Bleiberville

The Austin County Jail Museum (located on 36 South Bell) was built in 1896 and was a functioning jail until 1982. A St. Louis firm designed the three-story structure and gallows. Bricks for the building came from the local John Colleton’s kiln. The jailer’s living quarters and Sheriff’s office was located on the ground floor with cells on the upper floors.

The gallows were used only once on March 14,1901. Gus Davis was hung for the murder of Herman Schluenz. In 1976 the building received the Historical Commission’s Recorded Texas Historic Landmark designation and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Open Saturdays 11am to 3pm or by appointment.

Bellville Masonic Lodge (located at 15 North Masonic Street) was chartered in June 1858. The lower floor of the two-story building functioned as a school and the second story for lodge activities. Various churches used the building on a specified Sunday for monthly services.

The building was torn down in 1883 to make way for the present 1886 structure. In 1986 the site obtained a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark designation and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today the City of Bellville offers opportunities for shopping in turn-of-the-century restored structures around the Town Square serving as boutiques, specialty shops and eateries. First Saturday Market Days are held February through May and September thru December around the entire Historic Downtown Square and along Bell Street.Annual festivals and events throughout the year provide ample leisure opportunities to spend quality time with friends and family. There are several B&B’s which makes Bellville an excellent Bellville is the home of the “Giant Bust” of Stephen F. Austin, the Father of Texas which was dedicated on May 3, 2013. It is located at the intersection of Hwy 36 and Hwy 159.

Just north of the city limits off Old 36 Rd lies a true wonder, Newman’s Castle. The castle is built of cinder blocks with masonry stucco, has 3,400 square feet of living space and encloses a quarter-acre inside its perimeter wall. In addition to a moat and a drawbridge with an accompanying porticullis, the castle features five round corner turrets, a bell tower, a chapel, a great room for celebrations, a courtyard complete with a pell for swordsmanship training, a dungeon and a central keep, accessed by a spiral staircase, that provides a dramatic view of the surrounding land. Tours are available six days a week starting at 10:30am from Newman’s Bakery. For tour reservations call (979) 865-9804.

Bellville Meat Market is also a local tourist tradition. The meat market was started in 1981 by Daniel and Diann Poffenberger. Through the years they have grown to reach not only the local community but to those far beyond. The current store was opened In August of 2000. In 2001, Daniel and Diann retired and turned the company over to their sons Jerrod and Marcus. For information contact (979) 865-5972.

The City of Bellville is an aggressive business community that has seen successful growth and prosperity by working closely with their existing businesses, fostering healthy expansion and at the same time working with new businesses looking to relocate. Bellville offers a culturally enriched community with excellent schools and a warm, welcoming population just waiting to get to know YOU.

BLEIBLERVILLE is in northwest Austin County on Highway 2502. It was originally part of the 1830’s Shelbourne Plantation. German’s settled in the area as the plantations were downsized into small farmsteads. A Swiss immigrant, Robert Bleibler,came in 1889 and operated a peddler wagon selling goods from farm to farm in exchange for farm produce. In 1890 Bleibler bought an existing store (ca. 1864). The community grew rapidly with the influx of many German immigrants in the late nineteenth century, and its post office was established in 1891. In 1892 he became Postmaster with a post office in his store and at this time the community officially became Bleiblerville. The community expanded in the 1960s with the increase of oil drilling in the community but has since declined.

In 1900 a Czech SPJST (Slavic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas) Lodge was formed. A meeting hall built by the group in 1914 was remodeled to its current appearance in 1955. The Nelsonville SPJST Lodge merged with this group in 1993 and today is still active in its mutual aid activities and community functions.