REMEMBER WHEN?
50 Years Ago from the files of The Fayette County Record
Feb. 23-26, 1971
A 56-car Southern Pacific freight train on a direct run from San Antonio to St. Louis derailed at about 4 a.m. Friday south near West Point. Twenty-nine cars on the merchandise cargo train were stacked up, twisted helter-skelter. The accident, believed to have been caused by a broken rail, involved two cars loaded with new automobiles and others containing foodstuffs, furniture, housewares and other goods. Several hundred feet of rail were torn up in the derailment that occurred near the old Lena Switch Texaco Clay Plant between West Point and Muldoon.
The train wreck knocked out all Houston long distance circuits serving La Grange, Giddings, Lexington, Dime Box, Northrup, Fayetteville, Ellinger, Weimar, Schulenburg and Colorado Valley Telephone Cooperative exchanges. Crews were on hand shortly after the mishap was reported to restore temporary service.
An intensive five-course firemen’s training school was being taught in La Grange for all local volunteer firemen and other interested persons by Texas A&M University. The classes were to get underway at 7 p.m. each evening.
Funeral services were held for: Bennie C. Rehman, 72, a native of Oldenburg; Edmund E. Becak, 62, of Ellinger; Rudolph M. Hengst, 77, of La Grange; Miss Lillie Schroeder, 72, of Prairie Valley; Mrs. Mary (Barta) Cernosek, 69, a Fayette County native; and Ollie Ullrich, 31, of Warrenton.
La Grange Lodge No. 30, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, celebrated its 118th anniversary with a steak dinner at the Bon Ton Cafe with members of Rebekah Lodge No. 278 as guests. Oliver Theumann served as master of ceremonies for the program, which was highlighted by a talk about Oddfellowship by G.A. Koenig. The singing was led by E.W. Meiners, while Mrs. Elvira Saxon led the opening prayers. Mr. Theumann presented 40-year service buttons to: C.V. Creuzbaur, W.J. Hruska, Mr. Koenig, Vernon Warnken, A.H. Spacek and John C. Marburger. Mr. Meiners was awarded a 35-year button, and Mr. Theumann and Arthur Behrens were presented with 25-year buttons. In his talk, Mr. Koenig noted that the IOOF was a fraternal organization with a multi-million dollar heart. Since it was founded in Baltimore in 1819, the order had admitted 6 million members and its good work had encircled the globe. The order owned and maintained 65 homes for the aged and orphans, and spent over $2 million annually for their operation. IOOF also had established educational foundations for higher education for children of Odd Fellows and shelters and care for more than 6,000 dependents of members. Over 6.5 million members had received relief from the order at various times. More than 468,000 widowed families had been assisted with the total spent at well over $500 million. Organized and chartered in Feb. 10, 1853, the La Grange Lodge had paid sick and burial benefits to its members over the years. It contributed annually to widows’ and orphans’ homes, helped local families in time of need and supported numerous other functions and projects. Total service of the local Rebekahs was 432 years, while the La Grange Odd Fellows was 364 years. Mrs. Zora Werth offered the closing prayer at the meeting.
Ten La Grange 4-H club members who placed in the top 25 placings in the junior ready-to-cook broiler show-sale at the San Antonio Livestock Exposition sold their birds for an overall total of $470. Janet Zimmermann, who had the grand champion of the show, received $200 from Pearl Brewery. Other winners included: Daniel Cernoch, 3rd, $50; Carol Zimmermann, 5th, $50; Richard Cernoch, 10th, $30; Elaine Cernoch, 16th, $30; Kenny Zapalac, 17th, $30; Michael Moerbe, 19, $30; Bruce Mozisek, 20th, $30; Charles Bippert, 23rd, $35; and Debbie Bippert, 25th, $30.
Cadet Scott L. Smith, the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Lee Smith of La Grange, was named to the Commandant’s List at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado. Cadet Smith, a 1970 graduate of La Grange High School, was selected for his outstanding military performance. This entitled him to wear a silver wreath designating the honor. Cadet Smith was to be commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded his BS degree upon his graduation from the academy.
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