See event Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/123eSmiles/LVHAPostOffice2009March28?feat=directlink

Where Did The Name Come From?

Early settlers from Spain and Mexico were the first to claim the tribal lands of Native Americans along the Cibolo. The Republic days of Texas in the 1840s witnessed the creation of settlements in the area. The first wave of settlers came from the Old South, followed closely by immigrants from the Prussian Empire, including Germans and Poles. One of those settlements was given the name, “Post Oak.” In 1859, when it was discovered another town already had the name, it was officially changed to “Lavernia.”

But, there is much more to the story….

Inspired by descriptions of St. Francis of Assisi’s mountaintop retreat in the Tuscan Apennines, on Monte del Alvernia in Italy, our founding fathers believed their Texas home was as beautiful and inspirational as St. Francis' “green and shaded, wild and sequestered” sacred Mt. Lavernia hermitage. Over the years the story evolved and was repeated to their children in a simple homespun tale — the groves of shade trees at the Cibolo are green; the Spanish word for green is “verde.” Thus, the Anglicized choice became the beautiful name …. Lavernia.

PROGRAM:

Welcome	Elaine Stephens, President, La Vernia Historical Assn. Sharon Meyer, Postmaster, La Vernia
Pledge to U. S. Flag	Joseph Cicherski, Adjutant, American Legion Post 539, St. Hedwig, Texas
Introduction of Dignitaries & Former Postmasters
Greeting	Honorable Harold Schott, Mayor of La Vernia
Speaker	Allen Kosub, “A Tale of Two Post Oaks on the Cibolo”
Special Performance	La Vernia Dance Studio 3-4 year old tap class performing “C for Cookie” from Sesame Street
Community Blessing	Reverend Stanislaw Fiuk, St. Ann Catholic Church, La Vernia, Texas

"Since its founding in 1853, the Historical Post Office in present day La Vernia has had three official names: Post Oak, Lavernia and La Vernia. Taken from the records of the Postmaster General of the United States is a list of the individuals who have served as postmaster for this location. "
---By Regina & Allen Kosub

Post Oak Postmasters

2 February 1853 Joseph G. Brown

8 April 1854 Claiborne Rector

29 April 1857 Connally F. Henderson

7 May 1859 Name of Post Office changed to Lavernia

Lavernia Postmasters

7 May 1859 Connally F. Henderson

4 October 1860 William Sutherland

12 July 1861 William Sutherland (CSA)

12 October 1861 Walter F. Sutherland (CSA)

9 August 1866 John A. Fraser

25 January 1867 Miss Sallie E. Trent

11 May 1868 Lawrence H. Wall

28 March 1870 James H. McMahan (McMahon)

8 July 1880 Herman Suhre

26 March 1888 Chauncey Canfield

26 December 1889 Herman Suhre

20 March 1891 William E. Smith

15 October 1897 Hugo Kott

12 February 1913 Charles A. Tiner

10 August 1922 James W. McBee

13 January 1931 James W. McBee

16 April 1936 William M. Wiseman

1 May 1937 Name of Post Office changed to La Vernia [TWO words]

La Vernia Postmasters

18 June 1937 Edna B. Smith

10 September 1938 Walter L. Wiseman

16 December 1942 Edna B. Smith

15 October 1945 Walter L. Wiseman

19 November 1945 Walter L. Wiseman

15 January 1950 Edna B. Smith

8 May 1950 Edna B. Smith

30 April 1963 Samuel Toney

26 May 1964 Samuel Toney

1977 Linda Reeves

18 February 1984 Mary M. Duelm

14 October 1994 Sharon Dragon (Officer In Charge)

21 January 1995 David Acosta

29 May 2002 Phyllis Ritter (Officer In Charge)

30 November 2002 Sheryl M. Velazquez

Jan 2003 to Sept 2003 Joyce Knuepper (Officer In Charge)

Sept 2003 to 16 July 2004 Sheryl M. Velazquez

16 July 2004 Susan L. Faulkner (Officer In Charge)

May 2005 to Present Sharon A. Meyer (formerly Dragon)

Special Thanks to:

August Moczygemba, La Vernia One Stop, for the breakfast pizza!

La Vernia New & The Wilson County News, for the media coverage!

Mom & Pop's Donut Shop, Annette Guidry, for the delicious cake!

Matty Salinas, "Mrs. Wilson County 2009", for representing us!

La Vernia Dance Studio, Cynthia Hinojosa, Director, for showing us our local talent!

Borden's, Inc., for the orange juice!

City of La Vernia, for the barricades and assistance!

All the Volunteers, for your great attitudes!

Spell it - Lavernia - LaVernia - or La Vernia!

Post Oak Postmasters

Lavernia Postmasters

Many more stories can be found in Lavernia Legacies 1, 2, 3 & 4 The Cibolo Creek from the handbook of Texas online This info about the ciblolo Creek is currently not included in Lavernia Legacies. We include it here for your interest.

Many more stories can be found in
Lavernia Legacies 1, 2, 3 & 4

The Cibolo Creek
from the handbook of Texas online
This info about the ciblolo Creek is currently not
included in Lavernia Legacies. We
include it here for your
interest.