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2021 SPRING/SUMMER

WELCOME TO

FAYETTE COUNTY KREISCHE BREWERY & MONUMENT HILL

STATE HISTORIC SITES

FAYETTEVILLE’S NEWEST GALLERY

PURE VINTAGE

a non-profit public foundation

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

VISIT FAYETTE COUNTY

Fayette County at a Glance..............................................6 Letter From Judge Weber..................................................7 Advertiser Index.................................................................64

ROUND TOP

Welcome to Round Top.....................................................8 Letter From Mayor Mark Massey......................................9 Places to Eat, Stay, Worship & Play.............................10 Poco A Poco - Round Top Festival Institute..................12 Dusting off the Magic at Wander Inn........................18

CARMINE

Welcome to Carmine........................................................24 Letter From Mayor Wade Eilers.....................................25 Places to Eat, Stay, Worship & Play.............................26

Round Top

Carmine

FAYETTEVILLE

Welcome to Fayetteville..................................................28 Letter From Mayor Carl Marino.....................................29 Places to Eat, Stay, Worship & Play.............................30 Pure Vintage.......................................................................32 Sister Love...........................................................................36

FLATONIA

Welcome to Flatonia.........................................................38 Letter From Mayor Bryan Milson...................................39 Places to Eat, Stay, Worship & Play.............................40

Fayetteville

LA GRANGE

Welcome to La Grange.....................................................42 Letter From Mayor Janet Moerbe................................43 Places to Eat, Stay, Worship & Play.............................44 Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill...........................48

Flatonia

SCHULENBURG

Welcome to Schulenburg................................................54 Letter From Mayor Elaine Kocian.................................55 Places to Eat, Stay, Worship & Play.............................56 Schulenburg’s Painted Churches................................58 2021 SPRING/ SUMMER

WELCOME

FAYETTE COUNTY TO

La Grange

KREISCHE BREWERY & MONUMEN T HILL

On the Cover

Round Top Festival Institute

Photo by Bernard Mendoza

STATE HISTORIC SIT

ES FAYETTEVILLE’ NEWEST GALL S

PURE VINTAGERY E

a non-profit public foun dation

OFFICIAL PUBLICAT ION

Schulenburg

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

VISIT FAYETTE COUNTY

Visit Fayette is published twice a year by the Fayette County Record in La Grange, Texas. The purpose of the publication is to provide useful information for visitors considering Fayette County as their destination for leisure travel. It is used by the Fayette County Record staff as a tool for all trade shows and sales efforts, handed out at events and distributed at all TxDOT Travel Centers.

DATA FROM 2020 TEXAS ALMANAC Population 25,346 Area (sq.mi.) 959.8 Altitude (ft.) 200–590 Rainfall (in.) 40.46 Jan. avg. min. 39.2 July avg. max. 95.5 Civilian labor 11,324 Unemployed 5.2% Per Capita Income $53,564 Property Value $6,910,143,625 Retail Sales $489,599,371

Staff & Contributors PUBLISHER Regina B. Keilers

EDITOR Jeff Wick

DIGITAL EDITOR Andy Behlen

STAFF WRITER/ OFFICE LouAnn Adcox

ADVERTISING Becky Weise Jackie Daniels Jessica Montez

ACCOUNTING Theresia Karstedt Nonnie Barton

PRODUCTION John Castaneda Newspaper Lindsey Fojtik - Special Sections

CIRCULATION JoAnn Mueller George Kana Bobby Bedient Jesse Montez Leigh Ann Bedient Nicol Krenek

Physical Features: South central county bisected by Colorado River; Fayette County Reservoir; rolling to level; sandy loam, black waxy soils.

Economy: Agribusiness, production of electricity, mineral production, government/ services, small manufacturing, tourism.

History: Lipan Apaches and Tonkawas. Austin’s colonists arrived in 1822. Germans and Czechs began arriving in 1840s. County created from Bastrop, Colorado counties in 1837; organized in 1838; named for hero of American Revolution, Marquis de Lafayette.

Recreation: Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites, Faison Home Museum, other historic sites including “Painted Churches”; hunting, fishing, lake; German and Czech ethnic foods; Prazska Pout in August, Octoberfests. Golf courses (2), State Parks (1), City Parks (13), Museums (18), Art galleries (12). 127 S. Washington St. | P.O. Box 400 La Grange, Texas 78945 Ph: 979.969.3155 | Fx: 979.968.6767 Email: editor@fayettecountyrecord.com www.FayetteCountyRecord.com The Fayette County Record is published every Tuesday and Friday, except the publication immediately following Christmas by Fayette County Record, Inc. serving Fayette County since 1922. The Fayette County Record is locally owned and operated by the Barton family since 1976. (USPS 188-440)

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Airport: Fayette Regional Air Center; 850 Airport Road, La Grange; 979-242-4056; Ma jor Cities: LA GRANGE (4,751) County seat; electric-power generation, varied manufacturing, tourism; Schulenburg (2,935) manufacturing, food processing; festival in August; Round Top (88) music center, tourism; antiques shows; Winedale (67), historic restorations; Carmine (258); Ellinger (386), Fayetteville (271) tourism, antiques, Lickskillet festival in October; Flatonia (1,511) food production, cattle ranching; rail history museum, Czhilispiel in October; Ledbetter (83); Muldoon (95); Plum (145); Warda (121); Warrenton (186); West Point (213), and Winchester (232).

COUNTY JUDGE

WELCOME On behalf of the great residents of Fayette County, I want to welcome all of you to what we refer to as the “ Crown Jewel” of the State of Texas. Our county is rich in history, tradition and culture and inhabited by a diverse group of hardworking people committed to the highest of standards and values. Quality of life is important to all our residents and we welcome all of you to share in the many sights, events and amenities our county has to offer. While here, I encourage all of you to visit our quaint shops, taste our great food and visit the many historic sites, which remain the foundation of our county’s uniqueness and greatness. And if you are thinking about relocating to our county to live and prosper, whether it’s a new homestead or developing a thriving business, you have found the right place. We are all here to assist you in any way possible during your visit and hope you find your experience worthwhile.

Kreische Brewery

Fayette Public Library

Fayette County Courthouse

“While here, I encourage all of you to visit our quaint shops, taste our great food and visit the many historic sites, which remain the foundation of our county’s uniqueness and greatness.” - Judge Joe Weber 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

ROUND TOP Round Top 4th of July Celebration

Henkel Hall

Round Top is well-known for interesting events. Round Top Antiques Fair is an outdoor gathering of antiques dealers and customers each year in the spring and fall. The Round Top Festival Institute is a training ground for young musicians. The Shakespeare at Winedale program is administered by the University of Texas at Austin English Department. The town is also known for Moore’s Fort, the oldest building in Fayette County, which was moved there from La Grange. The population was 90 at the 2010 census.

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

é Royers Caf

MAYOR LETTER

WELCOME Surrounded by rolling hills, majestic live oaks and a strong sense of community, Round Top is truly a magical place! Our town offers so much to explore—all while retaining its historic character and charm. Boutique shops, one of a kind galleries, delicious restaurants, relaxing B&Bs, an incredible concert hall, it’s world-famous antique shows and a soon to open brewery make Round Top a destination one can’t miss! Whether it’s a day trip or long weekend, come visit us soon and discover the “Round Top Magic” for yourself!

Chapel on Henkel Square

Relax in Downtown Round Top

Round Top, Texas

“Whether it’s a day trip or long weekend, come visit us soon and discover the “Round Top Magic” for yourself!” - Mayor Mark Massey

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

ROUND TOP

EVENTS APRIL

Round Top Coffee Shop 111 West Wantke St.

Black Dog Cabins 3643 Noak Rd.

My Red Bird Farm 3942 Hartfield Rd.

Spring Antiques Show March 18-April 3

Round Top Mercantile 438 North Washington St.

Cot-N-Coffee at Walhalla 1724 West FM 1291

Rancho Pillow 11222 Schuster Rd.

Blaha and Fitz-Gerald, Duo Piano April 10

Royers Pie Haven 190 Henkel Circle

Round Top Festival Institute’s 50th Anniversary Virtual Gala-A Golden Jubilee of Music April 17

Coyote Station Lodging 701 North Highway 237

Royers Round Top Cafe 105 Main St.

Crazy Cow Ranch Marburger Ln.

Rocky Creek Farms Barndominium 1530 Kneip Rd.

20th Annual Poetry at Round Top April 23-25

The Garden Co. Feed & Firewater 104 West Wantke Rd.

Dippel’s RV Park 702 Rohde Rd.

MAY

The Stone Cellar Pub & Round Top Dance Hall 550 North Washington St.

63rd Annual Bethlehem Lutheran Church Chicken Fry May 2 Round Top’s 150th Anniversary Celebration May 8 Round Top – Warrenton Volunteer Fire Department Feast & Fundraiser May 15

Nearby Warrenton Grocery Store 4309 Texas 237 Warrenton, TX 78961

JULY

LODGING

4th of July Parade July 4

1852 Texas Historical House 301 South Washington St.

SEPTEMBER

304 On The Hill 304 West Mill St.

149th Annual Schützenfest September 19

RESTAURANTS Local Roots Cafe 102 North Live Oak St.

A Light Unto My Path 2195 FM 1457 Abbie’s Addition RV Park & Guest Cottage 2336 South Highway 237

Lulu’s 204 East Mill St.

Armandos Round Top Houses 304 South White St.

Mandito’s 102 South Washington St.

Bediko’s International Retreat 475 West FM 1291

Paw Paw’s Firehouse Cafe Chelsea’s Meadow 2290 South Highway 237

Belle of Round Top 230 Days End Ln.

Popi Burger 104 North Washington St.

Teague’s Tavern 105 North Live Oak St.

Big Sky Barndominium 1919 Rohde Rd.

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Double K Lodging 9999 Klaus Rd. Dragonfly Cottages & RV 4100 FM 2714 Dragonfly Ranch 524 FM 954 Drift & Holler 1440 Texas Hwy. 237 Elisa’s Sunday Haus 611 Bybee Rd. Farmhouse Round Top 5686 FM-1457 Farmstead 219 FM 954 Festival Hill Lodging 248 Jaster Rd. Flophouze Hotel 1132 West FM 1291 Good Haus Cottage 4749 South Highway 237 Gray Moss Farm 3233 State Hwy 237 Green Acres Bed & Breakfast 6621 FM 1457 Heaven and Earth Farm 5141 FM 1457 Lone Star Farm 2218 Hartfield Road

Round Top Inn 407 South White St. Round Top Ranch Cottages 2545 Hwy 237 Round Top’s Little Colony 2250 Hartfield Rd. Round Top RV Park 601 North Washington St. Stay in Round Top 2260 Harfield Rd. Stone Meadow 146 Rohde Rd. The Arbors 1503 North Hwy 237 The Blue Moon Cottage 151 Floyd Ln. The Cottages on Mill Creek 5696 Wagner Rd. The Creek at Round Top 3142 FM 1457 The Frenchie 311 North Live Oak St. The Ghost Haus 700 Rohde Rd. The Ranch RV at Round Top 4245 Leonhardt Rd. The Ridge at Round Top 125 Huenefeld Ln. The Silverspur at Round Top 7045 FM 954

The Vintage Round Top 1450 North Highway 237

Wanda’s Haus 203 Bauer Rummel Rd. Wander Inn 1215 Highway 237 Wellspring Retreat 580 North Washington St. Whippoorwill Haus 2949 Kneip Rd. Windmill Ranch Retreat 740 Schmidt Ln. Nearby Alpen Haus 8116 Bauer Rd. Oldenburg, Texas 78940 Hillcrest Inn 4339 S. State Hwy 237 Warrenton, TX 78961 Lone Star Glamp Inn 4212 South Highway 237 Warrenton, TX 78961

CHURCHES BAPTIST

Big Spring Hill Baptist Oldenburg Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship 11 a.m. (979) 249-4006 Concord Baptist Church Worship 10:30 a.m. every second Sunday of the month

SHARED LUTHERAN

Shared Lutheran Ministry of Fayette County St. John’s in Warrenton 4446 South State Highway 237 Worship 8:30 a.m. www.sharedlutheranministry.org (979) 249-3155

LUTHERAN

Bethlehem Lutheran 412 South White St. Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. on first and third Sunday Fourth Sunday, Friendship Bunch, 10:15 a.m. (979) 249-3686

Crusade For Souls Ministry 5911 Wynne Ln. in Walhalla Worship noon 1st & 3rd Sun. 249-3874

OTHERS

City of Refuge Holiness Church 437 North Washington Worship 11 a.m. www.cityofrefuge.org 979-249-3197 RT Church Christian Fellowship 440 East Mill St. Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Worship 10:00 a.m. www.roundtopchurch.org (979) 249-5085

FESTIVALS Spring Antiques Show March 18-April 3 Fall Antiques Show October 14-October 31 The Spring and Fall Antiques Festivals are held in Round Top and surrounding communities like Warrenton and Carmine. It is nationally recognized as one of the largest antique markets in America, drawing thousands of dealers to tents, fields, and buildings. It’s treasure hunts and a festival of epic proportions. It’s food, fun, and friendships formed over shared searches for one-of-a-kind finds. It’s a level of insanity rarely seen in the Texas countryside — and it happens twice a year. 4th of July Parade July 4 The Round Top community has celebrated the Fourth of July every year since 1851. In fact, it’s known as the longest-running Fourth of July celebration west of the Mississippi. The rest of the year, Round Top boasts an impressive population of 90 souls, many of German origin. But on the Fourth of July, our neighbors from Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and everywhere in between travel into Round Top for a taste of an old-time, small-town Fourth. The civil

war-era cannon roars at 10:30, announcing the parade of handmade floats, antique cars and tractors, fire engines, trail riders, and longhorn cattle. The parade circles Round Top square to the enthusiastic strains of Round Top’s own Brass Band. As the parade wraps up, everyone heads a few blocks down FM 1457 to the historic Round Top Rifle Hall where brisket, pork, and sausage, German-style potatoes, green beans, and homemade desserts await. The afternoon continues with music, a raffle, and games for the kids until 4:00 when the local band sets up for the afternoon’s dance. Come join us for a fun-filled oldfashioned Fourth!

competition which dates back to 1965. The contest involves shooting .22 caliber rifles with open sites at a target that is 168 feet away. The goal is to hit a perfect bullseye which results in a score of 12 points, much harassment by fellow members, and the satisfaction of seeing a rooster pop up. The farther away your shot is from the bullseye the lower the count towards your total score. After a practice shot, each member shoots 3 times. Those with a score of 29 or better advance to the next round. Three shots are taken again. Those tied with the highest score in the second round compete in a “shoot-off” to determine the Schützenkönig.

149th Annual Schützenfest September 19 Dinner, dancing, and the crowning of the crack shot König (king), who is the member with the best score after several rounds of shooting, are the highlights of this target shooting

Due to coronavirus all events, places to eat & stay, churches, and festivals may be cancelled, postponed, or organized differently.

ROUND TOP

Three Oaks Farm 5728 Highway 237

PENTECOST

• • •

•

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Photo by Studio 94 | Lindsey Fojtik

Inside the concert hall at Festival Institute

POCO A POCO

Little by little, James Dick built the Round Top Festival Institute which recently celebrated 50 years of investing in the arts WRITTEN BY Kirsten Cornell

Notes cascade into the air. Skilled fingers fly across instruments as artistic musicians display their hard-earned talents. Amongst the crowd the beaming face of James Dick, Founder and Artistic Director of the Round Top Festival Institute. Now an award-winning musician and owner of a sprawling estate, his dream of investing in other young lives has come full circle. The Institute is a place to learn, experience, and appreciate music and the arts in a way that was unheard of when he first broke ground.

Award-winning Pianist

Growing up in rural Kansas, Dick learned early to appreciate

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

the craft. “My parents weren’t musicians but they loved music,” he laughs. He started taking piano lessons just before turning 6 years of age and as time went on, developed a great love for it. Just two or three years later, Dick performed his first concert. That early investment made a significant contribution to what Dick would later dedicate his life to. “’Poco a poco’ is a phrase we use in music, it means by ‘little by little.’ It’s very indicative of the way you develop musically. Continuing his art, Dick traveled across the U.S. and eventually the world performing in competitions and picking up additional skills. “I was fortunate enough to win a full-ride scholarship to continue my studies in Europe and was also a prize winner

The Concert Hall

in New York,” Dick adds. These winnings allowed him to play concerts throughout the country meeting musicians and others in the industry who would prove to be fruitful contacts in later endeavors. “Competitions are one matter, but it’s how you develop, what you do progressively. It’s what your soul and your heart can accomplish. That’s what sets you apart as an artist,” he says. “People in the arts get to give back.” Most of his summers provided more free time to study and work on new repertoire. This also opened him up to a second love—teaching. “Teaching was something I always loved so I figured why not teach some others what I had the good fortune of studying. The question now was where,” he recalls.

The Perfect Canvas

Dick will always love the sanctity that comes with the plains of Kansas, but he found his second home in Round Top, Texas. “It wasn’t quite the town then that it is today,” he laughs. “There was a payphone down on the corner and a few shops. It’s been incredible to see things develop.” The Texas town drawn to restoration and architecture provided the perfect canvas.

Steel work structu re

takes form, 1983

In 1971, Dick married his two greatest passions—music and teaching—to form what is now the Round Top Festival Institute. The dream began small with only four pianists. “People agreed to let us have pianos in their homes and we met in houses,” Dick recalls of those early days. “After a year or two, we had to decide, ‘Are we going to continue? And if so, where?’” Along with managing director, the late Richard Royal, they forged ahead looking for property to expand the Institute. They discovered six acres of land that was available through a foreclosure sale. Determined to create a foundation that could be public, nonprofit, and educational, they made the appropriate government requests and were granted their designation.

A Dose of Gumption

Through grit and gumption, that dream has expanded into the 210-acre Institute that exists today with multiple facilities and grounds. A local encouragement for music and arts in schools that also draws global artists to share their talents.

James Dick

“While students hold their concerts here, it’s not solely for them,” Dick adds. “Twice a year the regional track meet comes here to compete.” The facilities are also utilized for graduation ceremonies and other large community events.

Photo by Joe Holley

In addition to community events, their facilities are also available for weddings, business events, conferences, and more. Even amidst the pandemic, Dick and his team were resourceful. “Our team gave online lessons and offered smaller lessons with proper distancing precautions.” Dick himself held a concert in the middle of a bluebonnet field which they filmed via drone and

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

A large crowd always attends the sold-out Patriotic concert in July.

hung on their website for spectators. “In a way, the pandemic gave us unique opportunities to create victory from chaos.”

Summer Institute

Now celebrating their 50th year, Dick is proud to have alumni on six continents both teaching and performing. “It comes back to old-fashioned gumption,” he says of their success. “I give a great amount of credit to the people who guided and supported me. They formed me and this Institute.” He has had the privilege of inviting those he met from his years of traveling and performing back to the Institute to teach and perform. He has been invited to judge competitions as close as the local high school and as far away as Moscow. For 20 years they have hosted The Nutcracker ballet and on the Sunday closest to July 4th, a patriotic concert. “People come to the Institute to do their recordings and take advantage of the wonderful acoustics,” Dick says with pride. “Our gates are open 365 days a year. In 50 years, we have always welcomed people to enter our grounds. This is meant for them, too.” Perhaps one of their most anticipated events is the Summer Institute. Applications are accepted from around the world but only a select few will be able to attend. “Once the faculty chooses who will attend from their auditions, all attendees are given a full scholarship to attend the program,” he says. “I was given scholarships to study and I appreciate the value in that.”

re d children to explo g Jimmy encourage ur to g rin du a From the beginnin Florid nce in Jacksonville, music. Young audie 1965 n, tio da un Fo itt ntr funded by the Leve Poppies in bloom in front of Edythe Bates Old Chapel

During the Summer Institute, students participate in rehearsals every day as well as private lessons, lectures, and discuss other elements regarding their future careers. “They have a new concert every week so new music has to be studied much like they would if they were with a symphony,” Dick explains. “This is unique to this program, most others do not have this much performance time.” In addition to mirrored real-world experience, Dick’s hope for his students is that they discover deep-rooted humanity at the Institute. “I hope they see what their talent means to people,” he says. “They’ll meet people here that they will know the rest of their lives. They’ll find a community here that perhaps they don’t have in the cities where they currently study.”

Secret Gardens

Outside the phenomenal concert hall lies the sprawling gardens and luscious acreage that gracefully winds itself throughout the property. In particular, Festival Hill is becoming known throughout the U.S. for its extraordinary collection of herbs. The McAshan Herb Gardens contain a collection of specimens from around the world. Some of the culinary herbs and flowers are even utilized for the Menke foodservice kitchen on the property. Both the Pharmacy Garden and the Medicinal Cacti Gardens are populated with medicinal plants arranged by region. You’ll find fruits such as loquat, pomegranate, jujube, and medlar in the Fruit Tree Garden and Beethoven’s Woods.

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

“A Jewel in the Crown of Texas.” This is what you get when you support a Texas treasure.

“What is this place and why is it in the middle of nowhere?” We hear that a lot. It’s a long story. Almost 50 years long. It’s difficult to tell without visual aids so you will have to come see us to hear the whole story. Let it suffice to say this is what happens when a young international concert pianist with a big dream is welcomed into the small rural Texas town of Round Top. In the beginning we were tiny. We held performances on porches and the town square. Our visiting artists lodged in local homes and rehearsed on borrowed instruments. But with the kind-hearted support of our neighbors and friends we started thinking big. Today Festival Hill is an internationally respected center for performance and education. Our reputation rests upon the beauty of the Festival Hill campus and our world-famous Round Top Music Festival, which has grown from a few students to a symphony orchestra. We owe it all to our many generous friends who share our love of the arts, attend the concerts and applaud our hard work through charitable giving. We invite you to join us as a friend and supporter of this extraordinary Texas cultural achievement. Amazing things grow in the Texas countryside. James Dick, Founder & Artistic Director

Round Top FesTival insTiTuTe A Non-Profit Public Foundation

248 Jaster Road, Round Top, TX 78954

(979) 249-3129 • FestivalHill.org

Guests are invited to visit the grounds to enjoy picnicking, hiking, biking, or just relaxing in one of the many gardens. You are sure to find many picturesque backgrounds but for professionals, please schedule ahead of time. Guided tours with trained docents are also available with reservations. Throughout the many gardens, you’ll find stone bridges, colorful pathways, and fountains. The Edythe Bates Old Chapel, which was built in La Grange in 1883 as the Episcopal Methodist Church, is also a must-see. The sanctuary was extensively restored and is now used as a venue for chamber music rehearsals and concerts, organ recitals, as a lecture hall, and of course, weddings. The chapel is also home to two historic instruments. The Henry Erben pipe organ, which was built in 1835, is a rare survival of Erben’s early work. The classical case is 14 feet tall, nine feet wide, six feet deep, and has 484 pipes made of both wood and metal. Additionally, the Traugott Wandke organ was built by Johan Traugott Wandke in 1850. Wandke first settled in La Grange before moving to Round Top and establishing himself as a cabinet maker and organ builder. This organ, suspected to possibly the first organ built in Texas, is constructed entirely of cedar and all of the pipes are made of knotless cedar.

Collecting History

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2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Continuing his love for the arts and the community, Dick is a huge proponent for the commissioning of new music. “That’s how we have composer’s music today,” he says. “Someone helped them commission a piece of music and through performances over many, many years, we now know them as classic works.” Dick is proud of the large canvas of events the Institute supports, “We have a lot of ‘firsts’ here, world premieres.” But even outside of music, Dick and the faculty at the Institute are building living history. The David W. Guion Museum Room, a permanent exhibition of Round Top Festival Institute, displays American furniture, china, porcelain, glass, paintings, music, and archives of the Texas composer, David W. Guion. The Oxehufwud Collection displays works of art from the seventeenth-century to the present, including furniture, paintings, ceramics, glass, textiles, clocks, lighting devices, and archival materials. “We have many works of film and theatre here as well as music and recordings,” Dick adds. “I hope that it will be open to people doing writing and research as well as to those who are interested in viewing historic pieces.” Although Bybee Library is a non-circulating library, the online catalog currently holds 11,513 searchable volumes, and appointments can be made for viewing. Supporters can also inquire about their Adopt-a-Book program, which allows donations in exchange for personalized book placards.

Advancing the Arts

Edythe Bates

For Dick, the best-kept secret at Round Top Festival Institute is what the Institute has done for the area and surrounding community and what it continues to do. “We have seen so much growth in this area over the last 50 years and I like to think that the Institute has contributed to that—I know it has.”

Old Chapel

Growing the Institute has long been a dream and a passion, but he has also relished in seeing others grow through their experiences. “At one Summer Institute, we had 37 nations represented between faculty and students. Something is created here that you can feel, you can touch,” he says. He hopes that what they have built continues to inspire people and fosters a growing interest in the arts as a whole. “Value‫—ؙ‬ that’s the genesis of the place. It’s unusual and rare. It’s a place that supports nature as well as people,” he says. The Institute stresses that they have accomplished all that they have because of the community around them. They have welcomed 3-year-old musicians to the stage as well as 30-yearolds and they all bring immense talents and joy. “Spreading the word, attending events, these things are critical for us,” Dick adds. “Coming home, coming here to this place, it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Tour the Institute

Guided walking tours of Festival Hill are available by appointment and led by expert docents. The tour takes approximately 90 minutes and costs $10 – 12 depending on the extent of the tour.

Rummel Square DESTINATION

ROUND TOP, TEXAS

LYRIC SALON Brooke Michie | Textured Hair Specialist by appintment 303 S. White St., Round Top (512) 294-8641

TUTU & LILLI CLOTHING 109 Bauer Rummel Rd., Round Top (713)-557-8478 www.tutuandlilli.com

Want to advertise in the Rummel Square destination page? Contact Becky Weise at (979) 968-3155 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Photo by Rustic White Photography

WANDER INN

Junk Gypsy sisters Amie and Jolie Sikes put down roots in Round Top WRITTEN BY Kirsten Cornell

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Photo by April Pizana Photography

By now it’s too late. You’re under the spell and there’s no turning back. Welcome to the Wander Inn—a place where ramblers and adventures are not only received but expected.

ROUND TOP

As soon as you turn down the road and the soles of your boots hit the drive, something stirs in your soul. Maybe it’s the seemingly endless rows of trees, the sprawling grounds, or the inviting porch. Perhaps you’re suckered in by the gypsy dust floating from the windows, beckoning your curious mind to come inside—to see what lies behind the cedar planks.

It’s been nearly two decades since the Sikes sisters dusted off their boots in Round Top for the first time, drawn in by the famous Texas Antiques Week. The lure of the flea market and the magic of Round Top captured their hearts and years later, they planted some of their gypsy roots in the Texas town. “It seemed crazy then. And to some, it still seems crazy; moving to and putting a business in a town with a population of 90,” recalls Jolie Sikes. But at the end of the day, we knew that we didn’t just want to be in the country, we had to be in the country. We wanted Junk Gypsy to be in the country, where she belonged.”

Photo by Kelly Chris tine Sutton

Finding Mayberry

Driven by the need for less concrete, more trees, and the ability to see stars, Amie and Jolie began to build their community among their newfound love of Texas’ Mayberry.

Story to Tell

“The Wander Inn found us, I guess you’d say,” Amie recalls. “We weren’t in the market to buy an inn, nor had the thought ever crossed our minds. But then when it happened, we realized it was the one thing we never knew we needed.” “And now we are inn owners,” Jolie chimes in with a laugh. Since buying the inn, the Junk Gypsies—along with their mom, Janie—have been hard at work peeling away the layers of granny’s bed and breakfast and giving it a gypsy-worthy makeover. “Being lifelong travelers ourselves we’ve learned a thing or two about what we like, so we sat in the rooms and envisioned our perfect combination of elements, amazing décor, roadside treasures, great showers, gorgeous bedding, rooms with a view and of course, a place that has a story to tell,” says Jolie. Each room in the inn is filled with distinct elements and color palettes—a monument to the collection of treasures the sisters have found over the years. Starting with a unique door or a metal sign, each space in the inn took on its shape and told its tale. “Wander Inn is a personal showcase of what we do and how we do it,” says Amie. “It’s Junk Gypsy set in motion. It’s us and this special place that is our home. Americana with some rock n’ roll and cowboy mixed in with the nostalgic feel of a motor court.”

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

In the Details

Aptly named, the Wanderlust room, draped in whites and neutrals, features a queen size bed boasting an ornate Spanish carved headboard. Using that as the building block for inspiration, the room leaps into gypsy style with a vintage leather loveseat and a set of gold wings adorning the wall.

Photo by Pierce Ingram

With wall-to-wall cedar floors, the Bandita room has a southwestern flair with a bright turquoise ombre wall and vintage red leather Chesterfield sofa. Western art and Old Mexico carved headboards solidify the ambiance. But the real deal? French doors leading out to the porch with rocking chairs, ready to take in a true southern sunset. Country Delight takes its inspiration, and its name, from one of their favorite finds ever—a rusty metal sign with “Country Delight” emblazoned across it. While the sign serves a dual purpose as the headboard, a vintage-cut loveseat doubles as a footboard. And to prevent lost travelers, large marquee letters spelling G-Y-P-S-Y light your path.

Photo by Kelly

Christine Sutto

But, because every cowgirl has her secrets, you’ll need to book a chat session in the Star House to hear about the rest.

Personal Touches

Though they claim to be inexperienced as hoteliers, the Junk Gypsies have traveled extensively and feel they have a pulse on what their guests are looking for when they grace their front porch steps. “We like style and quality, but not pretense. We like comfortable beds, but I don’t like having to make them,” Amie laughs. Paying homage to their affinity for music and books, a record player and albums are housed in every room and books from their personal collection are scattered about for fellow bibliophiles. Unlike most formal places, Wander Inn is attainable—put your feet up and stay awhile attainable. “We want our guests to feel like they’re at home here, even if they wouldn’t decorate their homes exactly this way,” adds Jolie. However, arguably one of the best parts about the inn hardly took any design work at all—at least, not by the Junk Gypsies.

More Connection

The land seems to roll up the porches, beckoning guests to drink in the calmness of the country surroundings. Take deep breaths of the air and relax fully into a waiting rocker. It’s a place where you can get to know the person sitting next to you, enjoy a cold beverage, or simply, sit. The inn purposely does not have television (and they fought belt and spur before getting Wi-Fi) because as Amie says, “we wanted your time in Round Top to be spent with ‘less signal and more connection.’” But travelers aren’t the only ones infatuated with the Wander Inn. The Junk Gypsies housed film crews and filmed three seasons

20 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

BEAUTIFUL HEALTHY

Smiles

Routine Restorative & Preventive Care Cosmetic Dentistry Implant Restorations One-Day, In-Office CEREC Crowns Oral Sedation Solea Laser Dentistry

Most Insurance Accepted • New Patients Always Welcome

(979) 968-9451

Fax (979) 968-8608 www.iluvcornerstone.com

Karen A. Roberts, D.D.S.

279 E. Colorado St., La Grange, TX 78945

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Log Cabin Lawyer

of their show for HGTV and GAC on the property. “We’ve been a veritable ‘halfway house’ for vagabond junk dealers, traveling musicians, itinerant cowboys, rogue camper caravans, and some of our gypsy friends who are hell-bent on wandering,” laughs Jolie. “We’ve designed our Pottery Barn collection here and hunkered down and wrote our book, which is the reason the subtitle became ‘at the crossroads of wonder & wander.’” They even welcomed country sensation Miranda Lambert and became a part of the magic that is The Weight of These Wings.

Piece of Magic

Norman T. Reynolds Law practice includes wills, trusts, probate, real estate, oil & gas, litigation, business acquisitions and formations.

713.503.9411

186 Henkel Circle P.O. Box 246 Henkel Square Market Round Top, Texas 78954

nreynolds@ntrlawfirm.com

www.ntrlawfirm.com

Norman T. Reynolds Law Firm P.C.

The sisters will insist that the Wander Inn is not about luxury (although there’s a fair amount of that to be found), it’s about the land and the experience of Round Top. It’s about the simple things—decked out with a few velvet sofas, some glitter, and well-placed metal art. It’s a place where you can explore, meet kindred spirits, and rejuvenate your creative soul. “There’s an old-fashioned magic to slowing down on our country roads and seeing our vast collection of Texas farmhouses, eating homemade apple pie at Royer’s Cafe, getting lost in the gardens at Festival Hill, and digging for a treasure or two,” Amie says. “Hook, line, and sinker we bought into every little piece of magic,” adds Jolie. “So come stay with us and slowdown in Round Top…90 folks can’t be wrong!”

ER D I S IN

! O F IN

Plans to double the Wander Inn’s capacity within the next year are off the sketchbook and on the move.

The Gypsy Farmhouse—a 1952 Sears Kit House and original to the property—has been fully restored by the Junk Gypsies and is ready to house you and your 11 fellow adventurer seekers.

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

OUR MISSION IS TO HELP EVERYONE FIND THEIR PLACE IN THE WORLD Life is good in the Country! MEET OUR ROUND TOP AGENTS 203 N. LIVE OAK • ROUND TOP, TX • 78954 • 979.249.5767

FRANK JOHNSTON

JOANN AYRES

MAX COPPINGER

979.249.7494

979.702.0425

BROKER ASSOCIATE

frank.johnston@compass.com

joann.ayres@compass.com

979.249.7315

BROKER ASSOCIATE

maxine.coppinger@compass.com

PEG RICHARDSON

BETTY MELTON

REALTOR® ASSOCIATE

BROKER ASSOCIATE

peg.richardson@compass.com

betty.melton@compass.com

979.249.7584

979.966.3088

YOUR HOME TEAM BELLVILLE 979.865.4443

BRENHAM 979.836.3633

ROUND TOP 979.249.5767

www.countrypropertiesgroup.com MEMBER HAR & SCBOR All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity.

CARMINE Antiques

Antiques

The City of Carmine is known for the Texas Basketball Museum, operated by Bob Springer. The museum showcases Texas High School Basketball state titles and trophies, a Hall of Fame room, and exhibits of players who became pros. Enjoy shopping in the antiques shops in town or visit the City Park, created by donations of land to the city by the Albers and Muehlbrad families. The park was dedicated in 1982. The population was 250 at the 2010 census.

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

And more

antiques

MAYOR LETTER

WELCOME Carmine is located in the far northeastern corner of Fayette County next to US Hwy 290, approximately half-way between Houston and Austin. Carmine, with a population of 250 folks, is a small town with a big heart. The city has a beautiful city park where one can relax and experience our small-town atmosphere. Carmine offers fine dining or refreshments for the busy traveler passing through. There are also cozy bed and breakfasts for those who wish to spend time shopping the various antique stores, visiting museums, or exploring the many historical sites in the general area, which makes for a perfect weekend getaway.

Bluebonnets are abundant in March and April

Carmine

Carmine Depot and Visitors Center

“For whatever occasion that brings you to Fayette County, on behalf of Carmine’s local citizens and businesses, we extend to you a big warm Texas welcome.” - Mayor Wade Eilers

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

CARMINE EVENTS APRIL Spring Antiques Show March 18-April 3

JULY Carmine Volunteer Fire Department Annual Firemen’s Feast & Fundraiser

AUGUST Carmine Chamber of Commerce Casino Night August 14

SEPTEMBER

Reindeer Ranch at Round Top 1000 Deer Haven Rd.

Waldeck Lutheran Waldeck Worship 8a.m. Sunday School 9:15a.m. (979) 249-3802

River Oaks Farms at Round Top 2156 Highway 237

FESTIVALS

Prairie Wind Farm 4507 Havemann Rd.

Rocking Horse Retreat 2655 Homeyer Mountain Rd. Round Top-Carmine RV Park 308 Centennial St. Solid Rock Ranch 1324 Schoenberg Rd. The Bunkhouse 12330 Young Circle

RESTAURANTS

The Front Porch 12135 Young Circle

JW’s Steakhouse 122 South Hauptstrasse Street

The Vintage Hideaway 3820 Schoenst Rd.

The Village Market 115 West Sylvan Street

Nearby

Nearby Stuermer Store 100 East Highway 290 at FM 129 Ledbetter, TX 78946

LODGING Busted Oak Ranch 6195 Round Top Rd. Cala Lily 215 North Hauptstrasse St. Carmine Coop 1318 Spur 458 Cottages on Cedar Creek 1040 Carmine Cemetery Rd. Falcon Hill 7615 Kieke Rd. Hillside Acres on 237 1970 Koether Rd. Pecan Grove Inn 233 Augsburg St.

Due to coronavirus all events, places to eat & stay, churches, and festivals may be cancelled, postponed, or organized differently.

A wine best served with

Double Tree Ranch 5849 West FM 129 Ledbetter, TX 78946

Fall Antiques Show September 17 - October 4

Spring Antiques Show March 18 - April 3 Fall Antiques Show October 15-November 1 The Antiques Festivals are held in Round Top and surrounding communities. It is nationally recognized as one of the largest antique markets in America, drawing thousands of dealers to tents, fields, and buildings. It’s food, fun, and friendships formed over shared searches for one-of-a-kind finds. It’s a level of insanity rarely seen in the Texas countryside — and it happens twice a year.

Ideker’s Country House 340 Greens Creek Rd. Ledbetter, TX 78946 Little Oaks Lodging 7908 Goehring Rd. Ledbetter, TX 78946 Stable House at Ledbetter 1365 FM 180 Ledbetter, TX 78946

CHURCHES LUTHERAN Martin Luther Lutheran 211 Luther Ln. Saturday Worship 6 p.m. Sunday School 9 a.m. Worship 10 a.m. www.mllccarmine.com (979) 278-3388

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

“I loved everything about my experience at Busted Oak. The wines are unique and the employees are very knowledgeable...” - Nancy G.

Hours of Operation: Mon. 1:00-4:00pm Thurs. 4:00-8:00pm Fri. 12:00-9:00pm Sat. 12:00-9:00pm Sun. 1:00-6:00pm

For more information call 281.795.2588

6195 Round Top Rd • Carmine, Texas

Family-owned and operated since 1912, Hruska’s continues to provide cleanliness, community and home-cooking to thousands of visitors each year. No matter how far folks have traveled, Hruska’s makes the trip worthwhile!

www.hruskas-bakery.com 109 W State Hwy 71 | Ellinger, TX 78938 | (979)

378-2333

FAYETTEVILLE Antique Car Show

Lickskillet Roya lty

Fayetteville is a charming town, roughly halfway between Austin and Houston. Come enjoy the arts of Fayetteville. The Fayetteville Picking Park hosts live acoustic bluegrass jams almost monthly, along with other musical and arts events regularly. There are a plethora of cottages and cabins to stay in for a fun getaway. The population was 258 at the 2010 census.

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Lickskillet

Vendors

MAYOR LETTER

WELCOME Whether your looking for a day trip, a weekend get a way or a long vacation Fayetteville offers something for everyone. Nestled between Austin, San Antonio and Houston you will find Fayetteville much as it has been for over a hundred years. Founded in 1882 and settled by Czechs and Germans the town has an historic district designation for the square which features a two story precinct court house. Large pecan trees line the narrow residential streets which provide walking, the best way to observe the houses of the past century. There is a large columned home said to have been delivered by train to be assembled here shipped from Sears and Roebuck. If you’re looking for good food, B&Bs and a slower pace of life come see us.”

Picking Park

Fayetteville Art Scene

Lickskillet Parade

Nestled between Austin, San Antonio and Houston you will find Fayetteville much as it has been for over a hundred years. - Mayor Carl Marino

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

FAYETTEVILLE

EVENTS APRIL

ARTS for Rural Texas Rita Kirkman Exhibition - Kindred Spirits at Ross Gallery March 27-May 29 Ellinger City-Wide Garage Sale April 10 Doris Vasek Oil and Cold Wax Workshop April 15-17 Lions Club Classic Car Show Ellinger Firemen’s Feast April 25

MAY

ARTS for Rural Texas Rita Kirkman Exhibition - Kindred Spirits at Ross Gallery March 27-May 29 Fayetteville Volunteer Fire Department Fundraiser & Dance ARTS for Rural Texas-ArtWalk on the Square May 1-2 Ellinger Chamber of Commerce Tomato Festival May 28-30

JUNE

Good Old Summertime Classic June 5 Fayetteville 5K Walk-N-Roll June 5 ARTS for Rural Texas Larry Schueckler Exhibition – Imagine Love at Ross Gallery June 5-July 24 ARTS for Rural Texas Summer Art Camp Session 1 June 14 – 18 ARTS for Rural Texas Summer Art Camp Session 2 June 21 – 25

Fayette County Hills RV ARTS for Rural Texas Summer Art Camp Session 5 July 19 – 23 & Boat Storage 800 North Rusk ARTS for Rural Texas Summer Art Camp Session 6 July 26 – 30

Grand Fayette Hotel 201 West Fayette St.

AUGUST

Granny’s Retreat 3506 Skalitsky Rd.

ARTS for Rural Texas Emerging Artist Competition August 14-28

SEPTEMBER

Joy’s Country Cottage 2836 Ehlinger-Becker Rd.

ARTS for Rural Texas Debbie Little Wilson Exhibition at Ross Gallery September 11-October 16

Market Street Inn 101 East Market St.

Art After School Fall Session Begins September 13

Red & White Inn 102 West Main St.

RESTAURANTS Joe’s Place 120 North Live Oak St. Orsak’s Cafe 121 West Fayette St. The Wine Bar at the Grand Fayette Hotel 201 West Fayette St. Nearby Hruska’s Store & Bakery 109 West TX-71 Ellinger Maria Taqueria 209 West TX-71 Ellinger Peters BBQ 301 West TX-71 Ellinger

LODGING A Place to Stay at Round Top 9575 FM 389

ARTS for Rural TexasSummer Art Camp Session 3 June 28 – July 2

Blue Bunk House 821 FM 954

JULY

Cottages on The Square 110 West Main

Fayetteville City-Wide Garage Sale July 10

Gray Rooster Guest House 422 Shumacher Rd.

Caesura Cottage 6950 Skull Creek Rd.

ARTS for Rural Texas Summer Art Camp Session 4 July 12 – 16

30 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Orsak’s B&B 126 North Washington St.

Rolling 7 Guest Cottage 1377 East Highway 159 Saddle Creek Cabins 9549 FM 389 Sealy House 1537 Kramr Rd. Stagecoach Cabins 7344 FM 1291 Swedish Cottage 420 North Rusk St. The Tipton Cottage 8235 FM 2981 Vitkova’s Veranda 575 East Franklin St. Westview Ranch and Retreat 1060 Brushy Rd.

St. Mary’s Catholic Near Ellinger Sun. Mass: 8 a.m. Thurs. 6 p.m., Wed. & Fri. 7 a.m. www.stmaryellinger.com (979) 378-2277

CHURCH OF GOD

Cedar Of Lebanon Church Of God In Christ 1946 TX-159 Bible Study Wed. 7:30 p.m. YPWW - Fri. 7:30 p.m. Worship 11:30 a.m.

SHARED LUTHERAN

Shared Lutheran Ministry of Fayette County St. John in Ellinger 110 W. Fayette St., Ellinger Worship 8 a.m. www.sharedlutheranministry.org (979) 249-3155 St. Paul in Fayetteville 201 N. Rusk St. Worship 10:30 a.m. www.sharedlutheranministry.org (979) 249-3155

LUTHERAN

St. Paul Lutheran Shelby Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship 8 a.m. www.stpaulshelby.org (979) 836-8972

OTHERS Nearby Fayetteville Brethren Blackbird Farm Cabins 1488 FM 2503, Ellinger, TX 78938 1022 Kramr Rd. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. CHURCHES www.fayettevillebrethrenchurch.org CATHOLIC (979) 378-2239 St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Mars Hill Tabernacle 205 E Bell St. Hwy. 159 Sat. Mass 6 p.m. 9 a.m. Saturday with Bible Study 1st Sun. Mass 10 a.m. & Wed. 7 p.m & 3rd Wednesday of month www.stjohnfayetteville.com (979) 378-2277

PICNICS

THE HERB COTTAGE

AUGUST

4th Sunday in August St. Mary Church in Ellinger 815 St. Mary’s Church Rd. (979) 378-2277

SOWING SEEDS OF HERB & GARDEN KNOWLEDGE

Sunday before Labor Day St. John the Baptist Church 207 E. Bell St. (979) 378-2277

FESTIVALS

Ellinger Tomato Festival May 28-30 Come out and enjoy a BBQ Cook-Off Friday & Saturday, along with a Dollar Dance and a Live Auction. Then on Sunday don’t miss the Grand Parade, Chamber Fried Chicken & Sausage Lunch, a Tomato Growing Contest and so much more! Lickskillet October 16-17 Takes place right in the historic Square. Parade starts on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Live entertainment and street dancing begin Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. The celebration will include beer, wine, BBQ, cotton candy, hamburgers by the Fayetteville Show Fund, and handmade treats in the “Country Store.” The Kid’s Zone includes a bouncy house, face painting, and lots more. Due to coronavirus all events, places to eat & stay, churches, and festivals may be cancelled, postponed, or organized differently.

SEPTEMBER

The Herb Cottage is your local source for seasonal herb plants, succulents, tropicals, hand made containers and great gardening advice. Open Wed. thru Sat. 10 - 4 Visit us at 442 County Road 233, Hallettsville, TX 77964

www.theherbcottage.com

361-258-1192

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

PURE VINTAGE Cheryl Long showcases her Pure West paintings and limited-edition textile designs in new gallery in Fayetteville WRITTEN BY Michelle Leigh Smith

While galleries in Jackson Hole, Aspen, Denver and Los Angeles have long fought to showcase Cheryl Long’s Pure West/Pure Vintage designs, a Pure Art Gallery now graces the Square in Fayetteville. Long is open by appointment, and visitors have delighted in her paintings and vintage western designs at 107-A North Washington on the Square. She features Native American jewelry, Pure West’s beloved sculpted leathers and vests and romantic embroidered clothing. Her art has been purchased by Dennis Hopper, Brad Paisley, Clint Eastwood, Ralph Lauren and Jane Seymour. Long earned a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from the University of Texas. Her mother’s family owned a lace factory in upstate New York. “I think we get enough realism every day – we need more beauty in our lives,” Long says. In the early 80s, Long put her degree to work in a role where she was invited to photograph historic ranches of the West for Western Horseman Magazine’s calendar. “I had a front row seat to a very special way of life, but as non-ranch girl, my perspective was different,” she says. “I saw day-to-day ranch activities as traditions that were truly an art form to be preserved. I began hand-coloring the photos. Then I tore them, added paint and created mixed media pieces. I picked three of my favorite images and put them on T-shirts. That was the beginning of Pure West. “A friend saw them and got me a rep in the Dallas Market Center. It was on the heels of the Urban Cowboy craze and coincided with the popularity of the TV show, Dallas. Western style, particularly Texas, was hot. The Japanese were crazy for anything cowboy.” “I copyrighted black and white photos with one touch of color, Pure West T-shirts was born, and evolved into a full clothing line,” Long says. She earned countless honors and awards. “I’m most proud of being chosen to exhibit as a Texas artist at two presidential inaugurations in Washington, DC.,” she says. For seven years running, Long was asked to participate in the juried Western Design Conference American designer show in Jackson Hole, WY and the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City as well as the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth. “My

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

fascination and obsession with antique fabrics led into one-of-akind wearables found on my timeless brand, Pure Vintage, which I started in 1989,” she says. The timing was right. “Within a year, I had a $1 million fashion wholesale business. It was ten years before computers became pervasive. Many Texas women asked for my designs to wear at President George Bush (41’s) Black Tie & Boots Ball after his inauguration. I was honored to be featured as a Texas artist at both Bush inaugurations. I also hand-delivered gowns to customers in Washington, D.C. Those were the days of personalized retail, before people began shopping online. “I’m most proud of being chosen to exhibit as a Texas artist at two presidential inaugurations in Washington, DC.,” she says. Catherine Anspon, Fine Arts Editor of Paper City, calls her Long’s work “profound.” A few of cowboy photos documenting historic ranches and those that continue traditional cowboying to this day are featured in her Pure Art Gallery. These days, Cheryl has a paint brush in her hand, often before breakfast. Painter Cheryl Long showcases inspired landscapes of the American West and generational experiences. She recently took her grandson Jackson on his first tour of Wyoming and Montana, with stops at the trout stream. The gallery has an original feel and Cheryl’s signature artwork comes to life on the walls. “My priority for our new gallery is art,” says Long. “I set art aside for 30 years while building my wholesale company, Pure West. “In those days, customer contact was one on one – there were no texts,” she recalls. “All of our handwork was done in America – this was before China imports changed the business.” “Painting is something in her that she has to do,” observes her

FAYETTEVILLE

longtime partner, Kenneth. “She is inspired by beauty and she pursues it.”

Created with antique wood findings And 100 year old wallpaper collage’. Vintage serape hatband on one of a kind pink vintage fedora

Long grew up in Houston, spending hours in the Museum District and now resides in Bastrop, where she owns a Greek Revival home built in 1879. “I paint every day – I could live in my studio but I have to come out sometimes to meet with my clients,” she laughs. The unforgettable redhead has shown her antiques and art at the Red Barn in Round Top and at Marburger Farms Antique Show for 23 years. At the Winter Antique Show, she visited with Ed Gage, who started Marburger Farms with John Sauls. Susan Franks, the owner of the Red Barn, has elevated the selections at the Red Barn to attract clients from all over the world. She has always had an eye for romantic fashion – trimmed in lace, velvet and vintage accents. “As a society, we have gotten lax in the way we present ourselves. It’s as if we’ve lost our pride of dress. I want to inspire people to return to the classy style of the 30s and 40s, when dressing well was the rule and not the exception. Katharine Hepburn wore beautifully tailored trousers, not loungewear. Dressing well is one of the most elegant forms of self-expression.”

36x36 Painting by

Cheryl Long

Long has been featured in juried shows throughout the Mountain West for more than 30 years, and has represented Texas designers at several presidential inaugurations. She enjoys her time in Fayetteville, and looks forward to the juried art events like the upcoming Arts for Rural Texas Art Walk on May 1-2 on the historic square. “It’s their fundraiser for the children that provides art instruction in rural areas,” Long says. She finds the vintage lace treasures she works into her designs from all over the country. “The best finds are generally tucked away in someone’s attic,” she says. “People don’t hold on to treasured items like they once did. One of her pickers found a Victorian lace wedding gown, but it was in shreds, I told her, “send it my way.” “I give old fabrics new life. She adores working in turn-of-thecentury velvets, souvenir keepsake scarves from World War I, and leather, because of its broad applicability. Her classic western patterns combine in statement-making shirtings.

Made with antique French ribbon of the era 30x30 inches

“To be clear, I am not advocating spending huge amounts of money or tossing entire wardrobes, but selecting timeless pieces that elevate the ordinary,” Long says. “I’ve watched her put down some roots here and we’re all excited about this spring – spring is always my best time for my plants and hanging baskets,” says Judy Burklund, owner of Petals N Lace. We have the antique show here starting on March 24-28. She’s helped me so much because been in the business longer. We love having her on the Square.” 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

What excites her the most – the design or the construction? “I can get lost in the fabrics and colors but taking something that was a scrap on the floor and making something beautiful excites me. My imagination gets to run free.” Not to be found on Amazon The gallery visitor will experience elegance, livable quality at all price points. In the shop, people may find everyday romance, from $6 to $600. “I design special pieces that may be incorporated into existing wardrobe that can make every day dressing special and special occasion dressing memorable. Take my vintage lace jackets and dusters - they combine several styles of vintage lace and are suitable for pairing with jeans, a T-shirt and boots or black pencil pants. These days, she has both a wholesale and retail business, allowing her to feature one-of-a-kind pieces. “I have people who collect my designs like others collect paintings,” Long says. “They are the first at my shows to see what I have that is new.” Her work hangs in many corporate and celebrity collections including the collection of Dennis Hopper, the Harry Ransom Center on the University of Texas campus, a gallery previously called the Altermann & Morris Gallery in Houston and J.P. Bryan’s Torch Energy Museum and in the Paine Webber corporate offices in New York City in the 1990s.

Partial interior

PURE ART BY

C H E R Y L

512.321.5472 purewest@icloud.com

L O N G

@purewestbycheryllong

FAYETTEVILLE ON THE SQUARE • PURE WEST • PURE VINTAGE • BY CHANCE OR APPOINTMENT

34 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

FayettevilleChamber_Spring 2021 Guide_full page non-bleed.qxp_Layout 1 2/5/21 10:58 AM Page 1

FAYETTEVILLE

Visit the friendly faces around Fayetteville’s Historic Square

Great shopping and friendly faces around Fayetteville’s Square at the Vintage Rose, Fayetteville Vintage, Pure Art, Joe’s Place, Orsak’s Cafe, The Store at the Grand, Dybala’s Framing, Wine Bar Restaurant at the Grand, Petals N Lace, Spoiled Quilter, Yesterday’s Past, Ross Gallery at ARTS, Fayetteville Store, Fayetteville Bank, Roberts Insurance, Country Glam, Red & White Gallery, Red & White Inn and the Grand Fayette Hotel. 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

SISTER LOVE! Sisters are important! As we all know, Sisters come in different formats. The name is the same, but the word contains different definitions. “Sister”, “Sister-in-Law”, “Sister in Faith”, “Sister Friend”, to name a few. Ellen Wolpert and Lisa Walker are Sisters-in-Law, but just call each other “Sister”. Their road to The Vintage Rose Market on The Fayetteville Square happened during this past unusual year.

Sundries Fayetteville

In July of 2019, Ellen and Dean Wolpert, Houstonians, stayed at Lisa and John Walker’s home in Round Top, so that Ellen could attend The Fayetteville Garage Sale to procure some finds for her established antique space in Uvalde, The Vintage Market. They spotted a lovely Historical home off of the Fayetteville Square for sale and they were hooked with the charm of the town. They sold their home in Houston and moved within two months! Their Fayetteville home had great bones but needed a renovator with vision to help them with restorations. Enter Judy Kurtz, of Bluebonnet Renovators. Judy and Ellen immediately hit it off and worked well together. Judy discussed with Ellen that she was thinking about purchasing a part of the original Fayetteville General Store (the plumbing area to be exact) to create a local Antique Shop. Ellen was in, and so was Jennifer, a Californian, who owns a B&B in Fayetteville, The Bloom Inn, and finally Ellen approached Lisa. Lisa, and her brother, Dean, had been coming to Round Top Antique Weekend since it was held at The Rifle Hall, circa 1973 . Their lifelong friends, Nedra and Ken Gurry, introduced them to the Round Top Area and to The Rifle Hall Show. An unusual pandemic year, Lisa and her husband John, who was working remotely, were in Round Top more regularly, so creating a local business was seemingly doable! In July of 2020, The Vintage Rose Market (and Wine Bar, open for the Spring Show) was opened! They call each other “The Vintage Rose Sisters” and they currently have a new “Sister” joining them, Carol Linn, and their “Shop Girl Sister” is sweet Trudie Howard. Lisa and Ellen are taking The Back Room at The Vintage Rose together and they are excited about all the new shops on the Square! New businesses on the Square include Pure Art’s Cheryl Long, whom is also a “Sister”, and all the Sisters have a “Brother” in Emil Knodell, at Fayetteville Vintage Gallery, to complete the ever-growing Fayetteville Square Family.

36 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Lucky Girl Vintage

SUNDRIES sun dry ‘s ndre / noun “various unique specialty items too numerous to be mentioned individually”

ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES

LISA WOLPERT WALKER

ELLEN WOLPERT 713.504.7256

7 13.898.5017

@luckygirl.vintage

vinta

ON FAYETTEVILLE’S HISTORICAL SQUARE!

the

FIND US BOTH IN THE BACK ROOM AT

ALSO OPEN AT THE VINTAGE MARKET, UVALDE TX

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@sundriesfayetteville

fayettev

“ANTIQUES ON THE SQUARE” FAYETTEVILLE SHOW | March 24-28 | 9 am - 9 pm WE’RE OPEN LATE AFTER THE ROUND TOP SHOW | March 29 - April 3 | 10 am - 9 pm Our Wine Bar is OPEN during show hours!

FLATONIA Lyric Theater

The 2019-202 0 Czhilispiel co their reign. Le urt wave good ft to right Addi son Wagner, Ka bye to Carly Bonds, M ra Croyle, ax Olvera and seated is Lexi Pilat

Flatonia is a historic town located on Interstate 10 and the Southern Pacific Railroad, 12 miles west of Schulenburg. It is home to the historic Flatonia Railroad Tower, used from 1902 to 1996, one of Texas’ longest standing, manually-operated railroad switching towers with north-south and east-west cross rails. Enjoy a round of 9-hole golf on the well-maintained golf course. If you’re up for sight seeing, check out the six beautifully painted churches within easy driving distance. The population was 1,383 at the 2010 census.

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Mural on

Main St.

MAYOR LETTER

WELCOME On behalf of the citizens of Flatonia, I would like to welcome you to our little corner of Fayette County. We are very proud of our park areas including our new splash pad in our Mulberry Creek Connector park near the current City Pool in McWhirter Park. We have several parks that allow our residents and visitors to partake in many different activities, including baseball, softball, frisbee golf, skate park and walking trails. Among all of these activities, we also have several playgrounds for the younger crowd. We are also proud of the growing shopping opportunities in our community as well as our rail park and rail museum. We have restaurants that people from all over our area and travelers make a point to come to enjoy. And if you are looking for a nice place to lay your head, we have a modern hotel as well as several bed and breakfast accommodations for you! Hope to see you soon in Flatonia!

Visitors at Czhilispiel

Czhilispiel parade

“We are very proud of our park areas and pleased that we will be opening a splash pad in our Mulberry Creek Connector park near the current City Pool in McWhirter Park this year.” - Mayor Bryan Milson

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

FLATONIA EVENTS APRIL Rail Fan Pavilion Party April 3 Flatonia Chamber of Commerce Crawfest April 17 Muldoon Volunteer Fire Department Fundraiser April 24

MAY Flatonia Cinco de Mayo Fiesta May 1 or 8 Flatonia Chmaber of Commerce Spring Wine Walk May 7 Flatonia Rotary Golf Tournament May 15

JUNE 90 Miles on Hwy 90 Garage Sales-From Sealy to Luling with all towns in between June 4-5

Darlin’s Diner 114 South Main St.

Goose’s Roost Ranch Cottages 815 Scott’s School Rd.

Jamie’s Cafe 1500 East US Highway 90

Olle Hotel 218 South Market St.

Joel’s Bar-B-Q FM 609 & Interstate 10

The Ranch Retreat 1826 County Road 283

Josesitos Mexican Grill 507 East Interstate 10 Frontage Rd.

Sunset Inn 420 East Interstate 10 Frontage Rd.

McDonald’s 709 North La Grange St.

Town Cottages 705 East North Main St.

Olde Town Tea Room & Bakery 625 North La Grange St.

CHURCHES

Red Vault Bistro 124 East South Main St. Robert’s Steakhouse 1241 North TX-95

Summer Fun at the Flatonia City Pool

Sonic Drive-In 1415 FM 609

5th Annual Jerry Weir Golf Tournament June 19

Subway 230 East Interstate 10 Frontage Rd.

JULY

The Market 116 West North Main St.

Summer Fun at the Flatonia City Pool

Wine Haus 110 West North Main St.

AUGUST

Nearby Cistern Country Store 12604 North State Hwy 95

Summer Fun at the Flatonia City Pool

RESTAURANTS Amigos Country Corner 1415 FM 609 Cowgirl Provisions 116 East South Main St. Dairy Queen 605 North La Grange St.

LODGING Best Western Plus Flatonia Inn 310 B East Hwy, Interstate 10 Frontage Rd. Carefree Inn 718 North La Grange St. Flatonia RV Ranch 2055 FM Rd. 609

40 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

BAPTIST Flatonia Baptist 225 E. 6th St. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. www.flatoniabaptist.org (361) 865-3813 Muldoon Baptist 300 Cochran St. Muldoon, TX 78949 Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship 11 a.m. www.muldoonbaptist.com (361) 865-3013 New Union Missionary Baptist 715 Martin Luther King St. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship 11 a.m.

CATHOLIC Sacred Heart 516 S Faires St. Sat. Mass 5 p.m. & Sun. Mass 9:30 a.m. www.shsscm.org (361) 865-3568

FLATONIA

Sts. Cyril & Methodius, Cistern Sun. Mass 8 a.m. www.shsscm.org (361) 865-3568 St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Praha Sat. Mass 4:30 p.m. & Sun. Mass 8 a.m. www.stmaryspraha.org (361) 596-4674

METHODIST

FESTIVALS Flatonia Chamber of Commerce Crawfest April 17 The Flatonia Crawfest is a community event headlined by crawdads. Attendees can expect aisles of tables with hundreds of pounds of crawfish ready to be eaten with a side of shrimp, Joel’s BBQ sausage, corn on the cob, potatoes, tea, beer and Moravia Vineyard Wine. During the event, local musicians perform live and there will be a live and slient auction. Flatonia Cinco de Mayo Fiesta May 1 or 8 Celebrate and enjoy arts and crafts, food booths, music, games, contests, Folklorico performances and a car and truck show. Czhilispiel October 22-24 Czhilispiel is a nod to Flatonia’s Czech and German heritage. First, the name comes from a play on the word “Chili.” The addition of the “z” is a play on a Czech spelling, and the German work “spiel” means play. Three days of live entertainment, biergarten, carnival, parade, contests, arts and crafts market, 5K, Czhili & BBQ cook offs and various family fun activities throughout the weekend. It is held every year on the fourth full weekend of October.

Two buildings house a unique collection that will take you on a journey back through Flatonia’s cultural and historical past to its founding in 1873. Hours: Thursday and Friday 1-4pm Saturday 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 – 3 p.m. Available for special tours by appointment.

www.arnimmuseum.org

101 E. North Main St., Flatonia, Texas

361-865-3455

Live Music in a remodeled 1905 Historic Downtown Building PARTY OR RECEPTION VENUE

Living World Ministries Muldoon Worship 10 a.m. & Wed. 7:30 p.m.

First United Methodist 403 East North Main St. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. www.flatoniaumc.org (361) 865-2622

Serving meals by Chef Kenny Kopecky Thurs - Sat

110 W North Main St., Flatonia For reservations call 361-865-5050

Flatonia

DESTINATION

Due to coronavirus all events, places to eat & stay, churches, and festivals may be cancelled, postponed, or organized differently.

FLATONIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE “A Voice for Business” 208 E. N. Main St. | P.O. Box 610, Flatonia P: (361) 865-3920 F: (844) 270-6568 Mon - Fri: 9:30AM - 4:00PM flatoniacofc@sbcglobal.net | flatoniachamber.com SUPPORT OUR CHAMBER MEMBERS, THEY SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY!!!

Want to advertise in the Flatonia destination page? Contact Becky Weise at (979) 968-3155

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

LA GRANGE Colorado River

Casino Hall

La Grange is on the Colorado River, between Houston and Austin on Texas State Highway 71. It is home to the Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites. Monument Hill is a memorial to the men who died in the Dawson Massacre and in the Black Bean Episode of the Mier Expedition. The Kreische Brewery site commemorates European immigrants and their contributions. The 2017 population estimate was 4,680.

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arad unty Fair p Fayette Co

MAYOR LETTER

WELCOME Welcome to La Grange, a peaceful community nestled on the banks of the Colorado River, conveniently located between Austin, Houston and San Antonio. We are home to the Texas Quilt Museum, Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center, Faison Home, Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives, the Muster Oak, Monument Hill State Park and the Kreische Brewery. We are an award-winning Main Street City. I invite you to visit our Visitors Center located in our recently renovated Historic Casino Hall. At the Center you will not only find information but also the history of La Grange and Fayette County, a unique gift shop and our art gallery of local artist’s work. Visitors can enjoy a stay at one of our many bed and breakfasts or inns. Our restaurants offer a wide variety of foods. Enjoy kolaches and pigs-in-a-blanket, as well as some of the best Bar-B-Q in the state. For a unique experience, I invite you to our downtown square and the surrounding area. Visit our newly restored courthouse, eat at one of our fine restaurants and enjoy shopping at your leisure. We are home to many one-of-a-kind businesses that offer a variety of selections.

Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo

Home of the Texas Quilt Museum

Monument Hill

“I have only mentioned a few of the amenities that can be found here in La Grange. Our greatest asset is our citizens; you will find them to be warm, friendly and helpful. All of us offer you a heartfelt welcome and hope you will come and enjoy your stay.” - Mayor Janet Moerbe 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

LA GRANGE

EVENTS APRIL

AUGUST

La Grange Farmers Market every Saturday

Fayette County Sheriff’s Posse, Bull Riding & Rodeo Event August 6-7

City of La Grange Easter Egg Hunt Easter Egg Hunt at The Jersey Barnyard April 3

A Day Out in La Grange-Shop Local Event August 7

Ostersamstag (Easter Saturday) on the Bluff April 3 Relay For Life

MAY La Grange Farmers Market every Saturday MS-150 Bike-A-Thon May 1 Friends Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill Annual Picnic Historic Walking Tour May 15 Heinrich Kreische’s 200th Birthday Celebration May 15 Annual Slavnost ‘May Fest’ and Tribute to the Czech Immigrants to Texas May 16

JUNE La Grange Farmers Market every Saturday Movie Nights on the Square June 4 & June 18 La Grange Fire Department Annual Benefit Golf Tournament Juneteenth Parade & Celebration La Grange Art Stroll June 12 Summer Fun at the La Grange City Pool

JULY La Grange Farmers Market every Saturday Movie Nights on the Square July 16 Winchester Area Volunteer Fire Department Annual Fundraiser Fish Fry and Auction Summer Fun at the La Grange City Pool

Movie & Brunch at Historic Casino Hall August 7

Hank’s Express 154 S. Jefferson St.

Holman Valley Steakhouse 10204 FM 155 Jay Dee’z Sports Grill 2001 TX-71 La Marina 1502 TX-71

Summer Fun at the La Grange City Pool

Las Fuentes 685 S. Jefferson St.

SEPTEMBER

Latte on the Square 219 W. Travis St.

La Grange Farmers Market every Saturday Fayette County Fair September 2-5

Leopard Donuts 240 E. Travis St.

Chamber Golf Tournament Labor Day Weekend

Lukas Bakery 135 N. Main St.

Texas Heroes Day September 18

McDonald’s 2304 W. Travis St.

La Grange Uncorked September 18 Pumpkin Patch at The Jersey Barnyard

Pizza Hut 2230 Bus. W. Hwy 71

RESTAURANTS

Reba’s Deli & Pizzeria 539 E. Colorado St.

Back Porch BBQ & Grill 1602 N. Jefferson St. Big State Coffee House & Roastery 107 W. Colorado St. Bodega Wine Market 201 W. Travis St. Celebrations by Bistro 108 127 N. Main St. Dairy Queen 311 N. Jefferson St. Domino’s Pizza 2001 TX-71 Ste. 10 Ere’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria 108 S. Main St. Frisch Auf Valley Country Club 575 Country Club Dr. Golden Chick 312 E. Travis St. Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant 403 N. Jefferson St.

44 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Riverside Cafe 1225 Carroll Ln. Sealand Seafood & Steaks 2359 W. Hwy 71 Sonic 717 E. Travis St. Subway 109 S. Jefferson St. Taco Bell 2201 W. Hwy 71 Taqueria Rio Verde 1330 N. Jefferson St. Taqueria Sergios 1432 TX-71 Texas One Stop BBQ & Bakery 1704 TX-71 Weikel’s Bakery 2247 W. Hwy 71

Suncatcher RV Park 3033 S. US Hwy 77

White Box II 922 E. Travis St.

The Oak Motel 227 S. Jefferson St.

Nearby Murphy’s Steakhouse 204 Thomas St, Winchester, TX 78945 Que Zeen Barbecue Cuisine 5606 US-77, Warda, TX 78960

LODGING Ammannsville Cottages 9018 FM 1383 Bed & Breakfast on Main 512 S. Main St. Best Western La Grange Inn & Suites 600 E. Hwy 71 Bypass Big Tin Flag Bed & Breakfast 714 E. Radhost School Rd. Blue Willow Farm B&B 1412 S. US Hwy 77 Brendan Manor Bed & Breakfast 345 E. Travis St. Colorado Landing RV 64 E. Bluff View Cottonwood Inn Motel 1494 W. Travis St. Executive Inn & Suites of La Grange 1708 W. State Hwy 71 Guest Quarters at Dos Lagos 3045 Valenta Rd. Hampton Inn La Grange 1624 W. TX-71 Laughing Hen Silos 4741 Hwy 159 Lodge on Lake Siesta 5145 FM 153 Lucky Penny Ranch 6822 Wied Road Lutherhill Ministries RV Site 3782 Lutherhill Rd. Oak Thicket Park on Lake Fayette 3819 W. State Hwy 159 River Valley Motor Inn 1575 W. Travis St. S&H RV Park 3517 Post Oak Rd. Suite 244 Historic Downtown Accommodations 244 N. Washington St.

Nearby Corral RV Park West Point, TX 78963

CHURCHES ASSEMBLY OF GOD Asamblia of God Vida Abudante AG 124 S. Franklin St. Domingo 10 a.m. Miercoles 7-9 p.m. 338-0235 Gospel Lighthouse Assembly of God 144 S. College Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. (979) 968-5950

BAPTIST Bible Baptist Church 153 E Crockett St. (979) 968-4981 Calvary Baptist Church 650 S. Ellinger Rd. Bible Study 10 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. & Evening Worship 6 p.m. (979) 966-2670 Ebenezer Baptist 829 N. Jefferson Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. First Baptist 121 S. College Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. Adult, Student & Children Groups Wed. 6 p.m. (979) 968-5651 www.fbclagrange.net Little Bethel Baptist 3242 Loehr Rd. Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship 11 a.m. (979) 247-4262 Peaceful Rest Baptist 808 E. Fannin St. Worship 10:30 a.m.

St. Matthew Missionary Baptist 6341 St. Hwy 71 East Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship 2nd & 4th Sun. 11:30 a.m. & Wed. 6 p.m. Second Baptist 1010 N. Von Minden St. Life Groups 9:30 a.m. & 11: 30 a.m. Worship 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Wednesday Students 6 p.m., 5:30 p.m. Kids/Awana www.sblg.org (979) 968-5953

LA GRANGE

Whataburger 1800 E. Hwy 71

Shiloh Missionary Baptist Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 1st & 3rd Sun. 11:30 a.m. United Baptist Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 1st & 3rd Sun. 11:30 a.m.

CATHOLIC Holy Rosary Catholic Church 936 FM 2436 Sat. Mass 5 p.m. & Sun. Mass 8 a.m. www.hostynplumcatholic.org (979) 247-4441 Sacred Heart Catholic Church 539 E. Pearl La Grange, TX 78945 Tues. & Wed. Mass 6:30 p.m., Thurs. School Mass 8:30 a.m., Fri. Mass 8:30 a.m. Sat. English Mass 5 p.m., Sun. English Mass 9:00 a.m. & Sun. Spanish Mass 11:30 a.m. www.sacredheartlagrange.org (979) 968-3430 St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Ammannsville 7745 Mensik Rd. Worship 8:00 a.m. (Even Months) & Worship at 9:30 a.m. (Odd Months) (979) 743-3117 St. Peter & Paul Catholic 126 Plum Church Rd. Plum, TX 78952 Sun. Mass: 10 a.m. www.hostynplumcatholic.org (979) 242-3600 St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Holman 9937 FM 155 Worship at 8:00 a.m. (Odd Months) & Worship at 9:30 a.m. (Even Months) (979) 743-3117

CHURCH OF CHRIST Church Of Christ 646 E. Hwy 71 Business Sunday School 9 a.m. Worship 10 a.m. & Wed. 6:30 p.m. www.lagrangecoc.com (979) 968-5676

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Miracle Temple Church of God In Christ 1008 E. Fannin St. Bible Study Wed. 7 p.m Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 11:30 a.m.

EPISCOPAL St. James Episcopal 156 N Monroe St. Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Worship 8 & 10:30 a.m. www.stjameslagrange.org (979) 968-3910

SHARED LUTHERAN Shared Lutheran Ministry of Fayette County St. John in Rutersville 5743 State Hwy. 159 East of La Grange Sunday School 9 a.m. Worship 10 a.m. www.sharedlutheranministry.org (979) 249-3155

LUTHERAN Holy Cross Lutheran FM 1482 Warda Worship. 9 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. www.holycrosswarda.com 979) 242-3333 Mt. Calvary Lutheran 800 N Franklin St. Sunday School & Bible Classes 10:15 a.m. & Wed. 10 a.m. Worship 9 a.m. L.C.M.S. www.mtcalvary-lcms.org (979) 968-3938 Saint Michael’s Lutheran 310 Frio Street Winchester, TX 78945 Worship 9 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. www.stmichaelswinchester.org (979) 242-3444 St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 110 West Walnut La Grange, TX 78945 Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship Sat. 5 p.m. & Sun. 9 a.m. www.stpaullg.org (979) 968-5657 St. Peter Lutheran Church 640 Prairie Valley Rd, West Point, TX 78963 Worship 8:45 a.m. (361) 798-0155

METHODIST

OTHERS

Bethlehem AME 2200 Bethlehem Rd. 247-5010

Primera Inglesia Bautista 1099 N. Von Minden St. Worship Wednesday 7 p.m., Fri.. 7 p.m., Sun. 10:30 a.m. The Living Vine Christian Church 124 S. Water St. Sunday Morning 10 a.m. Bible Study (adults and youth) Wed. 6:30 p.m. (316) 259-7435

First United Methodist 1215 N Von Minden St. Traditional Worship 9 a.m. Sunday School 10:10 - 11 a.m. New Life Worship 11:10 a.m. www.lgfumc.org (979) 968-8323 St. James United Methodist 710 N. Jackson Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship 1st & 3rd Sun. 11 a.m. St. Paul AME 729 E. Guadalupe Sunday School 9 a.m. Worship 10 a.m. Winchester United Methodist 8933 FM 153 Winchester, TX 78945 Worship 1st & 3rd Sun 8:30 a.m.

PENTECOST United Pentecostal 311 N. Horton St. Tuesday Ladies Prayer 9 a.m., Men’s Prayer 7 p.m. Bible Study 7 p.m. Thursday Sunday School 10 a.m. Church Services 10:45 a.m.

PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian 205 S. Franklin St. Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. www.firstpresbyterianlagrange.com (979) 968-9424

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST Seventh-day Adventist 1000 E Hwy 71 Saturday-Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. Sat. Worship 11 a.m. www.lagrangetx.adventistchurch.org (979) 968-8519

The Remnant Church 2010 Von Minden Rd. Sunday Service 10 a.m. Mon. Prayer 7 p.m. Wed. Children & Youth Life Night 7 p.m. www.theremnantchurch.net (979) 968-5065

PICNICS MAY 1st Sunday in May Queen of the Holy Rosary Church in Hostyn 936 FM 2436 (979) 247-4441 www.hostynplumcatholic.org Friends Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill Annual Picnic 414 State Loop 92 (979) 968-5658 www.thc.texas.gov

JUNE 3rd Saturday in June Saint Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester 700 Frio St. Winchester (979) 242-3444 www.stmichaelswinchester.org 3rd Sunday in June (Father’s Day) St. John the Baptist Church in Ammannsville 7850 Mensik Rd. (979) 743-3117 Last Sunday in June Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Plum 126 Plum Church Road La Grange (979) 242-3600 www.hostynplumcatholic.org

COWBOY CHURCH

SEPTEMBER

Colorado River Cowboy Church 5122 Hwy. 71 - between La Grange & Smithville Bible Study 8:45 a.m. Worship 10 a.m. www.coloradorivercowboychurch.org

3rd Sunday in September St. Wenceslaus Church in Holman 9538 Anton Salas Loop Holman (979) 743-3117

46 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

FESTIVALS Annual Slavnost ‘May Fest’ and Tribute to the Czech Immigrants to Texas May 16 Recognition of descendants of Czech Immigrants of any year, 10:30 AM. Meal served at 11:30 AM. Music 11:30-4 PM by the Czech Harvesters. Classic Car Show, Village Open, Pastries, May Pole Dance and more!

DR. KARI BRAWLEY

LA GRANGE

Sunday of Labor Day Weekend Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Warda 600 FM 1482 Giddings (979) 242-3333 www.holycrosswarda.com

Fayette County Sheriff’s Posse, Bull Riding & Rodeo Event August 6-7 Is there anything more Texan than a good old-fashioned rodeo? Enjoy this Texas tradition at the Fayette County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo, a three-day event that includes bronc and bull riding, trick riding, and barrel racing. There’s also plenty of tasty food, live music, and entertainment that the whole family can enjoy. Fayette County Fair September 2-5 Enjoy all the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the Fayette County Fair, an annual event that began in 1927. A livestock show, parade, barbecue cook-off, musical performances, and a carnival are just part of the fun at the county fair in La Grange. This four-day event is held during Labor Day weekend at the Fayette County Fairgrounds.

Due to coronavirus all events, places to eat & stay, churches, and festivals may be cancelled, postponed, or organized differently.

Czech out all the center has to offer! 250 West Fairgrounds Rd., La Grange

888-785-4500 • CzechTexas.org

Museum • Library • Gift Shop • Czech Village

Providing quality dentistry in a warm and friendly environment We offer a wide range of dental services and provide full-service dental care 110 N Washington St. La Grange, Texas 78945

brawleydental.com

979-968-5813 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

THE KREISCHE LEGACY A Fayette County Pioneer Update

In his obituary, The La Grange Journal described Heinrich Ludwig Kreische as “one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Fayette County.” By his death in 1882, he had certainly left his mark on his adopted home—through the buildings he constructed, the beer he brewed, and the community he shaped. This year, we celebrate the man and his legacy on his 200th birthday. Heinrich Kreische was born on May 14, 1821, in Gottgetreu, a small village in Saxony (today part of Germany) less than a half-mile from the Czech border. Kreische grew up in the hilly countryside of the Erzegebirge, or Ore Mountains. The local culture was heavily influenced by mining, a grueling and often dangerous occupation that emphasized the value of hard work. This value was likely impressed upon Kreische from a young age. Among the sponsors at his baptism was a stonemason, a trade that was well reflected in the stone buildings throughout Gottgetreu. It is quite possible that this sponsor brought young Kreische under his wing and taught him initial stonemasonry skills. In his late youth, Kreische saved his pennies to attend the Baugewerkschule, building trades school, in Holzminden. While developing his skills in shaping and arranging stone, Kreische also learned technical drawing and mathematics before graduating as a master mason. Impressed with his schooling, Kreische sent his son, Otto, to the same trades school some four decades later. By the 1840s, industrialization and overpopulation threatened the livelihoods and principles of German farmers, tradespeople, and artisans. Kreische may have been among those who saw little opportunity at home and feared potential political unrest and economic instability. Seeking a better future, many Germans enrolled in mass emigration programs such as the Society for the Protection of German Emigrants in Texas, better known as the Adelsverein. This organization sought to create a German Texas community by offering attractive and affordable means to settle in Texas. Though the Adelsverein eventually failed due to poor management and underfunding, thousands of Germans moved to Texas. They established communities including New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, and Kleindeutschland, an area that encompassed Fayette County. In November 1846, Kreische and his brother Carl Emmanuel left their home in Saxony. They sailed from Hamburg aboard

48 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

the Albatross and arrived in Galveston in late December 1846. Kreische first went to New Braunfels, where he received a certificate for 320 acres in a grant of the then-defunct Adelsverein. It is unknown if Kreische ever lived on this land grant, but by 1848 he had settled in Fayette County. He must have been successful at marketing his stonemasonry skills around La Grange as he was quickly hired to construct the sandstone vault on Monument Hill for the remains of Texas soldiers killed during the Dawson and Mier Expeditions. During his early days in Fayette County, Kreische befriended Georg Willrich, a lawyer from Germany who settled near present-day Hostyn and hired Kreische to construct the stone fireplaces of the Willrich home. From Willrich, Kreische purchased 172 ¼ acres on the bluff overlooking the Colorado River in January 1849. Now a property owner, Kreische sought to establish permanent residence in Fayette County, so Kreische filed a petition for naturalization in March 1850. His petition was granted two years later, and he took the oath of allegiance to the United States. In the early 1850s, Kreische lived with Andreas Ammann, a carpenter from Austria. Together, they formed a respected building team that the Texas Monument newspaper considered “industrious, enterprising, and responsible.” Their first documented project was the new county jail completed in December 1853. Two years later, Kreische was awarded a contract to build the third Fayette County courthouse, which he completed in August 1857. During his first few construction projects, Kreische began building his home on the bluff. In fall 1855, Kreische brought his new bride Josepha to the small twostory structure overlooking the Colorado River. Over the next 15 years, the family grew to include six children, and Kreische enlarged the home to meet his family’s needs. By the 1870s, Kreische had begun operations on his most well-known venture, the Kreische Brewery. Taking advantage of the natural landscape in the ravine behind the family home, Kreische applied his skills to build an efficient and ingenious production line for brewing. Kreische’s beer was highly regarded, and by 1878, he was operating the third largest brewery in Texas. The prosperous brewery helped Kreische expand and establish several additional enterprises, many of which benefited from his stonemasonry skills. To transport his beer—and attract brewery visitors—Kreische constructed roads and operated a ferry across

His commitment to hard work was steadfast throughout his life, and it is unlikely that one ever spotted the man idle. Ever the hard-working stonemason, Kreische was crushed—according to family tradition—by a wagonload of stone and died a few months later on March 17, 1882. Without his leadership, the Kreische brewery closed two years after his death. His legacy endures in several stone structures throughout Fayette County and the stories shared at Kreische Brewery State Historic Site. Upon Kreische’s 200th birthday, we might wonder how his family commemorated the day during his lifetime. No records remain that detail the Kreisches’ birthday traditions; however, we can speculate that the family was joined by the local community at the Bluff Schuetzen Verein pavilion to enjoy German food, music, and dancing. Perhaps they even enjoyed a birthday cake, a tradition that German immigrants were popularizing in the US at the time.

LA GRANGE

the Colorado River. He invested in the Bluff Schuetzen Verein, which sold Kreische’s beer from a pavilion near his home. In the late 1870s, he opened a beer hall on the town square where he sold his beer along with Anheuser-Busch. Nearby, he began construction on a stone beerhall and icehouse in spring 1881 to expand his retail operation.

Kreische began co nstruction on his home overlooking the Colorado River in the 1850s. As his family grew , so did the hous e.

Surely though, his family and friends raised a glass of Kreische Bluff Beer and exclaimed a heartfelt “Prost!” to honor the man who left a lasting impact on his community.

Picnic with thePast

visitkreischebrewery.com

(979) 968-5658

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

DESTINATION

SHOP ON THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SQUARE

COTTON GIN 339 W Travis La Grange (979) 206-2220 Tues - Sat: 10AM-5PM www.lagrangecottongin.com

JUDY’S ATTIC 213 W. Travis, La Grange (979) 206-2255 Mon-Fri: 10AM-5PM Sun: 12Noon-5PM See us on Facebook at Judy’s Attic

KAT’S II ANTIQUES 134 N. Washington, La Grange (979) 206-2224 Mon-Fri: 10AM-5PM Sun: 12Noon-5PM See us on Facebook Kat’s Antiques

JULIE B 134 N Washington St, La Grange (979) 639-5034 Mon - Fri: 10AM-5:30PM Sat: 9:30AM-5PM Sun: 12PM - 4PM www.facebook.com/pg/Julie-B

LATTÉ CAFÉ 219 W Travis St, La Grange (979) 968-9545 Mon - Fri: 7AM-5PM Sat: 7:30AM-2PM www.latte-cafe.com

SCHMIDTS 118 N Washington St, La Grange (979) 968-5149 Mon - Fri: 9:30AM-5:00PM Sat: 10AM-4PM www.richardschmidtjewelry.com

KAT’S ANTIQUES 130 N. Washington, La Grange (979) 966-8390 Mon-Fri: 10AM-5PM Sun: 12Noon-5PM See us on Facebook Kat’s Antiques

LE PETITE 226 W Colorado St, La Grange (979) 968-4000 Sun: 12:30PM-4:30PM Mon - Fri: 10AM-6PM Sat: 10AM-5PM www.lepetitegourmetshoppe.com

YM APPAREL 207 W Travis St, La Grange yakmanapparel@gmail.com Tues - Fri: 9:00AM -5:30PM www.ymappareltx.com

LA GRANGE

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2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

WELCOME TO THE

in the

Historic Casino Hall

LA GRANGE

La Grange Visitors Center

Maps & Brochures Restrooms And yes, some FREE Stuff too!!

9am – 5pm SATURDAY 10am – 5pm SUNDAY 12noon – 5pm

MONDAY – FRIDAY

254 N. Jefferson St., La Grange, TX 78945 979-968-3017 www.visitlagrangetx.com

Let Us Fill Your Tank! Bastrop, Fayette, Gonzales & Lavaca counties

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

SCHULENBURG Bronco riding at the Schulenburg Festival Rodeo

Sengelmann Hall

Schulenburg is a city known for its German, Austrian, and Czech culture. It is home to the Texas Polka Music Museum, which honors Texas polka bands and musicians of Czech, German and Polish ancestry. Enjoy the Painted Churches Tour, the Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum, and visit local Vineyards & Wineries. The population was 2,852 at the 2010 census.

by sponsored mpetition, s co er ss rm to Fa g g Eg nburg Youn the Schule

54 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

MAYOR LETTER

WELCOME “Halfway to Everywhere” is the best way to describe Schulenburg. We are half way to Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Victoria - you might even say halfway to heaven being the “Home of the Painted Churches.” When you meet in the middle, - you will find friendly folks, famous cooking and some of the most beautiful countryside around. Schulenburg’s heritage is rich in history, fellowship and tradition. Our history began in 1873 with the arrival of the railroad. Businesses began and faithful followers moved to town. The predominately German and Czech heritage folks thrived on hard work and building their town and homes. They were just as committed to building churches, schools and community meeting places with much music and good fellowship throughout. We continue that tradition today with our annual Schulenburg Sausagefest held in the Spring which highlights the Czech and German heritage with a sausage cook-off and polka music. The annual Schulenburg the egg toss competition, is held on the first weekend of August and features three fun-filled days of family sponsored byFestival the Schulenburg entertainment.

Young Farmers

Our town is fortunate to have a variety of locally owned businesses and shops, restaurants, cafes and eateries, meat markets and bakeries and churches of all faiths. We have something for everyone. We have parks and fitness centers, walking and jogging trails and activities for the young and old. We have hotels and Air B & Bs. History is abundant with the Schulenburg Historical Museum, the Texas Polka Museum and the Stanzel Model Airplane Museum. The Schulenburg Public Library is one of most technology advanced libraries. “Schulenburg” is German for “school house” - and here we are, home of the Schulenburg High School Shorthorns and Lady Horns, the Saint Rose of Lima Cardinals and Blinn Junior College.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church in High Hill

Sengelmann Hall

Diamond Rio performing at the Schulenburg Festival

“Whether it’s a day trip or a weekend getaway - Schulenburg is the place to be - ‘cause most don’t want to leave! Come see us.”- Mayor Elaine Kocian 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

SCHULENBURG EVENTS APRIL

Sausagefest April 10

MAY

Jack Hooper Day at the Ballpark & Home Run Derby May 1

JUNE

90 Miles on Hwy 90 Garage Sales-From Sealy to Luling with all towns in between June 4-5

JULY

Schulenburg Festival August 6-8

SEPTEMBER

Rise & Stein 610 Lyons Ave.

Middle Creek Place 2301 Demel Rd.

Subway 14 North Kessler Ave.

Paradise Hill Rental 2700 Bruno Rd.

T&T Super Donuts 304 Kessler Ave.

Rosie’s Homestead (Airbnb)

Taco Bell 709 US-77 The Garden Co. Marketplace & Cafe 217 Kessler Ave. Tillie’s Cafe 621 North Main St.

Wine-O-Bingo at the Schulenburg Civic Center

Tito’s Cafe 405 Summit St.

Turtle S’Wing & Shoot September 16

Tom’s BBQ 1306 Lyons Ave.

RESTAURANTS

Vicenza’s Italian 746 East US Hwy 90

Auntie Anne’s 709 US-77 Cinnabon 709 US-77

Whataburger 40 North Kessler Ave.

LODGING

City Market Schulenburg 109 Kessler Ave.

3 Oaks RV Resort 55 East Ave.

Dairy Queen 77 North Kessler Ave.

Americas Best Value Inn 205 West Interstate 10 Frontage Rd.

Faith’s Barbeque 610 Lyons Ave. From Scratch Foods 610 Lyons Ave. Lucy Tequilas 50 Kessler Ave. Mi Casita Restaurant 514 Summit St. Momma’s at Sengelmann Hall 531 North Main St. Oakridge Smokehouse Restaurant 712 US-77 Original Kountry Bakery 110 Kessler Ave. PJ Fresh Marketplace 709 US-77

Best Western Plus Schulenburg Inn & Suites 101 Huser Blvd. Das Meyer Haus 527 Anderson St. Executive Inn & Suites 800 US-77 Farmhouse & Cabin at Freyburg Abbotts Grove School Rd. Hattie’s Haus 12020 FM 1383 Holiday Inn Express & Suites 200 Heinrich St. Klekar-Gin Farm 5921 Klekar-Gin Rd.

56 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

Schulenburg RV Park 65 N Kessler Ave. Squawk & Skedaddle Campground 2466 Bryant Rd. Summit House 508 Summit St. The Gathering at Mulberry Creek 5718 Kainer Rd. The Roost at Mulberry Creek (Airbnb) The Otto House (Airbnb) The Stopover (Airbnb)

CHURCHES CATHOLIC

Sts. Cyril & Methodius Dubina Sun. Mass 8:45 a.m. (979) 725-6715 St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Ammannsville Sun. Mass 9:30 a.m. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church 7026 FM 957 www.discovermass.com (979) 798-5888 St. Mary’s Catholic High Hill Sat. Mass 6:30 p.m. & Wed. Mass 7 a.m. www.stmary-highhill.com (979) 561-8455 St. Rose of Lima 1010 Lyons Ave. Sat. Mass 5 p.m., Sun. Mass 7:30 a.m. & 10 a.m., Noon Spanish Mass www.victoriadiocese.org (979) 743-3117

LUTHERAN

United Evangelical Lutheran Swiss Alp Worship 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. (979) 247-4151 Zion Lutheran 103 Keuper Ave Sunday School 9 a.m. Worship 10 a.m. (979) 743-3842

METHODIST

First United Methodist 209 N Upton Ave Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. www.schulenburgmethodist.com (979) 743-3333 Freyburg United Methodist 4520 FM 2238 Worship 8:30 a.m. every Sunday www.freyburgumc.org (979) 217-1151

PRESBYTERIAN

St. Paul Presbyterian 712 Summit St Adult Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. (979) 743-3426

OTHERS

Crossroads Christian Fellowship Contemporary Worship, Non-Denominational 701 Lyons Ave. Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:30a.m. www.ccfellowship.net (979) 743-9040 Temple Israel of Schulenburg 211 Baumgarten St High Holy Days, Pesach Kabbalat Shabbat www.templeisrael.webs.com

PICNICS

FESTIVALS

JUNE

Sausagefest April 10 The only festival in Texas featuring sausage-making contests! Come for the sausage, but stay for all the fun! Enjoy Texas’ shortest parade, live music, the Wurst Run Ever (Fun Run), Sausage Tossing Contest, Hog Calling Contest, Homemade Wine, Pickles, and Sauerkraut Contests and so much more.

2nd Sunday in June St. Rose of Lima Church 1010 Lyons Ave. (979) 743-3117 www.victoriadiocese.org

JULY

1st Sunday in July Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Dubina FM Road 1383, Dubina (979) 725-8461 Always July 4th St. John the Baptist Church 7026 FM 957 (361) 798-5888

SEPTEMBER

Sunday before Labor Day Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in High Hill 2833 FM 2672 (979) 561-8455

Schulenburg Festival August 6-8 Always the first weekend in August, the Schulenburg Festival offers a weekend of live music, cook-offs, tournaments, a rodeo, and a lot more fun! Bring the whole family to participate in the Cow Chip and Egg Toss and watch the parade. Schulenburg Festival also boasts about its incredibly large and cold beer garden.

Due to coronavirus all events, places to eat & stay, churches, and festivals may be cancelled, postponed, or organized differently.

PAINTED CHURCHES • HISTORIC architecture • DELICIOUS EATS

COZY LODGING • UNIQUE MUSEUMS • AWARD-WINNING WINErieS

For tours or more information please call (866) 504-5294 or visit our website www.schulenburgchamber.org 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

PAINTED CHURCHES Schulenburg is home to some of the most unique churches in the world WRITTEN BY Kara Koether

St. Mary’s Catholic Church | Praha

St. Mary’s Catholic Church was dedicated under the name Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and is located three miles east of Flatonia in Praha, Texas. St. Mary’s Parish was established in 1855 and the church was later built on a tract of land which was donated in 1865. A small frame hut was initially built to offer mass. The present St. Mary’s Catholic Church is the oldest of the four famous painted churches in Fayette County, built in 1895.

Sts. Cyril & Methodius Cat holic Church in Dubina, Texas

The stone used to build the church came from a quarry in Muldoon about 20 miles from the church; the people took their wagons and tools to the quarry and brought back giant blocks of stone, and then chiseled away until they had the right size stones to build the church. Many courthouses in Texas are built from the same stone, as well as the Galveston Sea Wall. St. Mary’s Catholic Church is a Gothic Revival structure, and the steeple and windows point to God. The steeple itself is very high, and when the time came for someone to climb the steeple to place the cross at the top, no one wanted to do it. The community didn’t have any steeplejacks, so they asked for a volunteer–but none came forward because they were afraid of

olic Church in St. Mary’s Cath Praha, Texas

climbing so high. Finally, a family proclaimed that they would give a keg of beer to anyone that volunteered to climb up and place the cross. Shortly after the announcement, an unnamed man showed up, bravely climbed the steeple, placed the cross, and came back down to claim his prize before leaving. The doors of the church are painted with portraits of St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Cyril, and St. Methodius, who were very important to the Czechs. On the inside, there are sculptures of Jesus on the cross, paintings of Jesus giving sight to the blind man, the Father and the Prodigal Son, and St. John listening to the confession of Our Lady of Bohemia. There are also stations of the cross placed all around the church, which all came from Rome. And in the extensive renovations that took place a couple of years ago in 2016, the original hardwood longleaf pine flooring was uncovered. When the Czechs finished the church, they wanted it painted on the inside, and it was very important to them to have a very good artist, which was hard to find in 1895. They found a wonderful, famous Swiss artist in San Antonio, who came and painted as Michelangelo would have painted the Sistine Chapel–on his

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

St. Mary’s Cath olic Church in High Hill, Texas

SCHULENBURG

back. It has never been repainted since then. The Praha church still holds the beauty, hard work, and memories that have been put forth by its ancestors who lived there. The Praha Cemetery, which was dedicated in 1865, is home to a monument that honors nine young men who lost their lives on the battlefields in World War II. Each year on the Sunday before Veteran’s Day, a memorial service is held in remembrance of those brave men who fought for their country. August 15 is a Holy Day of Obligation for the Assumption of Mary each year. On this day, Praha holds its “Prazka Pout,” which means “homecoming,” and is an annual feast, or church picnic. More information can be found in the video tour recorded live by The Fayette County Record by searching “Fayette County Record Praha Church” on Facebook.

Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church | Dubina Today’s Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church was built in 1911 in a grove of ancient oaks; in fact, “Dubina” translates to “oak grove.” Interestingly enough, the church did exist before 1911. The original church was built in 1877, and in 1890 the church was even expanded to serve over 600 families. Unfortunately, a tropical storm completely destroyed the original church and it had to be rebuilt from the ground up. This is why the plaque on the front of the church reads 1911. Today, an average of a little over 50 families attend the church on a regular basis. Luckily, a few items were able to be salvaged from the original church, including the iron cross that is perched on the top of Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church. It was made by a freed African American slave by the name of Tom Lee, who was a blacksmith. They were also able to salvage the chandelier and a few of the nativity scenes inside the church. A couple of the original pews were also spared, which sit in the upstairs section; however, they aren’t a part of the regular tour. In the foyer and throughout the church, there is beautiful painted stenciling on the walls. The altars at the front of the church were imported from Europe. They were able to ship freight from the New York harbor to the Galveston Bay, and then bring it as far west as Dubina by the railroad. Even the stations of the cross were brought from Europe, so all of the wording on the sculptures are written in Czech. When the church was celebrating their 75th year of operation, they decided to clean up the church a bit. Some of the parishioners whitewashed the whole church without realizing the significance of the painted ceiling. Ed Janecka noticed that there was something different about the church, so he led the restoration. It took until 1983 for the church to be complete restored under the supervision of an art conservator. It was during this restoration that the 24 karat gold stars on the ceiling ‘came out.’ There are at least 3,000 stars. Each star is not only a Star of David as we know it today, but the six points represent the six attributes of God: love, majesty, justice, wisdom, mercy, and power. The six points also represent the six days that it took God to create the earth.

Every first Sunday in July, Dubina hosts their annual church feast. Each year, thousands of people congregate on the grounds to enjoy a wonderful fried chicken meal and a variety of games and activities for adults and children alike. Between four and five thousand plates are sold each year. More information can be found in the video tour recorded live by The Fayette County Record by searching “Fayette County Record Dubina Church” on Facebook.

St. Mary Catholic Church | High Hill St. Mary Catholic Church in High Hill is known as “The Queen of the Painted Churches” in The Painted Churches of Texas tour, and is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. It’s located three miles north of Schulenburg in an area called High Hill, which was established over 150 years ago. St. Mary in High Hill is dramatically different from the other painted churches, as it is much larger and built with brick, as opposed to some of the others, which are wooden. St. Mary in High Hill is also a mission church of St. Rose of Lima, which means there is no priest living on the grounds. There are two priests in Schulenburg that have a huge territory, who are not itinerant nor traveling priests, but have assigned parishes that they serve. Today, the building that was once the priest’s home now serves as the gift shop for the painted churches, and is open in conjunction with the tours. The church that stands today is the third church to be built on the site. The first two were made of wood before the congregations outgrew them and had to rebuild. The first was built in 1869, and the second, larger church was built in 1876. When it came time for the final rebuild, the Bishop said that he wouldn’t bless the church unless it was made from brick or stone

2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

because he remembered the churches in the area that had been destroyed by storms and fires. The bricks were handmade down at Foster’s Creek and the stone on the outside of the church was quarried at Muldoon.

St. John Th eB Ammannsv aptist in ille, Texas

The second church featured the addition of stained-glass windows imported from Europe, which were built in 1899 and stored in a barn until they were able to be moved into the newest and largest building, which was built in 1906 and painted in 1912. They display incredible detail that simply cannot be found anymore. The names on the bottom of the windows are the names of the families who sponsored each window. The windows incorporated a lot of the symbolism that is important to Catholics. For example, the window above the confessional portrays the Eye of the Divine Providence, which is the “all-seeing eye of God.” The hollow, wooden pillars spaced throughout the interior of the church are, in typical Gothic revival style, supporting the vaulted ceilings of the church. They were painted with turkey feathers to give them the appearance of being made of stone. There are statues of many saints mounted on the pillars, with the male on the right of the center aisle and the females on the left. This is also the manner in which the congregation divided up when attending services for many years; women sat in the pews on the left and men sat on the right. There are also many beautiful paintings on the walls above the stained-glass windows, again depicting significant images that are symbolic to Catholics. For example, one is of a pelican with blood dripping from her beak because it is said that a pelican will peck her breast to draw her own blood in order to feed her chicks until her own death if necessary, which is symbolic of Jesus giving his life for God’s people. In 2011, a major conservation and restoration project with artist Robert Marshall of R. Alden Marshall & Associates LLC was completed. As a result of the restoration, a treasure was uncovered in the narthex at the front of the church. Two German scriptures, including Psalm 47:10 and Psalm 42:4, were revealed. The first reads, “Wir haben emptangen, o herr, deine Barmherzigkeit im Innern deines Tempels,” and translates to “We have received, O Lord, Your divine mercy within Your temple.” The second reads, “Ich werde eingehem zu Gottes Altar will dich loben mein Gott,” and translates to “I will enter into the altar of God and will praise my god.” The Psalms are said to be from an 1832 German translation of a the Latin Vulgate Bible. It is assumed that the narthex was originally painted when the three bells were hauled up into the bell tower. More information can be found in the video tour recorded live by The Fayette County Record by searching “Fayette County Record High Hill Church” on Facebook.

St. John the Baptist | Ammannsville St. John the Baptist Catholic Church was built in 1918 and completed in 1919. It was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1983. Before the current church was built, the first church for the community was built in 1890 before being destroyed by a hurricane in 1909. The second church was built in 1910, which was then destroyed by a fire in 1917. The fire was so hot that it melted

60 2021 SPRING/SUMMER VISITORS GUIDE

the bells of the church. Thankfully, some of the parishioners were able to come in and save some of the statuary. The statues that were saved were the Lady of Grace, the Mother of Sorrows, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Lady of Perpetual Health, St. John Baptizing Jesus, two angels placed on each side of the altar today, and the crucifix that is in the entry today. In 1989, much of the church was restored, including all of the statuary, sections of the wall, and the staircase leading up to the choir loft. The ceiling and walls are a unique, tranquil shade of mauve, and were painted by professional painters based out of San Antonio. The stations of the cross were imported from Europe, and are written in Czech. Similarly to the St. Mary Catholic Church in High Hill, the female saints reside on the left while the male saints are on the right, just as attendees divided themselves up for mass. This is evident in the presence of hat hooks on the back of the pews on the right side of the church and not the left. A Latin inscription on the arch above the altar reads, “deliciae meae esse cum filiis hominum,” and translates to “my delight is with the children of men,” and comes from Proverbs 8:31. Inside the arch is a grapevine, which is to remind attendees that He is the vine, and the people are the branches. The altars at the front of the church are white and gold, which is a Czech tradition.

Take a tour!

The painted churches are a world-class treasure that Fayette County is fortunate enough to be able to call their own. Tours of Fayette County’s painted churches can be booked by contacting the Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce at (979) 743-4514.

Schulenburg DESTINATION

THE FLOWER BOX 615 N Main St, Schulenburg (979) 743-3219 theflowerbox_schulenburg@verizon.net www.schulenburgflorist.com M-F 9-5 & Sat. 9-1 Closed Sunday

LUCKY TOURS Shirley Rothbauer P.O Box 15, Hallettsville (361) 772-1345 www.shirleysluckytours.com

THE GATHERING AT MULBERRY CREEK JACK AND MARY’S 5718 Kainer Road, Schulenburg 610 Lyons Ave, Schulenburg 903-850-7499 (979) 505-4061 14 beds, 4 bedrooms, facebook.com/jackandmarystheburg General Store | Local Goods | Coffee Shop | Beer & Wine 4 baths, up to 18 guests Food & Drink trailers in The Yard | Live Music evolvevacationrental.com/428576 Cars & Coffee: 1st Saturday of month thegathering5718@gmail.com Farmers Market: 3rd Saturday of month

THE ROOST AT MULBERRY CREEK 3537 Smith-Marek Road, Schulenburg 903-850-7499 3 queen beds, 2 twin beds, 2 bedroom, 2 baths, up to 8 guests evolvevacationrental.com/443624 thegathering5718@gmail.com

SVETLIK FARM 2616 FM 2672, Schulenburg (979) 743 3219 info@svetlikfarm.com www.svetlikfarm.com

SQUAWK & SKEDADDLE CAMPGROUND 2466 Bryant Rd., Schulenburg (361) 596-3513 www.snscamping.com

WILLIE JOE'S PROCESSING 2218 Krischke Rd., Schulenburg (979) 561-8272 State Inspected Full Service Butcher Livestock & Deer Processing Wholesale & Retail Monday - Friday 8-5:30, Saturday 8-12

Want to advertise in the Schulenburg destination page? Contact Becky Weise at (979) 968-3155

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The Oak Motel....................................................................52 Vintage Rose Market.......................................................37 Wander Inn.............................................................................3 Weikel’s Bakery...................................................................53 Weise Farms........................................................................65 Wine Haus............................................................................41 Winedale Books..................................................................16

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