NVCC Senior Center Hears from Whose Ranch Owners

The month of June is gone and July is coming on fast. The center welcomed Julius and Clara Bartek as the lunch and learn series speakers on the last Monday of June. “The 3 Asses Ranch” that they live on has been recognized by the State of Texas as a Heritage Ranch. This means that their ranch has been in continuous operation for 100 years. They told members about their ranch, how the house was built in 1866 and that is what they inherited.

The day came when they decided to stay on the ranch because commuting just wasn’t working out, but the house had to be brought up to modern day standards. Clara gave members the history of the property, her relatives, and how the property came to be theirs, then Julius told members about the work on the house and the outside part of the project. He spoke of original beams and nails that had all been hand-hammered back in the late 1800’s, how they had to install modern plumbing because there was no bathroom in the house, and how the wild state of the land had to be tamed. It is all hard work, but it all had to get done.

Everyone there could identify with the stories they told because that is the way it was when they were growing up too. The Bartek’s remarked about how the audience was great because they all nodded heads and could acknowledge the experiences that Julius related. The Bartek’s were congratulated on the work they had done and other families were recognized in our group, such as Irene Janda, whose son has also pursued the heritage ranch level, and Aileen Kasper, whose family has owned the land they reside on for over 100 years as well. What a great session, we learned something and we could all acknowledge the work and progress of one family and their pursuit to better and care for the land they had inherited. That just describes the strong, inner spirit of the people who decided to put a stake in the ground so many years ago and the hard work that it took to shape our communities, in the past and in the present. The work is ongoing and the spirits are strong thank you, Julius and Clara Bartek, for sharing your story with us, and congratulations on your Heritage Ranch.

Most days of the week, we are open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is a monthly calendar on our website that you visit: www. navidadvalleycc.org.

We invite you to come by and see what’s going on at Senior Connections. Bring a friend with you, plan to eat lunch with us.