CASTROVILLE'S OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS - (Updated 10/20/09)
On December 5th, CCHA will be on hand at our exhibit booth to answer your questions about the organization and offer a wide selection of historical books for purchase including the very popular Medina County History Book. Stop by from 10am to 5pm to say hello and take a look at the many exciting publications of CCHA and find out how you can contribute your family story to the next edition of the Medina County History Book.
4TH QUARTERLY MEETING - (Updated 10/20/2009)
The Castro Colonies Heritage Association will hold its 4th Quarterly meeting on Sunday, December 13, 2009 at the Gethsemane Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas at 2:00 PM. The program is "Connections - Sharing Family Traditions".
Gethsemane Lutheran Church is located at 610 Avalon Street, San Antonio, Texas 78213
Map to Gethsemane Lutheran Church
Please join us for our quarterly meeting and membership drive. We will be featuring Alsatian Christmas traditions and interesting speakers. Learn more about the Living History Center Project and other committee updates. Join CCHA for only $20/annual membership dues.
Benefits of Membership:
- Networking with local experts on historic events and families of the Castro Colonies through tours and visits, student exchanges and correspondence
- Contribute to preserving the heritage of the Castro colonists and their descendants
- Speakers and social events featuring the unique heritage of the Alsatians and the sister-city partnership with Oberentzen/Niederentzen, Alsace France.
- Encouragement of historical and genealogical study and research
- Recognition, preservation and restoration of historic buildings and distinctive architecture
All meetings are held at 2:00 PM Central Standard Time unless otherwised noted.
MEDINA COUNTY HISTORY BOOK – NEW EDITION! (Updated 8/7/2009)
Castro Colonies Heritage Association will be accepting updates from the founding families of Medina County for inclusion in the next edition which is expected to be published early in 2010. Everyone now has grandchildren and great-grandchildren who need to be included in the next edition. Many families have much more genealogical information since the last publication and this is your chance to document your family’s important contribution to the history of this area.
If you would like to attend a meeting to find out more about this important archival project or participate in the collection and coordination of the family histories, please call Angela McFadin, History Book Committee Chairperson at 210.831.6830, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Meeting Dates:
August 9 – 1:30 pm, St. Paul Lutheran Church Activity Center, Hondo
Sept 13 – 4 pm, St. John Catholic Church Parish Hall (following the CCHA Mtg.)
October 11 – 1:30 pm, St. Paul Lutheran Church Activity Center, Hondo
The first meeting will be August 9, at 1:30 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church Activity Center in Hondo, Texas. Everyone is welcome to participate. We need volunteers to contact families regarding submitting their information and photos.
All updates should be submitted in MS Word format along with digital photos. For more details on how to submit your files, please go to the Medina County History Book page.
Family History Submission Page
EXTENDED RELATIONS SPECIAL COMMITTEE by Cecilia (Pingenot) Forrest
This is my small effort to help you connect with others who may share a common ancestor. Many of us no longer have surnames that reflect our connection to our Castro Colonists.
It is my intent also to provide this data to our Membership Chairman so a copy of the data can be available at all our meetings - I live in Houston, Texas and am unable to attend all the meetings.
Thanks to all who are participating. I look forward to hearing from others soon. I will print out the information (probably late next week) so it will be available at the June 14 meeting in Castroville. Feel free to contact me at 281-469-1065 about any questions you may have.