Eye on Texas - L brings you La Grange Texas, with the sound of ZZ Top in the background. The town of close to 5000 was founded during the Spanish period of American history, then settled in 1837 during the Republic of Texas period. The town is influenced by German and Czech settlers.
On January 17, 1849, Heinrich Ludwig Kreische, a recent German immigrant, purchased 172 acres (70 ha) of land which included the tomb. He built a three-story house and, in 1860, began building a brewery. By 1879, it was the third-largest brewing operation in Texas, with its flagship product being "Kreische's Bluff Beer." Kreische maintained the tomb for the rest of his life, but the tomb and Kreische Brewery began to deteriorate after his death in 1882. The brewery closed in 1884.
Representation in popular culture[edit]
- ZZ Top attracted international attention to La Grange with its classic rock song "La Grange" (1973), which referred to "that shack outside La Grange".
- La Grange's attractions inspired the hit stage musical play in 1979, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, as well as the 1982 movie based on that play.
- The town is also mentioned in the song "Northeast Texas Women" by Willis Alan Ramsey.
- Charlie Robison mentions La Grange in his song "My Hometown" ("We worked 80 hours makin' time-and-a-half, but La Grange was too damn hot").
- A local playwright composed a musical featuring La Grange in "Heart of the Tin Trunk".
end with ZZ Top guitar licks and growl.....just outside La Grange........
That's an interesting reputation it's got!
ReplyDeleteAnnalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep
Love ZZ top, but I don't know if I'm familiar with that particular song. Maybe I am and just don't remember it. I remember seeing The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas as a kid, which seems odd. I thought Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You was prettier than Houston's version.
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Love ZZ top, but I don't know if I'm familiar with that particular song. Maybe I am and just don't remember it. I remember seeing The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas as a kid, which seems odd. I thought Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You was prettier than Houston's version.
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If it was originally Spansih do they steill speak it there? I couldn't see what tomb you were referring to - either I missed it, or perhaps I would know if I was American?
ReplyDeleteI think the tomb was just famous back in the 1800s. It all went away after the man's death. Probably the only Spanish being spoken is from any new immigrants. I'll be honest I've never been there - Texas is quite big - tough to hit it all. The key to that town is the ZZ Top song and infamous brothel back in the day.
DeleteCool like the song, thanks for sharing more about the town!
ReplyDeleteHeinrich Ludwig Kreische..man with a plan!!
ReplyDeletezannierose A-Z
Chicken Ranch brothel - what a name!
ReplyDeleteShame the brewery went under all those years ago.
The two times I've been to Texas, it was to Dallas and Texarkana. Quite different those two.
ReplyDeleteSounds like quite a place!
ReplyDeleteHi, Joanne,
ReplyDeleteInteresting theme.... I like learning about new places and this was certainly a fascinating look of American History....
This is your most intriguing A-Z post, yet, Joanne. Sounds like an exciting city.
ReplyDeleteI remember The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas! I never new that it was based on a real place in LaGrange before.
ReplyDeleteJulie