The together vacation, Part II -- Visits

We set off today, Thursday, March 29, 2018, to meet up with one of Biker Bill’s former bosses, Theresa.  The plan was to meet her in Schulenburg at a little coffee shop for lunch.  We all finally got there but it was not an easy little place to find.

As we were visiting, Theresa mentioned there were painted Catholic churches in the area, so we set off to find a couple before heading west again.  Biker Bill navigated, and we quickly found the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in High Hill, Texas. 

This has to be the most beautiful church I’ve ever seen.  Established in 1860, the church has gone through several constructions, with this one being the third.  Materials from the previous church were used as much as possible including the three bells that remain operational today. 

The stained glass is incredibly colorful.

The stained glass lets in light while showing the colors that are so rich.

The Gothic Revival interior has Victorian features coming from a German and Czech Moravian background from the local settlers.  It was completed in 1912.  The interior is truly magnificent, with the 18 stained glass windows coming from the second church, along with seven new ones.  The perfect paint inside and statues were truly elegant and marveled over everything about it.   We then decided we needed to find another.

Absolutely spectacular.

Back on the road, and we got on one called Piano Bridge Road, a little thread of a road, mostly single-lane.  We wondered if we really would find either the bridge or the other little church that should be at the end of it … St. Cyril & Methodious Church in Dubina. 

Built in 1885 the Piano Bridge was named for the twanging sound that was made when crossing it.

Dubina was the first Czech settlement in Texas, meaning the settlement was comprised of mostly Czech settlers.  The settlers needed a permanent building to worship and the first church was finished in 1877.  In 1909 a hurricane destroyed it and construction began on the present church.  It was completed in 1911. 


Just a pretty little church in the middle of nowhere.

The interior was stenciled but it was painted over in 1952.  In 1983 the original interior was recreated and is what you now see. 

Just beautiful, but you couldn't go inside this one.

These were something to see, but it was time to mosey on to our next stop.

The Texas bluebonnets remind me of the Alaskan lupine.