Burton – Farmer’s Gin – Panel 1
Transcript of audio:
In the early 1900’s cotton was king in and around Burton. Cotton farming was not for the faint of heart.(Manual labor sounds?) After grueling hours in the fields, hand picking countless bolls of cotton, (brush/plants rustling) the time finally came to cash in on all the hard work. Harvesting cotton ran from the scorching hot days of late July (dry locust sounds) to the cooling breezes in November. (Rustling leaves in breeze)
Before dawn farmers would hitch up their wagon loads of cotton and head to the gin in Burton.(slow wagon sounds) As the sun rose you would see wagons lined up in the gin yard waiting for their turn to cash in their crop. (rooster crowing) For sixty years the sharp sound of the gin whistle pierced the morning air (big whistle) as the engineer started the massive engine and the gin roared to life. (engine sounds, flywheels turning, belts and line shaft sounds). The steady hum and rhythmic drone of the gin was both literally and figuratively the heartbeat of the town.
Stories and local news were shared among the farmers (Indistinct men’s conversations) as they waited for their cotton to be ginned. Once done, the visiting farmers would make stops at the general store (store bell), the blacksmith (metal hammering) and sometimes even the saloon for a cool drink (pouring liquid). Many locals have fond memories as kids of special treats such as a soda or homemade ice cream when their dad sold a bale of cotton.
Back inside the gin, the work continued all day and deep into the night (crickets/frogs mixed with muffled engine sound) In the early years that meant feeding the steam engine with either wood or coal to keep it going (fire being stoked sounds). In 1925 the Bessemer Engine arrived and kerosene and other fuels would be used which saved the gin money (cash register sounds ? too silly?). Upstairs the gin manager and 4-5 gin workers would monitor the gin stands to ensure all ran smoothly. (men shouting instructions, gin sounds) 500 pounds of lint would be pressed and compressed into a giant brick of cotton and made ready for shipment by wagon, train or eventually ship. (Ship horn)
Amazing to think that after months of growing, picking, praying for rain (rain drops), loading and traveling by wagon to the gin – it would only take a matter of 12 minutes from start to finish to produce a 500 pound bale of cotton. Twelve minutes (clock ticking) from suctioning the cotton out of the wagon to rolling the bale out of the press! (Hum of engine sound) So many wagons lined up for ginning that some folks remember falling asleep to the sounds of the gin and only waking at times when the gin was silent.
For sixty years the bustle that happened here was a constant part of the daily life and lifeblood of the community. Though the gin closed its doors and ceased operation in 1974, it was brought back to life in the late 1980s. The gin now lives on as the permanent exhibit at the Texas Cotton Gin Museum in part thanks to recognition by the Smithsonian Institution and the countless hours of dedicated volunteers. And twice a year, the gin comes roaring to life again baling cotton from boll to bale – making it the oldest operating cotton gin in the USA! (Wow, applause)
Burton – Wehring Shoe Shop – Panel 2
Transcript of audio:
This unassuming small shoe shop stands before you as a testament to the long forgotten artistry of shoe repair and leather work. Everything you see inside is original and remains exactly as it was from days when it was in operation.
Built in the 1920s, the Wehring Shoe Shop was an integral part the community. Most people only owned one pair of daily wear shoes and one pair of Sunday shoes … if they were lucky. It was important to keep them in good working order for as long as possible.
William Wehring bought the house with it’s cotton patch adjacent to the gin and set up his shoe shop in a 12 x 14 out building. His son, Otto Wehring, grew up watching his father repair shoes and fashion leather harnesses on a daily basis. By the time Otto was 12 years old, he was well skilled in the trade. When William died in 1931, Otto stepped into the family business.
Otto built the two story structure in 1933, adjoining it to the existing residence and using the upper story as sleeping quarters and the lower story as his shoe repair shop. The shop was complete with big display windows for curious onlookers … and, there were plenty!
Many days, after the school bell rang, certain children would look forward to stopping by the shoe shop on their way home. They would watch in fascination as Otto worked his magic on shoes. Tacking, shaping, stitching, polishing … ultimately making them like new again. And, Mr. Wehring would make special leather collars with name plates for their hunting dogs. All this done right before their eyes. It was mesmerizing.
Of course, Mrs. Wehring’s baked goods were a big draw, too for some children. She often had hot butter bread, fresh from the oven ready to offer as a treat. Always something to look forward to after a hard day of reading and arithmetic.
The aroma of leather, oils and fresh baked bread are precious memories for those lucky enough to have experienced it.
Burton – Long Life Brotherhood Lodge – Panel 3
Transcript of audio:
An important part of Burton’s African American history includes the Long Life Brotherhood Club located just a short walk from downtown. The group’s roots actually date back to the late 1860s when the United Brothers of Friendship (UBF) organized in Kentucky. By 1884 local men formed their own chapter known as the “Matson Lodge” to serve the as a fraternal organization. ( Gavel sounds, men making motion)
The Burton lodge was the scene of a grand celebration for the 35th anniversary August 5, 1896 with a “grand jubilee day” (sounds of people laughing/talking) with , “About 2000 people from this and adjoining counties were in attendance…” the Gus Hopkins band led a march through the “principal streets of Burton to the park which was to be the scene of the festivities.” (Marching band music).
The group provided much-needed services to the community including life insurance, social services and death benefits. The two-story lodge built in 1919 (Hammer/nail sounds) was the scene for many meetings by other local organizations, gatherings and celebrations including the annual “First of August” celebration.
Local memories say that the celebration was started by local sharecroppers after the start of the cotton harvest and was a way to bring the community together. (Carnival/festival sounds) UBF dissolved in 1937 and the Long Life Brotherhood Club was born in 1940. Many families have been part of this club through the years and thankfully the work continues to preserve this important piece of history and the lodge building.
Burton – The White Horse Cafe – Panel 7
Transcript of audio:
Selma Schwartz was a mother who loved her sons and went to great lengths to take care of them. In 1922 Selma built the Schwartz & Schwarz General Merchandise store for her boys, Hugo and Walter to operate. Amazing when you consider that just two years earlier in 1920, women had just been granted the right to vote! (Shop bell tinkling, wood floor footsteps).
Schwartz & Schwartz enjoyed a sterling reputation with newspaper articles that described their “fancy groceries” as “always the freshest and cleanest” with a “well conducted beer parlor in the rear room.” There are some old timers today who can recall being just a small child and visiting the rear room with their fathers at the end of a long day. Today we refer to that as ‘family friendly’.
Hugo and Walter ran the store until WWII when the store sold in 1945. Soon, in the 50’s (old 50s music) it evolved into a popular diner and beer parlor called The White Horse Cafe. (Beer top removed, dishes clanking, laughter). The White Horse served breakfast, lunch and dinner. An old menu left hanging on the wall was found. (sizzling bacon) It listed eggs, toast and bacon for 65¢, a lunch plate of home cooked food for 75¢ and a Sunday dinner for 85¢.
When the cafe stopped serving, The White Horse stood empty for a while. Eventually a real estate broker bought the place and made his office there. He and his staff tell stories of eerie things moving and doors opening and closing on their own. Haunted? Or, maybe it’s just Selma taking care of the place she built so long ago. (Thumps and scary sounds)
Today, The White Horse is home to a popular watering hole where cold ones are served and local bands perform live music. (Upbeat music, laughter). Hot lunches and meals are served and visitors near and far enjoy a good time. If you listen closely you can almost hear Hugo and Walter chuckling in the background.
Burton – Burton Auto Company – Panel 8
Transcript of audio:
The Burton Auto Company had its beginnings in 1916, at which time it was called the City Garage. Business was booming as car sales became more commonplace and began to replace the horse and buggy. (Horse neigh) In 1919, City Garage was purchased by Carl Rothermel and the name officially changed to Burton Auto Company where Maxwell Cars, considered one of the three top auto firms in America along with Ford and GM, were sold and two mechanics kept busy. (Tools clanking etc, mechanic sounds).
Hard to imagine, but in 1920 Highway 290 was nothing but pasture land (cows, bird sounds) and just beginning construction. As the main road to travel, the tiny town of Burton saw a constant stream of traffic and Burton Auto was a reliable stop for petrol and provisions a traveler might need. (Old model car traffic sounds). Some say it was possibly the longest operating Texaco station in the State – 1926 thru 1988.
Rothermel’s good friend and World War I buddy, August Muehlbrad worked alongside him until in 1922 when he purchased Rothermel’s interest. August diligently serviced the cars and successfully ran the business for 54 years.
It wasn’t always easy as August lived in the LaBahia community and rode his bicycle 10 miles round trip to and from Burton for close to 5 years. It was estimated that he put over 10,000 miles on that bike! He rode through pastures and dirt roads and watched as Hwy. 290 was being constructed. When it rained and the mud became too thick to ride (storm sounds), he would pick up and carry his bike, with his lunch pail and business books strapped to the handle bars, until he made it to the newly paved part of 290, where he could hop back on and complete his journey. (Bicycle sound, bike bell)
After so many miles on that bike, August was looking to shorten his commute. In 1927 he bought the home situated right next door, just a short walk from his front door to the station. Much deserved, wouldn’t you say?
Burton – Historic Burton Railroad Depot – Panel 12
Transcript of audio:
When the railroad came to the bustling town of Burton the excitement was palpable (steam brakes hissing/train whistle/conductor yells ‘all aboard’). The Depot was built in 1870 and after a fire was rebuilt in 1898. It quickly became the heartbeat of the community and touched nearly every life near and far. Whether waiting for friends and family to arrive (people greeting one another; footsteps on a boardwalk) … or watching as cowboys calmed herds of cattle as they guided them from a nearby waiting pen onto a special rail car (cowboy whistles, whoah, horses hooves) … or gazing at the strong men, clad in sweat-stained work clothes wrestling the 500 pound burlap-wrapped cotton bales (heaves and grunts) onto flat cars headed to big city markets … the depot was a hotbed of activity.
Evidence of the old railroad tracks still exist today. Giant chunks of pink granite mined in the Texas hill country and used to build the seawall in Galveston was transported through Burton and sometimes fell off the rail cars. (Ocean/gulls calling) Some still dot the landscape. Today, a piece of this granite now stands at the corner of Citizen’s State Bank.
Before the railroad to Austin was completed, Burton was a Stagecoach Stop. (Horses neighing/wagon wheels on earth/wood doors clanging open). The 2-day long journey from Houston to Austin made Burton the perfect halfway point to rest overnight. Horses were watered (sloshing buckets) and travelers were fed and stayed at the nearby Washington Hotel (dishes clanking/pots scraping) Some would whet their whistles at one of the many saloons (piano music and bottles clinking) found around town.
The next day, the freshly rested … or hungover travelers would claim their spots in the cramped quarters of the Stage coach.
Stagecoaches would carry as many as 15 people! Six inside, up to 9 on top and of course the driver and coachman completed the scene. (whip snap, horse hooves, groaning of wooden stagecoach taking off).
It was written that being robbed while traveling on a stagecoach (guns/excitement) was regarded as a right of passage and if no hold-up took place, many travelers would complain! (Grumbling, disappointed mumbling).
Burton – Washington Hotel – Panel 26
Transcript of audio:
Just as the sun sets and the evening air begins to cool (crickets/frogs early night sounds) you can hear the final touches of Mrs. Schwendener as she prepares supper (dishes rattling/chopping/cutting) for her guests staying at The Washington Hotel. She and her husband immigrated from Sweden, bought the hotel in 1885 and added a second story (hammering/wood clacking). The hotel had a total of 19 rooms, a dining room and a display room for ‘rumblers’, which was the term for traveling salesmen showing their goods.
As the night settled in, just like clock work Mr. Schwendener would make his way outside (feet on wood decking/screen door closing) to light the kerosene lantern that hung at the entrance (match striking). He would pause, breathe in the fresh air (leaves gently rusting), pet the family cat (meow) while listening for the distant whistle (distant train whistle) of the final train arriving for the night.
As it neared the depot (steam engine/brakes/closer whistle) Mr. Schwendener would take the lantern from it’s post (rusty clank sound) and make the short walk to the station to greet his guests and help with bags and trunks (leather squeaks). The guests would then follow him (gravel crunching under multiple feet) as he lit the way back to the hotel. There, Mrs. Schwendener waited to show them their rooms for the night. (Feet on wood porch/doors opening/luggage clunks)
Each room was just big enough to hold a small bed (bed springs) and a simple wash basin that offered a pitcher of cool well water to freshen up after the long [inaudible] hour dusty train ride from Houston. (Water filling/splashing/cleaning).
The Washington Hotel wasn’t luxurious by today’s standards, but it provided a perfect place to rest and get ready for the next leg of the journey (morning birds chirping) — which typically meant stops in Bastrop, New Braunfels, San Antonio or Austin.
Burton – Historic Knittel Homestead – Panel 33
Transcript of audio:
Herman Knittel, Sr. Was born in Prussia on December 4, 1835 where he lived until age 17. He and his widowed mother traveled to America in search of better opportunities. (Ocean waves) Their ship landed in Galveston and they travelled by wagon and ox team to the Brenham area. Eventually he settled in Burton where, after serving in the Confederate Army, he was responsible for building several well stocked general stores. Ultimately, he would sell his stores and turn his attention to farming, raising livestock and pursuits of becoming a Texas Senator.
Herman and his wife Johanna bought the lots you are now standing in front of and built their grand home in 1880. This home was built to reflect the shape of a Mississippi River steamboat, with upper and lower galleries and a great curving stairwell. The complex spiral stairway was ordered by letter-mail from Germany and to say it took a very long time to arrive is an understatement.
I“Finally, when Herman was so old that he was preparing to retire from business, the stair arrived in Galveston in the hold of a sailing vessel. Herman sent a wagon and team to fetch the cargo, which turned out to be a big box filled with intricately cut timbers, painted white and gold, WITHOUT directions for putting the pieces together.”
Local carpenters toiled and could not figure out the elaborate jigsaw puzzle pieces. Then Gus Quabe, a carpenter from the ‘old country’ came to the rescue. He had the knowledge and the skill to finally put it together. HOWEVER, it is said that somebody made an error in the original measurements and in order to make it fit, Gus had to start the stair in a very tight corner. Unfortunately, this hid the lovely gilt work. And, in order to use the staircase, you had to carefully slip into that corner to mount the first stair … which is what the owners of this beautiful landmark still do today.
Herman Knittel was a visionary and reportedly a very colorful character, jolly and full of fun. He and his wife and their 13 children made good use of this iconic home.
Burton – Dallmeyer/Steiner Store – Panel 34
Transcript of audio:
The Steiner Dallmeyer store has housed several different types of organizations and businesses throughout the years; since its completion in 1871. Although little is known about the earliest years, deed records show that it was owned by several agricultural groups, such as the Burton Joint Stock Association and Burton Grange Association.
As of 1896, it housed the offices of Doctor Charles A. Laas. The longest history, however, can be found in its life as a general merchandise store by partners Joe Steiner and William Dallmeyer from 1903 to 1968. It was during this time that the Burton Post Office was located inside the building. The building also had the first telephone in Burton.
One of the most colorful stories surrounding the buildings history involves an altercation between Mr. Steiner and a young man named Leander Morris. Supposedly, during an argument over the family bill with the store, Morris drew a gun and fired and Steiner then returned fire, killing him. Local legend says the bullet is still lodged in the ceiling.
In addition to dry goods, a millinery was located in the middle portion of the building, known as the Annex, that was added in 1913 by local Carpenter Will Weeren. It was operated until the 1920s by Celeste [Moeller] Fincher.
By 1969 the building had been remodeled into a beer parlor known as the Brazos Belle, an antique store by Ray Winkelmann, and by 1972, Huberta and Dick Prigmore were operating a restaurant, antique store, and real estate office there. The current owners bought the building in 1989 and would continue the restaurant as the Brazos Belle and create a history all its own until its closure in 2022.
Fun fact, in recent remodeling work in the kitchen, an original hand dug well or cistern was found. Historically, cisterns were built throughout towns to catch rainwater that fell from building roofs. Rain gutters were attached to the roof and ran into the cistern to carry this water from roof to cistern.