August 2-6, 2005
Monument Hill/Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites-LaGrange, TX - by Lynda DeGroot
A handful of Trail Tamers, some Friends of MH/KB, a few Texas Parks & Wildlife staff from Government Canyon in San Antonio, and a couple of Master Naturalists from the area came together during the first week of August to help the Trail Docs put in a new hiking trail connecting these small but scenic historic sites.
The tall and impressive monument, dedicated to a group of soldiers from the area that were captured and killed by Santa Anna in the 1800s, is situated on one of the highest hills overlooking the Colorado River in LaGrange, TX.
Next to it, in a deep ravine, are the ruins of a former brewery that was built by a German stonemason. Many features of the brewery are amazing, including the stonework itself, but I was intrigued by channels running under the stone floor, and square openings where the wall met the floor, which was part of a cooling system using cold spring water that flowed from several springs in the ravine. This is a beautiful place for a picnic or to spend some time hiking, exploring and learning some interesting history.
The weather was not as hot as it could have been (did I say the Trail Tamers NEVER work on trails in Texas during the summer?!?), and the trail was completed by Saturday afternoon. It’s a fine looking trail with rock steps, several switchbacks, and sections of cedar rail fence.
Park Ranger Dale Martin, who was out there with everyone else grubbing in the dirt, was really quite impressed with the work done by our small band of volunteers. He’s hoping to see more Trail Tamers during the first week of October when they anticipate finishing another new trail. (The weather ought to be perfect by then!) That project will run from Tuesday, October 4 through Saturday, October 8. As an added treat, he’ll show you the best places to eat in LaGrange and will even throw in some tidbits about the area’s fascinating history for free!
Monday, August 15, 2005
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