|
 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
By Carolyn
Heinsohn, Fayette County Historical Commission:
Joseph Ehlinger, an immigrant from Alsace-Lorraine, France, who was
granted 960 acres for military service in Houston's
army, built a cabin in 1850 in a live oak grove on a beautiful hill
1 ½ miles northeast of the present town of Ellinger.
Ehlinger drowned in Buffalo Bayou, but his family lived at this site.
German families soon moved to the locale, followed by Czech settlers.
Ehlinger's son, Charles, a successful businessman, owned a general
merchandise store, blacksmith shop and gin at the foot of the hill,
hence the name of the town - Live Oak Hill.
Eventually, two more general merchandise stores were built, along
with three blacksmith shops, a wheelwright, saddle and tin shops,
a dance hall and Czech school.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the oldest Catholic Church in the county,
was moved to the top of the hill from Ross
Prairie in 1861; a Catholic cemetery was established next to the
Ehlinger family cemetery.
A larger church was built in 1865, followed by another in 1879, when
the name was changed to St. Mary's; it burned in 1905; the 1906 church
still stands. The site was re-named Hostyn Hill by the Czech
settlers.
Several schools were built here; the last school closed in 1932, but
served as a parish center until a new center was built in 1984.
The town of Live Oak Hill moved to the new townsite on the railroad
that was renamed Ellinger
in honor of Joseph Ehlinger. The church and a school remained at the
original site next to the cemetery. The church is now known as St.
Mary's at Hostyn Hill near Ellinger.
|
 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
|
|
HOME
