Page 63 - Visit Fayette | 2017 - 2018 Visotors Guide

St. Paul Lutheran Church ca 1871 - One of the Painted Churches of Texas
Serbin a Treasure of Wendish Heritage

Just over the Fayette County Wendish Museum log room, ca 1855 is used to Wendish history and culture. A
line, bordering southwest Lee The Wends preserve their exhibit carpentry and farming tools. fun, family oriented day featuring
County, is St. Paul Lutheran culture through maintaining the Museum hours are 1-5 p.m. daily traditional Wendish foods (includ-
Church, the northernmost Texas Wendish Heritage Museum except Mondays and holidays. ing homemade Wendish noo-
Painted Church of Texas. Five adjacent to St. Paul Church. As the Admission is $5; members and dles), exhibits and games, folklife
miles southwest from Giddings, only Wendish museum outside of children 12 & under are free. demonstrations, competitions
is area which forms a sharp point Germany, it is a complex of build- and children’s activities, vintage
where Lee, Bastrop, and Fayette ings connected by porches. In the Wendish Fest machinery, car shows, music and
counties converge near Serbin. center is the Peter Building with dis- more. Special music and entertain-
Serbin was established by a plays interpreting the history of the Wendish Fest is always held ment by German guests. No festival
unique ethnic group of Wendish Wends. It also houses museum of- on the fourth Sunday in Sept. admission. Visit www.texaswendish.
immigrants (Sorbs), who, in fices, gift shop, library and archives. at the Texas Wendish Heritage org, e-mail wendish@bluebon.
1854, left their homeland in On eachside are the historic St. Paul Museum Complex and historic St. net, or call (979) 366-2441.
an area of Germany known as School buildings, ca 1915. Exhibits Paul Lutheran Church celebrating
Lusatia to sail to America in include relics from the old country
search of freedom. They arrived and Texas. St. Paul Lutheran Church ca. 1871
on Galveston Island eager to Folk dress of Lusatia, the One of the Painted Churches of Texas
&
build their homes and preserve traditional Texas wedding Texas Wendish Heritage Museum
their faith and traditions. Their dresses, and the beautiful deco-
journey inland brought them rated Easter eggs are a few of the Serbin, Texas
to an area nestled among the colorful exhibits. Outdor exhibits
oaks which they named Ser- include two log buildings and
bin - The Sorbian Place. This early farming equipment.
is still the site of the historic The 1856 log room built by
St. Paul Lutheran Church ca the Kurio family, originally part The Texas Wendish Heritage Museum
1871 and the Texas Wendish of a dog trot home, is furnished as preserves the history of the Texas Wends, Slavic immigrants from Lusatia, an area in eastern Germany
Heritage Museum Complex. Open Tuesday thru Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Closed on Mondays and holidays.
a bedroom with original artifacts 1011 County Rd. 212 • Giddings, TX 78942 • (979) 366-2441
of the early settlers. The Mertink wendish@bluebon.net • www.texaswendish.org

Fayette County Visitors Guide 63