Cologne community gives residents comfort
Delores Hemphill sits with her husband, Preston Hemphill. Delores' first husband, Willie Bergsen, was one of the original settlers of Cologne.
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In between Goliad and Victoria lies Raisin, where at one point it was home to a community called Cologne, established by freed slaves who had decided to build a better opportunity for themselves.
Willie Bergans was a descendant of one of the original settlers, Milton and Sally Walls. The land, which was passed down to him, is now home to his wife, Delores Hemphill, who chose to stay there after his death in 2001.
"It was originally his mother's land," Delores said.
Bergans and Delores met in Houston, where he mentioned to Delores he had no interest in staying in the Houston area.
He wanted to return to Cologne where he had built a home in the early 1950s on his mother's land.
He looked to see where the water ran to and decided where to build, to avoid flooding, Delores said.
The two later married and moved to the Cologne community.
"It's quite a difference," Delores said of her move from the city to rural living.
Delores admitted to having had a hard time adjusting to a small town.
"I really missed a lot of the opportunities of being part of activities," she said, but added that since her move she became active with the United Methodist Church and is even trying to learn to play the piano.
"It takes a lot of time to learn," she said.
As she acclimated to her new surroundings, Delores remembered missing the street lights.
"I didn't go out at night," she said, adding it was too dark.
However, she found comfort in the low crime rate and less traffic.
"I've really been appreciative of the safety the area affords," she said.
She later moved her mother, Julia Arline Hardiman, from Houston to the country.
"She enjoyed the land," Delores said about her mother's move to the quieter Cologne area.
Hardiman lived to be 102 and Delores thinks peacefulness of the area may have added to her long life.
"Blondie would come in and let her pet her," Delores said of her dog, "It was like therapy."
Bergans, Delores' late husband, worked for Citizens Medical Center, but was later diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. He died in 2001, leaving his home and the land of his ancestors to Delores.
She has remained there.
Seven years ago she married Preston Hemphill, and they stayed in the Cologne area because of the quietness and scenery.
Although Preston takes care of the upkeep of the land and the only large animal on the property, a 15-year-old horse, which has Bergans' brand - an H-W.
Delores and Preston also have three dogs, Blondie, Brownie, and Characol.
Comments
A little more history and a focus, and this would be a good story.
November 16, 2009 at 10:06 a.m.