
LOST MAPLES AREA
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Lost Maples State Natural Area
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337 Me
din
a River
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Bandera
Tarpley
1077
470
Uvalde
Hondo Hill Country State Natural Area
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1283
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San Antonio
Lakehills
Medina Lake
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46
1283
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16 River
Leakey
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Bandera History Museum presents Dinosaur George Dec. 23, 1:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. Bandera Natural History Museum, 267 Old Bandera Highway Dinosaur George, a regular speaker at the museum, returns with his artifacts and knowledge on dinosaurs for a hands-on program event. Regular Museum pricing. Members, active military and children aged 3 and under are free. Cowboys on Main Dec. 26 Rattle Snake Ridge, 126 State Hwy 16 S Come see the last gunfights of the year at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. in the back yard of the Bandera Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Gun safety demonstration will be performed at all shows. Christmas Lights displays Throughout December Bandera City Park and the Bandera County courthouse display colorful Christmas displays in celebration of the season. Volunteers of all ages from around the community joined together to set up the displays, which include a giant lit-up Texas flag, Nativity scene and lights of many colors and sizes. Bandera City Park is located at 1102 Maple St. The Bandera County Courthouse is located at 500 Main St. New Year’s Eve Dance Dec. 31, 8 - 12 p.m. Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar, 308 Main St. The oldest continuous-
ly operating honkytonk in Texas will host a dance featuring party favors, blackeyed peas and a champagne toast. Music will be performed by Arkey Blue and the Blue Cowboys. For reservations, call 830-796-8826. Knights of Columbus Fish Fry St Joseph’s Hall, Cedar and 7th, Bandera Starts at five and ends when all is sold. Always on the first Friday of the month. Annual Bandera County Junior Livestock Show Jan. 14 - 16 Mansfield Park, 2886 Highway 16 N. near Bandera The Bandera County Junior Livestock Show provides 4-H and FFA youth opportunities to further their agricultural, leadership and higher education goals. The birth of the Bandera County Junior Livestock show was in 1936 when the Medina Future Farmers of America hosted the first stock show. In 1937, County Agent Howard Schlemmer started a county 4-H organization and used that foundation to jump start the junior show. By 1938, the county show included 23 pens of sheep, several goats, some hogs and chickens. Twenty-three boys took part in the show, exhibiting more than 140 animals. The show alternated its location each year from Bandera to Medina and back again, before moving to its permanent home at Mansfield Park in Bandera. VOL. 2, NO. 4 | WINTER 2020
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Baubles and Boots Jan. 23, 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Antler Oaks Lodge, 3862 Highway 16 N. near Bandera Annual fundraiser benefiting Bandera Independent School District Education Foundation. Admission includes a catered meal with drinks, live action, silent auction and a gun raffle. Tickets are available by calling 830796-5862. Last year’s event raised more than $25,000 to help the foundation fun innovation teaching programs in the Bandera school district. If this year’s in-person event is cancelled due to COVID-19, an online version will take place. Visit www.educationforbandera.org for more information and updates. Wild Game Dinner Jan. 29, 4 - 7 p.m. Grace Lutheran Church, 451 Highway 173 N., Bandera Celebrating its 34th year, this dinner features expertly coked wild game dinner featuring venison prepared many different ways from chili to gumbo to sliders. Other game entrees will be served. This year’s event has been modified to a drive-thru only event due to COVID-19 concerns. Tickets are available by donation. Suggested price per plate is $15 for adults and $5 for children. For more information, call 830-796-3091. The Kerrville Renaissance Festival Jan. 29 - 31 The sights, sounds, food, goods, and activities associated with the Renaissance
will be recreated for the fifth year in Kerrville by Hill Country Festivals. Historical reenactments and demonstrations will be presented as performers dressed as ladies of the court, knights, magicians, jugglers, fortunetellers and other characters of the period roam the ground interacting with visitors. There will live demonstrations by glass blower Mark Haller. Attendees are encouraged to dress in period dress. Online sales have concluded, but tickets may still be purchased at the front gate from 9:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets are priced at $14.95 for adults and $9.95 for children aged 5-12. Children aged four and under are free. Cowboy Mardi Gras Feb. 3 - 6 The 11th St. Cowboy Bar, 307 11th St.. Hosted by the 11th Street Cowboy Bar, this event will present Bandera’s unique blending of Cajun and Cowboy cultures in the 15th annual Cowboy Mardi Gras, which will take over downtown Bandera for four days. The event has become the most popular tourist draw in Bandera as Cajun bands belt out tunes from inside the bar, Cajun food is served, a championship gumbo cookoff is held, costume contests are put on for pets and partiers and a rolling Cowboy Mardi Gras parade is held on Main Street in Bandera. The lineup of bands had not been determined by press time. More information should be available on the bar’s website 11thstreetcowboybar.com
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Kerville Renaissance Festival celebrates safety
MUSEUM OF WESTERN ART EXHIBITS PERMANENT COLLECTION FAVORITES Special to the Trailhead
The Museum of Western Art in Kerrville opened a special exhibition in November that will run until January 30, 2021. “Our Favorites, Selected Works from the Permanent Collection” features art from its permanent collection and from the L.D. “Brink” Brinkman Foundation Collection. All three of the museum’s galleries are filled with original art and bronzes that have been hand selected by museum staff, board members and volunteers. Included in the exhibit are works by notables in the western art world including Oscar E. Berninghaus, Sir William Russell Flint and Cowboy Artist of America members George Phippen and Grant Speed. Knowledgeable docents are on hand to offer insights into each work and artist. Darrell Beauchamp, the museum’s Executive Director, says “The works we are showing are like old friends, and it is exciting for us to display them for the public’s enjoyment. Some pieces have not been on display for years.” Allow a minimum of an hour for the tour. Next up at the museum is the 51st National Exhibition of the Women Artists of 10
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the West (WAOW). The organization consists of 350 professional women artists from across the country, and the juried exhibition, themed “America the Beautiful," will run from February 5-March 19, 2021. The Museum of Western Art is now in its 37th year of providing a testament to our western heritage through its exceptional Western art collection. Lifesize bronze statues dot the expansive grounds and lead into the hacienda-type structure designed by famed Texas architect O'Neil Ford. The museum is also home to a western research library that contains more than 4,000 books and periodicals of the Old West era, an interactive children's gallery, an outdoor pavilion available for rentals, and a museum store. Assorted western artifacts are always on display and include vintage saddles, a chuck wagon, carousel horses and a fine collection of kachina dolls. Admission is charged but is complimentary to members of the military and first responders. The Museum of Western Art is located at 1550 Bandera Highway, Kerrville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday. For additional information, call 830.896.2553 or visit www.museumofwesternart.com.
Kerrville’s fifth annual Renaissance Festival will take place on January 29, 30 and 31 at the River Star Arts and Event Park, located at 4000 Riverside Dr off Highway 27 just outside of town. Entrance to the event is free. Hours of operation are 10 AM until 5 PM. Parking is free. Due to the pandemic, the festival has scaled back this year’s festivities to one weekend for local Renaissance enthusiasts. The celebration of all things Renaissance will offer vendors and food to festival goers. The faire features handmade food items. Texas Turkey Legs as well as other fair food like funnel cakes and fresh-made donuts will be offered. Vendors will offer handmade crafts like steel yard art, blown glass ornaments, hair garlands, henna art, archery accessories and leather clothing. Popular local musicians will provide music designed to encourage people to stop and listen to their haunting tunes. The fair grounds are wheelchair accessible, though good walking shoes are recommended. Costumes are not required but are welcome. People with dogs must have vaccination certificates. For more information about the Kerrville Renaissance Festival go to www.kerrvillerenfest.com.
Spirits of Texas is a family owned and operated store in Bandera Texas. We are a Texas Made, Texas Proud, Go Texan designated store. That means that our products are produced or distributed in the Great State of Texas. We have just about anything you might be looking for, from t-shirts, to hand creams to handcrafted wooden items. We even carry Texas made wine, alcohol and beer! You can find us on Facebook: @Banderaspiritsoftexas and our website is https://www.spiritsoftex.com/
1107 Cypress St. Bandera, TX
(830) 512-3221 info@spiritsoftex.com
Open Monday- Saturday 10AM to 5PM
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GAS GROCERIES CONVENIENCE 303 Main St. • Bandera • 830-328-5080 314 E Main St. • Fredericksburg • 830-307-9229
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andera will take on the many colors and flavors of Mardi Gras and featuring traditions you know and love — like zydeco bands; Cajun food; and plenty of purple, green, and gold beaded necklaces — but with a distinct twist that only the Cowboy Capital of the World can provide. The 16th annual event is a great excuse to don your mask and boots for three days of dining, 12
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wboy
Gras!
Y VISITS THE AL OF THE WORLD dancing, and merriment. Eat to your hearts’ content at the gumbo cookoff, dress your canine to the nines for the dog costume contest, and cheer on floats as they make their way down the parade route. Hosted by the 11th Street Cowboy Bar, where most of the events will take place, Bandera’s biggest event of the year will take over downtown Bandera for four days, Feb. 3 - 6, 2021. VOL. 2, NO. 4 | WINTER 2020
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Photos courtesy Bandera CVB
Attendees to this popular tourist event can expect music, Cajun food, gumbo cookoff, chicken tossing, costume contest, Cajun steak night, arts and crafts presentations, and a giant, festive parade down Main Street, and of course bras hanging from the rafters of the 11th Street Bar. Over the years, the event has become one of the biggest, if not the biggest, event in Bandera, drawing people from all over the country and filling up hotels and RV parks across the county. The lineup of bands for this year’s celebration had not yet been released by the time the Winter Trailhead went to press, but it typically includes some of the leading Cajun bands from Louisiana and Texas bands. More information should be available on the bar’s website, 11thstreetcowboybar.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT US AT
11THSTREETCOWBOYBAR.COM 14
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There is plenty to love about craft beers. From the work that goes into their taste and aroma, to the unbelievable creativity that goes into the names of the beers themselves. Some feature puns, while other reference pop-culture, and some even include peculiar innuendos. Those in need of locally brewed craft beer (with a side of wit), can get their fix at Bandera Ale Project, located at 3540 Texas Highway 16 – just south of downtown Bandera. The brewery, which recently celebrated its third anniversary, offers an eclectic selection of beers that can be enjoyed indoors or within their outdoor beer garden. One of the brewery’s most popular beers, “Your Mother was a Hamster,” recently returned to the brewery. The “Hamster” is brewed to be a bigger IPA (hoppy), and features over seven percent alcohol by volume (abv), and references an insult lobbed at the Crusading knights of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Other menu selections full of pop-culture references and are particular taste (such as a kolsh, lager, brown ale, braggot and stout), include the ‘Shagadelic,’ ‘Fat Guy in a Little Coat’ and the ‘Mr. Bigglesworth.’ For those unfamiliar with the Austin Powers movies, Mr. Bigglesworth was the hairless pet cat of Doctor Evil. Bigglesworth was originally a long-haired white Persian cat like the one constantly held by Ernst Stavro Blofeld of the James Bond franchise.
A personal favorite is ‘I live in a van by the river,’ having a malty profile and relatively fruity yeast to balance the grainy sweetness. It would make Chris Farly proud. Wine is also available by the bottle. The location regularly hosts weekend music events, with food trucks offering grub. Attendees are encouraged to bring
chairs, blankets and other items that will make their experience more comfortable. Karaoke and open mic nights were recently added entertainment at Bandera Ale Project and take place Fridays starting at 6 p.m. For more information, call 830-5224266 or visit banderabrewery.com.
Wild Game Dinner switches to drive-thru
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Grace Lutheran Church will hold its 34th annual Wild Game Dinner on Friday, January 29 from 4-7 p.m. with one major change from previous years: this year’s event will be drive-thru only. This popular culinary fundraiser has served the public fresh and innovative tastings of wild game, including local and exotic food such emu eggs.
Past menus have also included chili, soups, sliders, duck gumbo and other select wild game meats. Desserts and drinks will also be offered. Tickets to the event are available by donation. Suggested price per plate is $15 for adults and $5 for children. Grace Lutheran Church is located at 451 Highway 173 in Bandera. For more information, call 830-796-3091.
The Baubles and Boots gala has become much more than a fundraiser, evolving into the January must-attend blue jeans soiree, where attendees dress in western chic and get ready to bid at the auction, raising money for community students. Bulletin photo
14 YEARS FOR
BOOTS & BAUBLES The annual fundraiser benefiting Bandera Independent School District Education Foundation, Baubles and Boots, will be held as scheduled and in cowboy style. Baubles and Boots is the only fundraiser the Bandera ISD Education Foundation, a separate non-profit 501(c)3, has each year. The Bandera ISD Education Foundation is a volunteer, non-profit corporation, which solicits, manages, and disburses contributions to enrich and enhance educational opportunities for staff and students in Bandera ISD that fall outside the scope of the district’s normal operating budget. This year, the non-profit is honored to have HEB and Bandera Electric Coop (BEC) sponsoring their event. “The event’s growth in the last few years shows how much our community believes in our cause of serving the students of Bandera ISD,” said foundation resident Hooter McMullan. McMullan explained the foundation funds grants that enhance academic growth in the school district, helping students through the teachers in the classrooms.
The Foundation has provided more $400,000 in grants since 2006. The Baubles and Boots gala has become much more than a fundraiser and more of a January must-attend blue jeans soiree, where attendees dress in western chic and get ready to bid at the auction, raising money for community students. Last year the fundraiser, relocated to the Antler Oaks Lodge and RV Resort to accommodate a greater attendance, raised more than $25,000. Tickets are available now from board members, McMullan Insurance and school administration office. Chances for Boots (gift card courtesy of The Cowboy Store) and a Bauble (courtesy of Harry and Dianna Harris) are also available. Tickets are also available by calling 830-7965862. Admission includes a catered meal with drinks, live action, silent auction and a government raffle. If COVID-19 protocols do not allow for the in-person event, an online event will replace it on the same day. Check www.educationforbandera.org for updates.
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TEXASFARMCREDIT.COM/BANDERA VOL. 2, NO. 4 | WINTER 2020
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NEW SPAIN ART FEATURED IN NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM’S NEW ADDITION BY JONATHAN DEELEY Bulletin Publisher
After over a year of construction, the Natural History Museum of Bandera is ready to display their New Spain art collection in the New Spain Art Hall. The New Spain art collection was gifted to the museum by Juan Carlos Infante, and his wife Mary Vargas Infante, founders of the four-year-old museum. The new art wing will display more than 120 pieces that date from the 1600s to the early 1800s, showcasing antiques furniture, Talavera pottery, ivory sculptures (carved in Asia), and paintings. “Having a permanent collection of this caliber and magnitude that people from Bandera and surrounding counties can easily access will help them appreciate the early history of the Americas, when Texas and Mexico were under the rule of Spain,” explained Maggie Schumacher, museum director of operations. “The Infantes love Bandera and they love the community. They really have a desire, too, to give back to the community, which is why they chose Bandera for the Natural History Museum and then again for their art collection.” 18
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Typically produced by guilds or workshops, Spanish Vicergal art is often unsigned and includes paintings, furniture and other artifacts. Identifiable masters include Mexican artists Miguel Cabrera (1695-1768), Crisobal Villalpando (1649-1714), Juan Correa (1695-circa 1716) and Nicolas Enriquez (1704-circa 1790), along with the indigenous Peruvian artist Diego Quispe Tito (1611-1681).
Approximately fifty years ago, at age 35, Juan Infante’s my life took a challenging turn when, in pursuit of professional aspirations, he found myself in Mexico, a country that preserves in its stone walls the essence and spirit of Spain and its Viceregal history. “I was born in Argentina of Spanish and Italian parents,” Infante said. “Which explains my instant fascination with New Spain Viceregal art. I could literally hear my grandparents knocking on my heart.” Infante says his wife, Mary, had inherited some outstanding old Talavera and Asian ivory pieces and a love of the New Spain period. “And the collection was born,” Infante said. “Year after year, we traveled the land of
New Spain in search of pieces that could genuinely expand the variety and size of our collection. The new wing also will include a model of an ocean-going Manila Galleon in its foyer, along with information describing the trade routes between New Spain and the Philippines and how the resulting art was influenced by the trade. New Spain was a Spanish viceroyalty. A viceroyalty is basically a political entity under the Spanish crown, and it was ruled by a viceroy, a stand-in for the king. So, let's go back in time a little bit, and talk about the events of the Spanish Conquest that led to the establishment of this viceroyalty of New Spain. We can begin with Columbus
ABOVE: In 1571, the city of Manila became the capital of the Spanish East Indies, with trade soon beginning via the Manila-Acapulco Galleons. The Manila-Acapulco trade route shipped products such as silks, spices, silver, and gold, and enslaved people to the Americas from Asia.
bumping into the Americas as he's trying to get to what he would have called the Indies, that is to Asia. And decades later, Hernan Cortes, had heard these tales of gold. And so, illegally, left Cuba, arrived on the coast of Veracruz, the Gulf Coast of Mexico, and made his way inland, and as he did that, he encountered numerous people who were angry at the Mashika, or the Aztecs, whose capital city was in Tenochtitlan, what today is Mexico City. So, Cortes, was really off on an adventure to enrich himself and what he found was one of the largest, most impressive cities in the world. In the end, in 1521, the Aztecs were defeated by the Spaniards and we have the beginning of what we call, New Spain. There were trade networks going from New Spain to Asia, particularly through the Philippines and Manila. And so, New Spain was the central point between the Atlantic trade and the Pacific trade. The Bandera Natural History Museum is located at 267 Old San Antonio Rd. It is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Boots and Bandera go together like a cowboy and his pony or a six gun and its fake bullets. Main Street in Bandera has seen at least 150 years of boots walking down the historic pathway. The well-traversed street is also the home of two longtime sources of gently used boots for sale. Bandera General Store, located at 306 Main St., and Western Trail Antiques and Marketplace at 200 Main St. both sell used boots to everyone, from working ranch wranglers to tourists and anyone wanting rough yet dependable footwear. Glen McComb and Marcia Kabat bought the Bandera General Store in 2012 after moving from Austin. “When we bought the store, it came with 70 pairs of used boots,” McComb said. “Later ,I visited a Wimberley store
BOOTS
ARE MADE FOR
WALKING IN THESE PARTS
that sold used boots. I started to buy used boots because they are broken in and comfortable,” McComb added. Over five years, the owners increased their stock of used boots to 500 pairs, for men, women and children.. McComb said used boots are not only broken in and comfortable, but they are
usually half the price of new boots. “Tourists want to buy used boots so they can feel the Cowboy experience,” McComb said. “They sign our guest book, and when you read it, you see they are from all over the world.” Eddie Rowe, Western Trail Antiques and Marketplace Manager, said the location sells a lot of used boots to customers in four categories. “About 25 percent of used boots are sold to tourists who want to wear them to Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar Bar; another 25 percent are working people who want tough footwear; another 25 percent are people who want a pair of nice party boots; and another 25 percent are collectors who want high-end used boots,” Rowe said. Rowe’s marketplace has sold used boots running from $20 to $1,200.
TRIPP’S TIRE & BOBCAT RENTALS (830) 796-3641 41
407 Main • Bandera, Tx x 78003 Stihl Chainsaws, Trimmers, Pole Pruners, Blowers, Power Washers, Hedgers, Tillers, & more / Mini Excavators, Skid Steers, Trenchers, Grapple Forks, Augers, Demo Hammer, & more / Toyo, Michelin, Hankook, Nexen, Continental, Cooper, BF Goodrich, Nitto, Yokohama, & more
VOL. 2, NO. 4 | WINTER 2020
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18 Convenient Locations Bandera Fredericksburg Ingram Kerrville Center Point Comfort
DISPATCH FROM FRONTIER TIMES MUSEUM BY REBECCA NORTON Special to the Bulletin
Though winters in South Texas are more mild than blustery, on occasion Jack Frost can take a nip at our noses and toes. On those days, a good fireplace can make a room cozy and warm. When the Frontier Times Museum first opened in 1933, the only heating source was one of Bandera’s most unique fireplaces. Inlaid with a bounty of fossilized seashells, sea creatures and oyster shells, the fireplace is its own historical display. The shells used in the fireplace date from the time Bandera and the Texas Hill Country were a shallow sea teeming with life that today one would find three hours away on the Texas Gulf Coast. Set in the wall above the mantle is a grinding stone found along the shore of Medina Lake. The large, circular stone is from a lost Mormon colony that once sat on the banks of the Medina River, the site now under the waters of the lake. The fireplace was a gathering place for the museum’s founder, J. Marvin Hunter.
The fireplace at the Frontier Times Museum was a gathering place for the museum’s founder, J. Marvin Hunter. He told stories of the Old West and the Texas frontier, sharing daring tales of outlaws and Indian conflicts to the visitors who flocked to his museum.
It was here that he held court, sitting in a wooden chair with a seat made of rawhide from one of Bandera’s early settlers. He told stories of the Old West and the Texas frontier, sharing daring tales of outlaws and Indian conflicts to the visitors who flocked to his museum. Soot from long ago fires still blackens the opening of Mr. Hunter’s fireplace. A warm place to spend a winter afternoon, the Frontier Times Museum is still a gathering place where stories are shared. Today, the Frontier Times Museum can transport you back into time through stories from our past. Exhibits
show why Bandera is the Cowboy Capital of the World, from the trail drivers who used Bandera as a staging area to drive cattle to northern markets to the homegrown rodeo champions like Toots Mansfield and Ray Wharton. The museum tells the stories of the town’s beginning as a Polish settlement. The original Polish families came to work the mills, making cypress shingles. The museum tells what life was like for the intrepid pioneers who packed all of their belongings in a wagon to settle the frontier, who endured hardships through their tenacity, strength and innovation. There are even love stories. A case holds valentines from past lovers and a marriage license from the 1830s. In a corner of one gallery is the tragic story of love gone bad between two mountain lions, Charlie and Sally. The museum is located at 510 13th Street in Bandera, Texas and is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors 65 and older, $2 for children from 6 to 17 years and free for youngsters 5 or younger. For more information, call 830-796-3864 or visit www.frontiertimesmuseum.org. Among the collection of artifacts is a pair of mountain lions, Charlie and Sally and their tragic love story. Mountain lions are normally scared of humans. Even the sound of talk radio sends them running. Caught up in the moment of passion, Charlie ignored his fraidy cat instincts, causing the pair to perish. As it turns out, love does not conquer all. VOL. 2, NO. 4 | WINTER 2020
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85th Bandera County Junior Livestock Show is just around the corner The 85th Bandera County Junior Livestock Show will be held Jan. 14-16 at Mansfield Park outside Bandera, and officials believe it will be a big success like 2020. Bandera County youth work practically year-round with some projects to prepare them and ensure they are ready for judging at the county show and at livestock sows in other Texas towns and cities. Roughly 150 youths will enter this year’s livestock exhibitions, all showing animals weighing from four to 1,300 pounds. Categories of animals to be shown include steers, heifers, show pigs, sheep and goats, as well as the small projects like turkeys, chickens and rabbits.
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FFA and 4-H are leading youth associations providing an inside look at the hard work and responsibility required to keep farms, ranches and other agricultural operations going. Youth from these organizations take place in the show. Youth also take part in ag mechanics classes at both Bandera and Medina high schools that teach them how to construct a variety of agricultural projects, like truck trailers and duck blinds. Ag mechanics entries also are judge at the livestock show. The birth of the Bandera County Junior Livestock show was in 1936 when the Medina Future Farmers of America hosted the first stock show. In 1937, County Agent
Howard Schlemmer started a county 4-H organization and used that foundation to jump start the junior show. By 1938, the county show included 23 pens of sheep, several goats, some hogs and chickens. Twenty-three boys
took part in the show, exhibiting more than 140 animals. The show alternated its location each year from Bandera to Medina and back again, before moving to its permanent home at Mansfield Park in Bandera.
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