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Wildflowers
If you happen to be touring the wildflower trails of Colorado
and Fayette Counties
this spring, you might make the effort to drive FM 109 in Colorado
County. This road runs north from Columbus
to the crossroads community of Frelsburg. At Frelsburg a right turn
will take you to New
Ulm while a left turn will take you to Fayetteville.
It's a nice tranquil drive and a good way to avoid the crush of drivers
on highway 71.
FM 109, while somewhat deficient in the ever-popular, crowd-pleasing
bluebonnets, nevertheless has an impressive display of early wildflowers.
Many of the species appear quite early and several continue throughout
the summer. |
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The
sign's message testifies that wildflowers arrive early in Colorado
County
TE Photo,
4-2003 |
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On the west side of FM 109 (on the left if you're coming from Columbus)
you should have no trouble locating the Zimmersheidt School. It's
the only building that looks like what it is - a tiny and tidy one-room
schoolhouse that looks like it was painted by Grant Wood. |
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The
Zimmerschiedt School
TE Photo,
4-2003 |
The
School and Marker
Although those who paid for the marker were convinced that this was
"the last one room schoolhouse still standing in Texas, it (as the
song goes) ain't necessarily so. We checked with Mr.
Bill Stein of Columbus'
Nesbitt Memorial Library who says that there are at least three other
one room schoolhouses still standing in Colorado
County alone. |
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The
Marker placed by the Woodmen of the World
TE Photo, 4-2003 |
In addition to the slightly erroneous claim, the bronze tablet furnishes
this additional information:
"On January 18, 1855, Frederick A. Zimmerscheidt donated an acre of
land for the purpose of building a school. The school served the community
from February 1, 1857 until it consolidated with the Columbus Independent
School District in 1948."
The marker was placed by the Sycamore Camp # 7 of the Wooden of the
World in on New Year's Day 1980.
© John
Troesser |
| Texas
Escapes,
in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas,
asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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