The Oldest Czech Settlement
N 29° 50.403 W 096° 54.643
14R E 701851 N 3302893
This old gray granite historical marker is along the roadside of TX Hwy 77 where it intersects with Farm to Market Road 2436, about 4-5 miles south of La Grange, TX.
Waymark Code: WMFWT2
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 12/09/2012
Views: 9
South of La Grange, TX, State Highway 77 (SH 77) connects La Grange to IH-10. About 4 to 5 miles south of La Grange, you should observe a brown informational highway signs telling you there is a historical marker located there. In this case, the historical marker (on the right of the road if driving south from La Grange, or on the left side of the road heading north toward La Grange). There is not only a TX historical marker at this large, shady area off the side of the road, but there is also a large, imposing monument to a citizen who was very influential to the development of the Czech community as well as to the development of Texas.
This historical marker tells of the establishment of the first, and thus oldest, Czech settlement in Texas. It was established in 1856 by six (6) family groups from Czechoslovakia who settled in this area between November and December of 1856. Names of the paternal heads of the families are listed and the settlement was given the name of Hostyn, TX.
The marker is of gray marble about 4 feet high, renting on a larger square base of concrete. At the top of the stone marker is a bronze laurel with the lone star of Texas inside the wreath. Only the face of the marker is inscribed. Nothing is engraved on the back of the marker. It is shaped like a large head stone and is close to the edge of the actual highway. About 100 feet behind it, under the boughs of a large oak tree is a citizen memorial made of red granite. Both of these markers are easily visible from the highway when approaching them from either direction.
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