"German Texas"
East from Austin to Houston

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Leave the only life you've ever known, simply on a "promise" of better economic opportunities and religious freedoms, board a swaying ship with your family and spend months at sea, dock in the rustic port of Galveston or Indianola, and travel by oxcart or wagon to a country infested with scorpions, rattlesnakes, thorny prickly pear, and marauding Indians, then fight floods, drouths, and other perils to build a crude home and break the soil for garden crops, and you might have some kind of idea of the struggles that the German and Czech settlers endured as they settled the region between present day Austin and Houston. But, they brought with them a rustic pride, determination, and endurance that has lasted over 150 years and created a region of the state of Texas that is both beautiful and continues to be influenced by their heritage they brought with them. For lack of another term, we'll simply call the region German Texas.

 

 

The towns of LaGrange, Elgin, Giddings, Serbia, Schulenburg, Halletsville, Eagle Lake, Weimar, and Columbus lie between the Brazos and Colorado Rivers and are surrounded by Live Oak Trees, well-kept farmsteads and ranches, and some of the most quaint and beautiful churches in the state. Go in the springtime and your breath will be taken away by the beautiful wildflowers strewn across the countryside across fields, hills, and in the creek bottoms.....Indian Paintbrushes, Bluebonnets, and Phlox in beautiful hues of blue, yellow, pink, red, and orange. And, stop in almost any town or village and the sausages, BBQed meats, kraut, seasoned vegetables, breads, puddings and German beer reflect the ethnic culture from the homelands the early immigrants left and have perfected over time. It's a trip sure to provide photographic opportunities, mouthwatering ethnic cuisine and a history of how our state was formed. You won't want to miss any of the towns, as you make your way across the rolling countryside!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The names on the tombstones and mailboxes are...Ludwig, Dittrich, Kainer, Groth, Urbantke, Stichler, Krischke, Warnken, Rabe, Guettermann, Hengst, Gabler and a "host of other letters jumbled together," reflecting the deep German roots of those who still inhabit the region.

The town of Giddings has it's own quaint charm with antique shopping, great food, and friendly people, as it is anchored by the beautiful Lee County Courthouse and a host of historic homes and businesses. Once a cotton and peanut driven economy, the town now serves as a ranching center for the beautiful beef cattle that graze the fertile bottoms and hillsides.

 

Lee County Courthouse, Giddings, Texas

 

 

 

Travel down the road to LaGrange, past grazing cattle, spring plowed fields, and beautiful farmsteads and ranches and your sure to want to stop at Monument Hill, a beautifully and naturally landscaped "mountain" that beckons exploring, at the Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery Historic State Park. Overlooking the Colorado River, the "hill" is the perfect place to "stretch your legs" and capture some of the area's grandeur, amidst beautiful wildflowers and breathtaking scenery. You can only imagine how formidable some of the natural areas were for the settlers who came and carved the countryside after fighting off the Mexican Government and Indians.

 

 

 

 

The Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center is located at LaGrange.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow the Bluebonnets and other wildflowers on down the road to Schulenburg, a town with its charming "Painted Churches of Fayette County" and the nearby town of Shiner, famous for its Shiner Beer, that celebrated a centennial mark in 2009. The "painted" churches are a series of historic churches that reflect the faux-finished interiors painted by itinerant artists who came from San Antonio and other points and left their beautiful gold-leafed columns, ceiling murals, and creative talents, along with beautiful stained glass windows. On the "official" tour of churches are: The High Hill St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. John the Baptist Church of Ammannsville, Saints Cyril and Methodius Church in the Dubina Community, and St. Mary's Church in the Praha Community, all surrounding Schulenburg. Additional churches are available in the area to tour and photograph, in almost any small community.

And, after all the touring, you're certain to be hungry, so make plans to stop at the Oakridge Smokehouse for all those delightful dishes, while eating in a quaint setting, surrounded by baked goods, jams, jellies, and painted murals on the walls. You'll mark the place as a "must stop" anytime you're in that part of Texas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A beautiful ending to a tour of the German region of Texas.

 

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