REMEMBER WHEN?
50 Years Ago from the files of The Fayette County Record
Feb. 16-19, 1971
Two Austin men were apprehended in Fayette County and charged with aggravated assault of a peace officer following a several-hour search that began with a theft near Smithville earlier in the evening. An eyewitness saw the pair steal two lawnmowers and five lawn chairs from her home south of Smithville on Hwy. 95. La Grange Police Chief L.R. Ulbrich, who had taken the duo into custody, was attacked at the county jail. He subdued his assailants and placed them in a jail cell. The 27- and 23-year-old subjects each posted a $1,000 bond here before they were turned over to the Bastrop County where they were charged with felony theft.
The threat of drought was beginning to hang heavily over South Central Texas, as well as much of the state. It was rapidly reaching proportions not seen since the prolonged dry spell of the winter of 1924 and well into 1925. That was the only complete crop-failure year of the 20th century in this area.
A record 175 entries had been turned in for the 12th annual Fayette County Livestock Show on March 18 at the fairgrounds. This included 45 beef calves, 65 fat barrows, 21 fat lambs, 27 capons and 17 pens of broilers. The La Grange Future Farmers of America chapter planned to show 23 calves, 13 barrows, five lambs, six capons and three broiler pens.
The La Grange Teenage Baseball League was organizing for the 1971 season. The following officers were elected: Harry Cook, president; Gene Muzny, vice president; and Gus F. Lindemann, secretary-treasurer. Youths aged 13 to 15 could fill out registration cards to secure berths on the local teams at either La Grange bank.
A six-year-old Houston boy became Fayette County’s third traffic victim of the year when he lost his life in a one-vehicle rollover in the far northern part of the county.
Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Norma Brugger, 72, of La Grange; Caesar (Dutch) Hohn, 83, one of Texas’ best known Texas Agricultural Extension Service workers; Mrs. Anna Kirsch, 94, of La Grange; Mrs. Eddie Zouzalik, 66, of Flatonia; Mrs. Mary Janda, 80, a native of Ammannsville; Reinhard C. Weishuhn, 78, of La Grange; Herman Bittner, Warda; Mrs. Willard Neumann, 54, of Industry; and Mrs. Alvina Fillip, 86, of Ammannsville and her daughter, Mrs. Judith Dobrava, 55, of Oklahoma City.
“The Cabinetmaker’s Bench,” an exhibit of 19th century carpenter and cabinetmaker tools used in the Winedale area, was opening on Thursday, Feb. 18 in the north gallery of Hazel’s Lone Oak Cottage at the University of Texas’ Winedale Properties near Round Top. The display included a rare tool known as a shaving horse used for tapering hand-split shingles, a collection of wooden bench planes, a set of molding planes and a complete cabinetmaker’s bench equipped with clamps, planes, chisels and veneer knife.
A fund for the benefit of Clarence Vaclavik, who had been seriously injured in an auto accident several months before, was inaugurated by Chromcik Council, Knights of Columbus in La Grange. A spokesman said voluntary contributions to help defray the young man’s tremendous hospital and medical expenses could be left at either La Grange bank.
Plans were moving right along to make Fayette County Day, Tuesday, March 8, at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo a rousing success. The La Grange High School band under the direction of Wilbur W. Johnson and Jack Wiedemann was to play at the evening rodeo performance. Lloyd Kolbe, Fayette’s ambassador of goodwill, and his committee were to ride in the grand entry parade just prior to the rodeo. Fayette County had been assigned a booth in the big exhibition hall that was to be “manned” by county beauty queens, who would distribute brochures and other literature about our area. Bud Herrin, the captain of rodeo ticket sales, was bringing the Houston ticket trailer to Schulenburg on Tuesday, Feb. 23 from 9 a.m. till noon and at the courthouse in La Grange in the afternoon. Guest entertainer for Fayette County Day was nationally known rock and roll recording star B.J. Thomas.
In a photo submitted by Don Meiners, Joe Matejowsky was wetting down the new concrete slab at Nechanitz for a 20x40-foot store building to replace the 125-year-old-plus frame structure that was destroyed by fire a few weeks before.
Margie Muzny of La Grange was selected as a 1970-71 Blinn College Buccaneer Band twirler. The band was scheduled to perform at the Texas Independence Day parade on March 2 and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 4.
John Havelka of Hostyn ran an ad stating his part-time servicing of radio and television sets was being discontinued until further notice.
The Plum CYO was sponsoring a turkey shoot on Sunday, Feb. 21 at Kovar’s Place. The rules stated no shot smaller than no. 8 and no reloads.
The Round Top Rifle Association was hosting a free dance with music by Johnnie Holub at the Round Top Rifle Association Hall on Saturday, Feb. 20.
For more great stories, visit Elaine online at www.elainethomaswriter.com/blog/ or call her at 979-263-5031.