This past Sunday found us heading south to Czech country and a church picnic in Moulton. We had been to picnics in Halletsville, Flatonia, Shiner and Praha before but never to a Moulton picnic so we consulted The Roads of Texas and found 1680 off of I-10 a few miles past Waelder. Looked for it after passing the exit for 97 and whizzed right over it. No exit. So we got off at 90 and took it into Flatonia where we turned south on 95. Next time we’ll check the state map for interstate access.
We still made St. Joseph’s KC Hall in little over an hour and a half and were directed into a great parking spot in the well-mowed field. On the way to the entrance, we noted the auction items, the plant walk (similar to a cake walk), bingo tent and outdoor bandstand. Besides the food, there was a silent auction and another bandstand inside. They had begun serving lunch at 10:30 and there was no line at 10:50 so we moved right down the table and helped ourselves to beef stew (stew meat and gravy), smashed potatoes, green beans, sauerkraut, pickles and white bread. At the end of the table, two women added our choice of white or dark crispy fried chicken and urged us to have two. Just beyond was the dessert table which the ladies of the church had filled with a huge selection of sweets. Some iced tea and we were set to break all records for eating the most calories in one meal. I was trying to remember the last time I had fried chicken and realized it was at one of these picnics years ago. It was as good as I remembered.
We found a seat and quizzed a local as to why there were towns in the area on the county map named Old Moulton and Old Flatonia. As suspected it was because the old towns moved when the railroad came through and nothing is left of them now. He left and a couple from High Hill (north of Schulenburg) took his place. Their church is one of the Painted Churches and has recently undergone a restoration we were told and in the process some old German writing was uncovered. They had their picnic not long ago and we had hoped to attend it because the church looked so lovely on the internet, but we weren’t able to make it after all. Next year for sure.
As we left the hall, we passed the silent auction and the bandstand where the band was setting up for dancing which would start at 1:00. Outside we investigated the huge selection of auction items including handmade quilts, afghans, preserves, donations from local merchants, décor items and even a large, older, very well preserved John Deere tractor. A truck trailing two huge fans was pulled up by the seating creating a delicious breeze to cool the auction's participants later. Meanwhile the Plant Walk was still pulling in customers, the caller was barking out letters and numbers and the outside band was playing and singing in Czech. And a man was looking at his wife’s plant win and saying “Ve don need any more flo-wers,” in his charming accented English. An enjoyable day spent with the folks in the Moulton area.
And next Sunday 9-25-16 will be the Texas Wendish Heritage Society’s Festival in Serbin (SW of Giddings on 2239). Check out all the events at texaswendish.org. This festival includes a dinner, all day music and demonstrations of all sorts artisan crafts like egg decorating, noodle, sausage, rope, lace and wine making as well as spinning, quilting, blacksmithing and more. There is also a museum with fascinating facts about the Wendish people and tours of their painted church. Also note all the children’s activities, and for vintage buffs a 1926 fire truck, farm equipment and classic autos. Serbin is 68.3 miles from San Marcos and it takes approximately 1 hr. 35 mins. with no traffic to get there.
If you go and decide to take the back roads from Bastrop and a cuppa and scone sounds good, get off at Loop 150, go under 21 and see a strip shopping center on your right. Coffee Dog is located there at 49 Loop 150 which will be easy to see. When finished continue on 150 and go straight ahead to P1 when 21 turns north. Turn left on P1 (park road) and continue while looking for Gottier Rd. Turn left on it. It will be joined by Mink Rd. after about 8-10 miles which next will turn into Fredich Rd. Mink Rd. will turn south, but stay on Fredich Rd., cross over 2104 and in 1.7 Mi. join 2239 at the county line which will take you into Serbin.
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