Welcome to Tony’s Family Restaurant
The Famous Tony’s Family Restaurant has a long-standing history in Sealy of serving fresh, homestyle meals to both locals and visitors alike.
Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Eber founded Club Rendezvous in 1936 at 1629 Meyer Street in Sealy. This restaurant quickly became a local favorite for their homemade food and a special pulled pork sandwich called the Juicy Pig. Later, when the Ebers retired, Mr. and Mrs. Garry Moss operated Gary’s Restaurant in the same location. It remained a popular spot, offering country cooking to its patrons for seven years.
Mason’s Corner was the next name to grace the diner and was operated by Mr. and Mrs. Ed Mason. The Masons continued to offer country cooking while adding a full bar and catering services.
In March of 1983, Tony and Stacy Tsounakas took the helm and would later purchase the restaurant from the Ebers. The new name would become The Famous Tony’s Family Restaurant. Tony and Stacy worked hard to establish their dream business while raisng a family. Tony’s restaurant grew in popularity and has become a household name and institution.
Tony and Stacy ran the restaurant for 20 years and in 1992 built the new one. They retired in 2003 and returned to the restaurant on June 1, 2023. Today, plans are underway to bring The Famous Tony’s Family Restaurant back to its former glory. A full remodel is planned, both inside and out, with phase one starting in November 2024.
Today, Tony and Stacy are dedicated to continuing the tradition of homestyle country cooking and providing great service to all who walk through the doors.
“We
It is my sincere wish that you and yours enjoy the many hidden treasures and rich Texas History Austin County has to offer. Austin County is home of San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site, the location where Stephen F. Austin established his colony in 1823. The establishment of San Felipe was a pivotal part of Texas’ history and once the social, economic and political center, in addition to being the first capital of the interim government of Texas.
The visitor’s guide is a useful resource for the numerous attractions, events, churches and accommodations located within our county. It is my hope that you escape from your day-to-day routine and explore some of our many places of interest for a day trip or weekend getaway.
Thank you for your interest in Austin County and I hope you enjoy your visit here.
Banse Stokes Partner/Publisher Lori Olivarez-Ligues Partner/Sales
A U S T I N C O U N T Y
Debbie Harrison Reporter/Photographer Brooke Ligues, Molly Olivarez Advertising Representatives Tony Tsounakas, Paula Little, Karla Gilbert Kay Ashcraft, John Wilson, Kay Ribardo Contributors
- 979-725-3080 michelle@tripspublications.com
979-451-0826 lori@tripspublications.com
W. Main Street, Suite 105 Weimar, Texas 78962 www.tripspublications.com
The Honorable Tim Lapham Austin County Judge
HISTORIC
Sealy, located at the intersection of I-10 and Hwy 36 (just 48 miles west of Houston) in south central Austin County, was formed as a railroad town in 1879. Once part of the San Felipe de Austin Town Corporation, land was sold to the railroad and named to honor George Sealy, a Galveston railroad director. Sealy became a commercial shipping center and many of the early residents were railroad employees.
In 1889 a fire on Front Street obliterated the wooden commercial property near the railroad. Sealy experienced a series of misfortunes, including a disastrous Brazos River flood in 1899, the relocation of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe division headquarters to Bellville in January of the next year, and the devastating hurricane of 1900, which struck in September. The establishment, however, of such manufacturing enterprises as the Sealy Mattress Factory, the Engleking Brothers Broom Factory, and the Sealy National Bank helped to build the commercial reputation with their help the town rebuilt and today is the largest town in the County.
Sealy’s claim to fame comes from the world famous Sealy Mattress. Although no Sealy mattresses were ever manufactured here, Daniel Haynes (ca. 1885) perfected the technique and equipment patents in Sealy which he later sold in 1889 to a group of investors who went on to make the Sealy Mattress a household name.
Browsing through Sealy’s Historic Downtown area with antique and gift shops, quaint cafés, museums, some housed in historic buildings along with many shopping districts throughout the city are a great start to any weekend. Many historic period homes abound in and around town to add to your enjoyment.
FUN FACTS & FIRSTS
AUSTIN COUNTY FACTS
• Austin County is named for Stephen Fuller Austin, also known as the “Father of Texas.”
• Austin County was selected by Stephen F. Austin in 1823 as the central site for his colony, the first Anglo-American settlement in Texas.
• Austin County is one of the oldest counties in Texas, organized in 1837 during the Republic of Texas.
• San Felipe was the County Seat of Austin County until 1848 when it was moved to Bellville.
• Total area in square miles is 663.
THE COUNTY FIRSTS
• San Felipe, the first capital of Texas. A log cabin replica of Stephen F. Austin’s home at San Felipe.
• First newspaper, The Gazette, founded in 1829
• First book published in Texas was printed at San Felipe
• First postal system.
• First organized police force which became the Texas Rangers. The Texas Rangers had their beginning in San Felipe’s committees of public safety for protection against Indians.
• First flag and the official flag of independence.
• First Sunday School
HISTORICAL FACTS
• First English-speaking school funded in 1829
• Bellville - became county seat in 1848. Named for the Bell family. Historical Marker placed at Concordia Hall for 108 year-old German Singing Society.
• Nelsonville - nearby is the Joseph L. Leshikar house. The first Czech home built in Austin County in 1854 has a historical marker.
• Industry - oldest German settlement in Texas established in 1830 when Frederick Ernst settled there. Historical Marker 3 miles off FM 109 in pasture.
• New Ulm - settled in early 1830’s when German settlers came into this area. Historical marker on school grounds.
• Milheim - The German spelling of the name was Muelheim. Water mill for grinding corn was in the creek. Town settled in early 1830’s. Creek became known as Mill Creek.
• Cat Spring - Town established near springs in early 1830’s. Historical Marker on the grounds of the Cat Spring Agricultural Society Hall, organized in 1856.
• Piney- In 1850 Concordia Gesangverein organized in
the home of Fritz Schlect. (German Singing Society) Concordia Hall is now in Bellville.
• Sealy - founded on 11,635 acre tract of land conveyed by the Corporation of San Felipe de Austin (out of original 22,000 acre Mexican land grant of 1824 to George Sealy in 1879 for whom it was named)
• Frydek- Czech town established in 1890 named by its early settlers for Silesian city of same name. Frydek means “Friendly Corner.”
• San Felipe de Austin - established in 1824. Translated means “Saint Phillip” believed to have been the patron saint of Luciano Garcia, Governor of this Province of Mexico, who named the town. Capital of Anglo-American Colonists 1824-1836. Burned on orders of General Sam Houston about three weeks prior to Battle of San Jacinto. Three homes, Town Hall, Church, Cabin and museum have Historical Markers. Official Marker for town site on FM 1458 at entrance to town.
• Stephen F. Austin Park Association - organized 1928. Established Memorial Park for Stephen F. Austin.
• Stephen F. Austin State Park - Corporation of San Felipe de Austin gave 657 acres to the State of Texas in 1940 for the recreational area. Both parts of the park are operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO IN SEALY AND AUSTIN COUNTY
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE PARK protects 473 acres of wetland and hardwood forest. Cedar elm, hickory, Osage orange, green ash, cottonwood, sycamore and hackberry are the main trees growing in the park. Forest canopies shelter a dense undergrowth of coralberry, dwarf palmetto, American beautyberry, possumhaw, yaupon, grapevine and Alabama supplejack. Turk’s cap with its beautiful red blooms grows throughout the park. Look for bluebonnets around park headquarters in early spring. Birders may search for nesting pileated woodpeckers, as well as many other species such as barred owls, warblers, yellow-billed cuckoos, white-eyed vireos, Mississippi kites and northern parulas. Ask at headquarters for a bird list.
You are likely to see white-tailed deer, raccoons, opossums, armadillos, rabbits and squirrels when you visit. Other creatures tend to be more elusive, such as the bobcat. Fireflies put on a show in May and June, just as it is getting dark. Take a short walk on one of the trails to see them flitting among the trees or watch for them from your campsite. Explore the trails, bring a picnic, look for a geocache or wildlife, or set up camp. Learn about Texas’ early colonists nearby at a state historic site.
Park Road 38, San Felipe, TX 77473 | (979) 885-3613 tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/stephen-f-austin
Cowboy Szymanskii of Phenix Knives in Bellville is ready to create a fun experience for the whole family to enjoy.
Stephen F. Austin State Park offers opportunities for exploring the great outdoors.
Don't Miss
AREA ATTRACTIONS
PHENIX KNIVES owner, Cowboy Szymanski, has been forging and hand-crafting knives since 1997. Growing up, Szymanski was drawn to knives and swords, influenced by his fascination with King Arthur, Robin Hood, and The Three Musketeers. He was invited to move his business to Bellville in 2003, having done demonstrations there previously, ready to give back to the community. Phenix Knives has thrived here.
“We love doing programs with all the kids,” Cowboy shared, talking about the shop’s hands-on experience, Come and Make It, in which guests of all ages get a chance to forge their own knives and learn a little bit of history about the trade. “We love welcoming everybody here. We offer tomahawk throwing, a wide selection of hand-crafted knives, team-building experiences, blacksmithing demos for tour groups, and we offer more extensive knifemaking classes that are more involved than the Come and Make it Program.”
In 2018, Cowboy created an event called Texas Select from Forged in Fire featuring bladesmiths from the popular History Channel competition show. It’s now one of the largest all-custom knife shows in Texas and one of the largest custom makers shows in the country.
Cowboy recently purchased the Rocking B building on Main St. in Bellville, giving him much more room to expand the business and offer more to tourists and knife buyers.
305 E Main Street, Bellville, TX 77418 www.phenixknives.com | www.TexasSelectEvent.com
THE AUSTIN COUNTY COURTHOUSE was designed by Wyatt C. Hedrick. This imposing granite and concrete building, built in the Modernist style, was constructed by Hedrick in 1960.
Built on nearly the same site as the original 1888 Courthouse which was destroyed in a fire in 1960, the new building contains a time capsule hidden behind a corner slab. Kept in a bronze box to protect from water damage, the capsule holds a quarter and four nickels and a box of Anacin, placed there by a local doctor as an homage to the original 1888 time capsule which contained a box of pills contributed by a local druggist at the time.
1 E Main Street, Bellville, TX 77418 | (979) 865-5911 www.austincounty.com
SEALY HISTORICAL PARK/SANTA FE PARK MUSEUM includes items from the original colonial period on display, as well as more modern items. These
SEALY
29.7808° N, 96.1572° W
FOUNDED 1879
AUSTIN COUNTY
29.8711° N, 96.2801° W
1823
First AngloAmerican settlement in Texas
EXPLORE THE AREA
From top, the front of the Austin County Courthouse; Sealy Historical Park is a fun stop for both locals and newcomers alike; Stephen F. Austin Golf Club can be reached at 979627-9212 to book tee times.
include the old jail (complete with bent bars from an former escape attempt) and a road grader once pulled by oxen. The museum is open for tours by appointment.
211 E Main Street, Sealy, TX 77474 www.ci.sealy.tx.us/welcome/local_museums
Continued on page 8.
7 SEALY/AUSTIN COUNTY
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN GOLF COURSE is open for tee times Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. This privately owned golf club is open to the public if a tee time is reserved. Visit their website for more information.
1130 Parl Roak #38, San Felipe, TX 77473 | www.sfagolf.com
SEALY MAIN STREET: Come out an explore the heart of Sealy! Visitors will discover events that are put on by many different organizations at least once a month. Enjoy unique shops, pamper yourself at local salons, and take a break to dive into some great food and drinks. Enjoy the quaint small town feel in the country. Sealy is a certified Main Street District and members since 2014. Sealy Main Steet is about creating places that people love to live and visit, where businesses can thrive, and where community can come together. Sealy's Main Street is a unique piece of history, set up on the railroad tracks that made the town. All Main Street America™ Accredited programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by Main Street America.
330 Main Street, STE 8, Sealy, Texas 77474 | www.mainstreet.sealyedc.com
THOMAS FAMILY RANCH is a destination for blackberry and blueberry picking. Their season usually begins mid-May and lasts about four weeks on avaerage. The blueberries usually bein their picking season during the end of the blackberry season around June 1. You can also visit with their AQHA registered quarter horses during your visit. Watch their website for updates.
12753 Hahn Road, Sealy, TX 77474 | www.thomasfamilyranch.com/blackberries
EXPLORE THE AREA
From left, Thomas
offers blackberry picking every spring; Sealy's downtown district is a gem worth exploring again and again.
Family Ranch
THE FAMOUS TONY'S FAMILY RESTAURANT
BY DEBBIE HARRISON PHOTOGRAPHY BY DEBBIE HARRISON AND LORI OLIVAREZ-LIGUES
Tony Tsounakas talks about his journey from Greece to his home in Texas.
TONY AND STACY TSOUNAKAS are the proud owners of Tony’s Family Restaurant in Sealy. They run it side-by-side to ensure everything runs smoothly on a daily basis. High values and standards have led them on their journey to becoming industrious and successful business owners, and the evidence of their dedication to both the restaurant and the community is noticeable to all who interact with them.
When you walk into Tony’s, you are greeted with a warm welcome and the aroma of homestyle country cooking, ranging from appetizing chicken fried steak to fragrant homemade pies. So, if you’re looking for a great meal and service, you’ve come to the right place. The staff are happy to welcome you, creating an atmosphere that makes you feel right at home.
The building has had quite a history over the past 88 years. In 1936 it was Club Rendezvous, then leased to become Gary’s Restaurant and later Mason’s Korner. In 1983 Tony and Stacy Tsounakas took the helm and leased it for themselves. After a few years they purchased it and changed the name to The Famous Tony’s Family Restaurant.
Continued on page 12.
Facing page, Tony and Stacy show off some of their most asked for menu items. Chicken fried steak with gravy, green beans and mashed potatoes. And a breakfast of fried eggs, hashbrowns and bacon; above, from top, a delicious display of Stacy’s famous pies; the iconic exterior welcomes visitors to Sealy.
Tony is originally from Greece. He came to America on December 19, 1972, when he was 17 and started working in his uncle’s restaurant and really enjoyed it. “Well, when you come from another country with very little experience and the clothes on your back and no money," Tony quipped. "First thing you do is wash dishes, and that’s how I started. Soon I picked up cooking, learned the language in less than a year, and also received my driver’s license.”
At age 23 he decided to move to Houston. “I was reading a magazine about Texas and the economy, the oil business and the opportunities of getting a job or how to find a good business. That’s what brought me to Houston and I started working the next day. This led me to buying my first restaurant and I will never forget that day,” Tony shared.
But everything changed once he met his soon-to-be wife, Stacy. She was born in Sydney, Australia, and at a young age her family immigrated to the United States from Greece. They married in 1982. Tony realized he didn’t want to raise a family in a big city, so they moved to Sealy that year and never left. “I found when I got married, I wanted to raise a family in a small town,” Tony said. “God helped me to find Sealy and I’ve been here ever since. At the restaurant, Stacy is known for her famous Stacy’s Pies, but she truly deserves all the credit in the world for raising our four children.”
They bought the property the restaurant sits on in 1985 and completed the construction in 1992. Tony would soon take a break from the business after 20 years, leasing it out to another
I love to work, and I love what I’m doing. "
restaurateur. “I was exhausted from working at the original place, so I took a break," Tony added. "It was probably the best thing I did because it gave me the energy I needed. In turn it gave us the opportunity to see our children grow up and get married. Now we have five grandchildren. They are a blessing.”
And although his family has grown, Tony isn't stepping back from the restaurant again anytime soon. “Retiring is not in my vocabulary," Tony said. "I really like to stay active, no matter what I do. I’m just not the type of guy to sit around and not accomplish something. I love to work and I love what I’m doing. I also love people and I can feel all the love back from them.” Several employees have also been with him for decades, showing the dedication of the staff. It's easy to tell that The Famous Tony’s Family Restaurant is not just a place to work, it’s a family.
The Famous Tony’s Family Restaurant currently has a renovation underway. Tony and Stacy will continue to work with their longterm staff to minimize any disruption during the upgrades. Tony’s children are also involved in the business and his biggest hope for the future is that they will take over the restaurant one day. His determination is ingrained in him and he attributes his success to hard work, dedication and treating others better than oneself. Tony expressed, “If you want to succeed, you have to do things that you don’t like to do. That’s what got us here and we are here to stay.”
The Famous Tony’s Family Restaurant is located at 1629 Meyer Street and online at tonysfamilyrestaurant.com
From left, patrons enjoy their lunch at The Famous Tony’s Family Restaurant in Sealy; Tony's is known for their homemade pies.
To the Arts
THE TEXAS THEATRE COMPANY
BY DEBBIE HARRISON PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAY ASHCRAFT, JOHN WILSON AND KAY RIBARDO
A bittersweet send-off for Kay Ashcraft and a Sealy icon.
KAY ASHCRAFT AND ERIKA BURTTSCHELL WILL BE CLOSING THE DOORS of The Texas Theatre Company after almost a decade of recitals, musicals and plays. These two talented women entertained Sealy with their expertise in the performing arts, and I had the pleasure to sit down with Kay and get their story. A quick tour of the theater showed the remnants of their last play, decorated as a sock-hop themed gymnasium that looked like cheerleaders had decorated it with balloons and streamers. They’re already setting up for their grand finale, slated for December 6 and 8.
Kay, a long-time music and choir director at Sealy High School, started their choir program in 1999 and the Tigerettes dance team in 2005. She is also a piano teacher, as well as a vocal coach, and owned a dance studio above Paramount Promotions which she managed with Erika. Kay retired in 2011 but continued the Tigerettes and dance studio until 2014. She then co-developed The Texas Theatre Company with Erika, producing shows since 2015.
When Kay started the Tigerettes, some of the girls didn’t know how to dance. “We had a lot of girls who had never danced before, and I thought, what can we do with that? Somebody needs to open a dance studio. Wait a minute. I am! I’ll open the dance studio," Kay exclaimed.
The theater was next on Kay's agenda. “A friend of mine said you should start a theater back there and I thought about it for a couple of weeks,' Kay shared. "I called Erika, and said, 'Ok, you’re the dance person in town and I’m the music person. Who better than to start a theater? We can have some fun with this, plus we have the facility to have recitals.' That same friend of mine did the children’s productions, and then we evolved into many, many things!”
Left, Kay and her husband, Norman Ashcraft, on the set of Shake, Rattle and Roll.
I’ve
loved
watching
shy performers blossom
into their characters and just let go. "
Kay is now a full-time music and worship director at the First Fulshear Methodist Church. “I’m full-time at the church in Fulshear, and I love my church," Kay added. “And I would love it if the actors would like to attend my church, then they could continue with performing in that setting.”
The final show of The Texas Theatre Company will be held during Sealy’s Annual Christmas Show and Fantasy of Lights weekend. “The actors have been with me a long time," Kay said. "That was the hard part. They’re disappointed, but they can go right over to the church and do some things if they want to. It’s just time to close the chapter, but we are opening another one.”
Kay’s family is involved with the theater arts as well. She has three children and two of them have theater degrees. Her son is also an actor, and her husband teaches in the music studio. “We’ve had a really good time doing four to five productions a year," Kay added.
For their last hurrah, they’re having two casts for both shows. “We have two casts because one wants to do musicals and one wants strictly speaking parts," Kay shared. "We usually don’t mix it, but this time we are, so it will be a huge Christmas spectacular!
We’ll have a play that’s Christmas-oriented, and we’re going to reprise a lot of the characters from years past. I’ve written the play based on all the characters they told me they wanted to be.”
The last two shows will be a proper sendoff for The Texas Theatre Company, even though it’s bittersweet. Kay and Erika's Texas Theatre Company will be missed by both the community at large and Kay herself. “I've loved watching shy performers blossom into their characters and just let go,” Kay said. That experience makes all the hard work worth it for Kay. Now the new chapter begins.
From top, Kay Ashcraft and her actors at Shake, Rattle & Roll play; the production of Windsor Family Cruise starring Duane Blaschke; the entire cast of a Merry Maxwell Christmas Eve play.
YEE-HAW
CASA COLINA
BY DEBBIE HARRISON, PHOTOGRAPHY BY DEBBIE HARRISON AND KARLA GILBERT
Paula
Little talks about her house on the hill.
THERE IS A HIDDEN GEM in Sealy named Casa Colina. Owned by Paula Little, a woman who cherishes both horses and people, this immaculate rental sits on 360 sprawling acres. It has all the amenities anyone would need and one can also bring their own horse to ride the trails. Casa Colina is truly an escape from the hustle and bustle of the big cities surrounding it.
Paula and her husband have been on their property for 20 years. A few years ago, the property next to them became available and they scooped it up, renovated the house and decided to transform it into Casa Colina. It became a destination for horse enthusiasts, vacationers and tourists. “I really enjoy people," Paula shared. "We had all these trails through the woods and I thought, ' I will open an Airbnb® where people can bring their horses and stay out here.'
I get a real mixture of people ... those with horses who love to ride, and couples that want to scoot away to have a quiet weekend.”
Casa Colina also prides itself on offering a safe place for women who love to ride their horses, which is important to Paula because she and her friends always looked for safe places where they could ride the day away. But Casa Colina isn’t just for horse lovers. Everyone is welcome, including families and those seeking a retreat.
Paula’s guests can fish in the several small ponds that she stocks or hike the trails and get in a couple of miles. Patrons are welcome to bring their bikes to ride on the footpath or just sit outside while enjoying the sounds of nature. Kids can enjoy all the outdoor activities, make s’mores outside in the firepit at night, while parents can enjoy the tranquil setting with their family and friends.
Cover, guests can ride through the trails on the property of Casa Colina, photo by Karla Gilbert; above, the firepit overlooks pastures and ponds, waiting for nightfall.
Paula was quite surprised to find that people from out-of-state use the property as a hub to visit places like Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Round Top. “I had no idea what to expect," Paula said. "It was an experiment but I found there hasn't been a couple or group that have come that I haven’t enjoyed. It’s reaffirmed my faith in people.”
It's important for Paula to be present upon guests’ arrival and maintain the property. She has greeted every guest at the door and her guests are truly grateful for her warmth. “I live on the property itself," Paula added. "I've found a recurring theme in the reviews of ‘how she was there to meet us, showed us how to get to the trails’ and that’s a big thing to them. They mention how the kids had so much fun fishing and running around because they don’t get a chance to do that and that they had the best time.” Paula fondly described one guest's stay of a time when their child discovered deer antlers on the property, and this left a lasting impression on the family and highlighted the joy guests find in the country.
Casa Colina is available for reservations by visiting www. casacolinatx.com.
PAULA LITTLE
Clockwise from left, a cozy living room with a pull-out bed at Casa Colina; a horse at sunset photographed by Karla Gilbert; the exterior of Casa Colina, The House on the Hill. Horse photo by Karla Gilbert.
JANUARY
• Round Top Winter Antique Show - Third week of January
FEBRUARY
• Chocolate Walk (B) – Thursday
• before Valentine’s Day
• Salt Grass Trail Ride - February 22 – March 1
MARCH
• Classic Car Stampede Car Show (B) - Second Saturday
• Round Top Spring Antique Show (Shelby) - Last week of March
APRIL
• Texas Select Custom Cutlery Event (B) - First Weekend
• Sealy Historical Society Spring Fest (S) - Second Saturday
• Fruehling Saengerfest (B)Fourth Sunday
• BOTA - Battle of The Arts (S)Last Weekend
• Frydek Grotto CelebrationLast Sunday
MAY
• Honey Bee Jubilee (New Ulm)First Saturday
• Mudbugs On Main (S) - Second Saturday
• Peter’s Community PicnicMother’s Day
• Magnolia Days (Columbus) –Third weekend
• Sealy Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet (S)
JUNE
• Cat Spring Ag Society June Fest - First Saturday
• 90 Miles on 90 Garage Sale (S) - Second weekend
• Millheim Annual Father’s Day Barbecue - Father’s Day
• Sealy Area Garage Sale (S) –Second weekend
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JULY
• Kenney Hall 4th of July BBQ Celebration (Kenney)
• Wallis 4th of July Celebration (Wallis)
• Fire on the Brazos (S) - Second weekend
• Austin County Fair Shrimp Boil (B) - Third Friday
SEPTEMBER
• Round Top Antique Show in Shelby - Last week
• New Ulm Oktoberfest - Sept 20 – Oct 5
OCTOBER
• San Felipe de Austin SHS Archeology Month
• Austin County Fair & Rodeo (B) - Second full week in October
• Round Top Antique Show in Shelby - Last week of October
• Small Town Halloween (B)Last Saturday
• Pickin’ & Grinnin’ Festival (B)Last weekend of October
• Boo Bash – Halloween on Main Street (S) - October 31
• Sealy Area Historical Society Ghost Tours – Saturday prior to Halloween
• First United Methodist Church (S)
• Harvest Festival – Sunday before Halloween
NOVEMBER
• Father of Texas Celebration (San Felipe) - Second weekend
• Avey’s Chili Cook Off (Cat Spring) – Third Saturday
DECEMBER
• Small Town Christmas (B) - First Saturday
• Fantasy of Lights (S) - First weekend
• Vendor Blender (S) – last Thursday
ONGOING EVENTS
• Bellville Market Day (B) - Every first Saturday, except January, June, July and August
• Farmers Market (B) – Every first Saturday
• Sealy Market on Main (S) –Every third Saturday
• Knights of Columbus (S) Fish Fry – Every Friday during Lent
• American Legion (S) Fish Fry –Every Friday during Lent
• Sealy Gun and Knife Show in Sealy
• American Legion Hall #442Quarterly
• Sealy Thirty Thursday – Third Thursday of each month
(S) = Sealy SealyChamber.com (B) = Bellville DiscoverBellville.com
Farmers Market (B) Every first Saturday
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The Austin County Fair has seen generations of families pass through its gates over the past 97 years. Withstanding the test of time, the organization remains committed to the core values and ideals of the Bellville agricultural community while openly extending its outreach to as many in the area as possible. No matter if it is your very first visit or a yearly tradition, this homestretch to The Austin County Fair centennial promises to be just as thrilling as it has remained throughout its history.
“We try to find new acts that are traditional, classic, and up-and-coming,” shared Kim Quinney, the Austin County Fair manager. Several acts in the past have appeared on the lineup as a new group but then exploded in the charts, becoming household names. Recognizable acts, such as Brooks & Dunn and Garth Brooks, have taken center stage in past years. New lineups are held in secret until July. The excitement builds as each year promises to be more rip-roarin’ than the one before.
“I hope that our guests appreciate the history and what makes Austin County different,” Kim said. “I hope they have an interest in where their food comes from, and that they are proud of being in Austin County. I also hope everyone leaves with a sense of community – no matter how different we are or where we are from.”
For the most up-to-date information on The Austin County Fair, which is held every October, visit austincountyfair.com or their Facebook page to stay informed on upcoming events. Their newsletter is sent out regularly and consists of not only event information, but also updates on happenings at the fairgrounds year-round.
The Sealy Community Foundation kicks off the holiday season with Sealy’s Annual Fantasy of Lights, every December. Festival-goers will enjoy activities for all ages including live entertainment, specialty booths, a 5K and 1K fun run benefitting the Sealy PTA, the Snowball Classic softball tournament, pageants and the annual Kids Fantasy in the park with crafts, live snowfall and a visit from Santa himself. It’s all capped off with a lighted parade Saturday evening.
“The Fantasy of Lights festival has become a tradition to many Sealy residents who look forward to kicking off the Christmas season at this fun event,” said Melanie Willingham, President of the Sealy Community Foundation. “It’s a weekend with something for everyone and many opportunities to share in the Christmas spirit with family and friends. This festival continues to improve year after year due to our amazing volunteers and generous sponsors. We hope to see everyone at Fantasy of Lights!”
Fantasy of Lights is sponsored by the Sealy Community Foundation, a local nonprofit organization whose mission is serving as a voice for all nonprofits, with intent to advance education and charity. For registration forms and a detailed schedule of the Fantasy of Lights festivities visit online at FOL. sealycommunityfoundation.com. Also, like “Sealy Community Foundation” on Facebook for updated information and contests.
TOUR OF AUSTIN COUNTY
BELLVILLE, the county seat of Austin County since 1846, is located at the junction of Texas Highway 36 and FM 159, in the center of the county. Conveniently located in the heart of Texas, Bellville is a mere 64 miles from Houston, 104 miles from Austin and 55 miles from Bryan/College Station.
Thomas and James Bell emigrated from Florida in 1822 and settled in the area as some of Stephen F. Austin’s earliest Texas colonists. The Bell brothers gave 145 acres for a town that was laid out in 1848 and in turn, Bellville was born. Anglo-Americans settled here first followed by German immigrants.
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 were 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.
Today the City of Bellville offers opportunities for shopping in turnof-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 through 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&Bs which make Bellville an excellent weekend destination just a short drive from Brenham, Houston, Austin, or San Antonio.
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 Highway 36 and Highway 159.
Just north of the city limits off Old 36 Road lies a true wonder, Newman’s Castle (photo at left). The castle is built of cinder blocks with masonry stucco, has 3,400 square feet of living space and encloses a quarteracre 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 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.
BRAZOS COUNTRY - In 1978, a small independent oil company from Houston, probably looking for investments because of the profits that the high prices of oil were bringing, came into Austin County and purchased 650 acres of ranch land immediately west of the Brazos River and south of I-10. The ranch, known as the Chew Ranch, consisted of approximately 1,000 acres, 350 of which were kept by the ranch to raise cattle along the banks of the river.
The 650-acre tract was subdivided into plots of 1, 2 and 3 acres and development of the subdivision known as Brazos Country began. In 1979 the first few houses were built and occupied by owners whose job locations ranged from Rosenberg to Houston. As the years passed new houses
BELLVILLE
were built, slowed greatly by the economic downturn of the mid-1980s. When the economy rebounded in the early 1990s, growth of new homes increased accordingly as more and more families moved to Brazos Country and began their daily commutes to Houston.
In 1997, an investment group from Houston bought the remaining 350 acres of ranch land and began construction of an upscale golf course. River Ridge’s 27 holes opened for play in late 1998. Since its inception, River Ridge has been in the top ten rankings of golf courses in the greater Houston area. Sadly, the golf course was permanently closed in November of 2017.
In 1999, Katy Mills Mall opened. The growth of Katy and the impending growth of the I-10 corridor prompted the residents of Brazos Country to petition Austin County to hold an incorporation election in May 2000. By a large margin, residents voted to incorporate as a municipality. State laws mandated the City of Brazos Country as a Class B municipality limited to two square miles, because the population was under 600. Today, the City of Brazos Country, recognized as a community of executive homes and beautiful landscape, is still experiencing growing pains and will soon surpass the 600-population figure.
is located a few miles southwest of Bellville, the county seat. Soils range from deep sand and sandy loams to heavy mixed soils. The rolling prairie-type land made it easy to start farming. Water was available for livestock and domestic uses. Near the original settlement (not where Cat Spring is today) is a large spring. The community received its name when a son of Leopold von Röder killed a puma at one of the springs of the San Bernard River near the family farm. It was first called Wildcat Spring but was later shortened to Cat Spring (Katzenquelle). It has been documented that the occasional “cat” still roams the countryside today.
The Cat Spring settlement was founded in 1834 by the German Otto von Röder family who came to Texas as a result of Industry’s “Ernst Letter,” published in Germany. At that time Austin County had a population of about
TOUR OF AUSTIN COUNTY
a thousand people. The little town began to grow and by 1880 it had a gin, a saw mill, a grist mill and a planing mill. There was also a hotel, a saddle shop, a shoe shop, a school and a church. Cat Spring, located on the early travel route from San Felipe to Industry, today, is at the intersection of FM 2187 and FM 949. A 1936 Texas State Historical marker honors this early German settlement and the pioneer families of von Roeder, Kleberg, and Amsler.
Cat Spring today is a beautiful rolling hill area alive with wildflowers, vineyards, show horse farms, cattle ranches and at the right time of year an abundance of birds and wildlife. It has several unique Bed & Breakfast facilities as well as a famous local stop for some of the best cat fish you will ever eat at Cross Roads Tavern on Friday nights.
CAT SPRING AGRICULTURAL HALL
(pictured lrft) – “Landwirth-Schaftlicher Verein.” Germans and some Czechs formed this Agricultural Society in 1856, to share information and tips on how to farm. The Agricultural Society still holds some agricultural related functions here, but the unique structure has an expanded purpose and hosts a multitude of activities today. The hall is available for rental. Each June brings the Annual June Fest and in September the hall hosts one of the largest Antique Shows in the area. The hall is located at 13035 Hall Rd. Cat Spring. For information and schedule of events call (979) 885-2540.
FRYDEK is on Farm Road 1458 and the west bank of the Brazos River three miles east of Sealy and three miles south of San Felipe in southeastern Austin County. Settlement in the vicinity began in the early 1820s, when members of the Austin colony patented several labores of land along the river east of the eventual townsite. Frydek was established about 1895 by Czechs on a league of land south of the San Felipe town tract, originally granted to Stephen F. Austin in 1831. The community, named after the Moravian city of Frýdek-Místek, soon became a market center for farmers and stockmen of the vicinity. A visiting priest celebrated Mass in homes in 1883 and a cemetery was created in 1890.
A Frydek post office operated from 1901 until
1906. The local school had thirty-six pupils in 1918. By 1931 the community had four businesses. The St. Mary’s Catholic was located in the town through much of the twentieth century and is still in operation today. The population, which has remained predominantly Czech in origin, was an estimated twenty-five in 1933.
FRYDEK GROTTO (pictured right) - A unique Frydek feature is St. Mary’s Catholic Church Grotto with an outdoor altar which was constructed to commemorate and give thanks for the 67 community men who served in WWII and all returned home safely. The Grotto is situated to give public access at all times. The community holds an annual grotto celebration on the last Sunday in April. St. Mary’s Catholic Church is located at 10471 Grotto Road, Frydek, Texas. For information and schedule of events call (979) 225-3131.
INDUSTRY, the “Oldest German Town in Texas," is located in the scenic rolling hills of western Austin County at the intersection of 109 and 159.
The Lions restored the old Republic of Texas Post Office/Ernst Store building, perhaps the last remaining structure of this era in the area, and Industry’s most cherished relic of the past. The park has a covered pavilion, public rest rooms, picnic area, playground and walking trail featuring Texas State Historical markers where Industry visitors can learn more Industry history.
GIN MUSEUM (725 Main Street) - A segment of the repurposed City Hall/Gin contains restored equipment that has been returned to working order where visitors can witness some of the functions of this early gin’s operations. Tours are by appointment 979-357-2772.
LINDEMANN-OTT MUSEUM (2207 Main St.)
- This house received a Texas State Historical Commission - Recorded Texas Historical Landmark designation (2010). The original house was built in 1870 as a bakery/home for young German-trained baker Jacob Ott. The home business was sold when Ott married and became a Methodist minister. The building was then opened as a store and in 1884 German Edward Lindemann bought the property to begin his General Store here which later relocated. Lindemann moved his family into the building and in 1899 added a five-room, twostory Queen Anne style Victorian attachment to the original home which gave it a more opulent appearance and greatly increased the size. Tours are by appointment 979-357-2772.
Continued on page 26.
CAT SPRING
CAT SPRING
FRYDEK
KENNEY is located eight miles north of Bellville at the junction of FM 2754 and Hwy 36. Kenney was built in 1880 by the Gulf, Colorado and SantaFe Railroad Company as a station between Bellville and Brenham. The first area settlement took place as early as the 1820s, followed by the German immigrants from the 1830s.
The town was first called Thompson in 1880 for postmaster J. E. Thompson. After four years under that name, the community was renamed Kenneyville in 1884 in honor of evangelist John Wesley Kenney; the name was shortened to Kenney in 1892. Rev. J. W. Kenney played an influential part in early Texas Methodist activity. By fall of 1835 a second Church Camp meeting was held here and at this time a Methodist Conference was organized, supported by William B. Travis. John Wesley Kenney Texas State Historical Marker located in town center proclaims Rev. Kenney as “one of the greatest pioneer Methodist Ministers.”
During the railroad hey-day, Kenney was a commerce center with a grist mill/gin, hotel, school and church. A “Schuetzenverein” (a sportsmen’s club) was established by the community Germans. They held competitive target shooting matches to choose the most proficient marksman – a tradition brought from Germany which became a social activity here.
The Kenney Agricultural Society Hall (Kenney Hall) Agricultural Society hall was built in 1902 for regular meetings and social activities. A 1950 storm destroyed the original structure and today functions as a community center of varied uses.
The Kenney Store (pictured above) - “It is what it is.” The Kenney Store was established in 1887. For many years, Thursdays were known for The Kenney Store Rural Music Association (KARMA). Local musicians, young and old, brought their instruments to the pickin’ circle. They were not a band, just dedicated musicians that came for the love of music and good company. These musicians are the reason that there is always good KARMA at the Kenney Store. Today, the Kenney Store has live music almost every night of the week. If you are lucky, a few well-known singers may stop by
dressed with a fiddle or acoustic guitar. On the weekends, we always have a full house including uprising bands, acoustic performances, and local celebrities. Come early and get a good seat. Slam down some dominoes with the regulars, while the freight train blares by. Waltz, two-step, line-dance, swing, or even grind to live music under the neon lights. Stop by and enjoy some of their home cooking, always served with sweet southern charm. Drink a few ice-cold beers, specialty wines, and signature drinks from their full bar.
MILLHEIM was established eight miles south of Bellville in central Austin County about 1845, when a mill was constructed on Clear Creek, a tributary of Mill Creek. The founders of the community were German immigrants who moved southeast through Mill Creek Valley from settlements in the vicinity of Cat Spring. The town received its name in the 1850s at a meeting held in the Engelking and Noltke general store. An immigrant from the Palatinate, Wilhelm Schneider, suggested the name Muelheim; it was later anglicized to its present spelling. In the 1850s E. G. Maetze started the first school at the settlement, with courses conducted in German.
By 1856 a singing society had been organized. A post office was established in the community by 1878. In 1885 the town had a population of 100, as well as a brewery, a gin, a grist and saw mill, and several stores.
The Millheim population was reported as 150 in 1915, but by 1936 it had fallen again to an estimated 100.
NELSONVILLE is at the junction of Hwy 159 and FM 2502, nine miles west of Bellville in west central Austin County. The area was first settled in the 1850s. Among the first settlers was Edward Daughtry, who moved to the site around 1855.
The town was named for D. D. Nelson, who opened a store just after the Civil War. Around the same time Isaac Lewis established a store and saw-and-grist mill and later added a cotton gin. Originally settled by Anglo-American plantation owners in the late 1830s, Germans followed. At the Civil War’s end, plantations
were sold as smaller farmsteads to immigrants from Bohemia and Moravia and more from Germany. Nelsonville’s youth were tri-lingual being fluent in English, German and Czech.
The Czech Moravian Bretheran Church congregation was formed in 1893 and church was built in 1947 under the leadership of Rev. Josef A. Barton and is a community landmark.
By 1900 the population was 158. The post office was discontinued in 1909, and by the early 1930s the population had dwindled back to 100. The community reported five businesses as late as 1936, but thereafter most of them closed. In the early 1990s Nelsonville was a farming community with a reported population of 110. The population remained the same in 2000.
NEW ULM is one of the premier German settlements in Texas. There’s a lot of history for such a small and tranquil place. Richard King of the King Ranch passed through New Ulm and tried his hand at cigar manufacturing before heading south and in the 1920s a New Ulm store was burgled by none other than one of the Newton Boys, although no one can seem to remember which one.
New Ulm, on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway line at the intersection of FM 109 and 1094 in extreme western Austin County, was first known as Duff’s Settlement, in honor of James C. Duff, who in 1841 acquired title to the tract on which the town was founded. The community’s growth was spurred after 1845 by an influx of German-speaking settlers from nearby communities such as Industry, Shelby, and Nassau Farm. In 1852 a post office was opened in the settlement, which became known as New Ulm in commemoration of the well-known city in Würtemberg, Germany, the province from which most early inhabitants had originally emigrated. During the 1850s the agricultural community had six general merchandise stores, five blacksmith shops, three breweries, three cabinetry shops, and a cigar factory. During this period local residents organized both a turnverein or athletic club, and a Schützenverein, or rifle club, the members of which sported light green uniforms.
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MILLHEIM
NEW ULM
TOUR OF AUSTIN COUNTY
New Ulm had 225 residents in 1898. By 1930 its population had grown to 500, and the number of businesses had increased to forty, including a bank and an English-language newspaper, the New Ulm Enterprise which began publishing in 1910. On April 11, 1916, twenty-one men in the community met for the purpose of securing a fire apparatus to protect local property. That led to the formation of the New Ulm Fire Company (now known as the New Ulm Volunteer Fire Department). The population declined to an estimated 390 by 1950. Growth resumed, however, during the 1960s, and by 1968 the population was estimated at 600, and New Ulm had sixteen businesses. In 1990 the population was estimated at 650
ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH - The sanctuary was built in 1913 and is located at 211 Hickory Street. The Sanctuary serves the congregation still today. All that remains of the New Ulm Cemetery 1924 fence located at Hwy 109 & Kingfiher Rd. is a decorative gateway.
There were enough surviving 19th century buildings to get New Ulm featured in Texas Public Buildings of the 19th Century by Williard B. Robinson, a favorite reference of ours.
Winding country roads alive with nature brings you into New Ulm where many historic structures have been restored, some serving as antique or specialty shops plus a very unique commercial cottage garden. It is a picturesque place to browse on the weekends for those superlative gifts that are distinctive and one of a kind.
NEW WEHDEM is just off Hwy 36 eight miles northwest of Bellville in northern Austin County. New Wehdem was first established on a stage route connecting Nelsonville & Bleiblerville to Brenham. In 1883 the place was named New since many in the community came from Wehdem Germany. By the early 1930s a number of residents from nearby Wehdem had moved into the vicinity. After World War II the locale began to be described on maps as New Wehdem.
A Lutheran Church, St. Jacobi later named St. James, was organized in 1869 with a sanctuary dedicated in 1871. The current structure dates to 1928. The 1925 school building became the church education building in 1965.
SAN FELIPE de Austin, laid out in July 1823 as the Colonial Headquarters of Stephen F. Austin’s Colony, is one of the oldest towns in Texas. Located on a bluff near the west bank of the Brazos River, San Felipe is two miles north of Interstate 10 on FM 1458. The site served Native Americans and early travelers as a Brazos River crossing point. Eventually eight roads converged in San Felipe and a 1969 Texas State Historical Marker shares this history. San Felipe was known as the “Colonial Capital of Texas” and served as the political center of colonial Texas until razed March 29, 1836 during the Texas Revolution.
The State of Texas recognized San Felipe in 2005 as both the Official Colonial Capital of Texas and Official Birthplace of the Texas Rangers.
San Felipe de Austin State Historic site is located off FM 1458 at the Brazos River – the newly opened museum, on the east side of FM 1458, has an entrance off of 2nd Street just across from the Methodist Church. It is a stateof-the-art museum commemorating the location where, in 1823, Stephen F. Austin established a headquarters for his colony in Mexican Texas. San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site and the new museum share the stories of early settlers in this region.
The original historic site, on the west side of FM 1458, contains seven blocks of the original capital with an 1830s hand-dug well, remaining as the only original architectural feature of the historic town. Historic locations in San Felipe include: Old San Felipe Church (ca. 1824), San Felipe de Austin Cemetery (ca. 1824), San Felipe Town Hall (ca. 1842), and Stephen F. Austin State Park.
The Stephen F. Austin State Park is a beautiful Recreational Park which occupies 600 plus acres of moss-draped pecan bottoms along the Brazos River. It occupies part of the land granted to Stephen F. Austin, “Father of Texas," for the first Anglo-American colony in Texas. Near the park is an 18-hole golf course. The state park offers camping, hiking trails, birding, wildlife viewing, fishing, and group facilities.
SEALY, located at the intersection of I-10 and Hwy 36 (just 48 miles west of Houston) in south central Austin County, was formed as a railroad town in 1879. Once part of the San Felipe de Austin Town Corporation land was sold to the railroad and named to honor George Sealy, a Galveston railroad director. Sealy became a commercial shipping center and many of the early Continued on page 28.
NEW WEHDEM
SAN FELIPE
SEALY
residents were railroad employees. In 1889 a fire on Front Street obliterated the wooden commercial property near the railroad. Sealy experienced a series of misfortunes, including a disastrous Brazos River flood in 1899, the relocation of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe division headquarters to Bellville in January of the next year, and the devastating hurricane of 1900, which struck in September. The establishment, however, of such manufacturing enterprises as the Sealy Mattress Factory, the Engleking Brothers Broom Factory, and the Sealy National Bank helped to build the commercial reputation with their help the town rebuilt and today is the largest town in the county.
Sealy’s claim to fame comes from the world famous “Sealy Mattress.” Although no Sealy mattresses were ever manufactured here, Daniel Haynes (ca. 1885) perfected the technique and equipment patents in Sealy which he later sold in 1889 to a group of investors who went on to make the “Sealy Mattress” a household name.
Browsing through Sealy’s Historic Downtown area with antique and gift shops, quaint Cafes, museums, some housed in historic buildings along with many shopping districts throughout the city are a great start to any weekend. Many historic period homes abound in and around town to add to your enjoyment. If you are one of those that live to eat true Texas style southern cuisine- Sealy boasts at least two legendary eateries Tony’s Family Restaurant serving locals and visitors since 1936 and Hinze’s BBQ, voted one of the ten best in the state. You can pick from over 30 different food establishments, so Sealy does have something for just about everyone! For racing enthusiasts Sealy’s Lone Star Motorsports Park is a member of the IHRA, and races from January to November.
Sealy is a multifaceted modern city with lots to offer the visitor looking to spend a quiet weekend in the country or people looking for a quality of life they can’t find in the big city. A faith-based municipality with good schools, strong business community, and Progressive City government which all makes Sealy a unique place to visit or a great place to raise a family. Our welcome mat is always out!
TOUR OF AUSTIN COUNTY
Shelby is situated in far northwest Austin County at the intersection of Hwy 389 and FM Road 1457. A settlement developed here when German Otto von Röder (From Cat Spring) financed construction of a water powered mill (ca. 1836-1840) on Skull Creek a tributary of Mill Creek. The settlement was originally referred to as “Roedersmuehle.” Many Germans in the area used the mill.
The name Shelby came from David Shelby who acquired land here in March 1831. Shelby had various property holdings in Texas and did not yet live on this land. Speculation is that after the Texas Revolution, Shelby’s other property was ravaged so he relocated here. Shelby’s exact arrival date is unknown, but a store operation was begun soon after he came. It was a common practice to establish a post office in the community store and that is what happened. David Shelby was made postmaster in 1846 when Texas became a state, and gradually the place began being called Shelby as the name “Roedersmuehle” faded out of existence.
HARMONIE HALL - Germans at Shelby brought their cultural practices with them including a “Gesangverein” (German Singing Society) organized in 1852, then reorganized in 1853. In 1875 the “Harmonie Verein” was established, and this group existed performing German singing traditions until the language faded after 1945. This group’s meeting hall was built in 1883 and still exists as a center of community activity with celebrations and events throughout the year.
HISTORIC SHELBY CHURCH - The historic Shelby Lutheran Church building dates to 1903 and was recently converted into a community museum. In 1876 a Lutheran Church formed and was served by the same pastor for 20 years. When he retired, a new preacher came and developed “Die Friedens Gemeinde” (Peace congregation). Soon the church split, forming Peace congregations, eventually Peace dissolved, and St. Paul remained. St. Paul built this building in 1903. Outgrowing this building was completed in 1965, and the historic church was moved across the road.
WITTE-SCHMID HAUS is located mid-way between Industry and Shelby (one mile east of FM 1457). In 1997 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house was built (ca. 1857) by the German Ernst Witte Family and is somewhat rare for Austin County as an example of German Fachwerk architecture. In the 1980s the property was given to the Texas German Society by Witte Family descendants and is operated as a house museum.
Wallis is located at the extreme southeastern end of Austin County and just across the Fort Bend County line on Hwy 36. Like many cities in Texas, it had its origins as a railroad town. This Anglo-American settlement on the narrow strip of land west of the Brazos and east of the San Bernard River began in the late 1830s. In 1880 William Guyler donated 100 acres of land to the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad as an enticement to have their tracks pass through the community. First known as Bovine Bend, the name of the Post Office was changed to Wallis Station in 1886 and into Wallis in 1911. In 1973 Wallis was officially incorporated as a city. For additional information about Wallis, Texas visit: www.wallistexas.org.
GUARDIAN ANGEL CATHOLIC CHURCH, (ca. 1913-1915)(5610 Demel Street) In 1995 the Church received a Texas State Historical Marker and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The ornately decorated interior was done by professional artisans and offers one of the more elaborate representations of the famous Texas Painted Church tradition. Today, over 460 families worship in the historic church and hold their annual church bazaar on the fourth Sunday of October. Tours are available by appointment by calling (979) 4786532. Also, for more information visit: www. guardianangelwallis.com.
WALLIS METHODIST CHURCH, (ca.1893) (Birch & Guyler Street) In 1996 the Wallis Methodist Church received a Texas Historical Marker. In 1890 MLH Harry deeded land to church trustees for the formation of a Methodist
SHELBY
WALLIS
Church in Wallis. In 1893 a loan was taken out for the construction of a church sanctuary on the deeded land. The Church considers 1893 its official founding date. The Wallis Methodist Church is the oldest church in Wallis. The congregation continues to worship in the original building and serves as an integral part of the community and prides itself in engaging in numerous local, state, and national outreach programs.
WELCOME is located in northwest Austin County located on Highway 109 on land granted to Stephen F. Austin by the Mexican government. The Shelburne family from Alabama bought the land from Austin’s heirs and began plantation life here in 1838. Germans moved into the area in 1852 when four schoolmasters came and formed a community. The name “Welcome” is credited to schoolmaster John F. Schmidt who opened a store in 1853. He “welcomed” area travelers to rest on his property. The community name is said to have evolved from this gesture. Welcome had a post office by 1870 and experienced a prosperous period from 1900 to 1920 with a school, church, car dealership, bank, racetrack, hospital, store, and dancehall in existence. Only the church and store remain today.
WELCOME SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH was organized in 1869 when the members built a sanctuary for worship. The 1900 storm destroyed the building, but it was soon rebuilt. In 1970 the church received a Texas State Historical Marker.
WELCOME MANNERCHOR a German Singing Society and social organization “Gesang-Verein” was organized by town founder J.F. Schmidt’s oldest son. He was director and his youngest son Christopher served as the organization’s president.
In 1877, the Singing Society (possibly re-organized from earlier group) formed the “Welcome Mannerchor” (men’s choir). The group obtained a state charter in 1892. Club members under the direction of song leader/ architect A.A. Baring designed and built a hall for club activities that began functions in 1899. The Welcome Hall still exists and was moved to Industry.
WESLEY is located on the Austin-Washington County line in far Northwest Austin County. Populated since the 1840s, Scottish immigrants first settled here in 1852, arriving from the Southern states. They purchased land in league proportions (4,428 acres) and brought a small colony of settlers (mostly relatives: Carmichaels, McCloeds, McLeans, McGregors and Campbells) to settle here. They farmed plantation style. After the Civil War the land was sub-divided and sold to Germans, Czechs, and AngloAmericans as the Scots left the area. Czech immigrants were here in 1858
and a community developed called “Veseli” (Czech for Joyous/happy) later anglicized to Wesley.
WESLEY BRETHREN CHURCH a Protestant Czech-Moravian Brethren (CMB) Church - the first of its kind in Texas - was organized here in 1864. In 1866 church members built a one-room single story rectangular wood frame church. The faintly Greek Revival structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1888-89 the minister (an untrained artist) B. Emil Lacjak began to paint the church interior for decorative and symbolic embellishment. His goal was to create a larger, richer appearance for the building, but work was never completed when he met an untimely death. A master plan was never revealed and was lost with the pastor. The primitive twodimensional folk art has classical elements and remains an intrigue for viewers interpretation.
A new sanctuary is used for religious services, and the historic church now serves as a museum and symbolic seat of Czech-Moravian Brethren Faith in Texas. It is an irreplaceable cultural resource and is the oldest painted church. Visits are by appointment only (979) 836-5196 or (979) 830-7741.
WELCOME
WESLEY
AUSTIN COUNTY
AUTOMOTIVE SALES/SERVICE
Riverside Tire Repair
12450 FM 1458 South
Sealy, TX 77474
979-885-4009
CONSTRUCTION/CUSTOM HOMES
K. Hovnanian Homes
Cane Crossing Estates – Sealy Bluebonnet Village - Bellville
325-238-6645
DINING
Prasek's Family Smokehouse
2949 SW I-10 Frontage Road
Sealy, TX 77474
979-627-6027
Saddleback Saloon Bar and Grill
207 Main Street
Sealy, TX 77474
979-885-7346
Tony's Family Restaurant
1629 Meyer Street
Sealy, TX 77474
979-885-4140
EDUCATION
Sealy Independent School District
Sealy, TX 77474
979-885-3516
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Austin County State Bank
325 Meyer Street
Sealy, TX 77474
979-627-6052
Citizen State Bank
222 Main Street
Sealy, TX 77474
979-885-3571
Lone Star Bank
307 Main Street
Sealy, TX 77474
979-885-6386
HEALTHCARE
1st Texas Home Health
324 Meyer Street
Sealy, TX 77474
979-877-0900
Columbus Physical Therapy 107 Shult Drive Columbus, TX 78934
979-732-5783
INSURANCE
State Farm Insurance
Lisa R. Noack, Agent
428 East Main Street Bellville, TX 77418
9797-865-3617
IRRIGATION SYSTEM
Texas Irrigation & Pipe, LLC
1870 Frelsburg Road Cat Spring, TX 78933
979-732-3970
LANDSCAPING
Menefee Landscape Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-3155
LODGING
Casa Colina 4077 FM 949
Sealy, TX 77474
713-724-0385
The Clubhouse Eagle Lake, TX 77434 Airbnb.com
MUSEUM
Flatonia Rail Museum 104 East South Main Street Flatonia, TX 78941 517-927-2727
PLUMBING
Early Birdie Plumbing Bellville, TX
832-544-6621
PORTABLE BUILDINGS
Knight Outdoor Products 4662 NE 1-10 Frontage Road
Sealy, TX 77474
979-608-2808
SWIMMING POOLS
Simonton Pool 6867 Muegge Road Sealy, TX 77474 281-831-6787
TITLE COMPANY
Bellville Abstract Co. 19 North Bell Street Bellville, TX 77418 979-865-3127
VENUE
Amsler Hills 6226 FM 949 Millheim, TX 77474 979-472-0901
VETERINARY
Sealy Veterinary Clinic 1430 Highway 36 North Sealy, TX 77474
979-885-4811
WATER WELL SERVICE
Neuendorff Water Well, Inc. 509 Veterans Drive Columbus, TX 78934
979-732-2897
WINE BAR / WINERY
Amsler Hills 6226 FM 949 Millheim, TX 77474
979-472-0901
AUSTIN
COUNTY
County Courthouse (979) 865-5911
1 E Main St. Bellville, TX 77418 www.austincounty.com
BELLVILLE
City of Bellville (979) 865-5911
30 S Holland St
Bellville, TX 77418 www.cityofbellville.com
Bellville Chamber of Commerce (979) 865-3407 742 W Main St
Bellville, TX 77418 www.bellville.com
BRAZOS COUNTRY
City of Brazos Country (979) 885-7264
316 Pecan Grove Sealy, TX 77474 www.brazoscountrytx.com
INDUSTRY
City of Industry (979) 357-2190 PO Box 190
Industry, TX 78944 www.industrytx.com
NEW ULM
New Ulm Chamber of Commerce (979) 885-7264 PO Box 55 New Ulm, TX 78950 www.newulmtexas.com
SAN FELIPE
City of San Felipe (979) 885-7035 927 6th Street PO Box 129
San Felipe, TX 77473 www.townofsanfelipe.net
SEALY
City of Sealy (979) 885-3511
415 Main Street PO Box 517
Sealy, TX 77474 www.ci.sealy.tx.us
Sealy Chamber of Commerce (979) 885-3222
309 Main Street Sealy, TX 77474 www.sealychamber.com
Austin County Emergency - 911
AUSTIN COUNTY NON-EMERGENCY
EMS - (979) 865-5911 x2263
Austin County Sheriff’s Department - (979) 865-3111
Bellville Police Department - (979) 865-3122
CHI St. Joseph Health Bellville Hospital - (979) 413-7400
Sealy Police Department - (979) 885-2913
Wallis Police Department - (979) 478-7111
B&PW Park (979) 885-3511
This park is located at 1008 Main Street. The parks amenities include T-ball field, baseball fields (3) softball field, playground equipment, basketball court, tennis courts, fishing lake, walking and jogging track, pavilion, covered picnic tables, soccer field and restrooms.
Abe & Irene Levine Family Park (979) 885-3511
Located at 406 Main Street (centrally located, across the street from City Hall). The amenities include playground equipment, gazebo, pavilion, sand volleyball courts, splash pad, covered picnic tables and restrooms.
Jacqueline A. Cryan Memorial Park (979) 885-3511
This park is located at 1500 Miller Rd. The amenities include swimming pool, skate park, walking/ jogging trail, picnic areas and fishing pond.
Joe Scranton Jr. Park (979) 885-3511
This park is located at 96 Daniels Street (east area of town). The amenities include baseball/softball field, playground equipment, basketball court, barbecue pits, covered picnic tables and restrooms.
Mark Frederick Memorial Park (979) 885-3511
Located at 131 Brookside Lane (southwest area of town). The amenities include basketball court, playground equipment and covered picnic tables.
Sealy Visitors Bureau (979) 885-3222
309 Main Street Sealy, TX 77474 www.visitsealy.com
WALLIS
City of Wallis (979) 885-3511
6810 Guyler, Bldg B PO Box 190
Wallis, TX 77485 www.wallistexas.org
Wallis Chamber of Commerce (979) 478-6712
6810 Guyler, #800 Wallis, TX 77485 www.wallischamber.com
Skate Texas (979) 627-7124
www.skatetexas.com
Located at 3701 Outlet Center Drive, Suite 370. Skate Texas is a family owned and operated roller-skating facility. Having been in the business for over 20 years, they are excited to bring a one-of-a-kind family entertainment facility to Sealy, Texas.
Texas Premier Sporting Arms (979) 627-7827 or (713) 826-1981
www.texaspremiersportingarms.com
Texas Premier Sporting Arms is a family owned and Aggie operated shooting range and club, located just 25 minutes west of Katy and five miles from I-10.
BELLVILLE
Austin County Jail Museum
36 South Bell Street
Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-5911
Tours: Saturday 11am-3pm Or by appointment
INDUSTRY
Friedrich Ernst Memorial Park Schroeder Road – Off FM 109
Open to public all year round and serves both as a historic site and recreational facility.
Structures in the park: Republic of Texas Post Office
Markers:
First Permanent German Settlement in Texas
Friedrich Ernst-Industry town founder
John Griedrch Ernst, Jr.-Son of the town founder
BELLVILLE
The 1927 Club
1076 Highway 159 East Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-5995 www.austincountyfair.com
Austin County Convention & Expo Center 1076 Highway 159 East Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-5995 www.austincountyfair.com
Concordia Hall
952 South Tesch Street
Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-5763
Emery’s Buffalo Creek 10827 Highway 36 Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-0702
www.emerybuffalocreek.com
Industry Methodist Church 1914 Main Street Industry, TX 78944
979-357-2368
Tours by appointment only
Gin Museum
725 Main Street Industry, TX 78944
979-357-2772
Tours by appointment only
Knolle Doctor’s Office Museum
9021 Highway 109 North Industry, TX 78944
979-357-2772
Tours by appointment only
Welcome Hall
9021 Highway 109 North Industry, TX 78944
979-357-4749
Tours by appointment only
Lindemann Store Museum
2227 Main Street Industry, TX 78944
979-357-2772
Tours by appointment only
SAN FELIPE
San Felipe de Austin State
Historic Site FM 1458
San Felipe, TX 77473
979-885-2181
Open to the public
San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site Museum 220 Second Street San Felipe, TX 77473
979-885-2181
Open daily 9am-5pm
San Felipe Methodist Church 201 Vicaro Guerero
San Felipe, TX 77474
979-885-2181
By appointment only
SEALY
Heritage Park
Main Street & Silliman Street
Sealy, TX 77474
832-492-4244
By appointment only
Structures in the park: Old Sealy Jail
Hackbarth House (1880s)
Railroad Work Car
Nearby is the Old Sealy Jail (Calaboose) 1920s
Sens Activity Center
200 Briar Ridge Drive
Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-3136 www.cityofbellville.com
Turnverein hall 1076 Highway 159 East Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-5995 www.austincountyfair.com
CAT SPRING
Cat Spring Hall 13035 Hall Road
Cat Spring, TX 78933
979-865-2540
Eastwood Supper Club At Carol’s At Cat Spring 10745 FM 949
Cat Spring, TX 78933
832-721-5131
MEETING A EVENT FACILITIES
SAN FELIPE
San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site
Old 300 Meeting Room 220 2nd Street
San Felipe, TX 77473
979-885-2181
SEALY
Liedertafel Hall 116 LUX road
Sealy, TX 77474
979-885-3511 www.sealy.ci.tx.us
Sealy American Legion Hall 1630 Meyer Street
Sealy, TX 77474
979-885-7271
Sealy Knights of Columbus Hall 1310 Highway 90 West
Sealy, TX 77474
979-885-6370
www.sealykofc.org
W.E. Hill Community Center 1000 Main Street
Sealy, TX 77474
979-885-3511
www.sealy.ci.tx.us
Wolf Pack Bar and Grill
211 West Front Street
Sealy, TX 77474
832-706-3856
www.wolfpackbarandgrill.com
SEALY A AUSTIN COUNTY CHURCHES
BELLVILLE
Back to God Revival
Holiness Church
835 West Austin Street
Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-8916
Worship Sunday 11am
Bellville United Methodist Church
234 South Masonic Street
979-865-5976
Bellville, TX 77418
Worship Sunday 11am
Bethlehem Missionary
Baptist Church
6714 FM 529
Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-2523
Worship Sunday 11am
Christian Faith Church
520 South Front Street
Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-5464
Worship Sunday 10am
Christian Science Society
114 East Hilburn Street
Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-5605
Worship Sunday 10am
Church of Christ
817 East Wendt Street
Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-2279
Worship Sunday 10am
First Baptist Church of Bellville
504 East Strauss Street
Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-3644
Worship Sunday 10:45am
Grace Community Church
707 West Main Street
Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-5177
Worship Sunday 10am
Historic Allen Chapel
AME Church
704 West Carver Street
Bellville, TX 7718
979-865-5558
Worship Sunday 11am
Isaiah Community AME Church
988 Lisa Mae Road
Bellville, TX 77418
979-530-2858
Worship Sunday 9:45am & 11am
Worship Wednesday 7pm
Mill Creek Church
631 South Mechanic Street
Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-8064
Worship Sunday 10am
Morning Star Cowboy Church
1566 TX- 497 Loop
Bellville, TX 77418
979-732-4701
Worship Sunday 10:30am
Mt Zion Missionary
Baptist Church 2317 Newsom Road Bellville, TX 77418
New Direction Baptist Church
114 South Front Street
Bellville, TX 77418
979-277-2154
Worship Sunday 11am
St. Barnabas Anglican Church
237 West Austin Street
Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-9457
Worship Sunday 10am
St. John Lutheran Church
520 North Holland Street Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-2081
Worship Saturday 6pm
Worship Sunday 8am and 10:30am
St Mary’s Episcopal Church
24 North Masonic Street Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-2330
Worship Sunday 10:30am
Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church
936 South Front Street Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-2368
Worship Tuesday & Thursday 7:30am
Worship Saturday 5pm
Worship Sunday 10am
CAT SPRING
St. John Lutheran Church 480 Ross Street Cat Spring, TX 78933
979-865-5444
Worship Sunday 10am
INDUSTRY
Immaculate Conception
Catholic Church 15994 Highway 159 Industry, TX 78944
979-357-2829
Worship Sunday 8am
Worship Wednesday 6:30pm
Industry Brethren Church
2758 Main Street Industry, TX 78944
979-249-3905
Worship Saturday 5pm (second, third, & fourth)
Industry United Methodist Church 1914 Main Street Industry, TX 78944
979-357-2136
Worship Sunday 10:35am
West End Baptist Church 7577 Ernst Parkway Industry, TX 78944
979-357-267
Worship Sunday 10:45am
NELSONVILLE
Nelsonville Brethren Church
332 Nelsonville Church Road Bellville, TX 77418
979-865-3026
Worship Sunday 10:15am
NEW ULM
Sts. Peter & Paul’s Catholic Church (Frelsburg) 1031 Church Lane
New Ulm, TX 78950
979-732-3430
Worship Saturday 6pm
Worship Sunday 8:30am & 10:30 (Latin)
Worship Tuesday and Thursday 6pm
Worship Wednesday and Friday 8am
St. John Lutheran Church 211 Hickory Street
New Ulm, TX 78950
979-992-3629
Worship Sunday 10:30am
SAN FELIPE
New Prairie View Baptist 4303 Sealy Road
San Felipe, TX 77473
979-885-6836
Worship Sunday 10:30am
New Day Deliverance Church at Willow River Farm 4073 FM 3318
San Felipe, TX 77473
281-773-7566
Worship Sunday 9am
San Felipe United Methodist Church 201 Vicaro Gueriro San Felipe, TX 77473
979-885-4003
Worship Sunday 10am
SEALY
All Around Cowboy Church 5812 Crosstree Lane Sealy, TX 77474 (979) 885-1155
Worship Wednesday 7pm
Worship Sunday 10am
Christian City Fellowship 5243 Highway 36 North Sealy, TX 77474 (979) 885-3113
Worship Wednesday 7pm
Worship Sunday 10am
First Baptist Church of Sealy 707 8th Street
Sealy, TX 77474 (979) 885-3302
Worship Sunday 11am
First United Methodist Church
200 Atchison Street Sealy, TX 77474 (979) 885-2223
Worship Sunday 8am
First Presbyterian Church of Sealy 172 Selman Drive Sealy, TX 77474 (979) 885-3993
Worship Sunday 10am
Grace Fellowship 1115 Miller Road Sealy, TX 77474 (281) 702-5602 or (281) 702-5601
Worship Sunday 10:15am
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
608 5th Street
Sealy, TX 77474 (979) 885-3868
Worship Tuesday / Spanish 6pm
Worship Wednesday 6pm
Worship Thursday-Friday 10am
Worship Saturday 5pm
Worship Sunday 9am / noon Spanish
Lifebridge Community Church 2162 FM 2187 Road Sealy, TX 77474 (979) 885-7270
Worship Sunday 10am
New Life Sanctuary United Pentecostal Church 129 2nd Street Sealy, TX 77474 (979) 627-7194
Worship Sunday 10:30am
St. John Episcopal Church
515 Meyer Street Sealy, TX 77474 (979) 885-2359
Worship Sunday 10am
St. Paul AME Church
400 San Felipe Road Sealy, TX 77474 (979) 885-2419
Worship Sunday 10:30am Facebook Live
The ROM Church 314 Fowlkes Street Sealy, TX 77474 832-841-0042
Worship Sunday 10:10am, first and third
The Shepherd’s Way Church 1225 Eagle Lake Road Sealy, TX 77474 (979) 885-1225
Worship Sunday 10am
Trinity Lutheran Church of Sealy 402 Atchison Street Sealy, TX 77474 (979) 885-2211
Worship Sunday 10am
WALLIS
Evan’s Chapel AME Wallis
7115 Marek Road Wallis, TX 77485
Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church 208 8th Street Wallis, TX 77485
281-513-8495
Worship Sunday 11am, first - third
Worship Sunday, 8am, fourth and fifth
First Wallis Baptist Church
6911 Westgate Street Wallis, TX 77485
979-478-6595
Worship Sunday 10:30am
Galilee Missionary Baptist Church
6929 Harry Street Wallis, TX 77485
979-478-7336
Worship Sunday 10am
Guardian Angel Catholic Church
6510 Demel Street Wallis, TX 77485
979-478-6532
Worship Saturday 6:30pm
Worship Sunday 9:30am and 11am
Worship Wednesday 9am (first, third)
Worship Wednesday 11am (second, fourth)
Worship Friday 9am
St. John Lutheran Church
218 North 3rd Street Wallis, TX 77485
979-478-7118
Worship Sunday 9am
St. Paul Lutheran Church
515 Cedar Street Wallis, TX 77485
979-478-6741
Worship Sunday 9am
Wallis United Methodist Church
123 Birch Street Wallis, TX 77485
281-384-8437
Worship Sunday 10am
WESLEY
Wesley Brethren 9643 Wesley Church Lane
Brenham, TX 77833
979-836-0672
Worship Sunday 9am
