Where Did the Name, "La Vernia" 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, where did THAT name come from?….

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.
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