* Official TEXAS Forum - PHOTO Thread * (San Antonio, Victoria: middle-class, hotel, house)

[elnina]

Castroville, TX

Castroville was established in 1844 by Henri Castro, an empresario of the Republic of Texas, who brought several dozen European families to the area from Alsace and adjoining Baden to populate his land grant along the Medina River 20 miles west of San Antonio. In Castroville's first century, a visitor would be more likely to hear Alsatian — a soft, French-flecked dialect of German — than English spoken in the town's homes, stores and taverns.

St. Louis Catholic Parish was created on September 12, 1844 when Texas was a republic; it was one of the first ten parishes created in Texas. First Mass was celebrated in this church by Father Richard on Aug. 25, 1870, Feast Day of St. Louis, Patron of the Parish.
St. Louis Day, August 25th has been celebrated continuously since the founding of the parish and today has grown to one of the best-known parish celebrations in South Texas.











Sanctuarium



Stained glass in church windows

[elnina]

Some of the old houses







Moye Convent, Castroville, Texas - in 1870 first public school of Castroville, then used from 1915 - 1917 as a seminary for priests exiled from Mexico. Later became Moye Military Academy, a boarding school for boys from 1938 through 1959.
In 1985 it became Moye Center, a place for renewal and retreats.

[elnina]

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, grounded by German settlers, it was established in 1852 and incorporated in Texas.
Pastor Oefinger held Castroville's first public school classes in the Lutheran church building in 1857.
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church remains an active ministry within the community, following the example set forth by the members' ancestors throughout the church's history.



More old houses:

[elnina]

A short visit to New Braunfels, TX

New Braunfels was founded in 1845 by German settlers. It is reported that in 1850 New Braunfels was the fourth largest town in Texas. Many German names can be seen on the billboards and street names throughout the city. Every fall the city hosts Wurstfest which is one of the largest German festivals in America. Some of the best antique shopping can be enjoyed year around.

The Comal County Courthouse, built 1898 in its beautiful Romanesque revival style, stands across from the Main Plaza. The bell tower still announces the hour to the area.





Brauntex Theatre - Live Theatre



The Main Plaza was built in 1845. Then the Fountain was added in 1895 to celebrate the 50th anniversary and the Bandstand was added in 1905.





Hotel Faust - sits a four-story structure that holds the dubious reputation as Texas’ most haunted hotels. During the war, the hotel gained yet another reputation, this time as the honeymoon capitol of Texas.





First Protestant Church

[elnina]

San Antonio Street

[elnina]

Antiques Shops

[elnina]

Historical Architecture:

[elnina]

Murals:

















Opera house - someone's wedding reception

[elnina]

Odds and ends:













German restaurant and my dinner:









The End

[elnina]

This weekend I had a huge craving for a great BBQ. One of the best places to go is Luling, Texas

Once known as "the toughest town in Texas", Luling was established in 1874 as the far western stop of the Sunset Branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad.
The town is also known throughout the region as an agriculture center with cotton, corn, and turkeys as its principal products.

All that changed when in 1922 Edgar B. Davis' Rafael Rios I blew in, opening an oilfield 12 miles long and 2 miles wide, that became a part of one of the most significant fields discovered in the Southwest.

Luling is renowned for its barbecue, rich oil history, decorated pump jacks, fresh produce and plants, abundant watermelons, and Texas' first inland canoe paddling trail on the San Marcos River.
Very friendly folks there!!

One of the many fun decorated ( working ) oil pump jacks:







E. Davis Street ( The Main Street )





Central Texas Oil Patch Museum was established in the historic Walker Brothers building located in the heart of the downtown business district.
Build in 1885, it was a mercantile store, a place where cotton was financed and traded. This became a centerpiece of Luling's social life.



And here is the famous BBQ place:



While waiting in a endless, but fast pacing line ...



... spotted a general in a Confederate costume, he said he was related to Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels. We had some interesting chat about the local history



The pit area is enclosed to contain smoke



Delicious serving of beef brisket, pork ribs and sausage:



and a Shiner Bock from a local brewery



Yum!!



Short trip to wash hands revealed some local wisdom TDCOM (Toilet Door Communication, concept well described here: Toilet Door Communication - Uncyclopedia, the content-free encyclopedia )




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