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History in
a Pecan shell
The origin of the name is not clear. It was originally called Live
Oak Grove by W.R. Wiseman, one of the town's founders and the
organizer of the Presbyterian church. In addition, a post office
was granted under the name Post Oak in 1853. It was changed
in 1859 to La Vernia, although no one really knows why.
Like most towns, the first postmaster was also the storekeeper and
in the case of La Vernia, this was H. Suhre.
The population was mainly comprised of Polish and German immigrants
and totaled 200 persons for the 1890 census.
The coming of the railroad (The San Antonio and Gulf) bolstered
the population to nearly 350 in 1900. By 1915, La Vernia had a brick
yard, a pottery business and four churches as well as two gins and
a gristmill (which had opened years earlier).
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The
La Vernia Drugstore
TE photo, April 2001 |
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A
scene in La Vernia*
TE photo, April 2001 |
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The
Brahan Masonic Lodge c. 1859
TE photo, April 2001 |
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La Vernia,
Texas Forum
My grandfather
Lucio Elizondo settled in La Vernia in the mid-1890's and is buried
in the Concrete
Cemetery along with my grandmother Gertrudes. They had several
children also born there - Florentino (my father born Oct. 16,1903,
Stella, Alicia, Maria, and Sarah Elizondo. My cousin Esperanza aka
Hope Elizondo daughter of Paul and Patricia was raped and murdered
in approx. 1942. The murderer was sent to the elec. chair. His first
name was Jesus.
After my father married in 1926 he moved with his wife Virginia
back to La Vernia. My parents had eight children. My brothers Jesse,
Richard and Eddie were raised there. My father worked for Dr. Martin
in the La Vernia Drug Store from 1939 to about 1943. My brother
Jesse tells me that the Harry Schraub Store used to be Browsie.
He went to school with the children of Harry and Burnell Schraub.
He says the Masonic Lodge was first an agricultural Bldg. He went
to school with Allen Kosub from 39 - 41. He says there is currently
a stone marker in town which gives a definition of the name La Vernia.
He says Wm Weisman's son Ben was a pilot during the war.
We would like to know about the sand hills of La Vernia. Does anyone
have any information?
I grew up in San Antonio but made many visits to La Vernia with
my family. My uncle Frutoso Elizondo and his wife raised their family
there. I loved going for hamburgers at Strey's.
I understand the building where my father worked for Dr. Martin
still stands and has been turned into a museum with all the original
furniture. My father had been a soda jerk and the original soda
fountain is featured. What is the name of the current place of business
that holds this museum? Thank you and I hope to hear from [someone]
soon. - Virginia Carroll, October 6, 2005
*The
store always was Schraub Store, owned and ran by Harry Schraub.
The name painted on the building reads Schraub... The owner and
my family traded there. I still have a receipt from 1956 on a purchase
made there. - Randall Strey, July 06, 2002
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