A Family Farm Carved Up by ‘Progress’ But Not Forgotten

It’s just a small sign on a dead-end road in rural Fayette County.

But for Jim Holub, the sign he recently put up is an important reminder of a sad time for many here a half-century ago that he doesn’t want forgotten.

“When we are gone, who will know?” said Jim. “This sign explains it.”

Just over fifty years ago, the Lower Colorado River Authority told Jim’s parents, Frank and Pauline (Polasek) Holub, that they were going to buy 90 acres of the 100 acre plot the family had farmed and raised their kids on since 1946.

The land was needed for the new coal power plant being built nearby, and LCRA wasn’t going to take no for an answer – not from their neighbors the Miltons and the Schroeders or the Holubs.

“My dad didn’t want to sell,” Jim said. “He couldn’t fight it because that takes money. I think my dad tried to negotiate but I don’t know if that helped or not.”

Here’s how The Fayette County Record described the situation back in 1974: “The City of Austin and the Lower Colorado River Authority planned to use condemnation proceedings as a last resort to acquire land for their new joint electric plant, according to LCRA General Manager Charles Herring. He said an effort would be made to negotiate to buy the land from landowners but, if necessary, the City of Austin and the LCRA would condemn the property in the public interest. Herring said it was necessary to build the plant to serve LCRA’s 800,000 customers. Herring noted no one had volunteered the use of their land for the plant.”

The Holubs got $1,250 an acre (a lot less than they wanted) and had to move their house onto the 10 acres of their place they were able to keep. They ended up moving to Fayetteville, and dividing the 10 acres that remained among their eight children.

“It was hard for our parents because they were older and they had to move ... It was a very difficult time,” said Delores Schmitt, 76, who along with Jim, 80, are the only two living children of Frank and Pauline.

Jim, a Vietnam Vet, says LCRA, instead of hauling off a pair of old cars the family left behind – a 55 Oldsmobile and a 1965 Ford – just buried them on the land.

Off in the distance the power plant went up, and a cooling lake for the plant was built that flooded the town of Biegel, where Jim and Delores used to go visit relatives.

But the 90 acres bought from the Holubs was never used for anything.

That bothers Jim. “My parents used to raise cattle, corn, cotton and milo there,” Jim said. “There was a hay meadow that was always clean. Now it’s all brush.”

Delores now lives in Roznov with her husband Bob. Jim, who lost his wife in 2013, lives in High Hill, but he still comes back to what’s left of the old family place when he can. Their parents’ house, the one that had to be moved, burned up in a fire about 30 years ago. But a couple of months ago Jim had a camphouse moved to what remains of the land for he and his daughters to enjoy. When they drive into the place this sign greets them, and any another driver, who happens upon this desolate stretch of Holub Lane where you can see the stacks of the Fayette Power Project through the trees: Holub Farm Founded 1946 - 100 Acres Frank and Pauline (Polasek) Holub Children Sophie, John, Frank George, Bessie, Jerry Jim, Delores 90 Acres and Minerals Claimed by LCRA Lake Fayette in the 1970s

Jim actually had two signs made. One’s there on Holub Lane. The other he had framed at home. “Claimed” was not the original verb he wanted on the sign. He preferred to say the land was “taken” but the graphic designer changed it.