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Mrs.
Speckel and Schulenburg Girl Scout Troop I
Photo
courtesy of Schulenburg Historical Museum, the Speckels family &
Herzig family. |
Page
1
We
met Momma a few days later and recognized the same warm manner and
friendliness of her son and grandson. She was able to explain how
the Hotel was able to remain in the thirties while the world turned
(and Schulenburg resisted). A couple named Speckels had owned the
Cozy Theater and Von Minden
Hotel since it was built in 1927. Mrs. Speckels (nee Von Minden)
took care of the Hotel while Mr. Speckles ran the theater. She also
formed Schulenburg's Girl Scout Troop, the only one in the Country
with its own marching band.
While common in the northeast, theater-hotels were quite rare in Texas
and the Von Minden is
the last of its tribe. Mr. Von Minden financed the building as a wedding
present. The Pettits bought the place in 1977 and busily went about
not changing a thing. Mr. Pettit is an attorney with his office on
the second floor, next to the projection room. The Speckles retired
a few blocks away where they passed away several years apart.
One day while walking through the dark theater to turn on the theater
marquee, Mrs. Pettit was halfway down the aisle, expecting the rigid
feel of a chair back, when her hand struck human (?) flesh. Nothing
quite feels like the human hand, and that's what she felt. After the
initial surprise, she had the comforting feeling that the hand's owner
was Mrs. Speckles. The Late Mrs. Speckles, early for the screening.
"Momma" tells us that the rise in multi-plex theaters has actually
helped film distribution. When a first-run film is replaced as interest
wanes, more prints are available for the small town theaters. Visit
the Von Minden and/or
the Cozy Theater. Prices are a reasonable 40.00 single or double for
the hotel, and the movies are nightly and fresh from the big city.
$4.00 for adults. Pizza is available before, after, or during the
show. If you see the girl in the polka dot dress, tell her to get
a life. |
Ghost
Story becomes Love Story
Yet another visit brought a meeting with Mr. Bill Pettit,
who filled in a few of the blanks and provided us with more details.
First of all, he explained the jumper was ironically a paratrooper
who had lost his leg and was badly disfigured when his drop plane
was shot down. After spending time in a Prisoner of War Camp, he returned
to a family who had only been notified he was "missing in action".
Upon his arrival he was given a batch of letters written by Miss Polka
Dot, one of which was a "Dear John". Although she had changed her
mind, he read that letter out of sequence and jumped. Dot showed up
the afternoon after the sad event and it's room 37 she's asking directions
for. So, we've met the entire Pettit family and filled in all the
details except how the girl became a ghost. If you know of an epilogue
to this story, please keep it to yourself.
Mr. Pettit, also told us that Mrs. Speckel's Girl Scout Troop would
sometimes camp out on the roof of the Von
Minden. More about the Speckels can be found in Schulenburg
and the Work Ethic. The Pettits have aquired a lovely bungalow
style house close to the theater and will be opening it as a Bed and
Breakfast early next year. |
Readers'
Comments
After reading
your story on the Von Minden my wife and I visited there and true
enough no one was in sight. We ventured up to each floor and took
some photos. My wife, who is somewhat of a medium, felt a strong
presence of spirits in the hotel.... My opinion is there are definitely
some ghostly presence in the old hotel. Next time we want to enter
the theatre and see what we can see. ( The photo of the lobby shows
a ghostly figure standing outside of the back door.) ( The hallway
photo shows ghostly orbs outside of room 23.) - James and Connie
Bryant
...I am 13
years old and live in Schulenburg. The article that you wrote on
the Cozy theater/ Von minden hotel was very informative. I have
frequented this place many times and am good friends with the Pettit
family, especially Garret and his sister, Kari (who is also my sunday
school teacher). In fact, I was just at the Cozy last night to see
the movie Lord of the Rings. When I found the movie boring, 2 friends
and I went to Momma's to hang out. I have been to numerous birthday
parties at Momma's and we've always heard stories about the ghosts,
but we never really knew the facts. Well, as I was saying, we talked
to some of our good friends, and employees of the Pettits about
the ghosts. I've always found the hotel a friendly place (possibly
because of the friendliness of the owners). I am very curious about
this place and my friends and I are going there tonight to do some
"ghost hunting" I will definetely be in room 37... Thank you, Keri
Brower
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Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
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landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
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