T RAILHEA D 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
SPRING 2021
WWW.BANDERABULLETIN.COM
T RAILHEA D BANDERA BULLETIN
OUR TEAM
THIS ISSUE
Publisher JONATHAN DEELEY
TABLE OF CONTENTS........................................................ PAGE 2
Editor DANIEL TUCKER
BANDERA MUSIC LEGENDS REUNITE............................... PAGE 7
Office Manager & Bookkeeper FRAN FOX Sales & Advertising SHANNON LINCOLN Magazine Designer MATT HELLMAN Contributors CHUCK MCCOLLOUGH TRACY THAYER
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
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SPRING EVENTS CALENDAR............................................. PAGE 4 UPCOMING EVENTS AT LAKEHILLS LEGION �������������������� PAGE 8 PLANT SALE BENEFITS MEDINA....................................... PAGE 8 FATBOYZ: MORE THAN A SANDWICH SHOP ����������������� PAGE 11 TRANQUILITY IS JUST A FEW STEPS AWAY ������������������� PAGE 12 BAUBLES & BOOTS RETURNS TO BANDERA ������������������ PAGE 17 MEDINA RIVER CLEANUP............................................... PAGE 17 UNCOVERING HISTORY.................................................. PAGE 18 SPRING EVENTS AT THE COWBOY CHURCH ������������������ PAGE 20 ADULT-ONLY BIKE EVENT RETURNS............................... PAGE 22
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Spring Events Call us at 830-796-3718 to sumbit your events for the next calendar. All events subject to change. Farmer’s Market Thursdays 8 – 11 a.m. Gringo’s Burritos, 702 Main Street. Friday Night Bingo Fridays, 7 p.m. Pipe Creek Volunteer Fire Department, 1331 FM 1283 Bandera Market Days First Saturdays of the Month, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Bandera County Courthouse Lawn, 500 Main Street Bandera Market Days offers something for everyone. Items for sale from farmers, artists, craftsmen and more are made available at the event. For more events or to reserve a vendor booth, call Genie Strickland at 210-2151995 or email genie@growthresourcetx.com
Horses and Horsepower Open Car Show March 20, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Triple H Equitherapy Center, 791 Backhause Road, Pipe Creek Event benefitting Triple H Equitherapy Center, which provides services to children, and adults and veterans with a wide array of mental and physical disabilities, sponsored by Alamo Area Corvette Club and Freedom. There will be entertainment, food, a silent auction, a 50/50 auction, vendors and live music by the Derringer Band. Meet the horses used for therapy with youngsters and veterans. registration is $30 and late registration is $35. Registration will be limited to the first 200 reg-
Lakehills Last Saturday Market March 27, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Lakehills Civic Center, 11225 PR 37, Lakehills Food, vendors and entertainment featuring music from Rebel Roxie. For more information or to reserve a booth, call 254-979-1073 or visit lakehillsaturdaymarket. com
istrants. Closed toed shoes are required for entry into the event. Pets on leashes are welcome. Registration link and more information can be found at www.alamoareacovetteclub.com. Rain date is March 27. Thunder in the Hill Country March 25 – 28 Mansfield Park, 2886 HWY 16 N A three-day, 21-and-over only event consisting of tent camping, bike show, music and more. $50 gives you access to the rally all weekend. One day passes will be the same price on Saturday. Pre-register and get a free t-shirt. Call 409-655-8800 or visit www.bikerralliesoftexas.com for more information.
Frontier Times Jamboree March 28, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Frontier Times Museum, 510 13th Street Free live music returns to the Frontier Times Museum. Hosted by Lew Peterbaugh. Refreshments will be available. The museum, which originally opened in 1933, will be accessible by normal admission prices.
Kerville LOST MAPLES AREA
187
MEDINA AREA
Lost Maples State Natural Area
2828
Medina
337 Me
din
a River
337
16
173
BANDERA AREA
Bandera
Tarpley
1077
470
Uvalde
Hondo Hill Country State Natural Area
TRAILHEAD MAGAZINE
PIPE CREEK AREA
1283
16
San Antonio
Lakehills
Medina Lake
4
46
1283
MEDINA LAKE AREA
173
462
Pipe Creek
16 River
Leakey
470
187
Boerne
Medina
TARPLEY AREA
ina Med er Riv
Vanderpool
173
16
1283
San Antonio
RRCF Western Gala April 17, 6 – 10 p.m. Mansfield Park, 2886 HWY 16 The Ridin’ the River Cowboy Fellowship Arena Team’s Western Gala returns for its second year. Extensive details about this year’s event were not available by the Trailhead’s deadline, but last year’s event featured a Mexican-style supper, silent auction, door prizes, raffles, music and a gun raffle. For more information, call Troy at 830-446-9248 or Ron at 970-371-9943. RRCF Buck Wild Rodeo April 24, 7 – 10 p.m Mansfield Park, 2886 HWY 16 The Ridin’ the River Cowboy Fellowship’s Buck Wild Rodeo returns for its tenth year. Attendees can expect bull riding, mini bull riding and mutton bustin’ for the young ones 60 lbs. and under. For more information, call Troy at 830-446-9248 or Ron at 970-371-9943. Baubles and Boots May 15, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. After a COVID-19-induced delay, the Baubles and Boots gala, which raises funds for the Bandera ISD Education Foundation, is ready to proceed. A $45 dollar entry fee gets access to food, beverages and auctions. This is the 15th year of the event, which was postponed from January due to COVID-19 safety concerns. Additional updates regarding the event will be posted at www.educationforbandera.org.
Frontier Times Jamboree May 23, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Frontier Times Museum, 510 13th Street Free live music returns to the Frontier Times Museum. Hosted by Lew Peterbaugh. Refreshments will be available. The museum, which originally opened in 1933, will be accessible by normal admission prices. ProRodeo Memorial Day Weekend Rodeo May 28 – 30, 8 p.m. Mansfield Park, 2886 HWY 16 Witness top PRCA cowboys and cowgirls compete during Memorial Day weekend at Mansfield park. Tickets will be made available at the gate and online at www.banderaprorodeo.org. Tickets are priced at $12 for adults and $6 for ages six to 12. Ages six and under are free. For more information, email info@ banderaprorodeo.org. Riding on Faith Rodeo Summer Series Fridays from June 4 – August 6, 8 p.m. The IMBA-sanctioned rodeo returns, featuring open bullriding, mini bullriding, ti down roping, brea away roping, and many more events. Book open on Wednesday before the rodeo at 10 a.m. and close at 7:15 p.m. Spectators my bring their own lawn chairs or sit in the bleachers. Ice chests are allowed but no glass containers. Ticket price is $10 per person for anyone age seven and over. For more information, call 830-777-7129 or visit ridingonfaithrodeo@gmail.com.
830-796-4496
Monday - Saturday: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday: Noon to 2 a.m.
HAPPY HOUR Thursday – Friday 3p.m. – 7p.m.
THURSDAY Karaoke at 7p.m. FRIDAY Live Music at 9p.m. SATURDAY Live Music from 3p.m.-5p.m SUNDAY FUNDAY Open Mic
402 MAIN ST. VOL. 3, NO. 1 | SPRING 2021
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WEAgriculture FINANCE “The Majesty of Brahms”
Thursday, April 29
AGRICULTURE: Farm & Ranch Loans Cattle Operations Raw Land
6:00 and 8:30
Tickets Start at Just $25
The New Buddy Holly Band
MORTGAGE: Home Loans Rural Real Estate Recreational Property
“Ten Years Together”
Saturday, May 8, 7:30 Reserved $20 to $30
Promoting his new album “Rebels and Angels”
INSURANCE: Crop Insurance PRF Insurance Life Insurance
Terry McBride An Intimate Show
Sunday, May 9, 3:00 Reserved $20 to $30
Texas Swing Legends
BOB WILLS’ TEXAS PLAYBOYS
Under the Direction of Jason Roberts
Sunday, May 23, 3:00 Reserved $10 to $35
Contact:
David Derry VP Branch Manager 830-328-6448 DDerry@TexasFCS.com
TEXASFARMCREDIT.COM/BANDERA 6
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EQUAL HOUSING
LENDER
BANDERA MUSIC
LEGENDS REUNITE Special to the Trailhead
Cowboy Capital music legends will perform at The Bandera Music Hall of Fame Reunion Sunday, April 11, at the 11th Street Cowboy Bar. The free event will run from 1-5 p.m. at the bar located at 307 11th Street in Bandera. According to event officials, there will be music from old and new members of the hall of fame. An official lineup was not available by the Trailhead’s press deadline. The event will also include food, a silent auction and raffle. The event was originally scheduled for last April, but was postponed due to COVID-19, according to Bandera Music Hall of Fame President Karen Lucia. The Bandera Music Hall of Fame is a Nonprofit Organization to preserve, honor and record the music, musicians and venues who have contributed to the rich musical landscape of Bandera County. It is located inside the Bandera County Public Library at 515 Main Street in Bandera across from the courthouse.
For more information, visit the 11th Street Cowboy Bar Facebook page.
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VOL. 3, NO. 1 | SPRING 2021
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UPCOMING EVENTS AT
LAKEHILLS
LEGION Special to the Trailhead
American Legion Post 410 in Lakehills holds many numerous events during the year, and they have a very exciting spring lineup. The 21st District Convention is scheduled for March 20-22. The legion will hold a car show and chili cookoff on April 4. Gamblers will be excited to hear that the Armed Forces Poker Tournament has been scheduled for May 16. Poppy sales have been scheduled for May 23, and a Memorial Day Service has been scheduled for May 25. The legion also offers dinners every Tuesday night for $8. American Legion Post 410, located at 147 Legion Drive in Lakehills, is an organization of veterans dedicated to veterans, servicing God, country and family and is active in the community including participating in local flag ceremonies, funeral services, and parades. It is always looking for more veterans who want to get involved and very active Sons of the Legion and Auxiliary groups. Legion members’ work goes beyond the legion itself, with members volunteering at Meals on Wheels, The Medi-
Veteran James Reynolds of American Legion Post 410 in Lakehills installs the sign that officially changed the name of 26th street to Legion Drive in honor of the legion’s 100th anniversary of the legion.
Courtesy photo
na Lake Volunteer Fire Dept, The Food Bank, The Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Medina Lake Betterment Society and many of the local churches.
More information about the legion and its events can be found at www. alpost410.com or by calling 830-6121034.
Plant sale benefits Medina
A group gathers at Medina Methodist Church last on D-Day 2020 to dedicate a Monterrey Oak tree that was planted in honor of Sir Norman Riggsby, longtime Medina resident and D-Day veteran. The dedication ceremony and tree planting was held by the Rose Garden Club of Medina. Bulletin photo by Daniel Tucker
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The Rose Garden Club of Medina will hold its annual Plant Sale and Raffle Saturday, April 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Medina Community Center. Proceeds for the sale will go toward scholarships for Medina High School graduates, the Medina Garden patch and local beautification projects. Last year’s sale featured native plants, vegetables and shrubs and a Texas AgriLife Landscape book priced at $1. The Rose Garden Club of Medina
holds events monthly throughout the year at the Medina Library. Past events included a talk on butterflies and another on going green. In 2020, the club held a dedication ceremony at Medina Methodist Church for a Monterrey Oak tree that was planted in honor of Sir Norman Riggsby, longtime Medina resident and D-Day veteran whose career included serving at the Nuremberg Trials and escorting General George S. Patton through Paris.
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FATBOYZ
MORE THAN JUST A
SANDWICH SHOP
FatBoyz is a sandwich shop located off of Highway 16. Their menu features an eclectic blend of tasty and creative sandwiches to meet the various tastes of the local community. Over the years, FatBoyz has developed an incredibly favorable reputation among the locals due to the high quality and overall tastiness of the sandwiches, but there is also more to the story. Denny Jenkins began working at FatBoyz shortly after it opened in February of 2008. She worked in various positions and was a manager for six years. Many sandwich patrons around town viewed Denny as the face of FatBoyz. When fate stepped in and the previous owner decided to sell the shop in May 2017, Denny and her husband, Cliff Jenkins, decided to grab life by the horns and purchase the business. The couple has worked as a team ever since. Customers coming in over their lunch break would oftentimes see Denny and Cliff working together in the kitchen. Over the years, their daughters Cheyanne and Cassie, grew up with FatBoyz being a family-owned and operated business. As a result, the FatBoyz sandwich shop is not just known for their delicious menu, but for their shining owners. “We treat our customers like family, they are not just a name and number.” says Denny. The outstanding customer service is very apparent any time you enter FatBoyz. Usu-
Fatboyz Sandwich shop owners Cliff and Denny Diaz pose for a photo after another successful day of businesses.
Bulletin photos by Shannon Lincoln
ally, Denny is quick to greet customers by name and a follow-up question from a previous conversation. Customers of FatBoyz sometimes have a difficult time picking their favorite sandwich. Both the Philly and the spicier Willie Cheesesteak are crowd pleasers, along with The Rueben and The California, which features turkey, bacon, cheddar cheese, avocado and mayo on sourdough bread. Since word travels quickly in a small town, the talk on the street is the delicious secret menu. The Betty Boop, the Ba-ha and the Ja-
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lapeno Cream Burger are just a few of the top secret concoctions that Banderans frequently ask for and enjoy. “We provide quality, good food FAST.” says Denny. FatBoyz is not just a sandwich shop, it’s a family busting their tails to make a superior and tasty product, which is clearly evidenced by the frequent returning customers and the smiles on their faces. FatBoyz is located at 610 Hwy 16 S in Bandera, and they are open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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VOL. 3, NO. 1 | SPRING 2021
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Tranquility is just a Few Steps Away Buried in Bandera County is one of the town’s most beautiful secrets BY SHANNON LINCOLN Special to the Bulletin
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One of the town’s most beautiful secrets is the Tranquility Park located at the Bandera County Helping Hand Village of Hope. Within the Tranquility Park there is a walking and jogging track, a koi pond, a waterfall, an outdoor kitchen, a bandstand and breathtaking landscaping. The Christian-based nonprofit Bandera County Helping Hand has been assisting members of the community since 1984 with an intent to give those facing a crisis the ability to overcome their challenges with both dignity and grace so that they may become self-sufficient and maintain healthy self-worth.
When their original office near Mansfield Park flooded in 2002, Helping Hand raised enough money to purchase the 3.44 acres located at 1116 12th St. With help from generous donors and grant funding, they succeeded in recreating the crisis prevention center to include additional amenities such as an event center, a thrift store, an organic garden and the Tranquility Park. The Tranquility Park was built and designed with the sole purpose of honoring God and helping struggling individuals balance their mind, body and soul. It was built almost six years ago for the people of Bandera to enjoy free of cost.
“I wanted the park to scream God, so his message could not be forgotten: God is love.”
VOL. 3, NO. 1 | SPRING 2021
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The low impact walking and jogging track is approximately 700 feet, meaning ten trips around the track would total a mile. The track encompasses the koi pond, the pavilion and the bandstand. There are benches where one can sit and reflect on nature’s beauty and bask in the gift of a new day. Jesse Parks, Executive Director of Helping Hands elaborated that when the Tranquility Park was designed, she wanted to “give back to God what he had given to people.” The trails and cobblestone walkways within the Tranquility Park quote various scriptures that describe God’s unrelenting love. “I wanted the park to scream God, so his message could not be forgotten: God is love,” Parks said. The Tranquility Park and the corresponding track are free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the facility and shop in the thrift store which funds the Helping Hand cause.
For more information, go visit their website at
www.tranquility parkeventcenter.com and follow them on Facebook!
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The Tranquility Park was built and designed with the sole purpose of honoring God and helping any struggling individuals balance their mind, body and soul. VOL. 3, NO. 1 | SPRING 2021
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Medina River
Cleanup
BAUBLES & BOOTS
RETURNS TO BANDERA Special to the Trailhead
After a COVID-19-induced delay, the Baubles and Boots gala, which raises funds for the Bandera ISD Education Foundation, is ready to proceed on May 15 at Antler Oaks Lodge from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The $45 dollar entry ticket includes food and drink and access to silent and live auctions. The 15th annual Baubles and Boots event originally scheduled for January 23 had been postponed until May, according to Bandera ISD Education Foundation President Hooter McMullan. “Antler Oaks Ranch and RV Resort was great, working with us by offering Saturday, May 15, 2021, for the event,” McMullan said. McMullan added that the foundation thinks the milder spring weather will draw more folks to the event that
raises money for the Bandera Independent School District. Additional updates regarding the event will be posted at www.educationforbandera.org Last year, the fundraiser was moved to the Antler Oaks Lodge and RV Resort, north of Bandera, so that the event could accommodate up to 250 attendees. That event raised more than $25,000 from sources like a live auction and silent auction. McMullan said Baubles and Boots’ growth in the last few years “shows how much our community believes in our cause of serving the students of Bandera ISD.” She said foundation funds grants enhance academic growth in the district and go straight back to the students through the teachers in the classrooms. The Foundation has provided more $400,000 in grants since 2006.
The annual Medina River Cleanup regularly scheduled for the first weekend in May is on hold for the present due to health concerns from the pandemic, but the Medina River Protection fund is encouraging small groups to voluntarily do cleanup along the river. Acting upon expert advice from the Texas River Protection Board, the event has not yet been approved by the Medina River Protection Fund. The annual event usually draws over 200 participants for the day and collects two tons of manmade debris. Another concern is that low water flow from the river will make it hard to reach all 12 sections (50 miles) of the river for cleanup by canoe. Currently, the river is running just over 10 cubic feet per second. The river ideally should be flowing at 20 to 25 cubic feet per second to facilitate canoe access. The Fund is encouraging small groups to voluntarily do clean up along the river. For information on how to access the river, go to www.medinariver.net. On the left side of the page, go to "Section Heads" and "Medina River Maps" for more information on access points. Follow the progress of the cleanup event at the website or sign up for the email list at sloanmedina@cs.com. For more information about the cleanup, contact Clean Up Coordinator Robert Brischetto at rrbrischetto@gmail.com. The Medina River Protection Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity. The Fund was set up by the Lake Medina Conservation Society (LAMCOS) and friends of the river to provide ongoing support for the annual river cleanup, which is necessary to conserve this valuable natural resource. VOL. 3, NO. 1 | SPRING 2021
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UNCOVERING HISTORY African Americans in Bandera County
BY REBECCA HUFFSTUTLER NORTON Special to the Bulletin
“The footprints of Blacks in the sands of Bandera County’s history are not easily found ... but they can be seen with diligent searching.” These words were eloquently written by Carolyn Edwards, then Chairperson of the Bandera County Historical Commission, in 1991 in a Bandera Bulletin article for Black History month. The stories of early Black residents were often forgotten by historians who focused more on Bandera’s European immigrants and white settlers. A few exceptions existed. In her book on early schools of Bandera County, Gladys Graves included the county’s two “colored” schools in her comprehensive survey. J. Marvin Hunter refers to a few early Black residents in his book, “100 Years in Bandera.” Among his stories is one of Dave (no last name given), a freedman who shot his former owner, Joseph Poor, sometime after the Civil War. Poor survived, and Dave was tried in a Bandera court for attempted murder, where he was acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence. It was not until the 1990s that local historians began to pay more attention to the county’s Black history. In addition to the Bulletin’s Black History articles, local historian Peggy Tobin wrote of the county’s Black cemeteries. Tobin observed in early county histories, Blacks were only mentioned in passing and were referred to as servants, the consensus being Bandera was not a slave-holding county. The 1860 United States Census proves this to be untrue, showing five registered slaveholders in the county. One of the county’s first ranching operations was listed as the largest slaveholder with six slaves, two of whom were identified as mulattos on the census. The other slaveholders owned one or two slaves, most likely for help in the home and on smaller farms. After the Civil War, the population of Black residents continued to increase in the county. In the late 1800s, Bandera County became a significant cotton growing area. Jobs became available in the cotton trade, in local mercantiles and on area ranches and farms. A number of black men, who had worked as teamsters during the Civil War hauling cotton to Mexico, continued to work as teamsters after the war. In 1910, a black teamster named Hamilton and his oxen team was able to deliver much needed supplies to Bandera after six weeks of heavy rains made the roads impassable for most wagons. There was also Jeff Cooksey, who worked in the general store of Lincoln and Hart. Dr. Lincoln was known for creating a very powerful screw worm medicine. Cooksey mixed the ingredients for Dr. Lincoln’s “Hell on Screw Worm” special potion. A sizable Black community arose during this time. The 1880 census listed 29 Black citizens and the 1900 census showed the highest concentration of black residents with 97 citizens listed. Because of segregation, black residents tended to settle together in an area called Newtonville, located off of Schmidtke Road. Bandera County Historical Commission Vice18
TRAILHEAD MAGAZINE
Chair, Ray Carter, has done extensive research on the settlement that was named for one of the residents, Isaac Newton. The residents established the county’s first Black cemetery in the area and the community was anchored by the Newtonville school, which was organized on July 27, 1882. On September 1, 1889, another “colored” school was established on the west side of town, where many Black families were buying land from Charles Montague and building new homes. By 1910, the county’s Black population was starting to decrease. By 1930, only eight residents are listed on the census rolls.
The historic Bertha Tryon/Hendrick Arnold Cemetery sits at the corner of Houston Street and Old Medina Highway. Plans are underway by the historical commission to improve the grounds and complete a radar survey to definitively locate all graves. Photo Courtesy Rebecca Norton
By this time, the cotton industry had been destroyed by a boll weevil infestation and the economic downturn of the Great Depression had begun. Families left the county to search for work in larger towns. The Newtonville school was abandoned as well as the cemetery. In 1991, Carolyn Edwards wrote that only a few foundation stones and some square nails marked the location of the school. At that time, Louis Postert recalled the school building as not being very large, possibly measuring 16 by 20 feet. A second cemetery was officially established in 1922 when
Mrs. Charles Montague deeded a one-acre lot on the Old Medina Highway as the “Colored Burial Ground in which only Negroes are to be buried.” Burials were being done on the lot before the deed officially established the cemetery. The first burial was John Benson who died in 1890 as indicated by his gravestone that was still in the cemetery in 1991. Since then, the marker has disappeared, as has all of the other early markers. Over the years, the cemetery had become overgrown with no one to care for it. Burial records disappeared or may not have been kept accurately. Today, there is some confusion of how many graves are there and who is buried there. In 1993, the last burial took place when the family of Bertha Tryon requested permission to bury her there. Mrs. Tryon was a long-time resident of Bandera and, with her husband, Buddy, worked for John and Nell Steen at their River Ranch. Buddy Tryon and the family helped clear the property so Mrs.
A poster for Bill Pickett, one of the inductees in the Frontier Times Museum’s Texas Heroes Hall of Honor. The museum is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Photos Courtesy Rebecca Norton
Tryon could be buried there. Today, her gravestone is the only one in the cemetery. It was at this time Carolyn Edwards, as Chair of the historical commission, formally submitted a request to the Commissioners’ Court to change the name of the cemetery from the Bandera County Colored Cemetery to the Bertha Tryon/Hendrick Arnold Cemetery. Arnold was a free black man who settled in San Antonio in 1835. He served as a scout and spy to the Texian army during the Texas Revolution and earned a citation for his bravery in action and service. After the war, he was compensated for his service with land grants. Part of the land he was given was located in what is now Bandera County. Arnold never lived in the county; instead he settled on land granted to him in
south Bexar County along the Medina River, and this is where he is buried. The historical commission requested the name change as a way of honoring Arnold’s service to the state and added Bertha Tryon’s name as a way to thank the family for helping with the maintenance of the cemetery. Between 2013 and 2016, under the direction of Chairperson, Roy Dugosh, the historical commission once again cleaned the cemetery and commission member, Cecil LeStourgeon, built limestone pillars at the entrance. An iron sign with the name of the cemetery was installed along with a Texas Historical Marker. A dedication service was held to honor those that are buried there. Today, the county maintains the cemetery. Plans are underway by the historical commission to make further improvements to the grounds and to complete a ground-penetrating radar survey to definitively locate all the graves. To ensure the county’s African American history is not forgotten, the historical commission is hoping to partner with other organizations in Texas to do further research for a Texas Historical Marker to be placed near Newtonville to remember a once thriving Black settlement. Rebecca Norton is the Executive Director of the Frontier Times Museum. VOL. 3, NO. 1 | SPRING 2021
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SPRING EVENTS AT
THE COWBOY CHURCH Special to the Trailhead
“We are a come as you are type church. No suits, ties and fancy clothes required. Just people desiring to worship the Lord in a low barrier place that is fully committed to follow God’s Word the Bible,” reads the Ridin’ the River Cowboy Fellowship website. That spirit continues in the many spring events that will be hosted by the church’s Riding the River Cowboy Fellowship Arena Ministry. The Ridin' the River Cowboy Fellowship Arena Ministry and Ridin' the River Cowboy Fellowship will hold their second Annual Western Gala on Saturday, April 17, at Mansfield Park 4-H Ag Barn in Bandera. The free event runs from 6-11 pm. One week later, the Fellowship will host its 10th Annual Buck Wild Rodeo at Mansfield Park with more details soon.
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TRAILHEAD MAGAZINE
A young boy rope a goat at the Ridin' The River Fellowship New Year's Day Goat Roping, one of the mayn events that the church will hold this year. Spring events include a western gala and a rodeo.
Bulletin photos by Chuck McCollough
The free Saturday event starts at 7 p.m. The Cowboy Church will also host its host its 5th Annual Roughstock School at Mansfield Park on May 14 at 16 pm and on May 16 at 3 pm in Mansfield. For more information about the church and upcoming events, call Troy at 830-446-9248 or Ron at 970-371-9943. The church, now located at 5767 Hwy 173, was founded in August 2010 with six people and has since grown to an average crowd of over 300 weekly. Service times at the church are Sunday bible study at 9 a.m. followed by min service at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday night bible study at 6:30 p.m.
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Motorcycles, motorcycle lovers and vendors fill up the area in front of the showbarn at Mansfield Park during a previous Thunder in the Hill Country event. Bulletin photo by Bill Pack
Adult-only bike event returns The Thunder in the Hill Country motorcycle rally put on by Biker Rallies of Texas will return to Mansfield Park March 25-28. The 21-and-up only event will include a bike show, burn out contest, poker run, biker games, wet t-shirt contest, tattoo contest, vendors, music and other activities. Tent camping and self-contained RV camping will be available at the park and RV spots with electric and water hook-
ups also will be offered. Preregistration, priced at $50 per person, provides entry and a free t-shirt commemorating the event. Mansfield Park is at 2886 Highway 16 North. Registration is possible online at bikerralliesoftexas.com or by calling 409-655-8800. Thunder in the Hill Country is hosted by Biker Rallies of Texas as part of Texas Hill Country Bike Week.
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