This month in Gonzales County history

1846
- May 13, war between Mexico and USA breaks out
1854
- May 6, the contract for the Female Academy has been let to John Mooney
- May 13, a supper was held and $250 was raised for completion of the Methodist Church Building
1878
- May 18, Brown Bowen hanged for murder of Thomas Holderman (4,000 in attendance)
1881
- Ordinances passed by the City Council according to May, 1881 Inquirer: The first ten were adopted May 4 and the next three were adopted May 10:
1. No timber on town tracts shall be cut unless permission is obtained, and even then only for firewood, not for sale or speculation.
2. No business shall barter or sell on Sunday. (Does not include drugs or medicines.)
3. No pistol or firearms shall be discharged within City limits unless on his own premises in cases of necessity.
4. No animal may be hitched or tied to the fence around public square, public enclosure, or any tree near a sidewalk within the inner limits.
5. It is unlawful to release an animal in a public enclosure in the city or to deface shrubs and trees in inner city.
6. Being intoxicated, disturbing the peace, cursing and swearing exposing his person, cause for fines.
7. No fighting.
8. No weapons in inner city. Including: pistol, dirk, dagger, slingshot, sword cane, spear, brass knuckles, bowie knife, or any other knife.
9. Be it ordained by the City Council of Gonzales:
i. That the territory within the following lines shall hereafter constitute the inner limits of the City of Gonzales:
ii. Beginning at the southwest corner of Block No. 1, being where the old oil factory was located, thence east along St. Vincent Street to the south east corner of Block No. 43, being Dr. John C. Jones residence, thence north along College Street to the north east corner of Block No. 49, being T.J. White’s place, thence west along St. Andrew Street to the northwest corner of Block No. 7, intersecting Water Street near the Slough, thence south down Water Street to the place of beginning.
10. Horses or mules must be ridden or driven at a trot or moderate lope, no faster, within the inner city.
11. No one may leave slop, garbage or other offal upon any street, in or around the public square or other public street within the inner limits, or to leave any load of wood cut or uncut beyond the limit of thirty-six hours upon any street facing the public squares or encumber any of said streets with boxes, bales of cotton, or other merchandise, beyond a reasonable time.
12. If a fine is imposed and cannot be paid the defendant shall be either jailed or put to hard labor upon streets or other Public Works of City.
13. All other ordinances in conflict with the above shall be repealed ten days after publication thereof.
1886
- May13, the bell named “Gabriel” was blessed atop the St. Joseph Catholic Church at the corner of College and St. Lawrence St. (Block 46). A new belfry had been added to accommodate the bell.
1891
- May 28, the Board of Trustees of the school has been notified that the high school has been made an auxiliary of the University of Texas. This entitles graduates to enter the University without examination. This makes Gonzales High School rank among the best in the state.
1904
- May 5, the courthouse clock had a tantrum Tuesday morning and struck 40 times without stopping.
- May 15, Lutheran Church organized. Began meeting on the second floor of 525 St. Joseph Street
1909
- May 6, the Cotton Mill is running a full force and turning out about 175,000 yards of cloth per month.
1925
- May 10, Sam Burchard, county surveyor, and Louis Burchard find old “Spanish saber” planted at the south east corner of “Block 10, where the Old Kleine Opera House now stands.” Belief was that this was the marker placed by blacksmith John Sowell to preserve the location of his lot prior to leaving town on the “Runaway Scrape.” Saber was replaced in the ground with a metal cap flush with the existing sidewalk
- May, First graduating class from Edwards High School
- May, Miss Francis Mohrmann selected to sing solos on WOAI radio station