Remember When?
In 1972, the petroleum industry in Fayette County played a significant role in helping to satisfy the unprecedented demand for Texas crude oil and natural gas. Fayette was one of the 190 Texas counties out of 254 that produced oil and gas valued in excess of $100,000 in a record production year for the state’s number one industry. According to the Texas Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association, the value of petroleum produced in the Fayette County was $830,000 for a ranking slot of 173rd. The sale of crude oil here earned $812,000 and natural gas $18,000. Fayette County royalty owners split $104,000 in checks. Oil and gas producers and developers spent $397,000 drilling four wells in the county with $277,000 lost in three dry holes. The Texas Employment Commission reported 111 employees worked in the county’s oil and gas industry, sharing a payroll of $430,000.
Deposits at Fayette County’s banks increased by more than 18% over the prior 12 month period, according to the June 30 second quarter bank call figures. Total deposits from: The First National Bank of La Grange, La Grange State Bank, First National Bank-Schulenburg, Flatonia State Bank, Farmers State Bank-Schulenburg, Fayetteville Bank, Carmine State Bank and Round Top State Bank stood at $64,203,716.18, up from $54,350,540.96 for the same prior year period.
Fayette County car owners, who already were paying the lowest scaled premiums in the state, could expect another $11 in savings under proposed rate reductions, according to the State Insurance Board. The reduction was proposed for Class 1A auto insurance coverage of a medium priced car with no male driver under 25, no unmarried female driver under 21, no operator 65 or over, not used for business and not driven to or from work.
On NewYear’s Eve in 1873, when the first train chugged up to a new depot named Schulenburg Station, the town huffed and hooted its way into existence. Schulenburg’s 100th birthday celebration in Wolters Park onAug. 3-5 promised to be even louder and livelier, according to Bill Klesel, general chairman of the centennial event. “We’ve got the biggest biergarten in Texas,” he noted, “with enough tables and chairs and spigots to accommodate 500 people at one time.”
The Eastcheap Players comprised of University of Texas English and Shakespearean students were expected to arrive at Winedale on July 17 to prepare for six weeks of study, as well as seven public performances.
A Texas district meeting of the National Alliance of Czech Catholics, the Svaz, was being held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church at Hostyn on Sun., July 22. It was to open with a concelebrated Mass in Czech with responses and Mass hymns in Czech. Bishop John L. Morkovsky was to participate.
BerryVaughns, a fifth grader at Hermes Elementary School, was presented with a check for placing first in the state in the annual Texas Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association fire prevention poster contest, special education division.
A four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth paved the way for a 6-4 victory for the Shiner Clippers over La Grange’s Jaycee Demons at Shiner. La Grange had a 3-1 lead through five and a half frames, but the Clips cashed in on wildness by Billy Miller and coupled it with singles by Jimmy Appelt and Jimmy Benes to go out front to stay. Singles by Danny Muzny, David Kotzebue and Bubba Riehs, David Zatopek’s two-bagger and Buddy Grobe’s sacrifice bunt accounted for the Demon runs.
Funeral services were held for: Weston J. Struve, 63, a native of La Grange; Emil von Minden, 60, of La Grange; Alex W. Pietz, 74, of Carmine; Mrs. Albina Kubala Baca, 76, of Fayetteville; and Mrs. Lizzie Jurica, 86, a lifelong resident of Fayette County.
After serving as manager of the New York Store for many years, Maurice Levin retired. Curtis Oltmann, a store employee for more than 12 years, was appointed as the new manager. Mr. Oltmann was married to the former Mary Jane Huebel. The couple had two children.
The National Weather Service reported a tornado sighting in the Schulenburg area about 9:37 p.m. on Friday, but there were no reports of damage.
Eight Boy Scouts of Troop 203 attended a summer camp at Lost Pines Scout Camp near Bastrop where they worked on requirements for the following merit badges: Garry Matocha, four; Justin Bartos III, three; Danny Blume, two; Jimmy Guenther, two; Tory Bennetsen, two; Thomas Matocha, four; Bruce Williams, four; and Wallace Albrecht, three. Garry Matocha, Justin Bartos III and Jimmy Guenther also received Scout lifeguard awards. Garry and Justin were also ‘tapped out’ for the right to be members of The Order of the Arrow. Scoutmaster Leo Wick accompanied the Scouts to the camp and spent the week working with the youths.
The most recent Billy Graham full-length dramatic motion picture, “Time to Run,” was to premier in La Grange during the last week of September. In anticipation of the big event, a kick-off breakfast was being held on Sat., July 21 at 7 a.m. at the Bon Ton Restaurant. Dave McQuiston, the premiere coordinator for the Billy Graham organization, was to deliver the keynote address explaining how the program could benefit the La Grange community.
For more great stories, visit Elaine online at www. elainethomaswriter.com/blog/ or call her at 979-263-5031.