Senior Chai: Historic Tour of Schulenburg

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT.  TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE CONTACT MELISSA WOLFSON AT HCRJ@HCRJ.ORG.  IF THERE IS ENOUGH INTEREST WE MAY ADD A SECOND BUS ON THE TRIP.

As a continuation of our historic tours of Texas, we will next be venturing to Schulenburg, TX. Located midway between San Antonio and Houston, the three counties of Lavaca, Fayette, and Colorado have never had any settlement large enough to call a city. No town in these rural counties ever attracted more than a few thousand people, many of whom were of German or Czech descent. Nevertheless, a small number of Jews were scattered among such towns as Hallettsville, Schulenburg, Columbus, and La Grange, and came together to establish a Jewish community that served the tri-county area.  Though small, the Jewish community has persevered over the years to keep open the doors of a small shul in Schulenberg called Temple Israel since 1951.

The first part of  this historic tour will take you inside these walls as we learn about the Jewish history of Schulenburg and it’s surrounding areas.  Board president, Becky Berger, will talk about the past and present state of Jewish life in this part of Texas.

Following this tour we will gather for lunch at Franks Restaurant, one of Schulenburg’s longest running businesses which has had its doors open for over 90 years.

The day will conclude with a tour of Schulenburg’s famous painted churches.  When Czech and German immigrants came to Texas in the 1800s, many settled in the central part of the state. In an effort to make their new churches feel more like the ancient Gothic structures of their homelands, these early settlers painted the walls, altars, and arches of their simple wooden sanctuaries in colorful patterns. These buildings came to be known as the Painted Churches of Texas. A volunteer of Schulenburg’s Chamber of Commerce will lead us on a tour of these magnificent sites.