Schulenburg in 1877
Part I of II
The phrase “sprang up” is often used in describing locations that were quickly turned from virgin dirt to a bustling town due to the possibilities of getting rich quickly. Most of these towns quickly disappeared. Schulenburg was a town founded on property owned by Christian Baumgarten and Louis Schulenburg. In the early 1870s, the railroad being built out of Columbus and heading west was plotted out over a period of time and not an instant destination like a gold strike. When the decision to lay out the route was announced, it signaled the demise of the small villages of Lyons to the south and High Hill to the north as businesses rushed to an area where the probable rail station was to be built. Buildings in High Hill were put on logs and rolled to the new location. Businesses in Lyons made plans to relocate to the new town named after Mr. Schulenburg.
Things began happening rapidly and when the first train rolled into Schulenburg on Dec. 31, 1873, there were streets laid out and small structures in various locations. Some towns along the new railroad grew and prospered; some didn’t. Schulenburg was one of the towns that sprang up and kept springing up in the first several years and still exists today.
A little over three years after the train’s whistle sounded through the Navidad Valley, a thriving town was evident by the information in the April 6, 1877 issue of the Schulenburg Argus newspaper.
Religion was important. The Baptists had built a church which the Methodists shared on alternating Sundays; however, inclement weather that Sunday indictated that there would be “no preaching in the church at this place.”
The school, under the management of Miss Rosa Thrall, was sucessful. “Thrall … combines ability and the art of imparting to her pupils successfully what she knows.”
Mr. Joseph Wusendorf, the telegraph operator and freight depot manager, stated that from August, 1876 (eight months) 11,300 bales of cotton, 200,000 pounds of hides, and 5,000 pounds of wool were shipped out by rail.
The town now required the digging of two more water wells, one between the Upton House and the depot (20+ feet deep) and the other in front of Perlitz & Bohm’s store.
Culture was blooming with a performance (in German) by the Germania Club at Barings Hall with local actors Glucksman, Canz, Kessler, Votkel, Fredrich, and Ebeling; afterward dancing was enjoyed.
The newly founded Schulenburg baseball club played itself, and after eight innings the score was 68 to 42. The Weimar-Schulenburg sports rivalry was being founded as Weimar was itching to play, but the captain said to hold off until the 4th of July as they needed more practice.
An election was held for mayor, aldermen, and marshal. “There was little interest in the occasion” as the citizens were apparently satisfied with the incumbents: Henderson, Brenards, Rhumann, Wallace, Overbay, Perlitz, Upton, and Wolters. This would have been the second election of Schulenburg.
In 1877, remnants of the Wild West remaining as citizens on Mulberry Creek (near Praha) held a meeting and formed a “Committee of Safety” to combat the increase in rustling. After the meeting they had a shooting contest, and then a dance.
A meeting of citizens was held at Barings Hall, and it was decided to buy three acres of land at the edge of town, across from Bell’s House for a City Cemetery, Thirty dollars an acre was paid by donations.
Texas achieved independence forty-one years previously so a special Grand Excursion to the Alamo City train trip to celebrate San Jacinto Day was advertised. Passengers will bring “basket lunches to be spread and enjoyed at San Pedro Springs.” The train will depart Schulenburg at 7:15 a.m., arrive at San Antonio at 1 p.m. and leave at 7 p.m. Round trip ticket is $3.25. “The best order will be maintained at all hazards.”
Oh yeah, Schulenburg Brewery, Edward Coyle, Miss Gussie Jackson, Mrs. Lena Miller, Thomas Coleman, G. N. Edwards, Mrs. Josie Lojka, and Simon Miller had letters waiting for them at the post office, according to P. M. McKinnon.
Footprints Of Fayette
Fayette County is one of the most historic counties in Texas. In this weekly feature from the County Historical Commission, a rotating group of writers looks back at local history.