Bastrop Revisited

Since my husband became ill I haven't had much time travel those back roads I love so much, but angels come in all shapes and sizes and one appeared and took care of things so I could get away.  Of course my ever faithful sidekick, Pat, went along and we had a ball exploring, shopping and there is a rumor that copious amounts of wine were ingested. :)

We enjoyed our day trip to Bastrop so much we decided to come back for a night so we could finish exploring, poking, and ghouling.  We found a bed and breakfast that suited out needs and was filled with beautiful antiques, hosted by knowledgeable and friendly folks (Texan for "good people").and even had a cache on the grounds.

Cameras coming out of an air conditioned car into the Texas summer heat give you foggy pictures. Sorry.

Like so many other houses in Bastrop that are listed int he National Register of Historic Places, the Zeiren-Morris-Pletsch home has a colorful history.  The first interesting point is that the property is erroneously called the "J.C. Buchanan" house in the National Register.  This stems from perhaps the most notable occurrence in the home's history.  It was moved in 1942 from the southeast corner of Chestnut at Pecan Street to its present site.  Research revealed that this new site had originally been that of the J. C. Buchanan home which burned.  During World War II there were thousands of soldiers in Bastrop because of its proximity to Camp Swift and the decision was made to move the house back and sell the SE corner of Chestnut for a bus station.

One point in the colorful history is true, however.  There is proof that the home was moved with only mules and logs and the myth that its owner Mrs. Hazel Morris, sat on the porch drinking tea during the ordeal is also true.  Another story that the original three levels of wide, gingerbread porches that wrapped around the southeast sides of the home "shook off" in the move and were burned as fuel during the war is also not true.    Within a year of the move, mrs. Morris, a modern woman, decided that the porches that has so defined teh Victorian character of the home were to be sacrificed for a more "Southern" look.  during this remodel a new front door was built facing Pecan Street which was removed by the Pletsch's so that the original foyer would be returned to its importance.

Other major renovations by the Pletsch's, who purchased the home in 1986, have included restoration of the two fireplaces and chimneys and removal of the paneling and nine layers of wallpapers under it, replacement of antiue light fixtures, installation of new wiring, plumbing, heat/air, painting inside and outside, to detail the original details at the roof line, restoration of the heart pine floors, and a new driveway and landscaping.  The latter, it was soon realized, was necessary because visitors kep walking up to the new window where the ne/old front door had been.  Then they would stand there and crook their heads like puzzled puppies.  Finally they would knock ont he screen.

I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED this door knocker as well as NEEEEEEEEEEEDING the light fixture at the top of the stairs.  I wish my photos would show just how sweet that light fixture is.

One of the lamps in the parlor.  Told you there was lots of neat antiques.

The Pletsch's are the eighth owners of a home that has always resounded with children's laughter.  In fact, the house was a children's art museum, Hands Around texas, when purchased by the Pletsch's.

This was taken from a print out at the Inn, with Shawn's permission,  for the rest of the story (said in my best Paul Harvey voice) you'll have to go visit the inn yourself.  

Outside I found this neat little garden area in a circle of hedges.  Poor little angel got covered up by a platform getting ready for a wedding.  Made me sad for reasons my fellow Geocachers would understand.  :)

After checking in, we headed to town to see how well we could inflate the economy.  I am happy to announce that we successfully did just that!  Lunch at Maxines introduced a new taste treat...a B:LT with a layer of fried green tomatoes....OMG good.  Then it was off to the new visitors center.  The old one was in the old bank building this one is in a more modern building with room for a museum.  The museum was in the construction stage but we did get to see a couple of thing like this old firetruck.  So it wasn't rusty, it was still pretty neat to look at (wonder if they could rust up a fender for me???)

 

One of the items Pat bought was a silouette (she collects them) of a beautiful old plantation style home.  The tag on it gave us a little information, the shopkeeper gave us more including that it had recently been remodeld.  So with sketchy directions, a GPS with PMS, and the two of us bantering back and forth on the directions we took off to find the house.

This wasn't it but oh I fell in love and almost put Pat through the windshield slamming on the brakes to view it better.  You talk about whispers along those back roads, this one was screaming!!  .

 But this wasn't what we came to see...so reluctantly I put it in drive and continued down the road to find this:

"This magnificent example of a Texas Greek Revival plantation home was built by A. W. "Wylie" Hill in 1856-57. Wylie arrived in Texas from Georgia in 1835 as part of a colony of 140 people. He bought half of the Jenkins League in 1836."   More history and shot of the interior can be seen at:

Ancient Oaks

Since it was quickly approaching wine time (a very important part of any trip Pat and I take) we turned around and headed back to Pecan Street and that fabulous front porch for some cheese, wine and bird watching.

And it was still there when we passed by again....gosh I love this old building!

Pat and I both enjoy visiting old historic cemeteries and Bastrop has the oldest in Bastrop county, Fairview right outside of town.  The historical marker there reads:


FAIRVIEW CEMETERY

     THE CITY OF BASTROP WAS FIRST LAID OUT BETWEEN 1830 AND 1832.  INCLUDED IN THE INITIAL COMMUNITY PLAT WAS A TWELVE-ACRE CEMETERY OVERLOOKING THE COLONY.  TRADITION HOLDS THAT THE FIRST KNOWN GRAVE WAS THAT OF SARAH WELLS (D. 1831), A CHILD OF EARLY COLONIST "MARTY" WELLS.  THE FIRST MARKED GRAVE IS THAT OF CRESCENTIA AUGUST FISCHER (D. 1841).  A GERMAN IMMIGRANT WHO CONTRACTED YELLOW FEVER AFTER LANDING IN GALVESTON, TEXAS, AND DIED FIVE DAYS AFTER HER ARRIVAL IN BASTROP.

     THE BURIAL GROUND IS SIGNIFICANT AS AN EARLY REPUBLIC OF TEXAS CEMETERY LOCATED IN ONE OF THE STATE'S EARLY COMMUNITIES.  IT IS ALSO THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF NUMEROUS  NOTABLE BASTROP CITIZENS, INCLUDING ELECTED STATE AND NATIONAL OFFICIALS, AND VETERANS OF MAJOR MILITARY CONFLICTS DATING TO THE WAR OF 1812.  ALTHOUGH HEADSTONES FEATURE PROMINENT NAMES LIKE GOVERNOR JOSEPH D. SAYERS, U.S. CONGRESSMAN GEORGE WASHING "WASH" JONES AND EARLY AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGISLATOR ROBERT KERR, THE CEMETERY IS ALSO A LINK TO THE MANY GENERATIONS OF ORDINARY BASTROP RESIDENTS, ALL OF WHOM CONTRIBUTED TO BASTROP'S RICH HISTORY IN THEIR OWN WAY. 

This hill is lots steeper than it looks and we aren't to the top yet....do not wear flip flops while ghouling...do not wear flip flops while ghouling....do not wear flip flops while ghouling.

One of the interesting areas within the cemetery is the burial site of the war babies.  This beautiful angel looks over the supposed grave sites of 16 unnamed babies who were buried in unmarked graves.

 

 During WW-II there were over 300,000 troops training close to Bastrop at Camp Swift.  Many of the wives moved to Bastrop while their husbands trained and to be close to him before his deployment.  Some women had no money to bury a child that they lost during this time.  A local funeral home, Hasler Brothers, bought fabric from the local 5&10 store and used it to line small wooden coffins.  They also purchased doll clothes for the deceased infants and the children were buried free of charge.  Unfortunately, when the mothers returned to their homes in distant towns or even states, the children were left behind with no one to tend to their graves.  The Bastrop County Historical Society has placed small crosses where the children are thought to be buried.  It is sad, but also it is heart warming to know they were not forgotten and they were not buried without compassion. 

All too soon it was back to reality, including the fact that I had brought my camera charging cord and not the phone one.  Quick trip to Best Buy was a quick solution and we got to see this old guy and his neighbor sitting up on the hill behind the shopping center.

It is always a good thing to have a welcoming committee when you come home.  At first I thought a deer had lost the pickup - deer contest since it looked like so many buzzards around.  Then I realized it was turkeys and started shooting.  If i remember right I shot them with the iPhone because I didn't want to waste time getting the camera out of the back seat. 

Until next trip...be safe, hug your loved ones, and listen for the back road whispers.