SMALL TOWN SURPRISES

Monday, December 28 - We are going to explore Columbus, TX this morning. That should take about five minutes! Surprise, surprise....we spent most of the day exploring this neat little town. There are historical markers everywhere and a tour of many of the historical sites. Marsha is always amazed to see flowers still in bloom.





The strangest thing is…you can be driving down the road and all of a sudden there is a big tree in the middle of the road. They have the road go around the tree. Now in Ohio, they would just cut it down.



First of all, the Colorado River, the 18^th longest river in the United States and the largest in Texas, begins and ends within the state's borders. Since it was navigable from Columbus, the county seat, to its mouth, Columbus became a shipping point for cotton and a stopping place for wagon trains. Colorado County was organized in 1837 by Stephen F. Austin, an early Texas hero. The first Anglo settlers arrived here around Christmas 1821. The town was burned during the Texas Revolution by General Sam Houston's Army as a part of his scorched-earth tactic.





Are exploration included the Stafford Opera House, the largest flat-floored opera house in Texas. It is now open for dinner theaters, wedding receptions, etc.



Across the street on the corner of Courthouse Square, is the United Daughters of the Confederacy Museum, housed it what was the city's original fire tower. Built to hold water for fire fighting. Its walls are thirty-six inches thick!



The Colorado County Courthouse, takes up the remaining part of the town square. Built in 1890, it is currently undergoing some renovation. It was named the capital of the Texas territory by Stephen Austin prior to the City of Austin being named the State Capital. Can you find Paul in the picture?



Around the Court house they had many Christmas signs. Each sign was design to fix a certain company in town wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Marsha took pictures of every sign. Her favorite is the second one below. It is the dentist office. Here are two but you can see them all by clicking this link.





The Alley Log Cabin was built by one of Stephen Austin's colonists in 1836. It is one of the oldest surviving structures built during the Texas Revolution, built after General Sam Houston ordered the area’s building be burned to the ground.



We stopped in at Beckey’s Cafe for a bowl of soup lunch just across the street. Excellent Sante Fe Chili and Chicken Noodle Soup.

On the same street corner as the log cabin is the Dilue Rose Harris House Museum. This house was built in 1858. Miss Rose is famous for her reminiscences of early colonial Texas.



Next door is the Mary Elizabeth Hopkins Santa Claus Museum. Someone told Mary Elizabeth Hopkins that if you have three of more of anything you are a collector. Hopkins was certainly that. Today, her legacy includes a museum that houses over 2000 representations of Santa.



We also toured the Tate-Senftenberg-Brandon House Museum. The exterior and interior depict small-town life a century ago.



The Live Oak Art Center was built by Robert Robson as a small castle on the river and began providing home to local and itinerant artists. Today this beautiful structure provides workshops for all ages, hosting rotating exhibits, and maintains an outstanding permanent art collection.



We stopped at an old City Cemetery and walked through to see some of the old head stones. Marsha loved this old cemetery. It had so much charm she couldn’t stop taking pictures. If you want to see more, just click here.





We found a head stone of a Confederate solider that died on Paul’s birthday….only 47 years earlier.



Across the street from the cemetery is the second largest Oak Tree in Texas. It is on private property, but you can walk over and see it close-up. They have steel posts embedded in the ground to hold up some of the lower limbs to keep them from breaking....pretty neat!










A surprising little town (population about 3400), with many historical sites and a thriving downtown district.


Tuesday, December 29 – Got tons of “running around” chores to do today. Marsha flies to Ohio tomorrow and wants be to be all set for her absence.

We visited Heinsohn’s Country Store in New Ulm. Operating since 1920, this old-time general store stocks everything from meat-grinders and sausage stuffers to Purple Martin houses and Tex-idermy. We actually found two things we couldn’t live without.



While we were driving back we came across this little guy. We pulled over to watch him eat. Next thing you know he was mooing at us. I think he was saying “Howdy Y’all.” Pretty cool.





We stopped to eat at a Mexican restaurant called Los Cabos. It is right down the road from our campground. WOW! what delicious food. I had the Super Burritos, and Marsha had the Chipotle Tacos with beef fajita. There was so much food, we each took home plenty for supper. We highly recommend this place!!!



It has been a pretty busy three days for us. Marsha is now off to Canton, and I am doing all the odds and ends I saved until she left. Most of the odds are watching FOOTBALL!!!

For more fun photos, click right here.

Happy Trails….stop back soon.