Spirit Spots

BREMOND SPIRITS SPOTS

Bremond , Texas 1930’s – 1960’s

Growing up in Bremond, Texas during the 1930’s, 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s was certainly a challenge for many families especially for the large (5 – 10 children) or very large families (11-18). Most of families especially the 1^st and 2^nd generation of the Polish, German, Irish immigrants worked very hard on the farms without any of the basic conveniences such as running water, indoor toilets, electricity, heating systems, and all the various compliances that have made life a lot easier. Just preparing the food on a daily basis required everyone’s participation in preparing the meals, washing the dishes, sweeping the floors, feeding and butchering the animals, harvesting and canning of the vegetables and fruits, drawing plenty of well water and many other daily chores.

Everyone still had time to play or listen to live neighborhood music at least 3 times a week. Everyone had their favorite beverage from a cup of coffee, fresh cow milk, homemade wine (berries, grapes, pears, plums), homemade brew, or some special white lightning and occasionally some purchased bottled beer. To find some of the better brands of cold beer or whiskey, many farmers rode their horse and buggy/wagons, Model T’s and A’s or just walked to one of the nearby Bremond Spirits Spots to take a break, do some horse business, sell some eggs, eat a plateful of good BBQ (Sausage, beef, pork, chicken) and just have some fun in visiting with each other.

At least 38 Bremond Spirits Spots were located within 10 miles or 37 Bremond Spirits Spots within 6 miles of downtown Bremond at various times during the 1930’s, 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s visited by many people from many places from this country as well as some visitors from foreign countries. The map with most of the designated hot Bremond Spirits Spots during the “Good Ole Days” were:

A. .Downtown East Side

1. Charlie Kloss

Willie Martin

JR’s etc

Dry Bean Saloon

2. Frank Kruneberger

Steve Atomijzcik

3. Ed Samuels ?

4. Lee Groholsky

5. Dick MacMahon

Bill Yanowski

B. Downtown West Side

6. Vick Kotch

7. Bill Polka

Green Door

8. Louis Stachowiak

Ed Bienski

Floyd Mushinski

9. Bruno Novak

10. Kie Lucas

11. Ike Krezensk

12. Ralph’s BBQ

13. Ray Hearne

C. Hwy 14 North of FM46

14. Bruno Olexy Liquor

15. Frank Muzyka Liquor

16. Wallace Strickland

D. FM46 West Old Hwy 6

17. Elite Steak House

Gertrude Yastic

18. Mike Kozak

19. Bremond Tavern

20. Louis Swick

21. Kie Duhr Liquor

22. Bruno Novak

23. Tony Muzyka

24. Elkhorn Filing Station

25. Hill Top Inn -- Lone Star Playboys

E. Hwy14 South Old Hwy 6

26. MM Café

27. Babe’s

28. Ray Swick

29. Joe Kotch

F. FM 2293 West

30. White Eagles

Louis Kubicki

31. Louis Cheherski

32. Ed Budza

33. Bloody Bucket Stash Okonski

34. Jim McCall

35. Bill Wachel

36. Lee Matalski

G . Hammond

37. Marion Kwasnica

38. Floyd Crouch

There probably were more and certainly some had multiple name changes during 1930’s, 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s.

The most popular beer brands were:

Lone Star Pearl Falstaff Pabst Blue Ribbon

Schlitz Shiner Southern Select Jax

The more popular whiskey brands were:

Old Crow Southern Comfort Turkey Jim Beam

Old Forester Old Taylor I W Harper Old Over Holt

Four Roses Private Cellar Ezra Brooks Champion Burbon

Old Charles

One of the more popular shot glasses used in the early days had the following measurements:

0 oz -- For Rabbit 1 oz -- For Ladies 2 oz -- For Gentlemen

3 oz -- For Pigs 4 oz -- For Jackasses (Donkeys)

The more popular wine brands were:

Concord

Besides the 38 Bremond Spirits Spots many families grouped together to make their homemade wine, home brew and some white lightning. Some used the white lightning also for sterilizing their knives, placing on their open wounds, fighting a cold with their special (hot tottie) mixture. Majority just had a good sip during cold weather or warm weather to get an energy kick they needed to loosen up and just get their sweat creating chores accomplished. Looking back at the “Good Ole Days”, many people needed a stress release remedy to tackle the every day challenges of just surviving and living their daily life. With so many chores for a large family to daily accomplish and just survive especially prior to the 1960’s, it is amazing that many lived long and fairly health lives. A story about White Lightning and Home Brew will be added to the Short Story section.

Anyone with any changes or additions or old pictures of some of these places, please contact Gene Okonski or email armco2@sbcglobal.net. Looking for some beer and whiskey bottles for old brands to take a picture. Will scan or copy and return bottles and original pictures to owners. Article to be placed in the OkonskiFamily.com web under the Bremond History section as Bremond Spirits Spots. You can call 713-858-2048 and leave message.

Rights Reseved. Do not copy unless permission given.

Dry Bean Saloon

Ralph's B B Q Joe Kotch

There probably were more and certainly some had multiple name changes during 1930’s, 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s.

The most popular beer brands were:

Lone Star Pearl Falstaff Pabst Blue Ribbon

Schlitz Shiner Southern Select Jax

The more popular whiskey brands were:

Old Crow Southern Comfort Turkey Jim Beam

Old Forester Old Taylor I W Harper Old Over Holt

Four Roses Private Cellar Ezra Brooks Champion Burbon

Old Charles

One of the more popular shot glasses used in the early days had the following measurements:

0 oz -- For Rabbit 1 oz -- For Ladies 2 oz -- For Gentlemen

3 oz -- For Pigs 4 oz -- For Jackasses (Donkeys)

The more popular wine brands were:

Concord

Besides the 37 Bremond Spirits Spots many families grouped together to make their homemade wine, home brew and some white lightning. Some used the white lightning also for sterilizing their knives, placing on their open wounds, fighting a cold with their special (hot tottie) mixture. Majority just had a good sip during cold weather or warm weather to get an energy kick they needed to loosen up and just get their sweat creating chores accomplished. Looking back at the “Good Ole Days”, many people needed a stress release remedy to tackle the every day challenges of just surviving and living their daily life. With so many chores for a large family to daily accomplish and just survive especially prior to the 1960’s, it is amazing that many lived long and fairly health lives. A story about White Lightning and Home Brew will be added to the Short Story section.

Rights Reseved. Do not copy unless permission given.