REMEMBER WHEN?
50 Years Ago
June 28, 1972
In 1969, the average Fayette County family income was $4,638 compared with $8,490 for the state, according to a 1970 census report. Per capita income for the county was $2,101. The census counted 17,650 county residents, 1.2% foreign-born and 19.6% born with one or both parents of foreign birth. Approximately 37% of the married women with husbands present were in the labor force, and 39.3% of these had children under six. The housing report counted 7,949 housing units with 5,739 having a TV set. Housing units with air conditioning totaled 2,568. Thirteen hundred houses had a clothes dryer and 237 a dishwasher.
Monetary benefits to veterans and/or their dependents still played a big part in Fayette County’s economy, according to county veterans’ service officer Frank J. Pratka of La Grange. The report from the State Veterans Affairs Committee in Austin showed that $155,621 was paid out primarily in widows’ and children’s pensions and veterans’ compensation and pensions. Fayette County’s service officer was only on duty three days a week.
La Grange’s Little League All-Stars staged a last inning come-from-behind rally to win the Area III championship at Eagle Lake. Wednesday night at Brenham, where the District 13 tournament’s titular contest was played, circumstances were the same but in reverse. La Grange was ahead by a 5-2 score going into the final inning thanks to two lofty homers by Ricky Dippel and pitcher Michael (Mike) Albers. Then Brenham loaded the bases with none away, and the hometown lads promptly took advantage of a La Grange misplay and a couple of base hits to plate four tallies and a 6-5 victory. Dippel got his round-tripper in the fifth, and Albers socked his with one on in the first of the sixth. Albers turned in a creditable hill job for the La Grange Stars, striking out six and walking four over the six-inning distance. The La Grange lads plated four fast counters in the very first inning for a lead they never relinquished in Monday’s opener, and went on to blast New Braunfels, 11-1.
Edwin Karstedt Jr. was the winner of the first prize, a portable TV set, at the grand opening of Kleiber Ford Tractor, Inc.
La Grange’s 1972 street paving project of 25 blocks was ready to start with Charles A. Eilers of Schulenburg as the contractor. However, a question had arisen in regard to one block on E. Camp St. between N. Franklin and N. Madison Sts. James Zimmerhanzel appeared before council and explained that although his property adjoined this street, he and two other adjacent owners never used the thoroughfare and didn’t see why they should be obligated to pay a paving charge. The matter was referred to the street and bridge committee for resolution.
Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Martha von Rosenberg, 86, of La Grange; Mrs. Katherine G. Flath, 90, of Prairie Valley; Conrad H. Scheel, 67, who was buried in La Grange; and Henry Meier, 87, of Carmine.
Dr. James F. Tiemann of the La Grange Veterinary Hospital reported that a second rabid skunk had been killed between La Grange and Rutersville. He reiterated his earlier suggestion that owners get their dogs and other pets vaccinated as soon as possible.
Mrs. Alta Head of La Grange was added to the staff of the Travis Outreach Program in Fayette County. Mrs. Head was being trained to lead a class for several young Fayette County children with developmental disabilities, who were to receive individual attention. The classes were being held in a large, well-equipped room donated by the Church of Christ on State Hwy. 71 East.
The Cross and the Switchblade starring Pat Boone was playing at the Cozy Theatre in La Grange on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Forty pre-school children in the Fayetteville rural area completed six weeks of kindergarten. When they presented their work and a program for their families, each child was given the opportunity to tell an important fact he or she had learned in kindergarten. The new superintendent, Benn Cobb, gave a short speech. Mrs. Viola Spiess and Mrs. Ruby Martinek were the teachers and Mrs. Gladys Koehl and Miss Nancy Wasut were aids.
The Gil Baca Orchestra left on July 21 from the Houston International Airport to spend two weeks in Czechoslovakia, where they were to appear in the Czechoslovakia Prago Concerto. They were to play polkas, waltzes, modern, western rock, jazz and rumba music.
Sengler & Sons Television Sales & Service (also the Music Shop) was opening August 1 at 223 W. Travis. The business, offering work done right in customers’ homes, handled Motorola color TV sales. Service also was available on RCA, Zenith, Admiral, Motorola, Sears and other brands of TVs. Also available at the store were Lowery and Kimball organs, as well as Kimball and Yamaha pianos.
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