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Zion Lutheran Church in Arneckeville
Photo Courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2006 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Settled around 1859, the town was named with the opening of the post
office in 1872. The namesake was Adam Arnecke who donated land for
the first school. Arnecke also served as the town’s storekeeper and
first postmaster.
Adam’s son become Dr. C. A. H. Arnecke, who opened a pharmacy and
opened a hospital.
By the mid 1880s Arneckeville sat on the stage line between Goliad
and Cuero.
In the mid 1890s the town reported 250 residents but declined to a
mere 75 in the mid- 1920s. In the late 1940s the population leveled
at around 100. The post office closed its doors in the 1950s and the
local schools consolidated.
By the late 1960s, the population returned to 75 and it declined to
50 in the 1980s. |
Zion
Lutheran Church sanctuary
Photo Courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2006 |
DeWitt
County Drive
Cuero
and DeWitt County
From Cuero
- Head south
on Hwy 77 (Esplanade) and cross the railroad tracks. You will
see a sign for Arneckeville. Follow the arrow and watch for the signs
on your right. There will be two of them.
After leaving the Cuero
city limits you'll notice a few miles of feathery trees on your right
and down. These are Cypress trees along the
banks of the Guadalupe River.
After you've gone about seven miles from town, start looking for a
sign on your right for Zion Church Road. The sign is next to
a cattle guard, the first of three that you will cross to reach the
cemetery and church. This Lutheran Church and its cemetery
has been the anchor of this German settlement since 1868. If it looks
familiar, you may have seen it in statewide publications. It is a
favorite of photographers. more
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