REMEMBER WHEN?
50 Years Ago from the files of The Fayette County Record
July 27-30, 1971
Burglars broke into one place of business in Carmine late Friday night or early Saturday morning and were unsuccessful in gaining entrance to another. A rear door was pried open at R.Z. Afflerbach’s Grocery and 12 cartons of cigarettes, four cigarette lighters and a rollaway fan were taken. The lock had been tampered with at the Carmine Farm and Home Store in the same block, but the business had not been entered.
Eighteen-year-old Texas residents could not serve on state juries even though they were registered and qualified to vote in all elections, according to Attorney General Crawford Martin.
La Grange had been invaded by Purple Martins! Former Mayor Milton von Minden, who had been a Purple Martin student for many years, said the birds were roosting en masse on utility wires and in the big tree near the home of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Nitschke on E. Travis St., as well as near the washateria. Large numbers of the birds were reported on the electric lines at Leopard Field and a few flocks had dropped into the courthouse square in the early evenings.
A new exhibit entitled “Mugs, Jugs and Pottery Pigs” was to open soon at the University of Texas Winedale Inn Properties near Round Top. On display would be 100 everyday items made from pottery stoneware.
The La Grange Schroeder Drug Demons and Weimar’s Veterans turned in their final tuneup before the state NBC tourney with the Vets winning, 11-8. The Demons started in runaway style, plating four first inning runs on singles by Bill Bohne and Steve Janda, a two-bagger by David Kotzebue, two bases on balls and a Weimar miscue. However, the margin didn’t stand up when the Veterans broke the ice with a single counter in the second and then rammed over five in the last third. La Grange got a pair in the seventh on a walk, a vet error and singles by Janda and Kotzebue, dished another in the eighth and a final tally in the ninth.
Funeral services were held for: Thomas Rheman, 36, of Round Top; Mrs. Kenneth Marvin Sutherland, 81, formerly of Oldenburg; Mrs. Annie W. Fiebig, 84, of Mecklenburg; Gilbert Elolf, 58, of La Grange; and Joe Justin Foyt, 50, a native of the Park community.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Harris of La Grange celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary at the VFW Home with a large number of relatives and friends. Miss Margaret Halamicek and Harold E. Harris were married in El Campo on July 27, 1946, at the home of the bride’s parents, Dr. and Mrs. H.O. Halamicek. The couple lived in Fayette County for 22 years before moving to La Grange. Mrs. Harris’ parents, Dr. and Mrs. Halamicek, and Mr. Harris’ mother, Mrs. W.B. Harris Brownwood, were able to attend the celebration.
The foundation was being prepared for a new commercial building in the 400 block of W. Travis St., in La Grange, just west of the Kulhanek Texaco Station. The city issued a permit for an 80x90-foot structure valued at $40,000 that Bill’s Dollar Store would occupy.
Selective Service System Executive Secretary Mrs. Delores G. Oder, who managed Local Board No. 44, La Grange, reported that the Congressional impasse over extending the induction authority had created great uncertainty among area draft-age men. Since there was a high potential that the draft calls would resume, the local board had been instructed to continue to register and classify men. Those with lottery numbers through 125 were eligible for induction in June in order to fill draft calls. Although the Defense Department had asked Selective Service to draft 16,000 men in July-August, that action was on hold.
Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Tomanec purchased the Ben Franklin Store at 212 W. Colorado St. in La Grange from Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dolezal. Mr. Tomanec indicated he would continue to operate the store in the same way with the same staff. Mrs. Tomanec, who worked as a billing clerk at Fayette Electric Cooperative, planned to help her husband on Saturdays.
The grand opening of Lillian’s Beauty Salon No. 2 was held in Ellinger with Miss Barbara Ahlgrim as the operator.
Mr. and Mrs. Gus Keilers were honored on their 60th wedding anniversary with an open house at the Rutersville Hermann Sons Lodge Hall. The couple, who had five children, was married on July 25, 1911, in Warrenton by Rev. Julius Boshardt. Mrs. Keilers was the former Hedwig Raschke.
Tietjen’s Store in Rutersville was closing on Friday, July 30 at 7 p.m. and Sat., July 31 at 12:30 p.m. for their son’s wedding.
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