By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

The Round Top Family Library, originally a historical church, serves as a resource site for families in five rural counties. Activities, such as storytelling hours, chess club, music programs, and art classes are also conducted in the building. -- Staff photo by Carolyn Rost

May 4, 2006 - According to history, the Lipan Indians were the earliest inhabitants of the little town now called Round Top. By 1827, the first Anglo-American settlers … mostly wealthy plantation owners … began arriving and making homes for themselves and posterity. 

With a population of 77 in the “mile-square” town, Round Top was awarded one of 16 “Texas Yes!” special recognitions, presented by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) on April 4 in Austin.

The “Texas Yes!” program was started in 2003 and designed to promote rural Texas and what the areas have to offer visitors.  

Round Top Chamber of Commerce Director Cathy Chaloupka noted that they (the chamber) received around $18,000 to use for help with media costs and publicity for the area to promote all that is offered to visitors and citizens of the Round Top area.

The historical components of Round Top is a major draw for tourism. History shows the first name of the little town was the Townsend Settlement, named after a family from Florida. By the late 1840s, German immigrants began settling in the area, and … as they say … “the rest is history.”

Standing in front of the log cabin built by local citizens especially for the Round Top Chamber of Commerce are (from left) Mayor Carole Nagel; City Secretary and Council Member Linda Suggs; Assistant Director of Chamber Mary Stanhope and Chamber Director Cathy Chaloupka. -- Staff photo by Carolyn Rost

By 1846, the first post office was established in the town, Round Top, so named after the stagecoach mileage point located in the “house with the round top.” The town was incorporated in 1870, with the “one square mile” boundaries that remain the same to this day.

While the original town hall, built in the 1880s, burned in 1924, a new one was rebuilt at its present location in the middle of the town square in downtown Round Top.

By 1935, citizens of the little town realized that someone needed to be responsible for the upkeep of the town hall and area, and the “Do Your Duty” (DYD) Club was established by seven women. The group continues to operate, but today with many more citizens’ intent on keeping the town square neat and clean.

As Chaloupka likes to say, “Round Top is ‘Simply Magic!’”

She attributes the “magic” of Round Top to the citizens and chamber members who are intent upon “leaving a town with integrity for future generations to come.” In a town where the city sales tax provides around 80 percent of its income, it’s very important that the people work together for the same goals.

Another group that is still active after its origin in 1882 is the Round Top Rifle Association, explained Chaloupka. They host a number of events throughout the year, including a special “Schuetzenfest” in the fall with a free dance and the crowning of the “Schuetzenkoenig” (shooting king), after a day of target shooting. This group is thought to be the oldest, still active organization in Round Top.

Today, citizens and visitors have a plethora of things to do in the Round Top area, all promoted by the Round Top Chamber of Commerce. Henkel Square, in downtown Round Top, offers various buildings depicting Anglo and German-American furnishings, utensils and art of the period, including the Apothecary.

Right across the street is the new Bybee Square, which will have its formal opening on April 29 at 10 a.m., with various dignitaries taking part in the celebration. This area has buildings from the 1850s that house in-house artists who feature blown glass, paintings, prints, sculpture and ceramics, among many other art forms.

Also, within walking distance are various antique shops and restaurants, and the Round Top Family Library, which is located in a historical former church.

A few miles away is the famous Winedale Historical Center, with its restored 19th century German farmstead. It offers plantation homes, log cabins, fireplace kitchen, a smokehouse and barns, and is operated by the University of Texas in Austin (UTA). In July and August, the UT English Department presents three Shakespeare plays repertory during the “Shakespeare at Winedale,” which was created in 1970 and offers visitors “Shakespeare under the stars.”

Visitors to Round Top also enjoy the International Festival-Institute, founded by James Dick. The concert offers classical music and forums all during the year, and welcomes students from all over the world during June and July to work with teachers and distinguished artists from over the world.

Another attraction in the town is the Sterling McCall Old Car Museum, which houses vehicles from the prize collection of Sterling McCall, a Houston automobile dealer.

Add a great number of bed and breakfast businesses and open-air music functions and you have an idea of why Round Top was presented a “Texas Yes!” award.

(Round Top Chamber of Commerce: 979-249-4042 or  www.roundtop.org. TDA’s Texas Yes program: 866-4TEX-YES or www.TexasYes.org.)