September 11, 1914
School Building Disinfected
By the use of 8 oz. Potassium Permanganate and 1 pt. Of Formaldhyde (sic) to each room well closed and remaining so for 24 hours is an absolute guarantee of the perfect sanitation of the entire building, so have no fear of an infectious school house, and let's have a full school Monday at 8:45 a.m. Sept. 14th. Every person required to use their own drinking cup. First day spent in classification.
Signed
Board of TrusteesWeimar Mercury
Transcribed by Judy Talkington***** July 23, 1915
Weete Hotel Sold On last Saturday Dr. Sigler sold the Weete hotel to Prof. J. H. Naff of Goliad county, who with his family will move to Weimar about the first of August and open up a first class hotel in this building. Mr. Naff has been teaching school at Berclair the past session.
Weimar Mercury
***** July 23, 1915
Dr. C. E. Duve's new residence is nearing completion, and bids fair to be of the handsomest and most complete to be found in this section. The residence will be steam heated which will be quite an innovation for this section....
Weimar Mercury, page 1
***** July 16, 1915
J. K. Hancock, wife and childrlen and C. C. Brunson of Dayton, Texas, came in Thursday last and are temporarily occupying a portion of the South Breeze boarding house. Mr. Hancock is the tinner now employed by Walker & Shortt.
Weimar Mercury, page 1
***** February 21, 1913
OAKLAND NEWS NOTES Otto Strunk turned one of his horses loose in his field one day last week, several days passed and the horse never came home for his feed, so Otto went to look for same but failed to find him, he went the second time and no horse could be found, so when his brother George came home he told him his horse was gone. George asked him if he looked in the well in the field and he told him he hadn't, so they went to the well and sure enough they found him in the well dead. Don't know how long he'd been there. [The well will be covered now after the child has fallen in.--Ed.]
The Weimar Mercury
***** February 21, 1913
OAKLAND NEWS NOTES Billy McKennon, wife and children, in crossing the Navidad river after the recent rise encountered quicksand in the bed of the creek and the buggy wheels sunk so deep that the horses refused to pull them out, but Billy met the situation bravely, got out and put his children on the other side of the bank while his wife remained in the buggy, he then got some poles and prized the wheels up, and his wife drove out safely, with no damage only the good wetting Billy got in the cold water and which we trust did him no harm. [He is alright.--Ed.]
The Weimar Mercury
***** January 17, 1913
Honor Roll of Weimar Institute Ninth Grade: Jack Brasher, Emil Leidolf.
Eighth Grade: Aubrey Chapman.
Seventh Grade: Tommie Forehand, Richard Tannich, Annie Lee Allen.
Sixth Grade: Laurie Brasher, Hilda Nitschmann, Glenn Brooks, John Matthews, Julian Holloway, Mildred Baar, Sidney Chapman, Irma Chapman, Bruno Rose, Dora Maas, Lydia Klockman, Wm. Green.
Fifth Grade: Lucile Williams, Elliott Hubbard, Marie Bartz, Dewey Gerstenberg, Adalia Buske, Agnes Bohac, Eleanora Klockmann.
Fourth Grade: Kindred McLeary, Marvin Johnson, Dick Garrett, Zelma Johnson, John Green, Elfrieda Rose.
Third Grade: Maybelle Roberts, Tasso Bartz, Elois Holman, Emilie Janak, Barnett Brooks, Eleanora Armstrong, Velma Chapman,Ella Aird, Jimmie Taylor, Edgar Klockmann.
Second Grade: Chas. Insall, Virginia Holt, Julian Guitierres, Hattie Matthews, Mattie Shaw, Dennie Gibbons.
First Grade: Alma Chapman, Henrietta Reimers, Josie Bohac, Ethel Johnson, Annie Reimers, Robt. McMillan, Gertrude Klockmann, Virginia Heyer, Albert Potthast, Chas. Green, Glenn Garrett, Jimmie Aird, Leona Klockmann, Hattie Gibbons
A. P. Bolton, Prin.
Weimar Mercury
***** April 5, 1919
COLUMBUS CITIZENS WERE ARRESTED IN NEW ORLEANS
With two trunks containing sixteen gallons of liquor checked for Columbus, Tex., Attorney H. A. Townsend and Deputy Sheriff F. W. Hillmer, of that city, were arrested here at the Union Station at 10:30 Friday night by Department of Justice agents. Townsend and Hillmer were preparing to take the 11 o’clock Southern Pacific train for Texas.
Townsend, who is attorney for the Galveston, Houston and San Antonio railroad, a branch of the Southern Pacific, and Hillmer are being held in the parish prison for the federal authorities. The government operatives said they would be charged Saturday with violating the Reed amendment prohibiting the transportation of liquor into a dry state.
Besides confiscating the trunks and liquor, the operatives also took possession of Townsend’s railroad pass, issued to him by the Galveston, Houston and San Antonio railroad, and a similar pass in the name of C. K. Quin, Townsend’s law partner, held by Deputy Sheriff Hillmer. Hillmer asserted that he intended to pay his own fare.--New Orleans Times-Picayune, March 27th.
Eagle Lake Headlight, April 5, 1919July 19, 1912
New Water Tank for Columbus
The new water tank has been installed, and last Monday for the first time was filled to the overflow pipe, containing seventy-five gallons of water. The report gained current that moccasins, bull frogs and young alligators were being pumped into it, but upon a re-examination of the screen in the well it was found that nothing but the finest of sand could get through it, and that being the only way by which such a menagerie could have been started in the new reservoir, the investigation did not proceed further. The old tank has now been taken down, leaving nothing but the brick tower. The increased pressure on account of the higher altitude of the water, is already noticeable[sic] on some of the more ancient of the water pipes, and quite a number of new leaks have occurred, and quite a lot of old rusty pipes will doubtless have to be replaced.
Colorado Citizen
***** September 20, 1912
Letter From E. R. Willenberg
Austwell via Seadrift, Tex.Sept. 11, 1912
Editor Mercury
Received your postal card some time ago, but have been delayed in answering on account of having too much work on hand. I am well pleased with my location, but we have had some disadvantages in getting freight, ice to run my fountain, and mail but this will be remedied in the near future as we will have train service in a short time.
The stand pipe, which is 110 feet high is completed, and now they will commence laying pipe
There has been some delay in building the cement sidewalks, which will be two miles in all, on account of shortage of cement, but work will be resumed Monday.
So far we have a hotel and restaurant doing business, and the foundation for a $5000 hotel is now being placed.
Labor is in demand and a good price is paid. We want 500 or more cotton pickers at 75 cents per hundred and board, 40 to 50 carpenters at $3.00 per day and up, three to 4 extra telephone linemen at $3 per day, employment not less than six months, 75 common laborers at $2 per cay, hauling lumber, grading streets, laying pipe, and unloading at the wharf. So far we haven't had half enough men to do the work, and every contractor here is in want of men. Houses are going up in all directions, and we will have quite a little city by Christmas. The construction train is within 3 miles of this place, and it is claimed the work will be finished shortly, and trains will soon run.
A Mr. Kelley sold his corner lot close to mine for $350. Mr. Kelly bought this lot for $150.00 on the installment plan, $10 down and $10 per month. He had paid $50 in all on his lot, and has made $200 on his investment. Mr. Thompson, the buyer, is contemplating putting up a two-story building on same. Mr. Sankky of Austin bought a lot opposite mine and is figuring on putting in a two-story brick veneer building on same for a furniture and house furnishing store.
There is a good opening for the following: Bakery, barbershop, millinery, newspaper and hardware store.
A great many prospectors have been here and everyone I have talked to expressed themselves that this is the finest section on the Texas coast. Men have been here from all over the state, including other states. One man form Maine and another from Oregon are here, while a great many have come from San Benito, Corpus Christi, Matagorda and Victoria counties, several from the Panhandle, Louisiana and other southern states. You can see the steam plows at a distance of two to three miles from here. About six or eight have been at work for a month or so, plowing up black soil, which is considered finer than Williamson county lands. Prices have advanced from $50 to $60 per acre in the last thirty days. Give my regards to all my friends. I am your friend,
E. R. Willenberg
P.S. -- John Bock promised to come down this fall. Bring a crowd and come, also. A great many ducks, oysters and other game can be found below here.
Weimar Mercury,
Transcribed by Judy Talkington***** September 17, 1915
One of the county convicts employed on the public road near Borden was killed by a train last Thursday. It is believed the man, in attempting to board the train and escape, missed his mark some way, was thrown and killed. His dead body was found alongside the track.
Weimar Mercury
*****
November 9, 1918
Wrong Body In Coffin Stops Bay City Funeral
A somewhat unusual occurrence took place at Matagorda last Saturday when, just before the hour set for the funeral of John Kain, who had died in the Terrell Insane Asylum, some of the relatives requested to see the corpse, and upon opening the casket it was found to be the body of a young man and not of Mr. Kain, who was an elderly man. Relatives promptly wired the state institution as to the disposition of the body and to find the whereabouts of that of Mr. Kain.
Eagle Lake Headlight,
Transcribed by Judy TalkingtonMarch 22, 1912
Explosion of Engine No. 704
The explosion of engine No. 704, intended to pull out the west-bound passenger train from San Antonio to Del Rio, Monday morning about 9 o’clock which occurred near the round house, killed some twenty five to thirty people, and wounded some forty or fifty more, some of whom will likely die. The engineer Walter Jordan was among those killed. His fireman, a young man named Baker, was late coming to duty, and escaped. Bodies of the killed and wounded were terribly mangled, some of them being without heads, arms or legs, and pieces of the bodies were scattered for blocks around. Some were so terribly torn that identification is extremely difficult. Of the killed, one was an ex-citizen of Weimar--Grant North, who lived here for many years and worked at the depot. His body, we understand, was literally torn to pieces. He was a pipe-fitter's helper employed at, the roundhouse. Two other ex-citizens of this section---one a son of Will Hunter (Lonnie Hunter) and a son of Joe Verse, both of the Clear Creek section--were in the wreck and were severely injured. Both were employed at the round house. The explosion of this engine boiler is said to have been the worst in history so far as fatalities and damage is concerned. Numbers of houses in the vicinity were wrecked.
Weimar Mercury, March 22, 1912, page 4September 6, 1919
COLUMBUS SCHOOLS OPEN '19-'20 TERM MONDAY, SEPT. 8th
Text Books Furnished By State Free To Pupils
Vacation time is over and school time is here once more. Everything is in readiness for the opening of the Columbus schools next Monday morning, September 8, and Professor Holland is expecting a record breaking opening attendance.
The new free text book law goes into effect with the opening of this term of school and for the first time in the history of the state pupils will be furnished with all necessary books free of cost. Pupils will not have to purchase anything this year except writing materials and note books. A set of state owned books will be furnished to each pupil with only the understanding that they remain the property of the state and that the pupil is responsible for loss or unnecessary damage to the books. This law will mean an immense saving to the parents of school children. In the Columbus school district alone the value of books to be furnished by the state is almost four thousand dollars. This will remove a burden from the shoulders of parents who, heretofore, have been unable to keep their children in school and will make the compulsory school attendance law more easily enforced.
Teachers for the coming year are: Prof. W. A. Holland, Mrs. Holland, Mrs. Thrower, Miss Georgia Lawless, Miss Myrtle Burttschell, Mrs. Zelba Wood, of Mason, Texas, Mrs. Kittie Bridge Gunn. One vacancy has not been filled but will be before school opens next Monday.
The Columbus High School will enjoy a fine new piano during the coming term and during future terms as a result of a subscription list circulated around town last week by Professor and Mrs. Holland and Mrs. Thrower. Something more than three hundred dollars were subscribed and although this will not pay for the piano it will make a sufficiently large payment to insure the new instrument to the school.
Colorado Citizen
***** October 25, 1918
AVIATORS ARE GIVEN BIG BARBECUE ARE GUESTS OF COLUMBUS PEOPLE TO EXCELLENT DINNER
Six airplanes landed here last Friday at noon for gasoline and to inquire about the way to Eagle Lake. They landed in Mr. Harry Tanner's field and the aviators were invited to be the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Tanner for dinner. The twelve aviators accepted and Mr. Tanner promised them, if they could come again, a regular old time barbecue and they all enthusiastically promised to return as soon as possible.
Mr. Tanner received a message from them Sunday stating that they would return Monday. So Mr. Tanner proceeded to kill, not the fatted calf, but several lambs and to barbecue the same.
The twelve aviators, one machine and occupants had to land at Victoria on account of engine trouble, arrived about noon and did full justice to the excellent dinner prepared for them. Mr. Seymour, Captain of the Home Guards and the host, Mr. Tanner, presided at dinner.
Mr. Joe Staffard[sic] and other members of the home guard guarded the machines.
The aviators left about three o'clock. Lieut. Billheimer was in charge of the squadron.
The Colorado Citizen
***** February 26, 1915
Church Window Broken Some miscreant, without the fear of God or man in his heart, a few nights ago threw anold cell from a batterythrugh a fine stained glass window at the Christian church. the church authorities, are very much incensed over the act, and Marshall Henry Insall has authorized us to offer a reward of $25 on his part for any information that will lead to the arrest and conveiction of the part who did it. Mr. A. B. Rogers says that the church authorities will offer a similar reward,so here is a chance for someone to earn $50. It is to be hoped the guilty party will be apprehended, and punished.
Weimar Mercury
*****
December 22, 1916
Mr. J. W. Whittington left on exhibition at the real estate office of W. L. Johnson Saturday a bunch of Georgia chufas, a new growth for this section, Mr. Whittington having secured the seed for planting from W. R. Townsend of Brunswick, Georgia. Mr. Whittington planted the seed the first part of August and dug the sample on the first day of December. It is claimed that chufas have for years proven a paying crop in Georgia and other southern states, the people of that part of the South fattening their hogs on the nuts. The plant has the appearance of nut grass and the roots produce nuts in great abundance, growing something like peanuts, only that the plant is very much different in appearance and the nuts have no outer shell or husk. The nut tastes something like cocoanut (sic). The chufas grown by Mr. Whittington were produced practically without rain and were planted so late in season that they had but small chance to produce a big yield, but Mr. Whittington feels from his experience that this new crop can be grown here successfully. It is claimed that an acre planted to chufas will fatten fifty hogs. Mr. W. A. Fink secured some seed at the same time that Mr. Whittington did and planted his, with the same result. It is thought that sandy land is best suited to the growth of this forage crop--Yoakum Times.
Weimar Mercury
Submitted by Deborah SmithSeptember 13, 1918
Schulenburg Sticker:
Gus Baumgarten received the government patent papers on his Allison flour and the process of handling the seed this week. His patent has been pending for some two years and gives his process protection for seventeen years, from the 20th of August, 1918.
Weimar Mercury, September 13, 1918, page 7