REMEMBER WHEN?

50 Years Ago from the files of The Fayette COunty Record

Feb. 22-29, 1972

Rutersville Postmaster G.J. (Gilbert) Wessels took down the United States flag in front of the Rutersville Post Office for the last time on Tuesday, Feb. 29, marking the closure of the facility. The Rutersville Post Office had served patrons for 133 years and Mr. Wessels had been postmaster for 35 years. Patrons residing east of the north/south street crossing Hwy. 159 were to begin receiving their mail on Fayetteville, Rt. 1, with Johnnie Becka the carrier. Those living on the west side were to be served by carrier Les Blume on La Grange, Rt. 2.

Grass fires emanating from spark-spewing engines on a Southern Pacific freight train posed a serious fire threat just before noon Tuesday four to five miles south of West Point. About 100 acres of Coastal Bermuda grass, principally between the railroad tracks and FM 154, were burned before the scattered fires were brought under control by firefighters from La Grange and Flatonia. Another unit stationed in Smithville also responded. A small hay barn containing a few bales also was destroyed.

Subjects who broke into Dyer’s Pharmacy at 103 N. Main St. in downtown La Grange early Saturday morning apparently were looking for narcotics. A check by owner Jack Dyer revealed that a quantity of drugs known as “the hard stuff ” had been taken from a locked drawer behind the prescription counter. The cash register had been pried open, but no money had been stolen. Entry was gained by using a crowbar to break in through a door on the north side near the rear of the building. When nightwatchman Edward Chudej had checked the rear of the building at 5 a.m. Saturday, everything was in order. That meant the break-in occurred between then and daylight.

It took three La Grange people two hours and 20 minutes to land a gargantuan alligator gar in the Colorado River at La Grange on Friday night. Oscar Cook, Daniel Freytag and the Cook’s son, Clayton, harpooned the big fellow with a three-pronged gig between the Hwy. 77 Bridge and the bend in the river. Plastic milk containers were tied to the harpoon as buoys. The giant fish was 7-foot, 4-inches long and measured 36 inches in girth.

Three members of the La Grange High School athletic coaching staff tendered their resignations. They were Head Coach Leslie (Butch) Blume and assistant coaches Paul Hoelscher and Charles Schneider. Their resignations were effective at the end of the school term.

Three new Texas Department of Public Safety patrol officers began their duties in Fayette County, bringing the staffing total again to six. Stationed in La Grange, patrol officers David Wansley and Norman Ball were to work with A.F. Hall and N.E. Purgerson. Patrol officer Dennis Korenek was to be stationed in Schulenburg where he was to team up with M.D. Wyatt. The new recruits had recently graduated from the DPS Academy in Austin following four and a half months of intensive training.

Four men who escaped from the Bastrop County Jail were still at large. They picked the lock on their jail door with probably a bobby pin or got hold of a key, got away and stole a jeep. A report was received that the vehicle was seen on the highway near Lexington.

The Round Top-Carmine Cubettes took a giant step toward defending their Texas Class B girls’ basketball championship when they overcame tough foes in the Region IV tournament. Nina Marburger posted a new career record with 45 points in the championship battle against Agua Dulce that ended with a score of 62-53 in favor of Round Top-Carmine.

Funeral services were held for: Steve P. Urban Sr., 77, of La Grange; Thomas (Ricky) Sanders Jr., 16, of Schulenburg; Carl E.J. Fiebig, of La Grange; Charles A. Mazoch, 86, of Ammannsville; Emily Huser, 80, of Schulenburg; Mrs. Justina A. Havran, 74, a Fayetteville native; Harold Lee Ilse, 52, of Ellinger; Mrs. Ida Busch, 84, of La Grange; and Leon E. Vasek, 54, of Fayetteville.

Approximately 550 Fayette County cotton and feed grain producers signed up for the 1972 setaside programs of the Agricultural Stabilization Service as of noon Friday, although registrations were being taken until March 10. The previous year, 1,400 Fayette County producers had participated. The Texas Animal Health

The Texas Animal Health Commission in Austin removed the hog cholera quarantine order from Fayette, Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Lavaca and Wharton counties.

Oakridge Smokehouse in Schulenburg advertised all mixed drinks were 85¢ on Monday and Wednesday evenings.

Horseless Carriage Clubs of Houston, Austin and San Antonio accepted the La Grange Chamber of Commerce’s invitation to hold their annual summer Tri-City tour here on August 11-12.

Members of the La Grange Junior High School Band who earned first division medals in solos were: Lucia Williams, Mary Ann Hruska, Sheila Keith, Maria Johnson, Mark Lehmann, Jill Stueber, Rae Weishuhn, Susan Taylor, Bobby Stahmer, Cynthia Buckhorn, Cynthia Clegg, Donna Wallace and Nancy Zbranek.

For more great stories, visit Elaine online at www.elainethomaswriter.com/blog/ or call her at 979-263-5031.