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Albert, Texas

Pronounced: "AL-bert"

"Cold Beer"

REFERENCES

ALBERT TEXAS ICE HOUSE & BEER GARDEN: 830-644-2042. Located at 5435 S. RR 1623, Stonewall, TX 78671 (postal address, but it is really in Albert TX). Slogan: "Good Songs, Cold Beer, Good Friends, and Tall Tales". An unusually beautiful setting with centuries old massive oak trees on substantial acreage, great entertainment, for family fun and the coldest beer in Texas (they say). A very popular place for motorcyclists and even the locals. Cook-outs, pot luck, live music, jam sessions and pickers. Friday night through Sunday. Brandon Easley, Town Manager. Web: www.alberttexas.com.

ALBERT TEXAS DANCE HALL: 830-644-2042. Located at 5435 S. RR 1623, Stonewall (Gillespie County), TX 78671 (postal address, but it is really in Albert TX). This is an historic building (built in 1922) that is in disrepair and not open to the public. However, the new Albert owners reportedly will renovate and open the dance hall to its former glory. Stay tuned. See more at: www.alberttexas.com.

WILLIAMS CREEK SCHOOL HOUSE: 830-644-2651. This historic limestone schoolhouse (Attended by LBJ in 1921) can be rented for social functions. From the historical marker: "Established to serve the rural Albert community. the Williams Creek School, also known as the Albert School, began in 1890-91 near the creek in 1897. Trustees approved construction of a stone schoolhouse at this site. They enlarged the school to two rooms in 1922, constructing a frame addition clad in brick-faced metal siding. A dogtrot separates the two main rooms and the original bell tower became a central feature. For one year, the young Lyndon Baines Johnson, an area native, attended the school, which merged with Stonewall in 195, and the building has since provided space for a community club, which meets regularly,as well as other local events."See www.historicschools.org

NEARBY & HILL COUNTRY-WIDE ATTRACTIONS: See Attractions.

Some of the very nearby attractions include:

HYE: GARRISON WHISKY DISTILLERY; HISTORIC POST OFFICE

LUCKENBACH: LUCKENBACH DANCE HALL & GENERAL STORE

STONEWALL: PEACHES; VINEYARDS; LAVENDER; SAUER-BECKMANN LIVING HISTORY FARM

PARKS: There are many state and national parks in the greater area as profiled on the Parks page. These nearby parks include:

STONEWALL: LBJ STATE & NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARKS

Local city parks include: None

EVENT CALENDAR: For details on each event, see: Festivals & Events
See Ice House web site above.

WEATHER: Weather Underground (Fredericksburg)

MEDIA COVERAGE:

On-Line Latest News: None

Newspaper: None

MAPS: Google; GeoHack

HISTORY: Handbook of Texas Online: "The earliest known settlers in the area were George Cauley, Ben White, Sr., and a man named Jacobs. The town dates from 1877, when Fritz Wilke, George Maenius, and John Petri moved from Fredericksburg seeking new grazing lands for their cattle. Wilke, a blacksmith, bought his land from a man named Elmeier, who was murdered in a robbery several years later. The town was originally called Martinsburg after an early settler and was a stop on the Fredericksburg-Blanco stage route. The Martinsburg post office operated from 1877 to 1886, when mail was routed through nearby Hye in Blanco County. In 1892, however, Martinsburg got a new post office and a new name, thanks to Albert Luckenbach, who sold his store in Luckenbach, moved to Martinsburg, and opened a new post office, which he registered as Albert. The first local school was established in 1891, and in 1897 postmaster Otto Schumann opened the town's first store. The Albert Echo, a singing society, was founded the following year. In 1900 a new school building was erected; there the young Lyndon Baines Johnson was enrolled for a year. A local Lutheran mission was established in 1902 and eventually grew into what was often called the Lutheran Church of Stonewall, which Johnson attended. Albert had fifty residents in 1925, four in 1964, and twenty-five in 1972. By 1985 the store had been torn down, the school was a community club, and the town's dance hall was partitioned and used for storage; Albert still had twenty-five residents and two businesses. The reported population in 1990 and again in 2000 was twenty-five."

See Wikipedia: "The area was first settled by George Cauley, Ben White, Sr., and a man named Jacobs. Around 1877, blacksmith Fritz Wilke, George Maenius, and John Petri moved from Fredericksburg seeking pasture for their cattle. Wilke bought land from a man named Elmeier, who was robbed and murdered years later. The Martinsburg post office operated from 1877 to 1886. In 1892, Martinsburg got a new post office and a new name, after Albert Luckenbach sold his store in Luckenbach, and arrived to register a new post office in town, under the name Albert. A school was established in 1891, and in 1897 postmaster Otto Schumann opened the town's first store. In 1900 a new school building was erected where Lyndon Baines Johnson was briefly enrolled. A local Lutheran mission, the Lutheran Church of Stonewall, was established in 1902 which LBJ attended.

The town was a stop on the Fredericksburg-Blanco stage route and in 1967 became a stop on the President's Ranch Trail. In late October 2007, the town was put up for sale on the auction website eBay.

Albert had 50 residents in 1925, only 4 in 1964, and 25 in 1972. By 1985 the store had been torn down, the school converted into a community club, and the dance hall a storage locker, though Albert still had 25 residents and two businesses. The population would stay at 25 through 2000, but by 2007, the town had been all but abandoned. "

See www.alberttexas.com/history

PRIOR NAMES: Martinsburg

NATIONAL REGISTRY SITES:

CEMETERIES: Wilke Cemetery, on RR 1623 just E of the Ice House.

AVAILABLE SERVICES: Gas: no; Convenience Stores: no; Restaurants: no; Lodging: no; Grocery Stores: no; Banks: no; Vehicle Repair: no; Hospital: no; Med Clinic: no; Post Office: no; Public Schools: no; Cemetery: yes

OTHER PROFILES: ePodunk (not available); City Data (not available); Texas Escapes with good photos; Travel Texas (not available)

NOTES: The Ice House is the only business here and is "the town". It is a very popular biker destination because of the remote setting, huge oak trees, music and "cold beer". It is adjacent to the 85 year old Albert Dance Hall (which remains intact) and the historical school referenced above. Pecan and peach trees in area. The entire town of 13 acres is one property, and recently sold to a new owner.

BUSINESS and ORGANIZATION DIRECTORY

ALBERT COMMUNITY CLUB: 830-997-8729

SANDY ROAD GUEST HAUS:

An Upscale Western-style Guest House Bed & Breakfast in a Beautiful Ranch Setting in the Gorgeous Texas Hill Country

B&B Reservations & Information: 281-300-7177
9242 RR 1320 (Sandy Road), Johnson City, TX 78636

Web: www.SandyRoadGuestHaus.com
Email: info@SandyRoadGuestHaus.com
Come Relax & Enjoy!

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