REMEMBER WHEN?

50 Years Ago

August 25-28, 1970

La Grange miraculously escaped what could have been a disastrous fire on Friday. At 12:20 p.m., the driver of a westbound 1968 White truck-tractor swerved to avoid hitting a passenger car entering Hwy. 77 at FM 159 and lost control. The truck, which was loaded with 7,313 gallons of jet fuel bound for Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, turned over on its side and exploded into flames. However, the driver was able to get away and was treated at Fayette Memorial Hospital for back and internal injuries. It took La Grange firefighters several hours to douse the massive blaze. A large post oak tree in the yard of L.E. von Rosenberg was burned, as was a tree and an historical marker in the triangle at the highway intersection. Telephone lines and cable lines also were burned, disrupting service to those customers. Smoke from the blaze was visible for 30 miles. Fayette County’s commission

ers approved an appropriation of $4,800 annually to fund another deputy in the sheriff’s department. Sheriff T. J. Flournoy had not yet selected the new deputy.

La Grange’s City Library was planning to dedicate its Texas State Historical medallion. Architect Edward Mattingly, a native of La Grange and the son of Mrs. Edward Mattingly who served as city librarian for some years, was to be the guest speaker. Mrs. J.B. Garrard, who signed the deed when the Etaerio Club gave the library to the city in 1938, was invited as an honored guest.

An open house at the new 100- bed $350,000 Hermes Cartwheel Lodge for senior citizens was set for Sunday afternoon, August 30. At the program to mark the event, Lloyd Kolbe of KVLG Radio was serving as master of ceremonies. Mayor L.W. Stolz Jr. would provide the welcome address, while Chamber of Commerce President Aubrey D. Voelkel and La Grange Industrial Foundation President Louis J. Schroeder also planned to speak. The lodge, built in the shape of a giant cartwheel with six spokes (wings), would employ 40 people.

Fire of an undetermined origin destroyed about half of the Jacob Store in Carmine Friday afternoon. The loss would have been much heavier had it not been for the efforts of six volunteer fire departments. The blaze, which broke out in the storeroom near the center of the structure at about 2:10 p.m., raged fiercely within minutes. The Carmine Fire Department’s two booster trucks, aided by two from Burton and one each from Brenham and Giddings, succeeded in confining the fire to the grocery and feed departments. The store’s egg grading and packaging department was not damaged. Owners E.P Jacob Jr. and Jerry D. Jacob said the floor and ceiling in the grocery would have to be replaced, so it would be several weeks before the store could reopen.

Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Hilda Stoelke, 66, of Fayetteville; William H. (Bill) Giese, 69, a Fayette County native; Mrs. Ida Dallmeyer, 77, of La Grange; Mrs. Rudolph R. Sulak of West; Ocy D. Blakey Sr., 61, of West Point; Albert Bauer, 63, of Cistern; and Ronny Kopecky, seven months old, of La Grange.

The problem La Grange school trustees faced of having to eliminate one teaching position was resolved when an athletic department teacher tendered his resignation. Harry J. Masch and his family were moving to Austin where he had accepted a job with the school system in that city. Thus, the cut would come from the athletic department rather than from staff who taught art, music, Spanish or German.

Planning was well underway for the 43rd annual Fayette County Fair opening on Friday, Sept. 4 and running through Labor Day. The Fayette County Round-up Club’s youth rodeo, produced by Chapman Brothers of Deer Park, was set for Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. with the finals wrapping up on Sunday night. Events included calf roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, bareback bronc riding, high school and elementary girls’ and boys’ break-away roping, senior pole bending, girls’ pole bending, cloverleaf barrel racing and a queen’s contest.

During the fair, the La Grange Garden Club was offering a pilgrimage to three grand old homes, as well as a church, at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. On tour were the N.W. Faison Home, Mrs. J.B. Garrard’s home and her vast collection of antiques, the City Library and St. James Episcopal Church. Another exciting event during the fair was the antique show and sale being held at the American Legion Hall in downtown La Grange on Saturday and Sunday. Admission for the homes tour and antique show and sale was $1 each.

The English service with Holy Communion on August 30 at 10:30 a.m. at the Warda church was to take the place of September Holy Communion services. No German communion was planned in September.

The Telstars were playing at the air-conditioned Veterans Hall in Weimar on Friday, Aug. 28. Admission was $1.50. On Saturday, Aug. 29, the Rainbow Ranch Hands were performing at the Round Up Hall (formerly the Fair Pavilion) in La Grange. Admission was $1 per person. At the Freyburg Hall on Sunday, Aug. 30, The Velvets were providing the music. Admission was $1.25.

Rhonda Koether was chosen as drum major for the 1970-71 school year. Majorettes were Cynthia Clegg, Rhonda von Minden and Angela Wallace.

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