REMEMBER WHEN?

50 Years Ago

Oct. 23-30, 1970

A farmhouse burglary in nLa Grange High School girls, who had come to school the prior month wearing clothing styles reminiscent of the 1940s, could now wear miniskirts and pantsuits. They won their plea for relaxation of the school dress code when trustees voted in their favor on Monday night. The new rules allowed girls to wear pantsuits to school and recommended a hemline of approximately four inches above the knee. It was noted that articles of clothing such as slacks on girls, skirts on boys, leotards and spaghetti strap dresses were not appropriate school wear.

Although the La Grange Chamber of Commerce bought a membership, no formal action was taken as to whether to support the Colorado River Development Association. La Grange Mayor L.W. Stolz Jr., who headed the organization, explained that the group did not necessarily seek economic development, but rather was primarily interested in water needs of the future and flood control.

Plans for another sign advertising Hwy. 71 as the shortest route from Houston to Austin was discussed at the Tri-County Four-City Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Colorado Valley Telephone Cooperative Inc. connected to the new dial system in the Hostyn and Plum exchanges. Subscribers were asked to place the number they received with their October bills on the dials. Manager Jack A. Campbell noted that Hostyn subscribers would now have to dial all seven numbers. It was expected that new one-party lines would be installed within a year.

Backstage Inc. was planning to present a musical version of the old German classic, Hansel and Gretel, at the Schulenburg High School theater on Oct. 29, 30 and 31. Walt Wescot of La Grange was playing a Yoo-Hoo Clock and Anna Moellenberg was one of those starting out as a child who ended up as a gingerbread cookie.

The deadline for the destruction of cotton stalks in 17 South Central Texas counties as a pink bollworm control measure was extended from October 20 to November 5.

Mrs. Willie Kunkel, who resided just north of Carmine, reported killing a 20-inch coral snake in the yard of her home. Her dog held the reptile at bay while she got a weapon to dispatch it.

The Post Oak Inn was under new ownership and management, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Zbranek.

Jerry’s Package Store on the east side of the Square in Fayetteville was hit by burglars. The culprits took a Motorola television set and portable radio. Entrance to the building was gained by breaking a padlock on the front door.

Blocked highways, disrupted powerlines and more damage to unharvested crops were the results of a heavy rain that exceeded seven inches in some areas of the county. The squall line preceded an autumn cool front crossing Texas.

Funeral services were held for Bedford Forest Bush, 77, of West Point and Alfred J. Krause, 78, a native of Giddings.

Houston’s Elmore Tigers swamped the La Grange Leopards with a score of 57-3 on a soggy football field in La Grange. The game was marred by 14 turnovers. The difference was that Elmore’s four lost fumbles and two pass interceptions cost the Tigers virtually nothing. The Leopards’ six fumbles and two intercepts nearly all cost the home team touchdowns. Losing to Elmore was not the worst of the game as far as the Leopards were concerned. Two key performers, John Mode and Donald Polasek, were injured. Already lost for the season were seniors Mark Ullrich and Randy Otto. Although another senior, Norman Wied, had his ankle in a cast, there was a chance he would see action in the next game.

Mr. and Mrs. John R. Zapalac were honored on their silver wedding anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Ellinger Chamber of Commerce Hall with a reception and dance. They were married on Oct. 16, 1945, in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church at Frelsburg.

Randy Otto and Shirley Sladek were selected by the senior class to represent La Grange High School as duke and duchess at the annual Blinn College homecoming. As members of the queen’s court, they were to participate in the half-time ceremonies at the Blinn-Cisco Junior College football game. Randy was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Otto and Shirley was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Sladek, all of La Grange.

Mr. and Mrs. Reinhard G. Stork were honored on their golden wedding anniversary in the Ellinger Chamber of Commerce Hall on Sunday, Oct. 25. Married on Oct. 24, 1920, they had lived in Houston for 50 years.

The family of Mrs. Adolf Hajovsky of La Grange gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Ryza Sr. in Smithville to honor their mother on her 80th birthday. Those attending from Fayette County were: Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Marburger and children of Cistern; Mrs. Annie Wieting of La Grange; Frank Hajovsky of La Grange; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hajovsky of La Grange; and Mr. and Mrs. George Hajovsky of La Grange. A covered dish noon meal was served.

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