SPRING 2014
Published quarterly by the Robertson County News • SPRING 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
advertising index Pizza Hut
Page 3
Wilson Drugs
Page 6
Hearne Chamber of Commerce Page 6 Mikes Wrecker Service
Page 7
Te-Jo’s
Page 7
Toodies BBQ
Page 7
Robertson County News
Page 7
Sleep Inn
Page 8
First Start Bank
Page 10
Robertson County Printing
Page 11
CarQuest
Page 11
Penny’s Diner
Page 12
Oaktree Inn
Page 13
Amigos
Page 13
Robertson County Bank
Page 13
Camp Hearne
Page 13
A&M Cajun Soul Restarant
Page 14
Dixie Cafe
Page 14
Stoney’s Liquor
Page 14
Ace Hardware
Page 14
Jan Roe
Page 16
JOIN THE LIST ABOVE
feature story
J&S TIRE CENTER Great meal at a Great price
page 4
Page 8
Page 7
“Before Seed – Beyond Harvest”
Robertson County Living is published quarterly by the Robertson County Living. RCL offers readers a positive perspective of Robertson County as well as providing the information they need about our restaurants, hotels, arts and businesses. Your business can can reach these visitors through advertising in this magazine. Call 979-279-3411 and ask for Teresa. Advertising in this magazine is effective and affordable. 3,000 copies distributed quarterly.
Two new locations in Robertson County
Page 9
Calvert & Bremond
Page 11
Page 10
Page 12
D avid M ichael B rady
AREA-WIDE ATTRACTIONS
Robertson County Living is available online at
www.robconews.com. This magazine is a free publication published by the Robertson County News. Feel free to take this copy, we will restock as needed.
2 Robertson County Living • Spring 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
page 15 15 Page
Robertson County Living • Spring 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
3
Melissa Freeman | Robertson County News
For Robertson County Judge Jan Roe, the rennovation has been a passion and labor of pride. Combined efforts with the Robertson County Commissioners have brought the courthouse back to the people of Robertson County.
4
Robertson County Living • Spring 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
c
c m |R
ourthousehistory . o
obertson
N
County
ews
This postcard image depicts the Robertson County Courthouse in 1882. This image shows the tower above.This was believed to hold four clock faces, one on each side.
Melissa Freeman | Robertson County News
The Historic Jail which is located on the courthouse square was also rennovated to house adult as well as juvenile probation.
Texas Courthouses are legendry. Tabletop books are produced about them, tourists visit them, and counties brag about them. Maybe it’s a reflection of the Texas spirit—Texans tend to glorify government that’s close and personal, government they can touch and influence. So, historically (and especially since the Civil War and Reconstruction), Texans have built big and beautiful courthouses and hired famous architects to make sure they were not disappointed. Robertson County went with the trend in 1881—hired the courthouse architect and sent its house of government soaring into the blue skies above Franklin. In the 1920s, the Courthouse needed remodeling and more practical heads must have prevailed. The result was an attractive enough building, but following the alteration, the “soaring” by Mellisa Freeman | Robertson County Living
effect was gone—the 5 towers, a tall one in the center and four to mark the four corners, were removed. The sweeping, arched, twostory windows were replaced with much shorter, more practical ones. Inside, the building no longer sported a two-story tall, undeniably grand courtroom. The County needed the office space and couldn’t afford big open ones. By 2007 the renovation was long overdue. Officials were praying that the a/c units and central heat would last through each budget cycle (both had leaks that couldn’t be stopped for long), county officials had run out of space (“We were on top of each other,” says County Judge Jan Roe), and the idea of returning the courthouse to its original grandeur had already been proposed by retiring Judge Fred Elliott. The seed had been planted, the Courthouse square designated an historic site, so renovations needed to be” historic-looking.” To a county used to pinching pennies flat, the task looked daunting. Enter Judge Jan Roe and a slate of new
commissioners. Judge Elliott had managed to get the reconstruction plan drawn up for a faction of the usual cost--$30,000 as opposed to a typical cost of over $100,000—but the grant proposal to the Texas Historical Commission including the plan had been turned down. In truth, a return to the 1880s structure with more courtroom space than office space was actually even less practical in 2007 than it was in the 1920s—office needs had probably more than doubled by then. The solution? Return the exterior to 1881 but modify the inside to look like the period, but with space for county administrators—some of them, at least. To make room for the rest, the County decided to build an Annex mimicking in appearance the 1920s structure— made of the same materials and connected to the reconstructed historic courthouse—and reconstruct the historic jail to house juvenile and adult probation. During historic courthouse reconstruction, the Annex provided space for some
Robertson County Living • Spring 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
5
county offices; others like Robertson County DPS and the probation offices were housed in buildings around the square. Seven years later, Roe and her commissioners got it done. Almost all county officials and law enforcement entities are housed in the courthouse, its annex, or the historic jai—all on the square. Offices are spacious and well-appointed, the Annex sports a state-of-the-art Emergency Management Center which will probably become a training center for law enforcement and emergency management entities across the region—it’s that high tech— all done in time and under budget. The high tech equipment came from grants awarded after 9/11; much of the furniture, interior doors and windows, etc., were reused in different locations. “We’ve been careful to spend county money wisely,” said Roe. To many, including Roe, it seems like it was “meant to be,” as if a perfect plan came together. First, in 2007, Roe and a panel of new commissioners came into office—people who were energetic and had not been worn down by the demands of public office. Next, the County came into money—lots of natural gas money. When unanticipated and unbudgeted revenues came in, they were saved to cover construction costs. The County made modifications to Judge Elliott’s plan and ran with it. Roe adds that County Clerk Kathy Brimhall contributed much of the historical research essential to the plan. One question that remains unanswered is, “Did the original courthouse have a clock it its central tower?” The single courthouse picture isn’t clear enough to answer the question. Some residents who swear that it did claim they remember it. That was pre-1924—not impossible to
6
Robertson County Living • Spring 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
remember but we’re talking 90 years. The commissioners’ court decided to go with the clock. But back to today--in seven years, the County went from 19,500 square feet to 43,000 square feet of space and its courthouse soared into the skies again. What were Roe’s and the commissioners’ greatest challenges over that 7 year period? “Getting the Annex finished,” said Roe without any hesitation. Apparently, the County’s out of town contractors did not put the Robertson County courthouse annex high on their priority list. Getting people to come and work was difficult for both Roe and construction manager/liaison Jim Hanks. “It just drug,” said Roe. With historic courthouse contractor J. E. Kingham out of Bryan, it’s been entirely different. Kingham has done what he said he would do, when he said he would do it. Getting Mr. Hanks was fortunate as well. Franklin ISD recommended him and he’s a local fellow so he had a stake in the project The last two steps in the current project were altering the annex offices to house law enforcement (the SO, constables for precincts 1, 2, and 3, DPS and emergency management) and completing the historic jail reconstruction. With the treasurer, county auditor, judge and offices directly answerable to the judge (they share with third floor with her), and DA’s suite in the historic courthouse, the County was able to alter the vacated annex basement and second floor to house its law enforcement entities. With alterations like bullet proof walls and glass and secured entrances, law enforcement and emergency management moved in. Some walls had to be removed but in most cases, doors were simply moved to create new office spaces.
Returning to the historic courthouse, one of the biggest beneficiaries was the District/ County Attorney’s suite. Take the Victim’s Advocate’s office for example. Cindy Wallace not only has her own space but also a play room for kiddos coming out of abusive situations. County Attorney Coty Siegert’s office is spacious and attractive--all secure with staff behind locked doors. And here are two bonuses that might not have been anticipated. First, there’s the County vault that had been shut up for decades. It took three construction companies to get it open, but what they found is an historic treasure. The vault features floor to ceiling brass drawers, gold leaf labels, and doors and shudders that are literally heavy as lead. The shutters take a muscle man or a machine to move. It’s a priceless step back in time. And speaking of steps back, that’s exactly the feeling one gets in the old jail. It’s repainted using the original colors (believe me, you don’t see that particular blue any more) and still features some of the original iron doors and door bars. Seeing the front porch and balcony above, one envisions Matt Dillon or some long-legged sheriff sitting on the porch, leaning back in a chair, and resting his boots on a rail. What’s next? The County plans to move its Election Center out of the mobile home it occupies and either built or purchase another building, and possibly built a justice center. For now, the County will complete the courthouse grounds landscaping, construct and place replica benches, and complete the historic display area on the east lawn featuring items collected from the courthouse and jail. On April 7, the fountain—a replica of the original—pumped out water again. Nice touch.
Melissa Freeman | Robertson County Living
Lee Perrone wants to welcome everyone back to the Potato Shack.
the side, butter, and cheddar cheese. The BBQ potato has chopped beef, butter, cheddar cheese, chives, and sour cream—sound like a meal? One can get potatoes with traditional stuffings like cheese, bacon, sour cream and chives. Fillings can include chicken in grilled or fried form, and a variety of cheeses and sauces. Fajita meat—beef or chicken with the grilled onions and peppers-- can top a potato. And at lunch—one can get a big potato with big toppings for $5. Perrone also sells a host of appetizers, either half or whole orders, a variety of drinks and Blue Bell ice cream. In addition to the lunch special, one can get the Friday special -- $3.99 per potato—or the regular dinner special of $12.99 for two potatoes and
Lee Perrone has been in the potato restaurant business since January 1998, so he knows his spuds.
He also knows how to give a customer a full meal at a very reasonable price. If you’re passing through Hearne between 6 a.m (the breakfast specials are good too) and 9 p.m., and your wallet feels flatter than your stomach—Potato Shack is your solution. Perrone opened the Hearne Potato Shack in August 2013. He received a warm welcome, but after a month or so, the report went out that quality had suffered. So Lee returned and took over the store himself. Perrone also added breakfast to the menu and some mornings, the counter area is as packed as a can of Vienna
sausage. The word on the street now is that one can get an ample breakfast for a good price. Business is coming back, quality has come up, and Potato Shack is one of the only local restaurants that delivers. Lee will bring the food himself. Potato Shack potatoes come stuffed with all kinds of good things. The chicken fried steak potato is a favorite. The Buffalo wings potato has Buffalo chicken meat, homemade ranch dressing on
by Mellisa Freeman | Robertson County Living
two large drinks. A family of three can be satisfied with that one. I know from experience. Perrone has plans for the future. He is working to secure a beer license and when he does, he plans to have crawfish boils on Saturday. He wants to add outside seating and expand his catering service. He can handle large orders. For those who might have been disappointed in the past or those who haven’t tasted a Potato Shack spud or breakfast, Lee says, “Give us a try!” Robertson County Living • Spring 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
7
Melissa Freeman | Robertson County Living
Junior Swonke takes pride in customer service first!
Junior Swonke received the “Best of Robertson County Tire Dealer” award for a reason—maybe several. J & S Tire Center is full service and they deliver. by Mellisa Freeman | Robertson County Living
8
Swonke has been in the business for 12 years in the same location—Highway 79 just west of Franklin—and during that time, he has built up an incredibly loyal customer base. One indicator of that loyalty is Swonke’s service area. It’s not just Franklin. He has customers in Rosebud-Lott, Snook, Bryan/College Station, Madisonville, Normangee, and Jewett. That says a lot.
Robertson County Living • Spring 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
One reason for that dedication is J & S will come to you. They will change oil in your tractor in the field. They will come to your home to do the work or bring in your vehicle and take it back. That’s a god-spend for people who have a hard time fitting a trip to the shop into their work and after work schedules. Junior mentioned that his service man makes a lot of trips to the
schools, to the courthouse, to the title companies, and to other local businesses. Those services are broad as well. Battery dead? Call J & S. His crew changes oil, sells batteries (Interstate), and handles just about every tire brand—Cooper being first on the list. He sells car parts and, during my visit, he was looking at a tire pressure censor for Gaas truck out of Bryan. Junior also sells from used tires, mostly the bigger sizes. J & S is also known for its fast service and fair prices. Junior still puts his customers first.
The significance of the Sanders Company motto, “Before Seed – Beyond Harvest,” 60 years. Founder “Mr. Jimmy” will become increasingly Sanders was a local farming evident to local farmers and legend. ranchers as Recentthey explore ly, Sandwhat this ers went multi-facetnationwide ed, broadwhen it range service became a company can subsidiary do for them. of Pinnacle Sanders is Corponot just a ration, feed store. founded Its goal is by Kenny to provide Cardell, ag producformer ers with everything Melissa Freeman | Robertson County Living president they need to Mike Newton is fast becoming the go to and CPO of United maximize man for local agriculture. Agriculturtheir harvest al Products, and began offering and minimize the negatives to its customers everything a often associated with modern nationally-based company can farming and ranching—fertilprovide. izer run-off and insecticide First, on site, the Hearne pollution. location offers seeds and chemSanders established its local office in Hearne on Septem- ical herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Seeds include ber 1, 2013, and immediately cotton, corn, milo, soybeans, started improving the long wheat, and watermelons. But neglected Zeig building on the with the chemical products corner of Hwy. 6 and FM 485. come custom application. Location manager Mike NewSanders has agreements with ton thanks City Manager Pee Wee Drake and the city’s utility local areal appliers, but it can also do something so high tech, man, Terry Thomas, for their it changes the face of farming help in getting the business up and ranching as well as enviand going. Sanders, which began as a family owned business ronmental control. Newton describes specialty in 1953, has been serving the ag precision technology this mid-south region, specifically way. Sanders technicians dithe Mississippi delta, for over
by Mellisa Freeman | Robertson County Living
vide a property into a grid and test the soil grid by grid. Then the company provides the fertilizer and application to fit the needs of each grid. That does two things. First, the farmer only buys the fertilizer he or she needs. Second, the soil gets the precise amount and balance it needs. And third, fertilizer does not run off into the Little Brazos or Brazos and create mounds of oxygen-sucking, fish-killing green algae downstream. Sanders’ OptiGro technologies brochure describes it this way: “Soil sampling with web-based data analysis, accessible any time; variablerate prescriptions for seed and fertilizer; pivot analysis post-season yield assessment.” Newton said that local farmers are already taking advantage of these high tech solutions. That makes sense because families that made the Brazos bottom their home in the 1920s, mostly Italian, came with techniques far superior to their predecessors’. With reasonable weather, farmers are likely to recover the cost of testing in improved harvests and lower fertilizer costs. Preventing chemical runoff is another Sanders OptiGro goal. Newton mentioned lakes in the Waco area that became so polluted that area dairies had to move to west Texas. We
don’t want that to happen here, he said. For farmers who are frightened by the initial cost of precision technology, Sanders offers “a selection of competitive, flexible farm financing and credit products, including operating and input loans via Farmline Finance.” It promises to evaluate applications quickly and confidentially. Sanders is also committed to safety. As a member of AsMark, the industry is committed to storing all chemicals safely. If something does happen, each employee has at his fingertips a color-coded list of who to call for what problem. Manager Mike Newton and warehouse manager Matt Copora know Brazos Valley farming. Newton, a graduate of Texas A & M and longtime College Station resident, has been involved in Brazos Valley agriculture for over 22 years. As for Copora, the name says it all. Said Newton, “We would like to continue the same family-oriented service [the Sanders family is famous for]. We want to be a member of the Hearne community.” He appreciates the way the city of Hearne worked closely with Sanders to make Hearne its Brazos valley location, serving farmers and ranchers from Robertson to Grimes County.
Robertson County Living • Spring 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
9
The old saying was that after the Hearne Walmart closed, you couldn’t buy clothes or shoes in Robertson County.
The Walmart had forced the mom and pop stores out of business and then closed itself down, leaving the County bereft. That changed when the dollar stores came to Hearne and then to Franklin, but if you lived in Calvert and Bremond, you still had to drive somewhere to cover yourself. Image the joy when Family Dollar announced it would open stores in both cities. Cathy Grantham, manager of the Bremond store that opened in February, said that she has never experienced a welcome like the one she has enjoyed in Bremond. “I’ve opened three new stores,” she said,
but “the welcome I got in Bremond tops them all.” At least one reason for the warm welcome is obvious—two others deserve a look. First, Calvert and Bremond residents were tired of driving for miles to get most items—especially in an emergency situation and with mounting gas prices. Second and maybe not so obvious, Cathy is a lady people like to buy from. She knew a lot of her current customers from the Marlin store she used to manage. Cathy doesn’t mind talking to folks. And she enjoys the Family Dollar promotions. “Buy food,” she called out to customers last week-Family Dollar was having a foodselling contest. Contests are fun, she said, and it was obvious the fun was spilling over to the customers. Third, Calvert Manager Brian Davis pointed out that Family Dollar accessed the needs of the
by Mellisa Freeman | Robertson County Living
10 Robertson County Living • Spring 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
community and stocked its shelves to meet those needs. Calvert-based county commissioner Keith Petitt believes they succeeded. After cruising around the store and looking at the items offered, Petitt was impressed. “This is such a boom for Calvert—for the growth of the town and the residents,” he said. Just looking at one isle, he noticed a lot of items residents are pleased to find close to home—items like pharmaceuticals folks may need in a hurry. Davis also mentioned EDLP— or Every Day Low Pricing—that makes Family Dollar competitive. On its own brands and nationally known ones, Family Dollar plans to offer prices that are easy on the pocketbook. The Family Dollar corporation honored both Bremond and Franklin with managers with lots of experience. Brian is new to Family Dollar but he’s managed an Albertsons,
Home Depot, and a Brookshires. At some point, he got tired of big city life and decided to come home to the Grosbeck area. In March, he signed on with Family Dollar and prepared to come to Calvert. The store opening was delayed a little—first by the need for extensive site work and then by a change in contractors. But on April 2, the store opened. The Grand Opening followed on April 12, and folks started shopping. Grantham has a long history with Family Dollar, but the move to Bremond was a whole new thing. “The people have been so wonderful. I feel right at home. They did everything but give us a parade to make us welcome.” Since it opened on February 20, the Bremond Family Dollar has done better than projected. On the day I visited, the lines at the counter were long, and as soon as Cathy checked out those customers, another line started to form. It seems safe to say that Bremond and Calvert are excited to have Family Dollar in their neighborhoods.
Melissa Freeman | Robertson County Living
A familiar Franklin face behind the register, Melissa Romas.
The Lone Star Burger Bar opened in 1988 when sisters Tina Ely and Teresa Martin decided to offer good food to Franklin residents. They did and got quite a name for themselves. Twenty years later, they sold the store to Kimberly Tidwell who added a coffee house, and less than a
by Mellisa Freeman | Robertson County Living
year later, a long-time employee of the sisters, Melissa Romas, bought it. Maintaining the quality, trying out new recipes, and putting quality over economy-“quality supersedes price” is what Melissa is all about. You can talk about the Burger Bar for a long time and not cover it all. It’s got some entries people can’t get enough of like the chicken salad fruit plate and the fried baked potatoes—
several varieties. The fried baked potato came out of a conversation about how anything can be fried. And wha-la! The coffee is simply the best in the county—at least this coffee snob thinks so. The Burger Bar features burgers on some really tasty buns but the restaurant’s name is a little deceptive because its lunch and dinner items and daily specials are almost too numerous to mention. The catfish fillet dinner on Thursdays and Fridays packs in the fish lovers. Sunday dinner after church is Romas’ busiest time, however. Recently, the Sunday special was grilled chicken, avocado salad and crisp corn. What’s crisp corn? Well, Melissa says, she learned all she knows about cooking from Tiny and Teresa but admits to cruising the internet for interesting recipes. If she’s intrigued by one, she’s brave enough to try it out. Guests can look for all kinds of sweet treats in the bakery display case—chocolate chip cookies and pineapple cake looked very appealing on the day I visited, and there’s always
Blue Bell in the freezer. But if a guest wants something that’s not exactly on the menu, he or she can ask. County Election Administrator Trudy Hancock says, “You can get what you want how you want it.” Calvin Hooker of Camp Creek echoed that sentiment. He said as he bit into his burger that he appreciated the fact that the Burger Bar allowed an adult to get the junior burger. “I can’t eat a 1/2 pound burger,” he added. But those who can really appreciate an entire half pound of good beef can get it. So if you’re hungry for a big burger or a smaller turkey burger, a 16 oz. rib eye steak or a cup of homemade chicken salad, a fried baked potato with chicken fried steak tenders or a fresh fruit bowl, you can get it at the Lone Star Burger Bar. While savoring, look at Jeff Munson’s Texas-inspired mural which takes up much of the west wall—it’s a beauty. The Lone Star Burger Bar is open 7 days a week, 7:30 to 2:00, Friday till 9 pm. It’s family owned and operated.
Robertson County Living • Spring 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
11
One thing that still amazes Helen Groholski is
that after years in the sausage business, she still loves it; in fact, she can’t imagine doing anything else. Walking into Groholski’s grocery (now mostly sausage plant), one might assume she loves it for the delicious smells. Groholski’s smells like a sausagelover’s dream. Or it could be love of Polish tradition—sausage being the basis of a lot of traditional Polish food. But actually, it’s something else entirely. “I’m a people person,” says Helen. “[Selling sausage], I get to see my old friends and meet new ones. It’s the spice of life.”
by Mellisa Freeman | Robertson County Living
For 60 years, Groholski sausage has been a Bremond and Robertson County tradition. Everyone in the Groholski family has either made it or sold it. All four of Helen’s sons have
made it. It’s one thing people go to Polish Days for—even if they have to travel 200 miles to get there. And Groholski’s will be ready. The days before the June 20-21 event, they will produce almost 1,700 lbs. of sausage. That’s a lot of grinding and smoking. The family recipe was developed 60 years ago when Lee Groholski started up the sausage business. Sons Richard and Elzi kept the business going, and grandson K. L., with the help of Howard Vann, is grinding and smoking sausage today—in addition to his school duties. K. L.,
12 Robertson County Living • Spring 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
former Robertson County principal and superintendent (Bremond and Calvert) is a public school professional as well. On a typical weekend, K. L. and Howard Melissa Freeman | Robertson County Living produce about Hard at work, turning out the links. 300 lbs. of sausage for fresh pork shoulder, squeezed folks who make purchases on into natural pork casings, then Friday and Saturday. In addition hung in a smoker for several to the sausage, Groholski’s also hours. How many? Well, said K. sells cheese, summer sausage and L. and Howard, “That depends.” bacon on those days, says Helen. They go by the color, not by time The sausage is wrapped since times are variable. “We look in freezer paper and comes in for that good purple color,” said several varieties: Hot and spicy or Howard. When the sausage takes regular links, bun-size regular and on a purple tinge, it’s ready. hot and spicy, or pan sausage— Though spices are added regular and spicy. for the hot and spicy, Groholski All varieties are ground from sausage has no other additives.
David Michael Brady
Local artist, David Michael Brady is the owner and manager of The Potter’s House L.L.C. located at 1916 Vaughn Lane in Hearne, Texas, 77859 The Potter’s House L.L.C. was opened in 1994 by Brady. As an artist Brady does not only paints, but he does pottery. He has taken advanced ceramic seminar classes at San Joes University, Georgia State University, and Corpus Christi University. Brady graduated from Midland Lee High School in Midland, Texas and then attended
three different colleges, HardinSimmons University, Lon Morris College, and Midland College, all for art purposes. Furthering Brady’s experience in art he is a member of the NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, the Dallas Art Association, the Galveston Art Center, the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, and the Southwest Museum of Fine Arts. Brady has shown his work at The Frame Center in Houston, at Red Brick Gallery in Bryan, and The Potters House L.L.C. in
Hearne. He has participated in the Texas Tour in 2009, 2001, and in 2012. In Brady’s artist statement he said “Pursuing thoughts and ideas freely with positive surroundings and getting fantastic results. You can channel your ‘raw energy’ in many different directions such as engineering, quantum physics, medical surgery and master oil painters. Breaking out from the basics of what you have learned over the years and learning how to invent something new is hard, but not impossible.” Brady uses texture in his painting s to create a 3-D effect. By doing this he creates a more eye-popping painting. All of Brady’s original landscapes are from his world travels while working in third world gold mines as a mining inspector. Brady encourages people to come out and look at his work at The Potter’s House in Hearne. You can contact him at (713) 2942648.
by Suzan Hoskins | Robertson County Living
Experience the
Hometown Difference 979-828-2200 www.fnbhuntsvilletx.com Member FDIC Huntsville • Crockett • Madisonville • Franklin • Bryan/College Station, LPO
ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR STUFFED CRUST
Robertson County Living • Spring 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
13
Summer...
14 Robertson County Living • Spring 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
AREA-WIDE ATTRACTIONS Bremond Bremond Historical Society Museum 217 S Main St, Bremond Phone: (254) 746-5008
Bremond Library and Info Center 115 South Main Street, Bremond Hours: Mon - Tue: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Wed - Fri: 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sat: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Phone: (254)-746-7752 Email: bremondpubliclibrary@yahoo.com Website: www.bremondtxlibrary.com Calvert Virginia Field Park Pavilion circa 1895 Located on Pin Oak Dr between Burnett and Barton Streets. Phone: (979)-364-2559 Franklin Carnegie Library 315 E. Deckerd, Franklin Hours: Mon - Fri 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Phone: (979)-828-4331 Email: carnegie@valornet.com Website: www.franklincarnegielibrary.com Franklin Drive-Thru Safari 4324 Hwy 79 W., Franklin Hours: Mon - Sun: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Phone: (979)-828-5256 Email: franklinsafari@aol.com Website: www.franklinsafari.com Calendar events can be emailed to news@robconews.com.
Franklin Ranch Community Park 2925 N. FM 46, Franklin Hours: Mon - Sun: 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Phone: (979) 828-3042 Email: dhudspeth@franklinisd.net Website: www.thefranklinranch.com
Hearne Hearne Depot Railroad Museum 309 North Market Street Hearne Hours: Wed - Sat: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Phone: (979) 279-2351
Website: www.hearnetexas.info Camp Hearne POW Camp History Museum On the corner of 485 & Fairground Rd. Hours: Wed - Sat: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Phone: (979)-450-3000 Email: mail@camphearne.com Website: camphearne.com East Side Park 100 Norwood Ln, Hearne Hours: Mon - Sun: 7:00 a.m. - Dark Phone: (979) 279-3461 Municipal Golf Course, Grass Volleyball Court, 16 Horseshoe Pitches, Baseball Fields, Swimming Pool, Exercise Area, Picnic Tables, Town Lake - a fish and duck pond. Smith - Welch Memorial Library 105 W. Fifth Street, Hearne Hours: Mon - Fri: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Phone: (979) 279-5191 Email: info@smwlibrary.com Website: www.hearnepubliclibrary.com Robertson County Living • Spring 2014 • Vol. 3 #2
15