Wilson County Historical Society

Talk of Wilson County TX Historic Towns

by Barbara J. Wood

SCHOOLS

Lily Grove

The community of Lily Grove ... is located east of Stockdale along FM 1347 and CR 538. It lies between the communities of Denhawken and Pandora in the vicinity of what was once known as Rancho Grande, a dairy complex owned and operated by Mr. Will Fordtran.

Rancho Grande was a newer version of the complex once known as the Big Ranch. The dairy was a thriving concern during the late 1940's where milking machines and stateof-the-art sanitation practices were observed. A small grocery store was operated on the premises. Like many other small agricultural operations, this one did not survive the move into the age of technology.

In the state constitution drawn up in March of 1836, the Congress of the Republic of Texas passed a law setting up a system of free public schools, and in 1839 President Mirabeau B. Lamar gave three leagues of land for the purpose of setting up these schools. However, little progress was made until after Texas became a state of the Union. The new state constitution, adopted in 1845, again provided that a system of free schools be set up, but it wasn't until 1854 that money was actually available so that schools could be built. And again, was put on hold because of the Civil War. It was 1875 before schooling was offered to many rural areas.

There was a school in this community prior to the school which was called Lily Grove. This first school was located closer to the Ecleto Creek and was frequently flooded during heavy rains. For this reason, it was decided that the school should be re-located on higher ground. This decision was made by the families living in the community. Some of these families were Christi, Fridge, Ross, Dyal, Ware, Howell, Hemby, Russell, Patillo, Jackson, and Houston. Land for the new school was donated by John Houston, and the school was built by volunteer labor of the families of the community. Each day Sally Dyal would take food and water to the workers so she was given the honor of naming the new school. The school was completed in 1898, and she named it Lily Grove. The first teachers who came to teach at Lily Grove boarded with Sally and her husband, John Jasper Dyal. I don't have the names of these first teachers, but I do know that my great-aunt, Miss Mattie Jackson, taught there in 1926.

The community of Lily Grove never had a great deal going to mark its existence, but the community and the school made, for me, a childhood filled with precious memories, with the school assuming an importance far beyond what it actually commanded at the time. I first attended school at Lily Grove in 1936. At that time the building consisted of three rooms with a pot-bellied wood stove in the center of the room to furnish heat in the winter. The open windows were our only source of cooling in the warmer weather. We used outdoor toilets and all water was also outdoors. Playground equipment consisted of swings and see-saws, and most of our games required little or no equipment, other than bats and balls and a can to kick!

I remember the school as being the social gathering place for the entire community; for homemade ice cream suppers, dances, and plays put on by the students. As I mentioned earlier, the school was probably never as important in real life as it looms in my memories, but where else could a child experience the excitement of Red Rover, Kick the Can and Piggy Wants a Signal; where else the fun of playing the part of a Christmas Angel baked in a pie and wearing a dress that my Mother made for me of white crepe paper trimmed in glittering tinsel. My Mother made all our costumes for the many stage plays, Halloween parties, and tacky parties over the years---no small task in itself, but a gargantuan undertaking when you realize that she also made most all the clothing worn by the six girls and two boys in my family. Lily Grove School was closed in the early 1940's due to a lack of students. Schools were funded at that time based on ADA, average daily attendance, and when that attendance was too low, the funding just wasn't there. All students were bused into Stockdale to attend school there. The land was sold to Mr. Will Fordtran and is still owned by members of his family. The building was transported and rebuilt on the campus of Stockdale School---and all that remains to mark the location of the old school are the concrete steps where we used to play!!
Written by Dottie Bowden
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Courtesy/Wilson County Sesquicentennial 1860-2010

Photo Courtesy / Sheila Cantrell

Richter School House

RICHTER SCHOOL HOUSE ... In addition to the church on the Richter farm, a schoolhouse was built because education was valued, and the close proximity to farm families made it convenient. The schoolhouse was located off County Road 418 on property later owned by Fabian Richter (shown below) who was the son of Pete Richter and Veronica Skrobarczyk.

The one-room schoolhouse opened the world of academies in a familiar setting where students walked to school. Raised in nearby farmhouses by parents who spoke literary Polish or the Silesian dialect of their ancestors, the children became fluent in English. All that remains of Richter School are the steps which led into this country schoolhouse.
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Courtesy/ Allen Kosub

Stockdale School

STOCKDALE SCHOOL ... Laura Swiess shares, " According to the book on Stockdale by Birdie Lorenz ... there were three buildings built on the grounds where the 1935 building was (before it was torn down). The first was an L-shaped building that was wrecked by a storm in 1906. The second building was a large two-story structure with a room on the roof. There were four classrooms on the lower floor with halls running in both directions, one north to south and the other east to west. On the second floor the hall ran from north to south. The east side of the second story was one king room with a stage set in the south end. On the west side of this floor were two classrooms separated by a small room known as the library and Texas Girl's Club Room. The third story room was used by the Woodsmen of the World. When enrollment increased the auditorium on the second floor was turned into classrooms and a plunder room. A new auditorium was built on the east side of the building, connected to the main structure by a covered passageway. This second building was torn down to make way for the 1935 building which was recently demolished. So I would think the above building was located where the recently demolished building was."

Clato School

TWCTHT Readers, Dorothy & Larry Wiley, graciously shares photos of the Clato School ca.1898 near Union Valley Texas. Dorothy says, "I was sorting through some old family photos and found this 1898 photo. I divided the photo in three so faces could be identified. Garvin A. Wiley, my husband's grandfather, wrote the names on the back."

Earliest known Wilson County School

EARLIEST KNOWN 1903-1904 .... Wilson County Texas School Census ... COURTESY/ Mark Cameron

Stockdale School

Years ago, the Stockdale Star newspaper published the below photo contributed by Ruth Diana Krause. The black & white memory was originally shuttered in the early 1920's. The Stockdale school pupils were standing in front of an old Stockdale school building. The vintage photo belonged to Vivian Luker, mother of contributor, Laura Swiess. Miss Luker is on the top row third from right. Laura says, " Mother was born in 1917, so picture probably is from the early 20s." ( Laura thank you for your faithful great contibutions)
Laura Swiess

Poth High School Pep Squad & Cheerleaders - early 1950s or 1960s

POTH HIGH SCHOOL .... pep squad & cheerleaders. (The time line may be late 1950's or early 1960's) Evelyn Frank has so timely identified many of the Poth students: I'm thinking 1960 as the year.
Top row L-R: Evelyn Bednarz ? Gladys Bednarz, then 8th from right, Diane Kareni, Annie Stavinoha ? Mary Sanchez,
2nd row: 2nd from left Beth Bolf, then 7th from left Evelyn Chandler, Mary Tkadlec, Adlene Rehfeld, Lucille Traeger, ? on the next one, Vaughnell Treier and Verna Sue Treier
Cheer leaders are Carolyn Koether, Rose Lee Jiral, Virginia Treier, and Lynette Kolodziej
(I may not be right on some of these) Thank you Evelyn!

Floresville Elementary, third grade

THIRD GRADERS.... from Floresville Elementary smiling for their annual group photo. Are you one of these young folk?

Stockdale HS Basketball players

STOCKDALE TEXAS ... Basketball players from Stockdale High School (1954 Brahma)

Stockdale Chapter of Vocational Agriculture

STOCKDALE TEXAS ... Chapter of Vocational Agriculture photo from the early 1930s. John P Lorenz Jr and Winston Wayne Lorenz (graduates of 1931) are shown as well as Lloyd Luker (graduate of 1933). (Courtesy of Laura Swiess)

A gem of a vintage photo

A gem of a vintage photo has been shared by Laura Swiess. The Stockdale Texas High School photo came from her Aunt Myrtie Luker Cotter's family photo album. Laura only knows the three names which someone wrote on the bottom of the picture. The date of photo is unknown. Yet, Mrs. Cotter's brother and husband-to-be in the photo : Willie Luker (brother) who was born in 1906 and Everett Hayes Cotter who was born in 1904. (Ancil West, the sitting gentleman with glasses, was a principal of a small school in Stockdale, Texas.) {Myrtie and Everett married 18 Oct 1924 at the ages of 20 years}

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS TEXAS. ... 1951 Old Town School.

(L to R) Top Row: Teacher Mrs. Kathleen Williams, ?, Donnie McFarland, Bobby Dale Shanahan, ?, ?, Ballis Cowan
Middle Row: ?,?,?, Baker?,?,?, Tatum?,
First Row: Jimmy Valerio, Edna McClanahan, Madelyn Faye Mills, Jackie Tatum, Jimmy Baker, Jolene Garner

STOCKDALE WILSON COUNTY TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL

STOCKDALE WILSON COUNTY TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL ..... 1936 graduation class. William Hensley Coleman is number 14. (COURTESY / Marsha Coleman , daughter-in-law)

STOCKDALE WILSON COUNTY TEXAS

STOCKDALE WILSON COUNTY TEXAS .... Lauren Werley Lankford shares this vintage photo belonging to her cousin's grandmother. Emma Lou McMeans Milender posted this photo on her on page with this caption: "This is in Stockdale Tx. The Alm school off of 123. Vivian and Murleen Mc Means is in the picture 2nd row on left my cousins." I'm wondering if y'all can identify anyone else. Great photo ... priceless treasure!

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS TEXAS

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS TEXAS. ... 1951 Old Town School. It would be a joy to id all of these students. If you know someone or hey, it could be you, you recognize.... please comment below! Thanks!

(L to R) Top Row: Teacher Mrs. Kathleen Williams, ?, Donnie McFarland, Bobby Dale Shanahan, ?, ?, Ballis Cowan

Middle Row: ?,?,?, Baker?,?,?, Tatum?,

First Row: Valerio,? , Madelyn Faye Mills, Jackie Tatum, Jimmy Baker, Jolene Garner

Common School Districts

"They were called Common School Districts because they operated under a different set of funding and operating rules aside from the municipalities. These Common Districts were either self funded or received a little subsidy from the state and received no local tax money from the county (other than some money for books). All the school districts, Common (Rural) and Municipal, can be found in the county library and can be put on a thumb drive for anyone to view all the schools from 1903 up to about 1955. Students are listed by name for all the schools for these dates also. The information is free from the library for you to get. The beginning of the end of rural schools was set in motion by the Gilmer-Aikin Act of 1949." ....Mark Cameron

COMMON WILSON COUNTY TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS & TEACHERS 1938-1939 ...

Here is a list of some of the Common School Districts and their teachers for the 1938-39 school year. The list was provided by Professor J.E. Swift, the County Superintendent at the time.

No. 1.—FAIRVIEW—J. T. Ogletree, Mrs. Ellen B. Hayden, Mrs. Lois S. Davis, Miss Jack Youngblood, Sr. Mary Warden;

No. 2.—CANADA VERDE—Mrs. Patty Toman, Mrs. Josephine Ximenes;

No. 3.—CALAVERAS —Miss Bertha Tackitt, Miss Virginia Black;

No. 5.—SUNNYSIDE —Miss Cloma Luker, Miss Alberta Donaho;

No. 7.—KICASTER —Miss Stella Mae Bell, Miss Iris Steinle;

No. 10. —PULASKI —Walter Manka, Sr. Bartholomea Sikorska;

No. 16.—LILLY GROVE —Mrs. Orlena Luker, Mrs. Hazel Lane, Miss Louise Beaty;

No. 17. —UNION VALLEY—W. I. Marshall, Miss Doris Ridout;

No. 18. —PANDORA —Miss Effie Irvin, Mrs. Vada Clark, Mrs. Melva Mahan, Mrs. Aphne Pattillo;

No. 20.—LODI — Mrs. L. B. Wiseman, Mrs. E. C. Toscano, Mrs. Susie Trevino; Mrs. Bridget de la Zerda, Mrs. Maude Lee Fuller, Miss Stella de la Zerda, Waldo Ximenes;

No. 23.—KOSCIUSKO —Antone Zemanek, Miss Julia Ibrom, Sr. Anna Theresa Gibbons, Sr. Julia Lalor, Sr. Elizabeth Malloy, Sr. Mary Sweeney;

No. 24.—LABATT —Miss Georgie Keister;

No. 25.—PICOSA — Fausto Toscano, Mrs. Rosa Muniz Toscano;

No. 26.—CENTER POINT— Mrs. Signa Bundrick, Mis. Mabel Ewing;

No. 28.—CADDO—Mrs. Velda Sutherland;

No. 30.—WEHMANN—Mrs. Grace Archer, Mrs. Cleo Votaw;

No. 31.—PLEASANT VALLEY—R. J. Rose, Miss Dorothy Sikes;

No. 32. —WALLACE BRANCH—W. D. Bunker, Mrs. Pearl Smith Carr, Miss Sybil McGee; No. 33.— DILWORTH RANCH—Roy C. A. Butler, Miss Bernice Curry, Miss Opal Bush, Johnny Allbritton, Miss Jimmie B. Chaffin;

No. 36.—SWIFT— Mrs. Sallie Dorland, Miss Myrtle O'Neall;

No. 37.—ALUM —J. B. May, Miss Veda King, Miss Catherine Carroll;

No. 38.—EHLERS— Sydney Nieschwietz, Mrs. Sydney Nieschwietz;

No. 39.—THREE OAKS— Herman Engelking, Miss Ruby Linne, Miss Irene Linne;

No. 41.—RICHTER—Miss Crystal Hawk;

No. 42.—RIDOUT—Miss Ada Craighead, Miss Geraldine Lane;

No. 43.—DEWEES —Mrs. Ada Cale, Miss Rosemary Carnes, Miss Bessie Ferguson;

No. 44.—MIDWAY—Miss Nell Irvin, Miss Libbie McLane, Murray Finley;

No. 45.—DARILEK —V. A. Miculka, Miss Elsie Baumann;

No. 46.—WEBBVILLE —Mrs. Delilah Masters, Miss Edith Hayden;

No. 47.—TORDIA —Miss Evelyn Garner;

No. 48.—KASPER— Leissner Poth, Mrs. Alfreda Poth, Miss Johnnie Carnes;

No. 49.—HIERHOLZER —Victor Miculka, Mrs. Gwendolyn Hierholzer;

No. 50.—CAMP RANCH —R. E. Schlortt, Miss Laura Atkins;

No. 51.—JOHNSON —Mrs. Agnes Steinberg, Miss Lucille Bolf;

No. 52.—PLEASANT HILL—Mrs. Helen Greer;

No. 53.—MANCHACA—Frank Kasprzyk;

No. 54.—GRAYTOWN —Miss Annie Dial, Delbert Cox.

COURTESY/ Mark Cameron Community Schools of Wilson County Texas

The History of the Schools

The History of the Schools.... in Sutherland Springs reflected the expansion and ultimately the decline of the community. As the twentieth century began, materials were bought to build a military school in town, but apparently locals continued to send their children to public schools, if they went at all. School administrators expected as many as one hundred children to attend at Sutherland Springs that fall, but only thirty came because there was a delay in harvesting cotton. Ten years later, as the resort developed, four teachers lived in the community, and 123 children attended school according to the census records. That year a new building was completed for the Sutherland Springs Independent School District that could hold 150, and it filled. In September 1912 New Sutherland Springs hosted a five-day institute for all of the teachers in Wilson County, and this was repeated for three additional years. Proud community leaders dedicated a new high school in 1916, but that marked a watershed in school development for the town. In 1938, after almost a decade of depression, the remaining two-room schoolhouse in New Sutherland Springs closed and the students merged with those attending classes in a new two-story building on the old town site. This provided enough high school students to field a six-man football team in a new statewide system and a basketball team aswell. Sutherland Springs survived as a district through World War II, but the school burned in 1947. A consolidation of rural districts begun in 1949 under the Gilmer-Aiken Laws led to Sutherland Springs becoming a part of the Floresville Independent School District. The gymnasium built by the National Youth Administration, which had survived the 1947 fire, was remodeled as a community center in 1950 by the new Sutherland Springs Civic Club.

Blacks in Sutherland Springs, of course, had a different school history. Under the Texas Constitution of 1876, educational facilities had to be segregated. In Sutherland Springs, the few Mexican children attended the white school, but blacks had their own place. In January 1899, local leaders asked the legislature for $5,000 to construct a high school at Sutherland Springs for the black children of Wilson County. Texas had the highest black literacy rate and the greatest number of black high schools in the New South in 1900, but much remained to be done. Black illiteracy was still 38.2 percent, and the state actually had only nineteen black high schools. One of the latter was at Sutherland Springs, and as completed it stood two stories high and provided 2,400 square feet of instructional space. Encased in brick, it was described by one writer as the "handsomest building in our town." The principal was Jesse Wilson, who also allowed his place to be used as a church. When the white two-room school closed at New Sutherland Springs in 1938 and its pupils joined other white students in the new two-story building at old Sutherland Springs, where five teachers worked under the direction of superintendent W. T. Donaho, there was no similar facility there for black students. While the town officially had an accredited four-year high school forlacks at that time, it appears to have been a building with just one or two rooms. When public education was desegregated in Wilson County in 1955, the black school at Floresville that served that district was closed and its pupils merged with the white students. Of the 84 black students who thereby integrated into the local white schools, only two came from Sutherland Springs.

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COURTESY/ Sutherland Springs Texas Saratoga on the Cibolo

DILWORTH RANCH SCHOOL

... Did ya know......The community school of Denhawken is actually called Dilworth Ranch School? Their mascot was the Dragons and the school in the early 1900's turned out more tennis players than any other school in Texas. They had two tennis courts and ruled the HS tournaments back then. The Denhawken Dragons ruled the courts.You can see the rements of the tennis courts in this pic. Interesting point about the school...it still has the original chalk boards installed in 1908. Kids still write on it while "visiting". Poth is host of the Dilworth Plaza. (Courtesy of Wilson County Historian Mark Cameron)

Kasper School children

... in a vintage Wilson County Texas photograph, sad to say, without a date or names. The children seem to be pleased in having their photo taken for future generations to see. The straw hats on the boys explains the chores they more likely were responsible for farming families.

[Richard Wauson is the teacher]

Ehler's School

Twenty- years ago Harry Ehlers jotted down information from his daddy & Arthur Ehlers as he drove them around doing family research.

3 June '98

I picked up Dad and Arthur Ehlers and we drove to Hallettsville Tx to see if we could find additional genealogy information at the Lavaca Court House, City Library or any other source. I also hoped in talking to both to capture some of their memories.

At the Lavaca court house we managed to find marriage records (copies from the ledgers) of Gustov, Alfred, Edwin and Henry Ehlers. The ledger showed Edmund Ehlers instead of Edwin. When Arthur asked to have it corrected they found the original marriage certificate and gave the original to him...beautiful script writing on the certificate....It was correct with Edwin...we laughed and said it was good to see he was in fact legal.

We also found the death certificate of Gustov Ehlers showing his Mother as Amelia May. In talking to Arthur he indicated that her German maiden name was Mal...the tombstone at the Shiner cemetery giver her name as Amalia May. Other records at the courthouse showe her name as Ernestine Ehlers and Christine Ehlers....based on all I found I have to believe her name was Amalia Ernestine Mal when she married Heinrich Clarence Ehlers.

Next we went to the Hallettsville City Library where we found quite by accident a possible lead on Heinrich Ehlers. Arthur had taken care of Gustov before he died in 1946. Gustov said his father Heinrich never talked of where he came from. his mother or father or anything about his family. We found a ship log from the Bark Neptune which landed in Galveston TX on 13 June 1850 from Germany with a Heinrich Ehlerz age 25. The last name shows a "z" vs "s" but with the German / English translation...the proximity of the z to the s on the typewriter....and the fact is shows his age as 25 which matches the cemetery records....just might be the start of the Ehlers clan as we know it.

Next we went to the Shiner cemetery where he showed me the plot of his Mother's parents...Christian Friedrich Oltmanns and Barbara Elise Oltmanns. We looked at the plot of Heinrich's daughter Ida Ehlers who married a William Fehler and her three children who all died of typhoid fever within 18 days of each other...Bernhardt (2 Nov 1888-30 Dec 1904); Alma (6 Mar 1891-31 Dec 1904) and Ida (16 Aug 1886-16 Jan 1905). Arthur related the story of Heinrich's third daughter, whose name he could not remember, who got married in 1900 and was on her honeymoon in Galveston TX when the hurricane of 1900 hit and destroyed the town and killed some 6000 people...her body was never found as far as he knew. He did not know a lot about the other three Heinrich children Ben, William and Bertha.

We then went to the Shiner Brewery for a cold beer and some pictures behind the bar prompted some stories of Luis Ehlers...better know as Cigar Ehlers...not related. The lady at the bar said Luis grew his own tobacco and made cigars in a small factory which the city has moved and renovated. A second story by Arthur was of the Kaster Wire Company and still operating in Shiner. He indicated Gustov Ehlers and Mr. Kaster were in Gustov's barn on a cold winter day and needed something to put corn shucks in as they worked. They decided to make a wire basket (Scotty has one) and came up with a method to bend and wrist the wire to form these 2-3 bushel wire baskets. Gustov did not pursue but Kaster did and the factory is still in Shiner today and according to Dad they make mostly grocery shopping carts today.

Next we went to Wolton Museum in Shiner because Arthur said Gustov's old ox cart wooden yoke was there....donated by his son Henry. We found a wooden yoke at the museum but the curator did not know the source thereof...Arthur asked him to call someone to confirm its source (I took 2 pictures). Arthur said Gustov started a freight business out of Shiner hauling by ox cart goods from Indianola Tx to Austin Tx. His first trip took several months as he was hauling salt and the weight and wet weather and "boggs" in Lavaca county cause him to unload...carry....move the care and reload several times. He then went to hauling tobacco...lighter and more money in this freight. Not sure how long he did this business but per Dad and Arthur one has to watch very close to see an ox cart "move".

The reason Indianola was a Spanish Port...the start of the Chihuahua Trail which ran through Goliad and Helena and San Antonio into Mexico...because it was a natural deep-water port. I gathered this Chihuahua Trail was the same used by the Polish who came to Galveston and then to Indianola and then by Mexican ox cart to San Antonio and then back to Panna Maria and the same used by Santa Anna on his way to the Alamo and then on to his final defeat at Goliad. Per Dad and Arthur the port was destroyed...deep-water portion...by some hurricane prior to the one of 1942.

We stopped by Panna Maria on the way back and I talked to Louie about the Manka history. He indicated that there was only one Manka who came to Panna Maria during the settlement in the 1850s and it was in fact Frank Manka. He thought that Frank Jr. was born in Prussia and that John was born here but the 1880 census I have showed differently – both born in Prussia and their age likewise supports this. He thought there was a girl born to Frank Sr. also but could not remember her name. Both Frank and John each had 10 kids (5 girls & 5 boys each I think). He did not know much about Emanuel and Frances other than they also had 10 kids and that Frances was a Bonk before marring Esparza. He gave me the names of as many Mankas as he could remember but said since he worked so much back then he did not know or get to meet to many relatives.

Arthur related another story of how Gustov around 1900 along with his brother-in-law....both married Tauch girls...after their fields were planted took off on horse back looking for new land. As an aside he thought Gustov was not born in Shiner but in nearby High Hill TX in Austin County Tx. His brother-in-law was a Schoots (?) I think. They went from Harlingen in the valley up to Panhandle of Texas and decided on the land outside of Falls City. They like the open plains at the time with wild grass up to the mid section of the horses. He bought some 610 acres from a land broker out of new Braunfels Tx....part of the old Menchaca Ranch. Per Dad and Arthur the Menchaca Ranch was an original Spanish Land Grant...this was before the Mexico Independence and or course the Texas Independence in 1836....Arthur thought he paid around $12.00 per acre for the land. The old Alfred Ehlers house (plus corn crib) was built around 1903 by Gustov for Mrs. Bielefeld and her son and daughter (originally a Tauch girl). (See a side story at the end) In 1910 when Alfred and Meta Goesch got married they moved into the house and farmed the place. When Edwin and Mary Oltmanns got married in 1915 Alfred and Edwin split the farm along now Ehlers Lane. Arthur said they took the value of the land and the house and corn crib and based on that Alfred got 250 acres and Edwin got 354.2 acres. A few later Edwin sold 60 acres to a Mexican family...Graza's?

Arthur said his father started out as a engine mechanic (around 17 years old) doing water wells and water well drilling for a company which worked south Texas.

Arthur and Dad talked of the Ehlers School District #38...originally a one room school built around 1910. Arthur said Gustov donated the 2 acres site but Dad thought he donated one acre and sold the second. The community built the school so there were no loans and it was part of the Ehlers School District located in Wilson county. It was expanded to 2 rooms around 1922 and went to the 7th grade per Arthur and the 8th per Dad....Dad said he has his diploma showing he graduated from the 8th grade of Ehlers school. After the 7th/8th grade one went to Poth to finish the 11th grade and graduate from the local High School and then one could go to the county school....Floresville in Wilson County or Karnes City in Karnes County. The school was closed during WWII...around 1944 they think...and then moved to the Falls City Campus around 1960. Dad and Arthur tell of a plan in the 1930s by Poth to annex the Ehlers school district into the Porth district secretly for tax purposes. Sidney Nieschwietz got wind of the plan and got a petition together and went to Austin on the day Poth presented it and was able to stop it and have it become part of the Falls City school district....they were not sure how this worked since it was part of Wilson County and moved to Karnes County. They had two teachers who were paid by the State and supplemented by the community through a very small tax base. The road to Ehlers school was widened in 1935 and it took some 4 acres from his 250 acre farm down to 246 acres.

When Alfred died the farm was divided 82 acres each to Marvin, Lillian and Elvira....Gus and Walter received farms owned by Alfred near Orange Grove TX. Elvira gave her 82 acres to Gus (he got the homestead) and Marvin...41 acres each so Dad has 123 acres. There was a problem with the homestead and Dad's land so he gave Gus 2 acres and thus Dad has 121 acres and Gus has 43 acres and Hunter Andrews has 82 acres for a total of 246 acres. Arthur and Dad said there was an old cart trail through the Ehlers farm which went to San Antonio, Tx.

I asked Arthur how the Germans and Mexicans got along back then and he said, "We were both poor and trying to make a living and there was never any thought of race."

Arthur told a story of how the railroad in the 1880s was being built from San Antonio to Port Aransas and how a son of a Mr. Butler of Karnes City was killed in Helena the then county seat of Karnes County. According to some history I've read the people of Helena would not grant free right of way nor pay the price asked by the railroad to have the rail through their town but Karnes City would. According to Arthur after his son's death Mr. Butler by whatever means he got the railroad to change course...he said between Floresville and Poth at the "curve" the reason the railroad turns sharply to the right is because of Mr. Butler....it was to go straight down the now dirt road to Helena. Interesting side note is in talking to Claire Chestnutt the reason Prosper Nieschwietz and Irene Moczygemba moved from Panna Maria to Falls City to open their store was because of the railroad.

Mrs. Bielefeld was originally married to a Mr. Bell who did not get along with the three Tauch brothers. One day he made some comments about them and word got back to them and they went over and shot him in the doorway to his house. The murder was never solved but reportedly everyone knew who did it. She then married Mr. Bielefeld with the two Bell children and moved to the Ehlers farm. The daughter married a Mr. Erdmann and they had one son. One day Mr. Erdmann shot the son in the back with a shotgun as he ate breakfast and his wife (Bell daughter) as she ran from the house. He drug her back inside and sat her at the table then shot himself with the shotgun. They are buried in the Miller Cemetery which is some 5 miles east of the Hobson Tx Cemetery.

Harry Ehlers

(Courtesy of Wilson County Texas Historian, Mark Cameron. Mark is as well a TWCTHT writer/researcher staff member )

Pep Squad organized

PEP SQUAD ORGANIZED..... at Stockdale High School in early 1930's. Vivian Luker clipped the article from the newspaper and placed it in her scrapbook. Laura Swiess says," This is from my mother's scrapbook. The high school organized a pep squad. The date is sometime in the early 1930s. She graduated from high school in 1935."

Marcelina Wilson County Texas School

Marcelina Wilson County Texas School picture circa 1910. Miss Sadie Dennis was the teacher. Contributor Patty Flora Sitchler's grandmother, Jettie Lou Cale Tipton is in the picture - anyone else recognize a relative?

1934 Stockdale Senior Class

... this almost 90 year old newspaper clipping was found by Laura Swiess in her mother's (Vivian Luker) belongings. Laura says, " Since my mother graduated in 1935 and this clipping was in her book, I believe it is the 1934 class. It has Edith Smith who was born in 1916 and mother was born in 1917." Thank you Laura for sharing this great vintage photo!

1995 yearbook photo – La Vernia HS students

A photo that speaks of history repeating itself for several generations is a 1995 yearbook photo of La Vernia High School students. It is with pride & uniqueness when an elementary student tells his teacher ," My grandma, Mama and Uncle went to school here". It becomes a family tradition.

DESCENDANTS OF La VERNIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM 50 YEARS AGO. (1945)

FLORESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 1940

..... Graduating Class. Picture taken from Floresville Chronicle Journal May 24, 1940.

The newspaper was saved by Doris Tipton one of the 26 proud graduates. Doris is in the middle row, second from right.

COURTESY/ Patty Flora Sitchler Doris Tipton Flora is Patty's mama.

Dilworth Ranch (Denhawken)

... Denhawken is located in Wilson County Texas fourteen miles east of Floresville at the junction of State Highway 119 and Farm to Market Road 1347. The students are smiling proudly for the photographer in front of the old Dilworth School house (Denhawken). COURTESY/ Terry Dibrell

FLORESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 1940

FLORESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 1940..... graduating class Valedictorian and Salutatorian. Muriel Reese had the honors of earning Valedictorian and Robert Mitchell earned Salutatorian.

(Patty Flora Sitchler's mama , Doris Tipton, is a graduate. She has had this newspaper since May 24, 1940 packed away. Mrs. Flora passed away at age 97. ) More articles to come ..... Thanks Patty!

Stockdale Brahma Club

Laura Swiess shares a newspaper article about the 1929-1930 Stockdale High Brahma club.

Kimberly Hineman shares the information below the picture, "The above picture represents 43 of the 54 members of the Stockdale bremer club. The membership of the club being composed of the Letterman in all branches of Athletics dating from the school year 1928 no 1929 through 1930. This club was organized in May 1930 at the annual athletic banquet with Manuel teague as President Johnny Lang vice president Emma pathareesecretary and ivalee mcmean's treasurer.

Stockdale high School Athletics are strictly on an eligibility basis and in association with the interscholastic League. An athletic association is the leading organization behind Athletics with an athletic council as the executive power to carry out the athletic program. Thus relieving the coach of some of the duties. The council now is composed of w. E. Driscoll president AE Hoke secretary treasurer and oj Weber tw Sutherland John e. Wheeler Jamie Hicks William King members. The picture reading from left to right shows the following members of the club: front row: Thelma Allen, Ina Smith, Bernice fathery, Mary Beulah Ellison, Jewel Sutherland, Sierra mcmeans, Vita wright, Lily Bell heathcock, Polly Martin, Madeline mcravite.

Second row: superintendent we e Driscoll, e. M. Boots, Wilma McBride, Audrey young, Emma patherree, Mrs WR Driscoll, Francis Denmark, Ruth Denning, Irene McGee, a. E. Hoke, Marshall Jordan.

Third row: Roland Reed, John wheeler Jr, brownie bird and Wilson parks. Fourth row: shockers Ellison, Jim bird, Lloyd luker, Carl Reese, Lester Lester #s, Manuel teague, buster Martin,.

Fifth row: Walter Sutherland, Lester Stout, Kenneth kidwell, Elton Homan, Herbert Sutherland. Top row: Pat Stout, Ted Aiken, Howard low Ware, Lowell Denning, Winston laurenz, Clarence Roberts. Those 11 members not in the picture are: HH Kilgore, Elise carrier Loki, Iva Lee, Annie Abrams, Dolores Abrams, Winifred Chandler, Walton click, Clayton hathcock, Johnny Lang, Woodrow bird, Cornelius McGee. Are given letters and awarded in football, basketball, track and tennis. Sport will not earn an award. Girls earn letters in volleyball and tennis .... "

Teacherages in Wilson County

What are the only two known remaining Teacherages in Wilson County? The only known two teacherages are in the Fairview area. Teacherages are what we would consider the common day parsonages, where teachers were offered residence for their teacher offerings.

Neshyba House...was once a teacherage. It was the teacherage of Rabbit Hill School on the current Ray Dairy Farm.

Fairview School had a teacherage on the Hernandez land across the road from the school. The very first school was on the Hernandez land before 1890 but burned to the ground and a subsequent school was built across the road.

Both of these schools and associated teacherages have a deep history in the area they served.

If there are more teacheages still remaining in Wilson County, this author, Mark Cameron, would certainly enjoy knowing about them.

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Info & Request made by Wilson County Historian, Mark Cameron

FLORESVILLE TEXAS.... High School 1953

FLORESVILLE TEXAS.... High School 1953 .... look closely at the building ... there is something there unexplainable .... do you see it? The old high school was built well before the rise of the Nazi regime. The architects designed the swastika into the high school as meaning to be "good fortune" and "well-being" to the students. However, the symbol being related to the Nazi regime lead to the demolition of the building. (Photo courtesy of Mark Cameron)

1975 La Vernia High School seniors

Mary Carol Meyer Mathews came across a May 1975 "Wilson County News & Shopper" featuring the 1975 La Vernia High School Seniors. It's interesting to read names of businesses that shared congratulatory wishes ... most no longer exist.

Stockdale High School 1907

Stockdale, Wilson County, Texas .... 1907 Stockdale High School ...

Early Wilson County Texas Schools

Prior to the consolidation of rural schools into larger municipal school districts in the 1950's and 1960's, local communities sponsored their own rural community schools. These rural community schools were usually one or two room wooden school buildings built by the local community in which it was to serve. According to local historical records, in 1867 Wilson County had 3 schools and by 1900 had 63 public schools. The numbers grew from there. All in all, the total number of community schools totaled more than 130 within the county over time. Some schools just shut down or were moved to create another school or they were merged into other schools. Schools had to be within walking or horseback distance for the children to get to. According to state law that distance between schools had to be no more than 3 miles apart. This caused a growth spurt of schools within the county in the early 1900's. Many of these schools, which are a rich part of Wilson County's history, have disappeared. Amazingly, some do remain standing.

Land on which these schools were built was privately owned and donated for use, as schools, by the landowners, and often named after the landowner. The old school buildings, no longer in use due to municipal consolidation, were abandoned or torn down.

Many of these community schools were the schoolhouse for both Anglo and African American students. Other schools were completely segregated. With emancipation, a large population of African freedmen dispersed throughout the area creating small communities called Colonies. These Colonies were established during the 1870s and 1880s as freedmen acquired enough money to purchase land and build houses. These freedmen also built churches and schools do support their local communities. Wilson County has 8 freedmen Colonies and include: Cruse (Crew's) Colony, Doisedo Colony, Floresville Colony (Dunbar), Grass Pond Colony, Hay's Colony, Montgomery Colony, Nockenut Colony, and Steven's Colony (Listed as Stevenson Colony in 1903-04 Wilson County school census).

The consolidation of the county community schools was mandated by the passing of the Gilmer-Aikin Law in 1949. The statute made Texas public schools more efficient and better funded in order to provide better educational opportunities for Texas children. The effects of the statute were evident immediately, as 4,500 school districts were consolidated into 2,900 more efficient administrative units. State equalization funding supplemented local taxes. Further, higher salaries attracted teachers to the classroom and encouraged the study of education among prospective teachers. School staffs were augmented by education specialists. State funding became dependent on attendance, thus providing an incentive to increase attendance. This was the beginning of the end for rural community schools.

Land over the years has been bought and sold, and plowed. Some of the communities or small towns failed and disappeared. Traces of many of these schools cannot be found other than old newspaper articles and old maps. Photographs and information on many of these schools is almost non-existent, other than through stories and tales of local residents. Only the names of some of these rural community schools survive, through old documents and stories, and sadly, some may be gone from memory forever.

To the fullest extent possible, extensive research was conducted to ensure as many of the rural community schools would be documented for future generations. In this research, we list the rural community schools known, provide as close a location as possible, and if available, provide photos, information, or tales, for each. No specific time period is emphasized. Schools ranging from the settling of Texas in the early 1800's to the consolidation in the 1950's and 1960's, are documented here (less the municipal schools of Sacred Heart, Floresville, Poth, LaVernia, and Stockdale. Each of these municipal school districts are still in use and have their own individual stories).

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COURTESY/ Historian Mark Cameron

Floresville School building

Mark Cameron adds, "The location of this building was where the playground for the elementary school was. This area is now part of the courthouse annex property. This building was not as big as you may think because the lower floor was a basement with showers. A larger building with an auditorium was built across the street and is the one most people that went to Floresville, call the Intermediate School building."

A brief history of the La Vernia schools

View original article at https://www.lavernianews.com/articles/a-brief-history-of-the-la-vernia-schools/

La Vernia News, September 04, 2019
By La Vernia Historical Association

As a new school year gets into full swing, the La Vernia Historical Association gives us a glimpse into public education through the years in our community.

In 1853, our community was originally named Post Oak. In 1859, the U.S. Post Office discovered that a town already had that name, so it was changed to Lavernia. The spelling is traditionally accepted as Lavernia, LaVernia, or La Vernia. In 1860, Wilson County was established.

The early settlers of La Vernia were very well educated. According to local historians Allen and Regina Kosub, a school referred to as the Cibolo School existed near La Vernia in the 1850s. Also in the 1850s, the original Concrete School was built, but it was not in La Vernia. It was two miles north of La Vernia on F.M. 775 in the area of Concrete Cemetery, across from what is now the Ross and Mary Scull Circle N Dairy. The area was referred to first as Bethesda and later, Concrete. In 1858, an old concrete building on the site was used as a school and meeting hall for the Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians, as stated in the Deed Records of Guadalupe County. Around 1867, the original Concrete School building burned down. It was rebuilt some time later in a nearby location and was in use until the 1950s, according to Bobby Brietzke, who attended the school.

In 1870, a "Lavernia Male and Female Academy" was mentioned in the San Antonio Herald and probably referred to the Brahan Masonic Lodge in La Vernia, where classes were often held on the first floor.

In later years, there were several small schools in the La Vernia area, such as New Hope, Elm Creek, Pleasant Hill, Sutherland Springs, and Wannamaker. As these small schools closed, many of their students then attended school in La Vernia.

In the 1920s, there were two wooden school buildings located on River Street in La Vernia. One was a single-story building for grades 1 and 2. The other was a two-story building for grades 3 thru 11.

The story of the La Vernia schools continued as the Great Depression was beginning in 1929.

The late E.O. "Junior" Koepp, in a conversation with La Vernia Heritage Museum Director Susan Duelm Richter, spoke of how his father, E.O. Koepp Sr., strongly urged the La Vernia community to hold a bond election and build a new school. The Great Depression had just begun. This bond issue was in the amount of $30,000 and split the community dramatically. Business owners reportedly lost income when customers disagreed with their support of the new school plans. Nevertheless, the bond issue for $30,000 passed, and in 1930 the first brick building for the La Vernia Public School was built. The school was described in a San Antonio Express morning edition article of January 25, 1931, as a "brick and hollow tile construction, all modern, with eight rooms and auditorium, indoor toilets and electric lights. J. C. Driskill is superintendent of the school, which has six teachers."

Junior Koepp further stated that the architect for the La Vernia School building was the same one who had designed both the Stockdale School and the Koepp Chevrolet building that was located at that time on Chihuahua Street in La Vernia.

n a 1937 booklet published in Wilson County titled The Combine Directory of Wilson County, Texas (pages 19–23), it states that the "Lavernia School is a nice brick building. The faculty numbers 10 teachers."

La Vernia's very own local legend, Elsie Witte Ferry, the popular cashier at Witte's Restaurant, was among the first students to attend the brand-new La Vernia school when it was completed in 1931. She graduated in 1942. An enlarged photo of the building from that first year with all the students standing in front of it, including Elsie Witte Ferry as a young student, is on display at the La Vernia Heritage Museum, along with much more information about the schools.

Today, this brick-and-tile school building, constructed in 1930, is still in use by the La Vernia Independent School District. It is located on the La Vernia Junior High campus across from the historic Brahan Masonic Lodge on D.L. Vest Street. The school is one of the few remaining historical structures in La Vernia today.

Polish School Censuses – Pulaski and St. Anna

"While doing research in the Wilson County Courthouse recently, we came across these records of Polish school censuses and thought you might be interested. The year of the record is noted in the caption. The schools are Pulaski and St.Anna. Let us know if you find an ancestor!" from Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation. COURTESY/ Brandon Darr administrator History of Kosciusko, Texas FB page. ( Elaine Mazurek Stephens adds that these records were located by the La Vernia Historical Association, in Wilson County School Census records held at the Wilson County Courthouse, on August 25,2022, then posted on Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation. The quotations are those of the LVHA.)

Denhawken

The blackland area in eastern Wilson County, known in earlier days as the Dilworth Ranch, was eagerly being purchased by foreign immigrants at the turn of the 19th century. Although this land at the time was covered with natural forage of brush, cactus, and mesquite, settlers were sending letters back to their homelands telling of the beauty and promise of the land. Most of the new comers were from mid-European countries, many being of German descent.

The Denhawken Community received its' name from portions of sur names of three families who were among the first settlers of the area. Three letters from each of the names of Denmark (Den), Hawk (haw), and Steenken (ken) made up the name of the community that was formed in the early 1900's (mostly thought to be 1904).

The area inhabited by those who came for the purpose of farming and agricultural operations. It took knowledge and skills to farm this rich heavy dark soil. In those early years the community was heavily populated. The bustling new community had three stores, two gins, a blacksmith shop, a Lutheran church, a public school, and a beer joint. Among the names of owners of the general country store were Johnson, Bonner, and Hawk. The blacksmith shop was owned and operated by Bennie Linnstaeder. Eggermeyer, Bonner, Poth, and Roberson were names of owners of the gins.

Most of the Denhawken children worked in the fields at times and nearly all picked cotton. From reading articles of the past regarding cotton gins, it stated that at one time Denhawken was known for having more cotton ginned in the area than was being ginned in the entire state of Texas!

The school in Denhawken was built somewhere between 1900 and 1908. It was named Dilworth Ranch as the land was donated by a Mr. Dilworth from a portion of his ranch. The mascot for the school was the "Dragon." Many speak of their schools as a one or two room school, but Dilworth Ranch had five large rooms in addition to a library and a study area, typing room, book room, Superintendent's office and a kitchen area.

The first teacher was Lela Hawk Culpepper. In later years the school had many teachers, some who also served as coaches. The Dilworth Ranch Dragons were known throughout the county for the High School girls volleyball

teams, the boys baseball teams, and the great tennis players both in Jr. High and High School. The school had both sand and concrete tennis courts and it was rumored that first graders went to school with a dictionary in one hand and

a tennis racket in the other.

The school building also served as the place for church worship services for many years. On January 1, 1908, the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed with the pastor being Reverend Julius Schroeder. In the early years, all services were conducted in German, the native language of the members. After several years, both German and English services were held. A church building was erected by its' members in 1939 and has always had services every Sunday. Currently the church has approximately 120 members and is being served by Dr. Norman Beck, the Poelman professor of Theology at Texas Lutheran University.

The school building also served as the dance hall for the community. Dances were held at least once a month. Among the bands that provided the music were Adolph Hofner and the Texas playboys, The Texas Top Hands and locamusicians such as the Weldon Freeman and family band and the Kosciusko Playboys. There were always large crowds and the families would bring their children and at break time the children were allowed to run and slide on the slick dance floors.

The beer joint was owned by Henry Peters and operated by King Jackson and Joe Hawk. It closed and ironically was moved away in 1948 - one day before Mr. Peters passed away. A portion of his farm was given by Wilhelm Peters for a cemetery. The Denhawken Cemetery was established around 1906/1907.

Denhawken was always a very friendly, close-knit community.

Many 42 (dominoe) parties were held there, with all politicians coming out when they were running for offices.Original settlers who came to make their homes there were the Hawks, Steenkens, Stahls, Peters, Wehmeyers, Bohmans, Oltmanns, Lambecks, and Hassmanns. All of the above mentioned or their descendants still own properties in the community and are very proud to call Denhawken home.

Written by Ella May Calloway for the Wilson County Sesquicentennial 1860-2010 book.

STEVEN'S SCHOOL

The following information is from an interview between Mark Cameron and JC Hierholzer on 8-17-16. Photos are property of the JC Hierholzer collection.

Steven's school was formed from two nearby schools. Webbville school was moved first to the intersection of Hwy 97 and FM 2505. A year later Darilek School was moved from FM 3161 to the same location to finalize the completion of Steven' School. (See maps for school's locations)

When the Steven's School was shut down due to the Gilmer-Akins Act of 1949, the Darilek building was moved to Poth and the Webbville building was moved to the Perry Dairy in Pleasanton.

(Courtesy of Wilson County Texas Historian & TWCTHT Staff Researcher, Mark Cameron)

DENHAWKEN TEXAS SCHOOL

The first schooling for the children of newly established Denhawken Texas where first held in a resident's farm house. Later, the community established a school in 1908. Originally the school was called Dilworth Ranch and the mascot was "The Dragon". This two-room school house was soon enlarged for the increase of students. When the school was enlarged they also added a kitchen so the children could eat at school, rather than walk home. The staff included was Mrs. Stahl principal, three school teachers and a cook Anita Lambeck. One teacher was named Obara Hogla.

Dilworth School was well known for turning out some of the best tennis players. Behind the school are the original tennis courts that is today overgrown and hard to find but residents say that it was made out of cement and was large enough for one to two games at a time.

In 1954, the school was joined with the Stockdale Independent School District. The school is still standing today and is owned by the Denhawken Community Club.

[Courtesy of Historian writer, Mark Cameron]

Pulaski School, Kosciusko, Texas

Located outside Falls City in Wilson County..... reader Cheryl Schwartz Hoffman shares photos she made in 2019 driving around.

The photos ARE of Pulaski School after is was relocated from the creek location and moved to where St Peter School was. Pulaski merged 3 schools together at the site of St Peter....St Peter, Menchaca, and Pulaski.

What happened to all the rural community schools that once populated the countryside in Wilson County?

Prior to the consolidation of rural schools into larger municipal school districts in the 1950's and 1960's, local communities sponsored their own rural community schools. These rural community schools were usually one or two room wooden school buildings built by the local community in which it was to serve. According to local historical records, in 1867 Wilson County had 3 schools and by 1900 had 63 public schools. The number of rural schools grew from there. All in all, the total number of community schools totaled more than 130 within the county from the mid 1800s to the 1960s. Some schools just shut down or were moved to create another school or they were merged into other schools. According to school census records of 1910, the largest of all the rural schools was Fairview with a student population of 625.

Schools had to be within walking or horseback distance for the children to get to. According to state law that distance between schools had to be no more than 3 miles apart. This caused a growth spurt of schools within the county in the early 1900's. Many of these schools, which are a rich part of Wilson County's history, have disappeared. Amazingly, some do remain standing.

[Courtesy of Historian writer Mark Cameron]

Stockdale, Texas School House

STOCKDALE TEXAS SCHOOL HOUSE .... the photo was taken prior to 1923 in Stockdale, Wilson County, Texas. TWCTHT is interested in locating the area where the school was built as well as details about the school. (This priceless photo COURTESY/ Liz Wheeler Lester )

Stockdale High School

Stockdale High School, Wilson County Texas...... Postcard undated...... Jana Wells adds, "The older brick high school (that's still there) was built in 1931. So the school in the picture was used prior to 1934.) COURTESY/ Texas School History posted by Dan Whatly.

Floresville Texas High School Class of 1953

The Floresville High School class of 1953 celebrates their 50th reunion in Seguin Sept. 27, 2003. Attending were (back, from left) James Cochran, Johnny Dunn, Willie Ramirez, Manuel Brister, William Fox, Leon Curtis, Walter Luttrell, Joe Gomez, Carl Eschenburg, (front) Ada (Robles) Sandoval, Feliz (Arriola) George, Sarita Jimenez, Eloy Villa, Berta Jean (Blake) Pilgrim, Esther (Musquez) Barlow-Elliot, Alice (Castro) Estrada, and Mary (Solis) Sutton. (Courtesy photo)

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COURTESY / Wilson County News, October 22, 2003

Remembering the good old days

October 17, 2012
Wilson County News
By Eloy Villa

On Sept. 20, nine members of the Floresville High School class of 1953 and their spouses held a reunion at Jack’s Café in Floresville. The class of 1953 originally numbered 41 graduates, but only half that number are alive today.

Class members and spouses in attendance included Ada (Robles) Sandoval, John and Melba Dunn, Sarita Jimenez, and Willie and Katy Ramirez, all of Floresville, Berta Jean (Blake) and Dick Pilgrim of Seguin, Leona (Risley) and Joe Whitson of Alice, Felicita (Arriola) and Robert George and Manuel Brister of San Antonio, and Eloy and Jewell Villa of Williamsburg, Va.

Floresville was quite different in 1953. The high school was located on Third Street in what is now considered the “historic” district. In 1953 we knew the area as downtown. Frank Vela’s saddle shop was located in the building now occupied by the Wilson County News. And down the street the Floresville Chronicle-Journal, established in 1877, was the town’s newspaper and Sam Fore Jr. was the owner/publisher. The Chronicle-Journal offices contained a wealth of information about the history of Floresville. Across the street from Vela’s saddle shop was I. D. Flores Drugstore in what is now the Trail Rider’s Steakhouse. Lieberman’s Dry Goods was located next door to Flores’s drugstore. The Wilson County Courthouse was a functioning courthouse and it included county offices. The building next to the courthouse served as the home of the Wilson County sheriff and it also included the jail. The Arcadia Theater was a major source of entertainment for the citizens of Floresville.

In 1953 the high school had approximately 245 students and the gymnasium was very new. The graduation ceremony for the class of 1953 was held in the gymnasium. The senior prom was also held in the gymnasium.

The football team was undefeated and were District 28-A champions, outscoring their opponents 395-63 that season. Two members of the class of 1953 attending the reunion, John Dunn and Willie Ramirez, were on the All-District and the State Honorable Mention squads. On the track squad, John Dunn received second-place honors in the high jump at Regionals and qualified for the State meet. Carl Eschenburg, now deceased, was a former mayor of Floresville.

Floresville was a great place to live in 1953. And even though most of us have moved to other places, it is still a great place to visit. It always feels good to come back and remember the good old days.
Eloy Villa is a graduate of Floresville High School and a proud member of the class of 1953.

Eloy Villa a graduate of Floresville High School and a proud member of the class of 1953.

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Photo Caption: Members of the Floresville High School class of 1953 and their spouses celebrate at Jack's Café.

[Even though most of us have moved to other places, it is still a great place to visit. It always feels good to come back and remember the good old days.]

Floresville Tigers Bi-District game 1946

This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Refugio County Newspaper Collection and was provided by the Dennis M. O'Connor Public Library to The Portal to Texas History.

La Vernia High School 1930

Loretta-Kuehler Doege recently came across this old photo of the La Vernia Texas High School built in 1930. {Thanks Loretta for sharing with TWCTHT}

Sutherland Springs School Site