This page is a part of
the Falls County, TXGenWeb project and all of the information here is FREE
for you to use.
If you are being charged to view or use any of this information, please contact
Kay.
Westphalia Pictures
Westphalia
is dissected by State Highway 320, the shortest state highway in Texas, in
western Falls County. In the summer of 1879 several immigrants from the
Westphalia province in Germany moved from Frelsburg, Texas, into the area.
Early settlers included Theodore Rabroker, John Bockholt, Casper Hoelscher,
Frank Glass, Fritz Schneider, and Theodore Schneider. There were thirteen
families on 270-acres of homestead plots by 1884. The Church of the Visitation
was completed in 1895 on 100 acres of land high on a hill, and its picturesque
twin towers can be seen for miles. A three-room school was constructed in 1896
and operated as a parochial school until 1935, when it was consolidated with
the public school. The school received a historical marker in 1982 and in 1989
held classes for kindergarten through eighth grade. The post office and the
first store were opened in 1887. P. A. Heckman was the first postmaster. The
post office was closed in 1906, and mail was sent to Lott. Westphalia had four
businesses and a gin in 1892. By 1933 the population was 100; it was 300 in
1964, and in 1990 it was estimated at 324. Cotton Collins, a fiddle player for the
Lone Star Playboys, composed a "no-name" waltz in 1946. After a
dance, local citizens suggested the song be titled the "Westphalia
Waltz." It was first recorded by the Lone Star Playboys. Please see all of
this information and more at The
Handbook of Texas Online.
Copyright © Texas State
Historical Association with written permission granted to use above
information.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Lillian S. St.
Romain, Western Falls County, Texas (Austin: Texas State Historical
Association, 1951). Vertical Files, Barker Texas History Center, University of
Texas at Austin.
To view the pictures, click on the TITLE of the
picture.
|
TITLE |
DESCRIPTION |
CONTRIBUTED BY |
|
|
Karen May |
Copyright © 2000 -
Present by Kay Cunningham
Please
read our website copyright
page for a better understanding of our copyright
needs.
