La Vernia Historical Association

Endings and beginnings — rubble is removed from Schraub Store site

Out with the old. It was how the new year began at the site of the former Schraub Store, as heavy equipment moved bricks and rubble from the store site at the corner of Seguin Road (F.M. 775) and Chihuahua Street Jan. 2. The old red brick building, which had stood at the site since the 1890s, was reduced to […]

https://www.lavernianews.com/articles/endings-and-beginnings-rubble-is-removed-from-schraub-store-site/?feed_id=2162&_unique_id=65982a547d696

Reminder: There will not be a general membership meeting on Tues., Jan. 2, 2024.
The LVHA Executive. Committee will meet on Jan. 9 to plan for the new year. The next general membership meeting will be on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at the GVEC Community Room at 7:00 p.m.

Happy New Year!

Semiquincentennial Grant Opportunity (U.S. National Park Service) Semiquincentennial Grant Opportunity announcement

Our Christmas meeting will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 7:00 p.m. at the GVEC Melvin Strey Community Room, 13849 U.S. Hwy. 87 W. in La Vernia. Bring a light appetizer or cookies, if you wish. Please join us to celebrate the season and get an exciting update on our soon-to-be-released book, "La Vernia Family Legacies." We will also be collecting canned goods for the La Vernia Food Pantry.

LV Veterans Memorial receives GVEC Power Up grant

The La Vernia Veterans Memorial is among eight area recipients of funds through the GVEC Power Up community grant program. The program continues to grow, with eight more nonprofit organizations in the GVEC service area receiving approximately $155,000 in grants. These grants, which provide funding assistance for community projects, are made possible by the generous donations of GVEC members supporting […]

https://www.lavernianews.com/articles/lv-veterans-memorial-receives-gvec-power-up-grant/?feed_id=1686&_unique_id=6551871af32ec

Happy ! This week, we’re learning about the Rector Chapel Cemetery in La Vernia.

"Rector Chapel Cemetery William Robert Wiseman (1816-1888) was a successful farmer and owned the first cotton gin in La Vernia. William Claiborne Rector (1805-1873), a hero of San Jacinto, farmed, served as postmaster and provided horses for the local stage line. ..."

Learn more about this historical marker at https://www.wilsoncountyhistory.org/historical-markers
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Photo by the Historical Marker Database, HMDB.org

La Vernia Historical Association – La Vernia, Wilson County, Texas Home Welcome to the La Vernia Historical Association. Our Mission is to research, record, recognize, publish, document, and encourage interest in the history of La Vernia, Wilson County, Texas. Our goal is to accurately and properly preserve the truthful history of La Vernia, for this and future gen...

More than fifty people attended our free Genealogy Seminar on September 30. The Daughters of the American Revolution Suzanna Dickinson Chapter of La Vernia assisted in the event. Speakers included distinguished local historian Allen Kosub; Marcy Carter-Lovick, who is the Texas State Regent of the DAR; and Larry Luckett, who is the Registrar for the San Antonio Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) who is also an award-winning genealogical writer.

The event was held at the La Vernia Church of Christ community hall. Following the speaker presentations and a lunch break, attendees spent time with the experienced genealogists, learning more about their family trees and getting help with their research brick walls and questions.

When did the La Vernia Bears become the “BEARS”?

In 2019, one of the oldest living persons in La Vernia, 94-year-old Elsie Witte Ferry, who attended La Vernia ISD's first school building in the 1930-31 school year when she was five years old, was interviewed by the La Vernia Historical Association. When asked how the Bears got their name, she exclaimed, “Well, we were always the Bears!” She had never heard of any other mascot name for La Vernia except the Bears.

As early as January 29, 1931, on page 12, the San Antonio Express referred to La Vernia's team, “The Lavernia Bears now stand at the top undefeated.”

The first La Vernia yearbook, printed in 1945-46, was even called The Cub. In the Athletics section of that yearbook, the page title features the team name, “The Bears.” The page also includes a reference to the Bears by the Floresville Chronicle-Journal Newspaper.

Conclusively, the La Vernia School mascot has been called the Bears since 1930 and continues in 2023. GO BEARS!

More information about La Vernia's sports can be found in "The History of La Vernia Schools featuring Spirit & Sports 1870 - 1999" by the La Vernia Historical Association. The book is available through the LVHA.

Photo donated to the La Vernia Historical Association Archives by LVHA member LesLee Linne. Click on the photo to read the players' names.

Free Genealogy Seminar. Great speakers! RSVPs are very helpful but not required. Donations will be accepted at the door, or you may RSVP and donate here: https://LVHAGenealogySeminar.eventbrite.com. You may also RSVP by sending an email to [email protected] Thank you!!

Happy ! This week, we’re learning about the Old Chihuahua Road in La Vernia.

Find out how it was used in the 1800s, where the historical marker is located, and more.

Learn more about this historical marker at https://www.wilsoncountyhistory.org/historical-markers
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Photo by the Historical Marker Database, HMDB.org

Comment period for La Vernia cell tower ends Sept. 22 - Wilson County News Those wishing to weigh in on the proposed construction of a telecommunications tower near the intersection of F.M. 775 and C.R. 344 have until Sept. 22 to make their thoughts known. Skyway Towers LLC proposes to erect a 190-foot self-supporting lattice tower at the

LAST DAY!! Today is the LAST DAY to buy admission & raffle tickets!! Go to LaVerniaHistory.com to get your tickets before midnight!! Thank you!!

Today is the LAST DAY to buy admission and raffle tickets for this great fundraiser! Get tickets at LaVerniaHistory.com or use the QR code before MIDNIGHT TONIGHT to get your ADMISSION AND RAFFLE TICKETS! Thank YOU!! See you at the event!!

There is a proposed cell tower on FM 775 & CR 344. We are researching the history of the site. If you are aware of any historical aspects of this site, please let us know. Any OTHER comments should be sent to the address listed in the article. Thank you.

From the Wilson County News, Aug. 23, 2023, page 3C.

The next meeting of the LVHA will be on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 7:00 p.m. in the Melvin E. Strey Community Room at GVEC, 13849 U.S. Hwy 87 W. in La Vernia. Guests and new members are welcome. This month's History Highlights will include a focus on Milton Rawe, a local legend, and the story of the Schraub store, which was recently demolished on Chihuahua Street. Feel free to bring items of local historical interest for Show & Tell. Light refreshments will be available. To join LVHA, visit

La Vernia Historical Association – La Vernia, Wilson County, Texas Home Welcome to the La Vernia Historical Association. Our Mission is to research, record, recognize, publish, document, and encourage interest in the history of La Vernia, Wilson County, Texas. Our goal is to accurately and properly preserve the truthful history of La Vernia, for this and future gen...

Thank you to everyone donating to LVHA when you pick up bricks at the demolition site on Chihuahua Street! We posted suggested donation amounts at the site.

To those who are taking these historic bricks without donating, we have no words.

Please do not trespass!

The property owner has stipulated the bricks may be taken WITH A DONATION TO THE LA VERNIA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION ONLY.

We do not know when the owner might remove the entire pile. Small truckloads only.

PLEASE do not trespass. Please READ THE SIGNS AT THE SITE.

Thank you.

Our volunteers are in two places today!!
1. Visit our booth at Market Days!
2. Drop by the Schraub store demolition site to get a souvenir brick FOR A DONATION TO THE LA VERNIA HISTORICAL ASSN. It’s so hot we can’t say how long we can be here so hopefully we will see ya soon!

If you wish to get a brick from today's demolition site, please know this:
1. The site is PRIVATELY OWNED. It is not owned by the City of La Vernia or the La Vernia Historical Association.
2. DO NOT TRESPASS on private property.
3. To EVEN set foot on the property, you MUST SIGN A RELEASE form, available at the site. Look for the box on a stake. INSTRUCTIONS ARE ON THE SIGNS.
4. The property owner stipulated that bricks may be taken - WITH A DONATION to the La Vernia Historical Association ONLY. Donation forms and envelopes are attached to the Release form at the site. (Look for the box). INSTRUCTIONS ARE ON THE SIGNS.
5. Suggested donation amounts are on the SIGNS at the site.
6. We do not know when the debris pile will be moved away completely. We will try to let you know, but it is at the owner's discretion.
7. Do not go on the property after sundown.

We are thankful for the property owner's benevolence.
Please do not trespass.
To those taking bricks without a donation, we have no words.