Back in the Day at Roitsch’s Camp

Sweet memories linger from four decades of family gatherings at the 10-acre La Grange landmark

In 1949, a Roitsch family get-together included (back row, left to right): Edgar Roitsch, Eva Melcher Roitsch, Harvey Roitsch holding Wayne Roitsch, Evelyn Hassler Roitsch, Walter Garza and Hilma Roitsch Garza. (Second and third row): Donna Roitsch Krauss, Connie Roitsch Krause on the lap of Selma Kaase Roitsch, Karen Roitsch Mueller, Walt (Buster) Garza kneeling, Will Roitsch with Dorothy Roitsch Vogt in front of Will Roitsch. Photo courtesy of Karen Roitsch Mueller. While the men cooked the meat on the pit, the women prepared the side dishes for another memorable meal under the old oak trees at Roitsch Camp. Photo courtesy of Karen Roitsch Mueller. Left to right): Clarence Roitsch, Lawrence Williams and Clarence’s son, Billy Joe Roitsch, watch the pond at Roitsch’s Camp being stocked in 1972. The following year, about 4,000 catfish were put in. That year, the fishing season opened on Friday, the 13th of April, at a cost of 25¢ per pole with rentals available. Any fisherman who hooked one of the seven albino catfish would receive his first five pounds of fish free, although the albino catfi sh had to be returned to the pond. Photo courtesy of Karen Roitsch Mueller A gathering of Roitsch cousins and friends in the early 1950s included (back row, left to right): Carolyn Leverkuhn Moerbe, Donna Roitsch Krauss, Karen Roitsch Mueller and Norman Hirsch. (Front row, left to right): Connie Roitsch Krause, Roy Williams, Roger Roitsch, Wayne Roitsch, unknown, Dorothy Roitsch Vogt, Judy Williams Penner, unknown and John Hirsch. Photo courtesy of Karen Roitsch Mueller. Karen Mueller Roitsch recalls inviting her high school girlfriends over to Roitsch Camp for fun get-togethers in the late 1950s. Photo courtesy of Karen Roitsch Mueller Will and Selma Roitsch built a camp in the late 1940s that provided enjoyment not only for family members, but for several generations of La Grange residents. Photo cour- tesy of Karen Roitsch Mueller.

Armchair Chats

A Occasional Feature by ELAINE THOMAS

Carl August “Will” Roitsch and his wife, Selma Kaase Roitsch, faced a dilemma in the late 1940s. They could no longer squeeze their children and spouses, plus their growing number of grandkids, into the dining room of their modest home in the north part of La Grange.

“Being the good German that he was, my grandfather was very family-oriented, so he and my grandmother decided to build a camp to provide lots of room for everyone. It was outside their back door next to a three-acre pond on what is now Roitsch Lane,” says Karen Roitsch Mueller.

That lake and a long, wooden building of approximately 18,000 square feet that could host large groups comfortably were the main attractions at Will Roitsch Camp. There, the Roitsch grandkids could fish or row a boat on the water, play on the swings or run around having a great time. Their elders visited, barbecued and played dominos or cards under the camp’s massive oaks. Then they shared a meal together.

Will Roitsch didn’t live long enough to truly enjoy his creation and witness what an institution it would become for his friends and neighbors. He died shortly before his 66th birthday in 1950. A rancher born at Swiss Alp in 1884, Mr. Roitsch also had served as secretary-treasurer of the National Farm Loan Association, serving Fayette, Lee and Bastrop counties for 15 years before his retirement.

Mr. and Mrs. Roitsch had one daughter, Mrs. Walter Garza of La Grange, and three sons: Harvey and Edgar A. of La Grange and Clarence, an officer in the U.S. Air Force Corps stationed at Bozeman, Montana. At the time of his death, Will Roitsch had eight grandchildren, a twin sister and three brothers, all in Texas.

Will Roitsch’s

Legacy

Despite Will Roitsch’s death, Roitsch’s Camp lived on with family members at the helm.

Family members were among the first to utilize the site, but, later on, it became ‘the’place for large La Grange gatherings. The charge of only a very modest rental fee added to its popularity.

On June 24, 1951, 104 members of the Kaase family met at a reunion. Several years later, when the Janssens of La Grange invited the El Campo Janssens and the Meinkes of Hallettsville and San Antonio to meet them at Roitsch’s Camp, the headcount was 57 adults and 26 children. By 1958, the camp was booked almost solid during fairweather months. For example, 275 members of the Kiesling family shared something described as a basket dinner in late June of that year. The C.L. and Anna (Gebert) Melcher family also ate a basket lunch at noon before they settled down to visit in the afternoon.

In May 1955, Weldon Tiedt was honored at a party at Roitsch’s Camp before leaving for his U.S. Army physical. Ten years later, Gloria Dixon was feted at a birthday party attended by approximately 35 of her friends and hosted by her roommate, Aurelia Lidiak.

La Grange’s fire department personnel held their annual family socials at the camp on a Sunday every August with visiting followed by a tasty meal. In 1953, the group got some unexpected excitement. Steve Prause, who had recently joined the firefighters, and his new bride were fishing from the shore across from the camp. One of Steve’s casts with a threehook lure hit ended up in his wife’s ear instead of the water. When Walter Garza, who was operating a motorboat on the lake with Ted Harbers as a passenger, heard the screams, he and Ted went to the rescue as fast as their craft could go.

However, a quick boat trip back to those watching on the other shore wasn’t in the cards. After the Prauses boarded, something went wrong and the boat nose-dived, dunking all its occupants in the tank. The dripping boaters held onto the upturned craft until help arrived. Then all was well again.

The following year, firefighters and their families were enjoying a barbecue supper at Roitsch’s Camp when word was received that a pump house on the Erwin Sladek place between Rutersville and Halsted was on fire. Stanley Webb, Frank Kana and Don Hoover rushed to the scene and put out the embers. Unfortunately, the pump house was lost, a water pump was damaged and a motor burned up in the fire.

Will Roitsch’s son, Edgar, took his father’s place as secretary-treasurer of the National Farm Loan Association of La Grange and their annual meetings were held at Roitsch Camp. At the August 1957 meeting, it was noted that more and more Lee, Bastrop and Fayette county area farmers and ranchers were availing themselves of the opportunity to refinance their mortgages, purchase livestock and equipment, as well as purchase land and construct dwellings and make other improvements. New long-term rates were 5% per annum at the time. Local door prize winners included: Benno Besetzny of Schulenburg, Evelyn Reinhard of La Grange and Paul Green of Flatonia.

When Farmers Lumber Co. invited employees and board members and their families to its annual party and barbecue at Roitsch’s Camp in June 1963, President C.M. Janda awarded a clock radio to Manager Erwin W. Janssen for 25 years of service. At the same meeting, Rudolph F. Giese was presented with an engraved wristwatch for serving 15 years on the board.

Social Site of the Community

The 13th annual Fayette County Junior Livestock Show held its annual sales committee kick-off banquet at Roitsch’s Camp in March 1957. The La Grange Little League met there for a hot dog supper in April 1959 to elect local motor vehicle inspection patrolman Jack W. Ingram as president. He succeeded Louis D. Zapalac.

Members of the Brownie Scout Troop held a wiener roast at Roitsch’s Camp in May 1958 and the Girl Scout Troop 2 went on their first hike on a Saturday morning in 1962. The 12 girls left for Roitsch’s Camp at 9:30 a.m. and returned at 2 p.m. The Cadette Girls Scout Troop 3 had their first overnight outing of the summer with hamburgers served for supper at the camp in June 1964. The little ladies played games and returned to their La Grange homes the next morning at 10 o’clock.

In April 1965, the annual Aggie Muster of former students of Texas A&M University living in Fayette County met at Roitsch’s Camp. E.A. Sladek Jr. of La Grange chaired this 62-yearold A&M tradition. Several months later, when 20 Leopard boosters turned out for the first meeting of the season for the La Grange Quarterback Club, they scheduled their annual wiener roast at Roitsch’s Camp. The event was free to all paid-up members, coaches and grid aspirants.

About 120 friends and family attended the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wolle of La Grange in October 1955. Mr. and Mrs. Carl A. Schulze and family marked a two-fold anniversary with a chicken and mutton barbecue dinner at Roitsch’s Camp. They were celebrating the couple’s 30th year of business for Schulze Garage and the ninth birthdays of their nine-year-old sons, Erland D. and Clarence W., in October 1958.

Another milestone celebrated at Roitsch’s Camp was the 50th anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Tietjen in November 1958. After the Rev. F.E. Eilers of Swiss Alp gave a brief devotional, the Tietjens opened the many beautiful and useful gifts from their wellwishers. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Weishuhn of Nechanitz also observed their 50th wedding anniversary at Roitsch’s Camp in April 1961.

When Carol Jean Guettler became the bride of William Zbranek Jr. in February 1964, the couple held their reception at Roitsch’s Camp with Mrs. Leroy Zapalac and Misses Pauline Jarvis, Marjorie Citzler, Sedalia Bauer, Marceil Marburger and Bernice Zbranek assisting.

In January 1965, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Roitsch were surprised at a social to celebrate their 25th anniversary at Roitsch’s Camp. A group of friends and family brought food for a delectable supper and the couple received little bags of silver coins hanging from a large silver money tree from their guests.

Memorable events continued to be staged at Roitsch’s Camp for several more decades. Many of them were reminiscent of the events highlighted from the 1950s and 1960s from the archives of The Fayette County Record.

Those Were

The Days

“You felt comfortable there. You felt safe there. It was just family enjoying family time,” recalls Cheryl Roitsch, whose father, Clarence, took over Roitsch Camp in 1969 after retiring from the USAF.

“My dad did a lot of the cooking: barbecue, steaks, baked potatoes, whatever the people who were having a party wanted. He did it for fun because he loved to cook. My friends and I would help him and it was fun for us, too. We didn’t realize we were working!” Cheryl adds.

Roger Roitsch, who eventually purchased the camp, recalls, “The barbecue pits were covered so they could be used rain or shine. The picnic tables were made from poured concrete. The building had one big open room with a kitchen off to the side and, in later years, an addition was built. There were even some bunks where people from out of town or kids from a youth group in town could stay overnight. The camp had two bathrooms and a shower. There was no air conditioning. Maybe people were tougher back then or those century-old oaks provided such great shade that it wasn’t missed.

“I remember, too, we had a big, handmade swing and that was a blast, especially when I was five or six years old. The tank, which is what we called the lake, was stocked with crappie, as well as some other fish,” Roger adds.

Memories of the good times at this legendary La Grange destination live on, although Roitsch’s Camp closed more than a decade ago. Those were, indeed, the good old days.

Do you have memories of fun times at Roitsch Camp you’d like to share? Please email me at callacomm@hotmail.com, send me a Messenger note or leave a message on my landline, 979-2635031. Thank you! Elaine