Hallettsville, Texas

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HALLET OAK GALLERY | COLE THEATER | HIGH HILL DISTILLERY | HODGEPODGE MARKET

HALLETTSVILLE TEXAS 2024

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Welcome

Welcome to Lavaca County!

Lavaca County is one of the largest cow-calf producing counties in Texas.

The county seat is Hallettsville, which features an original (restored) 1897 courthouse on the center square, and is situated perfectly between Houston and San Antonio.

KEITH MUDD Lavaca County Judge 109 North LaGrange | PO Box 243 Hallettsville, Texas 77964 (361) 798-2301

Lavaca County is most widely known for its beloved Spoetzl Brewery and Shiner Beers. The county has a growing weekend population and our winery and distillery industries are flourishing. We have numerous festivals and traditional Czech style church picnics where all are welcome. From saddle manufacturing in Yoakum, to sausage making, plastic fabrication and truck bed manufacturing in Shiner, we are always producing something good in Lavaca County.

Whether you are here to work, visit or just relax a bit, we guarantee you a great time. We look forward to seeing you on your next visit.

4 - HISTORY

28 - CALENDAR OF EVENTS

6 - AREA ATTRACTIONS

29 - KOLACHE FEST, MARKET DAYS, FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

CONTENTS

10 - LOCAL SPOTLIGHT - HALLET OAK GALLERY

14 - HODGEPODGE FAIR TRADE 30 - STATE DOMINO TOURNAMENT, POLKA MARKET AND GATHERING AND SAUSAGE FEST, COMPANY FIDDLERS FROLIC 18 - MITY MITE’S BAR AND GRILL

32 - CITY OF HALLETTSVILLE

20 - COLE THEATER

33 - CHURCH LISTINGS

24 - HIGH HILL DISTILLERY

34 - NEIGHBORING TOWNS 3 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

The Hallettsville, Texas magazine is produced and published by Texas-based Trips Publications, a publisher with a focus on small towns throughout Texas. To view all of the towns in the Trips Publications family, visit tripspublications.com or call 979-725-3080 to request copies.

Michelle Banse Stokes Partner/Publisher

Lori Olivarez-Ligues Partner/Sales

Liliana Hinojosa Reporter Nataley Staley Photographer Courtney Bell Copy Editor Brooke Ligues Advertising Representative Contributors Mieko Mahi, Jennifer Hagan, Michael Prasek, Richard Orsak, Brian Popp Editorial - 979-725-3080 michelle@tripspublications.com Advertising and Circulation - 979-451-0826 lori@tripspublications.com 406 W. Main Street, Suite 105 Weimar, Texas 78962 www.tripspublications.com Printed in Mexico © 2023 Trips Publications, LLC. All rights reserved.

HISTORIC LEGACY

The History of Hallettsville, Texas Hallettsville, Texas is the county seat of Lavaca County, located on the Lavaca River. One of the first settlers in the Hallettsville area was John Hallett. He received a land grant in 1831 from Stephen F. Austin. After John Hallett’s death in 1836 his wife, Margaret L. Hallett, donated a parcel of land for the townsite.

A post office was opened in Hallettsville in 1849. Hallettsville was chosen as the county seat of then La Baca County in 1842, but the county was afterward abolished. After Lavaca County was organized in 1846, Hallettsville and the nearby town of Petersburg competed against each other to be named the county seat. In an election held on June 14, 1852, Hallettsville received a majority of votes. Residents of Petersburg contested the results of the election, however Hallettsville was officially declared the county seat on August 28, 1852. Allegations of election fraud and legal maneuvering were not completely resolved by the courts until 1860.

The Hallettsville County Courthouse, which was completed in 1853 and then replaced with a larger structure in 1875. The third and current courthouse that was built in 1897 is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Many people who settled in Hallettsville in the late nineteenth century immigrated from Germany and Czechoslovakia. Sacred Heart Catholic Academy was founded in 1881 and a public school system was opened in

the late 1880s. The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway came through the town in 1887, allowing Hallettsville to become a popular trading center and shipping point for commerce.

The Hallettsville Lone Star newspaper, begun by S. A. Benton in 1860, was the first newspaper in Lavaca County, but it closed at the beginning of the Civil War. The Hallettsville Herald newspaper was started in 1871. With newspapers being the primary source of reputable news at the time, Hallettsville had 13 newspapers by 1913 with a combined circulation of 25,000. One of these, the Hallettsville Rebel newspaper, was the offical paper of the state Socialist party from 1911 to 1917.

By the 1980s, the only major newspaper remaining was the Hallettsville Tribune-Herald and it still publishes today.

Much of the Hallettsville economy, both yesterday and today, is dependent on agriculture. Goods produced are from cattle, rice, corn, hay, fruit, and pecans.

Above, an arial view of Hallettsville, date unknown. Visible buildings include the Livery stables, Neuhaus Building, Elstner’s Building, and the Appelt Building. Fields are located behind the buildings on the outskirts of town.

Photo courtesy The Portal to Texas History, a digital repository hosted by the UNT Libraries.

4 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

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AREA ATTRACTIONS

Czech Out Hallettsville, Texas!

The Lavaca County Courthouse, built in 1897, is a stunning example of Romanesque Revival architecture.

This three-story courthouse was designed by Eugene Heiner, a Houston-based architect instrumental in dozens of the state’s public buildings including jails, colleges, commercial structures and additional courthouses, several of them now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Lavaca County courthouse survives as one of Heiner’s most intact original designs and was his final courthouse in Texas.

The Lavaca County courthouse was built from a combination of Muldoon and Mineral Wells sandstones, Romanesque arches, and a tall central tower with twostory slit windows. The tower’s four clock faces are each seven feet in diameter. The steps leading to all the entrances are constructed of red granite. Much of the building’s stone was shipped by rail as boulders then cut to size and fashioned by local stonemasons on site using manually-operated stone saws. Unique interior elements included powder-blue walls, green iron staircases with decorative railings, pressed metal ceilings, and ornate geometric tile floors. Hand-painted landscape scenes decorating the courthouse safes and vaults were common in the late 19th century, and remain striking features today. Artist G. W. Flury created the work, highlighting his scenes with gold and aluminum pin-striping.

109 North La Grange Street | www.co.lavaca.tx.us

Above, the Lavaca County Courthouse; bottom, Lavaca Historical Museum.

Facing page, from top, Vsetin Czech Moravian Brethern Church; Hallettsville Golf Course; Old Lavaca County Jail.

The Lavaca Historical Museum was founded in 1990 with a goal to educate the people of Lavaca County and other visitors of the rich history of our surrounding towns. The museum’s mission is to preserve and exhibit artifacts for use in educating the public, inspiring a greater understanding and appreciation of the history of Hallettsville and Lavaca County.

6 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LORI OLIVAREZ-LIGUES

Visitors will want to explore the Old-Timers Baseball Hall of Fame and the Military exhibits that show photos of local heroes and the souvenirs that were brought back from different war eras. This museum also depicts items that were used in the daily life of Hallettsville’s founding members. Docents guide museum-goers to see the appliances that were used long ago, as well as encouraging everyone to learn more with hands-on exhibits that include clothes washing, lye soap mixing and corn shucking.

1205 North Texana Street | 361-798-4113 Vsetin is located six miles northeast of Hallettsville in northeastern Lavaca County. This community was founded by immigrants from Bohemia and Moravia. Vsetin’s bedrock was the Evangelical Unity of the Czech-Moravian Brethren Church.

Built in 1894, this church was remodeled in 1954 and currently has two historic cemeteries. Vsetin is primarily an ethnic and religious community with a focus on farming and ranching, and most business is conducted in nearby Hallettsville.

6059 Farm-to-Market Road 2314 | 361-798-5722 The Hallettsville Municipal Golf Course is a 9-hole, par36 layout facility located in the City Park along Highway 77 North. The Course is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. During daylight savings time the clubhouse stays open until 8 p.m.

Greens fees are $12 Tuesday through Thursday and $18 Friday through Sunday. Carts are available for rent.

808 A Park Rd # 1 | cityofhallettsville.org Old Lavaca County Jail was the second oldest operating jail in Texas. It was built in 1885, and didn’t slam that last jail cell shut and close its doors until 2005. Hallettsville is the home of this prison where justice was served quickly.

“There was a gallow in the yard adjacent to the jail where they did public hangings,” property manager Debra Fawcett said during a recent interview. With the hangings and recorded suicides in this jail, it is no wonder it is one of the most haunted prisons in the nation. Claims in this prison range from slamming prison doors, conversations coming from nowhere, shadows, whispers, and physical contact. If you dare go inside, it is open for tours and paranormal investigations.

To reserve the jail for an overnight investigation, visit bookoldlavacacountyjail.acuityscheduling.com.

305 North Main Street | 713-805-7428

7 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

Flatonia rail museum 104 E. South Main St., Flatonia, TX

All Aboard!

Learn and tour Flatonia's rich railroad history. admission is free!

Visit www.flatoniarailmuseum.com to see more.

Hours: Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Available for special tours by appointment. Call 517-927-2727.

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LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

10 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

BY LILIANA HINOJOSA, PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATALIE STALEY

From an Oak Tree to a Gallery HALLET OAK GALLERY PROVES ASSET TO NOT ONLY ARTISTS, BUT ENTIRE COMMUNITY There’s a place on Main Street in which visitors can meet talented artists, attend educational workshops, go on scavenger hunts and even learn a bit of history about the beautiful town of Hallettsville and it won’t cost them a dime.

Hallet Oak Gallery is an art, performance and learning center with knowledge based S.T.E.A.M (science, technology, engineering, art, math) resources. Operated

by Hallet Oak Foundation Inc, a 501(c) 3 non-profit charity for the arts, the Gallery’s mission is to provide a vibrant center in downtown Hallettsville for people to explore and enjoy art.

Located in the historic Kahn & Stanzel Building, the Hallet Oak Gallery exhibits artworks from more than 20 regional and international artists.

The building was designed and built by architect James Riely Gordon in 1890, best known for his landmark county courthouses, sixteen of which are in Texas. For Hallettsville, he also designed an opera house (now lost) and the Rosenberg Building (remodeled).

“The 1890 Kahn & Stanzel Building is placed on the National Register of Historic Places” said Mieko Mahi, president and co-founder of Hallet Oak Gallery. ”The building is beautiful, very ornate,” she added.

The Gallery, named after the Margaret Hallet Oak Tree, has been in operation since March 17, 2015 and boasts a relaxed, welcoming and educational atmosphere.

Mahi, along with co-founders Claire Scoggin, Alice Vickers, Linda Cejka, and Dr. Betty J. Edward, encourage people to come as they are.

Continued on page 12.

Facing page. Mieko Mahi, president and co-founder of Hallet Oak Gallery. Above, exhibts from the gallery.

11 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT “We are very casual. People are welcome to come dressed as they want and to bring their dog, too. We want people to be happy when they come in,” she said.

“We are mainly cultural arts,” she continued.

“We have supporting artists in the Gallery and we want to have as many local artists as we can. We do embrace area artists, like artists from San Antonio, Galveston, and Katy. We are not limiting ourselves because we want the schools to come in and see these other artists as well.”

“It’s a big deal to our non-profit board to be internationally inclusive because of the diversity of the students that reside here,” Mieko said. “Making this difference does remind me and all the supporters that it’s all worth the time to be involved and contribute, and I think our patrons do know this and that is why we have membership drives that support keeping the doors open to the public for free because we are a place to remember our culture, our history”.

“We welcome all cultures in the Gallery,” she emphasized. “We are international here. Linda and I work hard to be inclusive to cultures and we want everyone to be comfortable to come in. We do this through our events and surroundings to make sure we have international displays.”

Inside the Gallery, visitors are greeted by a piano, which they can play, and an art display which they can touch.

There are also two timelines: The Margaret Hallet and The Lavaca River.

The Hallet Timeline starts in 1765 when the Hallet Oak Tree is seeded and goes up to 2015 when it was carved by James D. Phillips, a talented woodcarver from Galveston, while The Lavaca River Timeline starts in 1685 when René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, a 17th-century French explorer, was looking for the Mississippi river and landed near Matagorda Bay. To come into the Gallery and see art, it is free. Visitors are able to talk to an artist and get a tour if they desire, or explore the Gallery at their own pace.

“We are inspiring. We cater to all ages,” Mieko said.

“We also have free art activities there all the time. There are signs around the Gallery that say ‘Do you want to do an art activity?

We have supplies!’ and kids will read the sign and go up to me and say ‘We want to do an activity!’ and it’s really a successful program as it addresses math, shapes, and technology. They love that there is something for them,” she continued.

“We will have little kids come in and the parents are sitting there and we’ll give them a project and they’ll say ‘Done!’ and they get another project and they’ll say ‘Done!’ so then they’ll get another project. They cannot wear us out!” she laughed.

Kids are also able to go to the Gallery to do three different scavenger hunts and get a prize.

“They are really fun for the kids and really fun for the parents,” Mieko said.

“The parents get to sit and get to watch their kids run around the Gallery, which can be very relaxing,” she elaborated. “But if the kids are little, or just learning to write or need help, there is nothing more joyful than to see a parent and a child walking around the Gallery filling out the form. It’s a wonderful experience to have with your child.”

12 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

They have several events coming up in the future, including a Western themed art show on the first day of spring. They also host summer camp in June, teach photography classes and different stages of art, as well as Sip and Paint and Lunch and Learn.

“Hallettsville is a very unique ranch town and for it to have an art gallery for exposing the arts to the community is pretty neat,” said Mieko. “I’m a city girl, all my life, or pretty much, but I think that what’s amazing are all the ranches out here. You’re not going to see a lot of skylines. You can still see the stars.”

As for the Gallery, Mieko encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to give them a visit.

“We really want people to come in any time and not feel like there has to be an event here,” she emphasized. “We’re here and ready for them. Come any time.”

The Hallet Oak Gallery is located at 115 N Main Street, Hallettsville, TX and online at halletoakgallery.com.

For school and bus group tours, call and leave a message at 361-217-7030. Group tours can be on any day of the week by reservation, and their open hours for the general public are Thursday, Friday, Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.

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A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING

A Gathering Place in Grandma’s Backyard HODGEPODGE FAIR TRADE MARKET AND GATHERING COMPANY STIRS UP IMAGINATION AND FORGOTTEN MEMORIES OF DAYS-GONE-BY “An inviting, comfortable, nostalgic, and unique lodging, event, retail venue, and bartending service,” says the Hodgepodge Fair Trade Market and Gathering Company’s Facebook page. A mouthful, yes, but a perfect encapsulation of what this unique, Hallettsville business brings to town.

“Hodgepodge is basically all in the name,” said Jennifer Hagan, Owner. “It’s Hodgepodge Fair Trade Market and Gathering Company which means it’s a little bit of everything. We are a market that supports local, fair trade, and artisan products. We are also a gathering place.”

Born and raised in Hallettsville, Texas, Jennifer and her husband Jason have always envisioned making Hallettsville somewhere to visit rather than just a town to pass through.

“I’d like to say we are a gathering place in grandma’s backyard because the home actually is located in a historic cotton gin house that was built in the late 1800s. It’s been in our family for several decades. It was actually my grandparent’s house. My father and his siblings grew up in the home. My husband and I purchased the home in 2010, renovated and restored it to its original state,” she said.

“I worked in healthcare for about twelve years. After I graduated and went to college for a little while, I became a wife and a mom.

I’ve always kind of pictured myself as a hometown girl and always kind of giving back and staying within the community and I’m just so thankful that I have the support of my family, and of course my husband, to allow me to live that dream because he realizes how important it is for me to be able to give back.”

Above, the porch at Hodgepodge Fair Trade Market and Gathering Company is an inviting spot asking visitors to slow down for awhile.

14 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

BY LILIANA HINOJOSA, PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATALIE STALEY

“We carry a variety of retail items, like specialty coffee and gourmet spices, artisan candles and gift items. Local, artisan, and fair trade items,” she continued.

“Because Hodgepodge business hours are flexible, retail items are available when we have special events and activities, she said.

“We are an Airbnb and book frequently. A lot of the items that we carry are novelty socks, totes, and toothbrushes- those kinds of things that people may have forgotten so they’re kind of a dual purpose.”

“We are very big into local, fair trade, and artisan products only,” she emphasized.

“On the restaurant side of the business, when we first began we were actually open to the public and we were a ‘flameless’ environment, primarily soup, sandwiches,

and salad. Now, we do more of a private dining experience for special events, theme nights. Businesses can call, book us for employee luncheons and private dining experiences.”

“We do a lot of special events like theme nights and promotions to try to attract customers and create a unique experience for folks. We also have a bartending business, which is a part of Hodgepodge, so we do both on and off-premise bartending,” she continued.

The bartenders also serve mocktails, a drink with no alcohol, so that the company is able to serve at events like proms and sweet sixteens, and customized themed cocktails to set the tone at any party.

“On occasion we host one of our most popular events, which is Ladies Night at the Movies. We collaborate with our local theater, Cole Theater. We dress the part, theme our cocktails, and provide our guests with a one of a kind experience,” Jennifer said Jennifer also likes to bring in outside food trucks to town, but not just any kind.

“One of the things that I try to do when I bring in outside people, is that the trucks that I bring in I make sure that they are not competing with anything that Hallettsville offers, so I don’t duplicate the menu or restaurants that we have locally,” she said.

Continued on page 16.

Top left, Jennifer Hagen of Hodgepodge Fair Trade Market and Gathering Company.

15 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING

“

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

We have so much to offer, it’s just we don’t toot our own horn enough.

“We are also an event venue,” she continued. “We can be rented for private events but we also bring in a lot of local music talent. We were actually the first place that a lot of Nashville recording artists first premiered before they went on to record. We are also a satellite venue for Lavaca Area Moms, which is a homeschool association operated by Paula Cunningham. Adrenus Crayton, President, Founder, and CEO of United Studios, Inc. also instructs the art classes at Hodgepodge. It really is a mix of everything!”

“One of the biggest things that has always been important to me was that we gave a lot of people not just in the community, but around the community, the opportunity to be exposed - in a good way! Musicians, artisans ... we were one of the first rural partners for Lick Honest Ice Creams out of Austin. Anthony Sobotik, co-owner, is a Hallettsville native, so we were one of the first rural retail businesses to actually be able to sell that product. Lira Rossa Artisan Cheese, Andrea Cudin an Italy native, makes artisan cheese in Moulton at Moulton Dairy and we were one of their very first distribution partners. So I guess just being able to grow with people is probably extremely important to me. Hallettsville is the city of hospitality and I always try to keep that in mind. We have so much to offer, it’s just we don’t toot our own horn enough. You have to market outside of the city limit sign to become a destination, a place that people want to come to.”

Hodgepodge Fair Trade Market and Gathering Company is located at 400 North La Grange Street.

16 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

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LOCAL HANGOUT

A ‘MITY’ GOOD BAR IN A LITTLE TEXAS TOWN MICHAEL PRASEK TALKS INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS LOCAL FAVORITE HANGOUT The drinks are flowing, live music is playing. The sound of shuffleboard and pool games fill the air. There is something wonderfully familiar about Mity Mite’s Bar and Grill in Hallettsville, Texas and there is a reason why locals and non-locals keep coming back.

Mity Mite’s first opened its doors on November 21, 2022, but the building’s history dates back to 1946.

The building was previously Brochs’ Ice House & Game Room.

“It used to be called The Icehouse. It was two separate buildings, but it looked like one,” said Michael Prasek, owner. “The old upper part was the original icehouse built in 1946. The main part, what I have now as our main area, was built in 1951 and started out as a John Deere dealership.” It was later bought out by the Pateks who combined the two and operated The Icehouse by day and the bar at night.

“The Icehouse would be open from 9 in the morning to 5 in the evening and then they would shut the upper part down and they would open up the lower part,” Mike said. “It has a lot of history.”

“My dad used to frequent that place. I remember going in there with him when I was seven years old. I’d get a soda water, dad would have a couple beers and we’d go home!”

And although the building has undergone renovations, the “upper part” as he calls it, was left more nostalgic looking.

“I tried to leave it as much as it was when I got it, just kind of finished it out a little bit better,” Mike said. “And everybody is like ‘Oh, wow, you left everything old up in the upper part!’ and I said ‘Yeah, because that was The Icehouse!’”

As for the quirky name, “Black Cat used to have a firecracker called “Mighty Mite” and it was real small and real powerful,” Mike began excitedly, as he unfolded the story behind it.

18 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

Above, it’s always time for a cold one at Mity Mite’s Bar and Grill; bottom, there’s plenty of friendly folks and good times to be had at 107 West 2nd Street in Hallettsville.

BY LILIANA HINOJOSA, PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATALIE STALEY

“My dad would go to Hoffer’s drive-in grocery place there in town and the holidays was the only time they had fireworks. It was a little two wheel trailer. They would pull up on the side of Hoffer’s and they would sell fireworks and they had firecrackers, roman candles, bottle rockets and smoke balls and that was about it. You didn’t have very much choice of fireworks back then. And that one little package of firecrackers they’d call ‘Mighty Mites’ and they were $4.99. My dad would give me a $5 bill and ask for the change. I’d bring him back a penny and he’d go ‘What did you get for $4.99?!’ and I’d show him that little pack of firecrackers and he’d say ‘That’s all you got for $5? Boy, what’s wrong with you?!’”

that time I looked at it and I’m like hmm …

If I leave out the “GH” it still says mighty!

So four letters “M-I-T-Y” and “M-I-T-E” on the other side - perfect! That’s how the Mighty Mite got shortened up. I named my boat Mity Mite and then I got a racecar and named it Mity Mite II.”

“And then my uncle, my dad’s brother, knew I was popping them out in the garage to throw out on the driveway and my Uncle Bill goes ‘Hey, come here’ and in the garage there was a bathroom. And he said ‘Hey, throw one of them firecrackers in that commode!’ And I said ‘It’s gonna go out.

The water is gonna put the wick out, Uncle Bill!’ and he said ‘Try it, try it!’ So I lit that firework, dropped it in that commode and that sucker went off and blew the commode completely apart! And the first words out of my uncle’s mouth were ‘Ooo, I’m telling your daddy!’ And he went and he got my dad and goes ‘Michael blew up your commode!’. So yeah, I got my butt whooped and Uncle Bill laughed at me.”

“Opening night was crazy,” he reminisced.

“It was a madhouse, it was so packed. I had seven staff and we went between 250-450 people a day that first week. A day! We were slammed!”

“And also they used to have Mighty Mite the Mouse and I always just liked that name for some reason and it stuck with me through the years. I bought my first boat when I was 17 years old and “M-I-G-H-T-Y” on the left side of the motor and “M-I-T-E” on the right side just didn’t look right. So at

The Mity Mite logo proudly painted on the exterior of the bar also pays tribute to Michael’s Zodiac sign, Scorpio, with pointed tails at the end of the letter M to symbolize a scorpion’s venomous tail.

When they first opened, the bar had a trivia question on whether anyone knew what the M represented and after three days someone figured it out and won a gift card.

remembered.

Those same pictures are now hanging in the bar, close to the elevation of the water height that was in that building during the flood.

“Growing up with my dad, he would visit little beer joints around Lavaca County, and I just remember seeing him sitting and joking, playing dominoes and cards, you know just socializing. I see a lot of people going through hard times and stuff and it seems like alcohol is a release for people to get away from their stress. I’ve always been a talker and I like to talk with people and get to hear their sides of their stories in life. If I can help them put a smile on their face by serving them a cold refreshment, so be it!”

“I’ve been very fortunate on my staff so far.

The girls are always inventing things over there. So am I”, he laughed. “I’ll mix up something. If it dont taste good, well there’s the sink, pour it out!” It looks awesome.

A Hallettsville native, Mike just “wanted to “And if you’re looking for a bite, finger foods do something to give back to the people.” are being served now and soon there will be a bigger lineup of more variety of food to “I love putting smiles on peoples faces. come,” Mike added.

Letting them unwind, let go of their problems for the day. Sometimes you hear “We have people that come down from them complain, sometimes they’ll tell you a Louisiana, Colorado, Oklahoma. I’m just joke or a good story. They’ll talk about what like ‘Why are y’all here?’ They’re like, ‘We’ve the place used to look like compared to how got relatives in the area and everybody talks it looks like now. Everybody is up in awe about your bar and how nice it is and how about how the remodel went and how much friendly the people are and we thought we’d different it is since it was previously owned”. stop by and visit’. I have people that bring gifts from out of state. I tell them ‘Don’t “I have pictures of the flood back in 1981 bring gifts, bring your happy faces! Have a where the building was actually completely drink!’” underwater. It was about 2 feet from the ceiling height in there. My dad is actually Mity Mite’s Bar & Grill is located at 107 standing in one of the pictures that someone West 2nd Street in Hallettsville and online had taken of the flood back then,” he at www.mitymitesbar.com.

19 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

HALLETTSVILLE HOT SPOT

A THEATER STILL GOING STRONG ALMOST 100 YEARS LATER RICHARD ORSAK SHARES STORIES OF COLE THEATER’S YESTERDAY AND TODAY

The Historic Cole Theater has been bringing joy to the town of Hallettsville for nearly a century.

Founded in 1926 by Mart Cole, Cole’s silent movie theater was located in a magnificent three story Opera House on the west side of the Courthouse square before moving to its current location on East Second Street.

In 1982, the Cole Theater was sold to the Cozy Theater Circuit, and in 1993 was purchased

by Bill and Barbara Orsak.

The Orsaks’ son, Richard, now owns and operates the theater and is the man behind bringing a new sound system, seats, screens, projectors and more to the now famous historic theater. which features a cream colored exterior with red trim and red tile awnings.

“We are trying to give the community a pleasant and affordable entertainment venue where families can enjoy getting together and enjoy the current movie schedule,” said Richard Orsak, Cole Theater’s owner.

20 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

BY LILIANA HINOJOSA, PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATALIE STALEY

“We enjoy seeing the new and returning customers each week,” he added.

Their reviews online reflect the welcoming environment that Orsak has created, with many listing the friendly staff, affordable prices and old-town atmosphere as reasons as to why they keep coming back.

“We do very well with the ‘family’ oriented movies, so we do try to bring those in as much as possible. We get lots of comments on the reasonable prices for tickets and concessions, too.

It is all about making it a place where

families can go out and enjoy the atmosphere!”

in having special showings or raising money for their operations,” he said.

“We have also had a couple of weddings for people that were long time customers and either met there or enjoyed going there together,” he added. “Several wedding receptions for the same reason!”

Orsak also emphasized that they want to bring the best quality movie presentation and affordable, quality concessions to the people of their town.

Along with bringing the hottest movies to Hallettsville and hosting a wedding or two, Orsak and his team do their part to contribute to their small Texas community.

“We try to sponsor and donate to clubs and organizations that are interested

“

Just being able to provide such a small community with the best quality sound and picture for the movies is why we do it

21 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

“We just keep upgrading when we can to stay with current technology,” Orsak said. “We are open during the holidays as this is a very busy time for the industry and families enjoy meeting up and getting together for the big new movie releases.”

“Just being able to provide such a small community with the best quality sound and picture for the movies is why we do it,” he said. “It will be a great night out!” he added, inviting movie lovers to visit the Cole Theater the next time they are in Hallettsville.

The Cole Theater is located at 207 East 2nd Street and online at www. facebook.com/coletheatretx.

Below, Richard Orsak serves up hot buttered popcorn for moviegoers.

Short and Long-Term Skilled Nursing Care Clinical Services: • • • 825 Fairwinds Street | 361-798-3268

106 Kahn Street | 361-798-3606

• • • • • • • • •

www.wellsentialhealth.org

Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies Post Operative Care Diathermy, E-Stim and Ultrasound Modalities 7 day/week Therapy Services Available Cardiac Care Diabetes Care and Management Hospice and Palliative Care IV Care – Midline and PICC Line Management Pulmonary and Respite Care Respiratory Therapy Stroke and Wound Care Secure Memory Support Unit with Social Activities and a Private Outdoor Courtyard

Amenities Offered: • • • • • •

24/7 Admissions Beauty Salon Cable or Satellite TV and WIFI Therapy Gym Recreational Activities Transportation

We accept Medicare, Medicaid, Managed Care, Private Pay and VA** Wellsential Health is the non-profit skilled nursing and rehabilitation partner that believes in making better health and wellness possible for all. **VA accepted at Hallettsville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

LAVACA MEDICAL CENTER 1400 N. Texana, Hallettsville, TX | 361-798-3671 www.lavacamedicalcenter.com

LAVACA FAMILY HEALTH CLINIC 1406 N. Texana, Hallettsville, TX | 361-798-1200 Open Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm

SPECIALIZING IN FAMILY MEDICINE, CARDIOLOGY, GASTROENTEROLOGY, AND PODIATRY

Owners Brandon & Jennifer Noska Kevin & Sally Zappe Proud to be locally owned and located on the Square in Hallettsville, Texas since 1960.

Ehler’s features top brands and styles.

Call 361-798-3641 Text 830-507-3231 www.ehlersfurniture.com

402 Anderson Street & 609 Kessler Avenue at the 77 underpass in Schulenburg

979-743-7000

engleemporium@gmail.com www.engleemporium.com

Antiques Vintage Books Art Consignments And ...

Unique Texas metal art, up-cycled artwork and custom designs with a personal touch.

Custom Gates | Welding Services | Gate Automation and Commercial Signage | Fully Insured LLC DIY Paint Workshops at the Palace Theater

113 East Post Office Street, Weimar, Texas 78962 979-484-2122 | Twistedsteeldesign.com | Twistedsteeldesign@yahoo.com LET US DESIGN, DELIVER & INSTALL YOUR DREAM METAL BUILDING

1758 I-10, Weimar, Texas 78962 281-608-2808 | 979-398-4318 KnightOutdoorProducts.com

Please visit our website to view more metal art and the paint workshop event calendar.

RELAX a ENJOY

HIGH SPIRITS ON HIGH HILL IN HALLETTSVILLE LOCAL DISTILLERY INVITES EVERYONE TO ENJOY A SHORT DRIVE DOWN A BACK COUNTRY ROAD TO INDULDGE IN THE SPIRIT OF LAVACA COUNTY There’s a distillery in Lavaca County that specializes in quality, aged rum created by three brothers hoping to make their mark on Hallettsville.

High Hill Distillery, founded by Perry, Randal, and Brian Popp, has been making spirits bright since 2018 and has no plans of stopping any time soon.

“Our family is originally from Ganado,” said Brian, second oldest brother. “After finishing college, my wife and I were able to purchase land here in Lavaca County, and not too long thereafter, my brother Perry was able to purchase land that adjoined our property, and that kind of brought us here,” he said.

“My older brother, Perry, has a chemistry degree. I have a pharmacy degree and my

younger brother, Randal, has a computer science degree,” he said. “We didn’t have this on our radar. We were all just working our corporate jobs, planning for retirement, and then around 2015, Perry visited a rum distillery in Colorado and pitched the idea of us maybe opening a distillery of our own. It took a little time for everyone to agree and move forward with it, and now here we are!” he laughed.

“After we decided to move forward, it practically took an entire year to get the equipment together and everything set up. There are a lot of moving parts and we were finally able to start distilling in 2018.

After a few years of ageing the product, we opened our tasting room in 2021. We all have our different areas of expertise and responsibility, and we do our best to make it all work.”

“Perry and Randal went to take a distilling class at Downslope Distilling in Colorado and then we all went back up and met with the distiller at Montanya Distillery in Crested Butte, Colorado. We asked tons of questions and videoed. We also talked to other distillers from other distilleries and did a lot of research before we got started,” he said.

“We’ve always worked. My dad, Norbert Popp, was a workaholic, but in a good way, and he taught us so many different skills, because you really can’t do this unless you know a little something about everything such as carpentry work, plumbing work, welding, electrical work, etc. It’s tough to keep all this running, and we are thankful that he taught all of us so much,” said Brian. “We also have some very close

24 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

BY LILIANA HINOJOSA, PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATALIE STALEY

friends that we call on and they are always very willing to help”.

“Our dad passed away a few years ago but he left us with great memories. He was a great man. Our mother is still alive and doing well in Ganado and she’ll often call on the days we are open to check and see how the day went and she wants to know if anyone visited that she might know. We are thankful for family and we can’t leave out our sister Becky Adam who helped us as one of the initial investors to get this off the ground.”

When asked about the origin behind the name “High Hill”, Brian stated “Our great-great grandmother, Juditha Popp, came over from the Moravia region of Austria back in 1884 and she brought five of her children with her after two had already arrived. They came in through the port of New York and traveled by American Rail and then settled near High Hill Texas,” said Brian. “There’s still a Popp Lane in the High Hill area and there are still a few Popps living there. That’s where we got our start, and we liked the name High Hill, it just kind of rolls.”

As for their specialty, they make three different aged rums.

“Our lighter rum is named Elbe, after the Steamship “Elbe” that Juditha traveled over on. The Elbe has been aged in barrels that have been toasted and slightly charred,” Brian said.

“We also have our 1884 Rum (named after the year that Juditha came over) that’s aged in brand new American White Oak barrels that have been both toasted and heavier charred. Then our black label Reserve Rum is aged in a one-year-old bourbon barrel that we get from Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye. They have some amazing bourbon and these barrels have produced some great flavors for us, so we can say we have a bourbon barrel aged rum, if that makes sense,” he laughed.

“We do 100% of everything on site and there are ZERO infusions in our products and all flavors are from the rum we make and the barrels we age them in. We, as the three brothers, we mix it, we ferment it, we distill it, we barrel it, we let it age, then we come back and we empty the barrels, we bottle, label, package,” he trailed off. “And we can only sell out of our tasting room because we don’t really yet have the volume to go into the distribution channel and/or retail stores which is what we are trying to transition to.”

“We have now built a new distillery building and we’ve added equipment that will allow us to produce a larger volume per batch,” he added. “In our old building, one batch would yield us about one 30-gallon barrel full of rum. The new equipment will yield about six or seven 30-gallon barrels, and we are working to get all that set up. We’re going to ramp up our volume over the next few years to try to get into the retail stores,” he shared.

Continued on page 26.

25 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

Top, brothers Perry, Randal and Brian Popp of High Hill Distillery.

RELAX a ENJOY “With so much competition in the other spaces like bourbon and whiskey, we want to focus on making a good, aged rum. It’s hard to find one,” Brian said.

“One year back, we submitted our 1884 and Reserve rum to the American Distillers Institute International Spirits competition out in California and we received an overall Silver Medal recognition while a few of the judges actually gave us a Gold Exceptional rating. We are very proud of that as we continually strive to make the best and highest quality product we can make.”

And when it comes to their staff and customers, the Popp brothers feel incredibly blessed.

“We have really great people that work for us,” said Brian. “The cashiers and bartenders are so amazing and consistent, and we couldn’t do what we do without them. The same goes for our wives who do so much to support what goes on behind the scenes such as making social media posts, ordering ingredients, supplies,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

accounting work, reporting in to the TABC and paying taxes - it’s a lot!”

rum and loved it. That really meant a lot to us.”

“The customers continued.

“We are only open the last three Saturdays of every month and will occasionally have special openings. We have live musicians come out and we have food trucks with each opening. We also have a great venue for hosting events in a very nice, country setting. We’ve hosted wedding showers, baby showers, a few weddings and class reunions and it’s just a great gathering place for people to come together where they can use the venue and the facilities while we serve our rum drinks, specialty cocktails and so forth.”

are

amazing,”

he

“They’ve all been so supportive, and we get a lot of good feedback on the product! We also strive to give our customers a familylike atmosphere where friends and family can gather and visit and enjoy each other’s company. It’s really what makes it all worth the hard work, because it truly takes a lot of hard work, and sometimes you’re like ‘oh, man, is this really worth it?’ But then when you open it to the public and you see people coming together with their friends and family and you see them having a great time and enjoying our product, you realize that it is worth it, and it’s just been good in that respect. I think that’s been the most rewarding part of it.”

“We get customers locally and from all over the state and people visit from out of state as well. Recently we had visitors come in and buy several bottles for one of their friends up in Seattle because he tasted our

26 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

“The main thing,” Brian emphasized, “is just that we want to thank everyone, especially our friends, customers, and our employees that help us keep this business running because we couldn’t do it without support from all sides.”

High Hill Distillery is located at 3337 County Rd 122, Hallettsville and online at highhilldistillery.com.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS JANUARY

MAY

•

•

• • • • • • • •

Hallettsville Playday Association – Lavaca Exposition Center Miss Hallettsville Scholarship Pageant F.F.A. Chapter Club State Championship Domino Tournament with BBQ Chicken Sacred Heart HAS Spaghetti Supper Hallettsville Volunteer Fire Department Appreciation Supper Gun Show Hallettsville High School Band Booster Hallet Oak Gallery Art Auction Fundraiser

• • • •

Sacred Heart Booster Club Fried Chicken Meal Hallettsville High School Sports Banquet Sacred Heart All Awards Banquet Hallettsville Market Days Sacred Heart Church Spring Picnic

JUNE •

Sacred Heart Picnic Calf Group Meal

AUGUST

FEBRUARY

•

•

SEPTEMBER

• • •

Hallettsville Playday Association – Lavaca Exposition Center Sacred Heart Catholic School Extravaganza Hallettsville Rotary Club BBQ Chicken Dinner Hallettsville Market Days at Knights of Columbus Hall

MARCH • • • • • •

Hallettsville Gun and Knife Show Knights of Columbus Fish Fry South Texas Polka and Sausage Fest Texas State Championship ’42’ Domino Tournament Tarock Tournament Hallettsville Little League Stew Supper

APRIL • • • •

Fit as a Fiddle 5K Run Spring City Wide Garage Sale Texas State Championship Fiddlers’ Frolics Knights of Columbus Veteran’s Appreciation Day

• • • • • •

Hallettsville Market Days

Sacred Heart Church Fall Picnic Sacred Heart Church Calf Group Meal Knights of Columbus Pork BBQ Meal Hallettsville Kolache Fest Hallettsville Kolache Fest ‘42” Tournament Practice Kids Health Party at Knights of Columbus Hall

OCTOBER • •

Falling Leaves Gala Stag Supper

NOVEMBER • •

Hallettsville Market Days Hallettsville’s Festival of Lights and Parade

DECEMBER •

Hallettsville Lions Club Arts and Crafts Show

28 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS The 29th annual KOLCAHE FEST will be held in September at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Hallettsville. Admission is always free. Arrive early to taste the very best kolaches that Texas has to offer because they are gone quickly! Stay awhile and enjoy a full day or family fun and live entertainment, a fun run, “42” domino tournament, arts and crafts booths, polka music and a parade downtown.

The event is sponsored by the Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. Follow the event on Facebook or view their website, www.hallettsville. com, for more information.

HALLETTSVILLE MARKET DAYS are held the third Saturday of February, May, August and November. The event showcases a mix of indoor, covered pavillion and tree-covered vendor spaces at Texas’ largest Knights of Coumbus Hall, 321 US Highway 77 South. There is always tasty food items and cold beer available and plenty of parking. Shoppers can browse a seemingly unlimited array of items that include home décor, crafts, candles, produce, handmade goodies, gift items and apparel.

Learn more about Hallettsville Market Days on Facebook or at www. hallettsvillemarketdays.com.

HALLETTSVILLE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS showcases the Lavaca County Courthouse, lit up with over 300,000 Christmas lights and the historic gazebo that holds around 100,000 lights. The lighting of the courthouse takes place annually on the Saturday right after Thanksgiving. Santa Claus arrives on the courthouse square around noon, kicking off the popular attraction. Visitors will enjoy live music, vendors. food, beer and wine, and an interactive children’s center, complete with a petting zoo and bounce houses. A lighted parade and live nativity are sure to put everyone in the Christmas spirit.

Learn more about the Hallettsville festival of Lights at www.hallettsvillefol.org.

29 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS THE TEXAS STATE DOMINO TOURNAMENT is an annual event that takes place at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Hallettsville. And it isn’t a small event ... the 2023 tournament saw 178 players competing for the winner’s seat. The 2024 tournament will be held on January 14.

The Texas State Domino Championship has been held in Hallettsville for 68 years. It is considered to be the best competition for straight dominoes in the United States. The registration fee is $20 per team.

Registration closes at 5 p.m. and play begins at 6:30 p.m.

Discover more at www.hallettsville.com.

THE SOUTH TEXAS POLKA AND SAUSAGE FEST is held annually in March. The food is prepared every day by the Knights of Columbus and there is plenty of it. Attendees will enjoy fried fish on Friday and sausage, sauerkraut, German potatoes and kolaches, following the Polka Mass. The food continues on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with healthy heapings of sausage, sauerkraut, German potatoes, chicken noodle soup and a special treat ... country fried chicken. Live music and dancing take place all weekend long.

Learn more about the March 22-24, 2024 event at kchall.com/south-texas-polka-sausage-fest/.

THE TEXAS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FIDDLERS FROLIC is celebrates over 50-years of fiddling in Hallettsville. The event is always held the weekend of the fourth Saturday in April. It includes a barbecue cook-off, fiddle competition and memorial fundraiser.

The April 27-28, 2024 event will feature Boudreaux & Pousson with Charles Thibodeaux, The Austin Ice, Zydeco Angels, Broken Alibi and Diamond Rio (pictured). Sunday’s calendar includes the 2024 Hall of Fame induction.

Learn more online at www.fiddlersfrolics.com.

30 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

BUSINESS DIRECTORY APPLIANCES AND BEDDING

MEDICAL

Audio Video Plus 250 Kessler Avenue Schulenburg 979-743-4485

College Place Assisted Living 210 College Street Schulenburg 979-743-6180

CARPET AND DESIGN

Jefferson Place Assisted Living 911 South Jefferson Street La Grange 979-968-9181

Curt’s Carpeting and Design, LLC 3034 US Highway 77 North 361-798-9000 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Columbus Chamber of Commerce 425 Spring Street Columbus 979-732-8385 Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce 618 North Main Street Schulenburg 979-743-4514 DISTILLERY High Hill Distillery 3337 County Road 122 www.highhilldistillery.com FINANCIAL INSTITUTION Crossroads Bank 110 South Main Street 361-798-3656 FURNITURE Ehler’s Furniture 100 North La Grange Street 361-798-3641 INSURANCE Leopold Insurance Agency 900 North Texana Street 361-798-4311

The Garden Homes 205 East Avenue A Schulenburg 979-743-4791 Yoakum Community Hospital 1200 Carl Ramert Drive Yoakum 361-293-2321 MUSEUM

Hallettsville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 825 Fairwinds Street 361-798-3268

Flatonia Rail Museum 104 East South Main Street Flatonia 512-927-727

Lavaca Medical Center Physical and Occupational Therapy 1400 North Texana Street 361-798-9006

REAL ESTATE

Lavaca Family Health Clinic 1406 North Texana Street 361-798-1200 Lavaca Medical Center 1400 North Texana Street 361-798-3671 Regency Home Health 309 Kessler Avenue Schulenburg 979-743-4663 Schulenburg Regency Nursing Home 111 College Street Schulenburg 979-743-6537 Schulenburg Regency -The Villas 205 East Avenue A Schulenburg 979-743-4791 Stevens Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Hallettsville 106 Kahn Street 361-798-3606

31 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

Tri-County Real Estate 979-725-6006 www.tricountyrealestate.com UTILITIES Fayette Electric Co-op 357 North Washington Street La Grange 979-968-3181

CITY OF HALLETTSVILLE The City of Hospitality!

City of Hallettsville City Hall 101 North Main Street Hallettsville, Texas 77964 Phone: (361) 798-3681 Fax: (361) 798-5952 Lobby Hours: 9am - 4pm Phone Hours: 8am - 4:30pm

Alice Jo Summers Mayor

Audrey Barrera Councilperson (Place 2) Mayor Pro-Tem

Trent Skelton Councilperson (Place 3)

Chastity Grant Carter Councilperson (Place 1)

Dean Madden Councilperson (Place 4)

Billy Barrera Councilperson (Place 5)

In 2021, Hallettsville, TX had a population of 2.71k people with a median age of 37.4 and a median household income of $44,000.

Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Hallettsville, Texas grew from 2,613 to 2,709, a 3.67% increase and its median household income declined from $46,207 to $44,000, a −4.78% decrease.

The five largest ethnic groups in Hallettsville are White (NonHispanic) (47.6%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (25%), Other (Hispanic) (13.5%), Two+ (Hispanic) (6.24%), and White (Hispanic) (4.5%).

None of the households in Hallettsville reported speaking a nonEnglish language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

A total of 95.8% of the residents in Hallettsville are U.S. citizens.

In 2021, the median property value in Hallettsville was $87,800, and the homeownership rate was 49.7%.

Most people in Hallettsville drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 21.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Hallettsville was two cars per household.

Source: DataUSA and US Census Bureau

32 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

CHURCH LISTINGS

FAITH FAMILY CHURCH 1262 US Highway 77 361-798-5481 Worship Sunday 10:30am FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 501 East 2nd Street 361-798-2227 Worship Sunday 10:30am FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 206 South Dowling Street 361-798-2650 Worship Sunday 10:45am GOD’S WORSHIP CENTER 407 South Dowling Street 361-258-1090 Worship Sunday 10am HALLETTSVILLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 605 South Glendale Street 361-772-5961 Worship Sunday 10:30am

PLEASANT HILL BAPTIST CHURCH 505 South Main Street 361-798-5603 Worship Sunday 11am SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH 400 East 5th Street 361-798-5888 Worship Sunday 8am and 5pm last Sunday Worship Monday – Friday 7am Worship Wednesday 8:05am (and Friday when Sacred Heart Catholic School in session) ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1103 East 4th Street 361-798-4119 Sunday Worship 9am ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCH 100 North Promenade Street 361-798-2808 Worship 9am and 5pm

NEW BEGINNINGS CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST 717 South Texana Street 361-343-0309 Worship Sunday 11:15am

33 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH (ST. MARY) 1648 FM 340 361-798-2128 Worship Sunday 9:15am THE LAMPSTAND 103 South La Grange Street 361-258-1997 Worship Sunday 10am VSETIN CZECH MORAVIAN BRETHREN 6059 FM 2314 (6 miles NE of Hallettsville) 361-798-5722 Worship Sunday 10am ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH 529 County Road 146 Worship Sunday 8:20am

EXPLORE THE AREA

Meet the Neighbors SCHULENBURG - Schulenburg is the official home of the painted churches. Plan your visit around one of the area’s church picnics, Sausagefest, the Schulenburg Festival or during the beauty of Christmas. The Annual Wine Walk is always the first Saturday in November, 90 Miles on 90 – literally 90 miles of garage sales and thrifty finds – is the first weekend of June.

Wino Bingo is held every February and September, and the Schulenburg RV Park hosts a monthly jam session.

WEIMAR - Weimar’s picturesque downtown bustles with businesses, shops, great eateries, antique shops and a tavern where locals play dominoes and German card games. You’ll also want to stop by and see St. Michael Catholic Church, a structure you can’t miss ... just look for the steeple that can be seen before you reach the town itself.

SCHULENBURG

SHERIDAN - Although there are many great reasons to travel to Sheridan, Splashway Waterpark and Campground is a popular destination that you won’t want to miss. In addition to state-of-the-art waterslides and wave pools, Splashway offers cabin rentals, RV sites, tent sites and cottage rentals.

SHINER - A short drive and you’ll find Shiner, home of the Spoetzl Brewery. Brewery tours are $5 for all over 18. Free tours are offered for 18 and under, first responders, clergy, active military service members and veterans. Continuous tours are available Monday through Saturday, as needed, starting at 11 a.m. with the last tour starting at 3 p.m. No reservation is required and all ages are welcome.

Another must-see stop in Shiner is Saints Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church. Built in 1921, this painted church remains an architectural marvel. With only slight additions, the church today looks nearly identical to the original structure.

Not surprisingly, constant renovations and upkeep have been necessary to maintain the church’s initial presence. According to Deacon Joe Machacek, “Everything we do, we’re always mindful of keeping it as original as possible.” Projects to restore the stained-glass windows, the painted murals, and even the tiles and bricks have truly been restorations or replications, not alterations.

SHINER

34 | HALLETTSVILLE, TEXAS

Telling Flatonia Stories Since 1988

E. A. Arnim Archives & Museum 101 East North Main Street | 361-865-3455 www.arnimmuseum.org