Arneckeville, Texas, DeWitt County. (original) (raw)
Zion Lutheran Church in Arneckeville
Photo Courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2006
History in a Pecan ShellSettled around 1859, the town was named with the opening of the post office in 1872. The namesake was Adam Arnecke who donated land for the first school. Arnecke also served as the town�s storekeeper and first postmaster.
Adam�s son become Dr. C. A. H. Arnecke, who opened a pharmacy and opened a hospital.
By the mid 1880s Arneckeville sat on the stage line between Goliad and Cuero.
In the mid 1890s the town reported 250 residents but declined to a mere 75 in the mid- 1920s. In the late 1940s the population leveled at around 100. The post office closed its doors in the 1950s and the local schools consolidated.
By the late 1960s, the population returned to 75 and it declined to 50 in the 1980s.
DeWitt County Drive
From Cuero - Head south on Hwy 77 (Esplanade) and cross the railroad tracks. You will see a sign for Arneckeville. Follow the arrow and watch for the signs on your right. There will be two of them.
After leaving the Cuero city limits you'll notice a few miles of feathery trees on your right and down. These are
Cypress trees along the banks of theGuadalupe River.
After you've gone about seven miles from town, start looking for a sign on your right for Zion Church Road. The sign is next to a cattle guard, the first of three that you will cross to reach the cemetery and church. This Lutheran Church and its cemetery has been the anchor of this German settlement since 1868. If it looks familiar, you may have seen it in statewide publications. It is a favorite of photographers. more
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