Mountain City Montage
- Hays Free Press publisher Bob Barton gives Mountain City residents some historical background on their small town. (Photo by Mark Wilson)
by PAULINE TOM
Mountain City City Hall doors open on Wednesday, May 12, for the Council Meeting – at the new location. It’s the house (that stayed on the market forever) at the corner of FM 2770 and Mountain City Drive.
At the city’s birthday party, Tiffany Curnutt clued us in on agenda items. Last month, a meeting with no citizens attending, the council discussed bringing in cash for the purchase of furniture for the new abode through the sale of the itsy bitsy vacated city hall. Tiffany has heard some ideas she considers “good” since then. The future of the historic building should be an action item.
And, the council will decide when and how to ribbon cut.
Check www.mountaincitytx.com for the complete agenda, which posts on the message boards at least 72 hours in advance.
•••
Bob Barton’s birthday party speech pierced some myths – even a myth that he perpetuated. He brought out history that does not yet appear in publications. Who among us knew about “Chicago”, the whiskey joint, before last week? Oh, the tales that yellowed letters tell!
Bob told us no one in the Mountain City community registered in the 1850 census – and why. Comanches separated the census takers in Austin from the settlement here. Talk about a dangerous job.
•••
Spurred on by Phil Wilbur, Mountain City reached an 88 percent return rate on the 2010 Census last week. On May 5 (newspaper’s publication day), Phil will learn whether we stay behind, tie, or pull ahead of Garden Ridge in Comal County – for the highest score in an eight-county area.
•••
Pulled down by a massive burr clover patch in our back yard, I came close to deserting the “Pull An Almost-Acre of Weeds” quest. But, now the MBCP goes down for the count, thanks to counsel from a friend who boasts the email moniker txorganicgardener@…
“Put down newspaper 12 sheets thick (don’t leave any gaps), wet it and then cover with mulch or compost – a couple of inches. Do not take up the paper! Leave it – it will decompose. Color okay.”
Weeds, be gone!
Across most of our lot, Horse Herb mingles with weeds. So, back to my most “precious tool” – my hands.
I didn’t make that up. Pulled it from the insert that came with “Bionic Elite Gardening Gloves.” I dug mine up on Amazon for $30, including tax and shipping. $30?! They work wonders.
My next-to-most precious weeding tool came from the General Store in New Ulm, north of Waco, run by Mennonites. RonTom calls it my “tom-ahaw’k.” Each time I gift purchase this little doozie, a clerk tells me, “This is the store’s best seller.”
•••
Each time I close “Montage”, you hear that I need tidbits. Call 512-268-5678 or email ptom5678@gmail.com.
Happy Mom’s Day.
