Hugo and Hattie Kundinger
 

Hugo and Hattie "Miss Hattie" Kundinger lived in their home attached to their Drug Store on Oyster Lake Road about a mile east and south of Collegeport. The Drug Store was famous in the area for its marble soda fountain and for its "ice cream" tables and chairs. The soda fountain had a carbonated water faucet growing out of the marble counter like a tree, curving up gracefully and becoming a lamp. They had a buzzer hooked up on the door so when opened, the buzzer sounded off in their living quarters. Mr. Hugo died in 1952 and Miss Hattie continued to run the Drug Store.

In 1959, Leon Hale of the Houston Post interviewed her for his column. Following are some quotes from the column:

"I can't get parts for this fountain equipment any more," said Miss Hattie..."That faucet won't fizz any more, you see. And when I run out of carbonated gas I put the tank on a set of rockers and mix it up."

Miss Hattie came with her family in 1908 to Collegeport, when it was being developed. "Burton D. Hurd was the main developer of Collegeport." Miss Hattie said: "When the town was beginning, Mr. Hurd would take people around, show them this piece of land and that piece, and stop and gather everybody around him and make a speech. My, how that man could talk. That's his home down there, the black one, close to the Post Office. Mr. Bob Smith from Houston bought it and had it remodeled."

"Lots of people think Collegeport was blown away by a storm. No such thing. We've had storms, but I don't know of a single building that ever blew down.

"Why, we had three hotels here at one time, and a big pavilion on the bay, and three lumber yards and the Missouri Pacific Railroad and about 1000 people. We had a basket lunch at the pavilion one day, with a table for each state, and there were so many people at the Kansas table I had to sit with the Texas folks. The reason Collegeport went down, the rice land played out, and the farmers left and took all the young folks with them. They came back and started the rice up again in 1922, and learned to fertilize it, and now they keep it in rice. The hotels are gone now. Man named Weborg, Albert I think his name was, tore down his hotel, hauled it to Houston and rebuilt it just as it was here.

Leon Hale asked, "What would you do, Miss Hattie, if a hurricane came whistling in, aimed right at Collegeport?" "Why," she said, "I'd just button up and stay right here."

September 11, 1961 Hurricane "Carla" destroyed Miss Hattie's Drug Store and home. The tidal wave washed away and damaged the property. She built a small home with attached garage on her store property and lived there until her death, May 23, 1964.

Where, now, can you get a real "soda?" Where can you sit in a curved back chair at a tiny round table in a drug store, windows and doors open for ventilation, dust from the southeast breeze on the floor the smell of old medicines and coke fizzing in your nose?

Colleen Claybourn - 1984

Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, pages 297-298
 

Maples [Mapes?] Boys (left), unknown man (middle), Kay Legg (far right)
Taken from a scrapbook donated by Fay Smith Soli, daughter of Lizzie Will Morris Smith.
 

On the thirteenth day of April, 1853, a little baby was born. At last it took form and became known as a Haisley. Last Thursday it reached the eightieth mile stone so about fifty went out to the Haisley home to congratulate V. S. Haisley and to show him their respect. They found that eighty-year man out in the field planting corn. Soon he changed his corn planting clothes for this party clothes and appeared before his guests. No drooping shoulders for that man. Head erect, eyes bright and alert, he looks to the future without fear. The Haisley family came here in 1909 and although they have had considerable gray with the sunshine, they have taken life as it came and won. Today they enjoy the respect of all who know them and so we were all glad and happy that we might gather together as friends and neighbors and celebrate the day. The table gave no sign of depression, for it was loaded with good food of every character. Coffee made by our community coffee maker, ... Carrie Nelson. A short period of devotion led by Mr. William Schubring of Houston and the party dissolved to their homes. Just one more enjoyable affair.

The Matagorda County Tribune, April 20, 1933
 

Mrs. V. R. [Sarah Ida] Haisley was born near Jamestown, Chautauqua County, New York, Sept. 18, 1853 and passed away at the age of eighty years, five months and eight days.

From there she migrated to Nebraska, with her parents. Later as a widow with a small daughter she moved to Kansas and proved upon a claim there.

In 1895 she was married to Mr. B. V. Haisley who survives her. She is also survived by three step-daughters whom she raised, namely, Minnie of Cumberland, Ohio; Dena of Colby, Kan.; and Hattie, the wife of Hugo Kundinger of Collegeport. She also raised in her home the children of Mr. Haisley's sister, Haisley Mills of this place; Velma of California and Luke who died May 18, 1909.

The Matagorda County Tribune, January 4, 1934 
 

Haisley Family
Hattie May Haisley Kundinger, Hugo Kundinger, Faye DeWald,
V. R. Haisley, Mrs. Haisley and Haisley Mills
 

Friends and relatives mourn the death of one of the oldest settlers of Collegeport, Mr. V. R. Haisley. Mr. Haisley, who was almost 89 years of age, died at his home Wednesday night, March 4th.

Funeral services were held Friday evening at the Community House, and were conducted by Rev. Gillespie of Palacios. The burial was in the cemetery at Palacios.

Relatives who were present were Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Kundinger of Collegeport, Mrs. J. L. Wolfe of Kansas, Mr. Haisley Mills of Collegeport, and a niece and her husband of Aransas Pass.

The Daily Tribune, Thursday, March 12, 1942

V. R. Haisley

Vincent Ridgley Haisley, son of John and Sarah Haisley, was born in Greenville, Bond County, Illinois, April 13, 1853. He passed away at his home in Collegeport, Texas, March 3, 1942, at the age of 88 years, 10 months and 21 days.

When but a young lad he moved with his parents to eastern Iowa.

On Jan. 1, 1879 he was united in marriage to Clara Rummel. To this union, one son and three daughters were born. The son, Frank, died in infancy.

His wife passed away October 18, 1889.

In 1890 he traveled to Colby, Kansas, in a covered wagon, and there left his three little girls with his sister, Mrs. Rufus Mills while he sought work in Colorado. October 25, 1891, he was married to Mrs. Ida Swezey. In the spring of 1909 he moved with his family to Collegeport, Texas, where he has resided ever since. He was a kind and loving husband and father. Always a hard working man; never complaining; cheerful and ready to lend a helping hand; which won him many friends.

Early in life he united with the Methodist Church and as long as he was able he took an active part in church work and greatly enjoyed doing so.

Mrs. Haisley and the eldest daughter, Mrs. Minnie Moore, preceded him in death. He leaves to mourn his passing two daughters, Mrs. Hattie Kundinger of Collegeport, Texas; Mrs. Dema Wolf of Colby, Kansas; one stepdaughter, Mrs. Ruth Woods of Loveland, Colorado; his nephew Haisley R. Mills of Collegeport, who so faithfully cared for him in his declining years; a niece, Mrs. Velma McDonald of Berkeley, Calif.; seven grand children, other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held from the Collegeport Church with Rev. George F. Gillespie officiating. Burial was in the Palacios Cemetery under the direction of the Palacios Funeral Home.

Palacios Beacon, March 12, 1942
 

Funeral services for Hugo A. Kundinger, 81, a pioneer of the Collegeport area, were held here Wednesday afternoon at the Palacios Funeral home.

Born December 2, 1870, in Chicago, Mr. Kundinger came to Collegeport about forty years ago. he was well known as an old timer and merchant there. He died Sunday.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Hattie Kundinger, a sister, Mrs. Amanda Glazebrook of Chicago.

Palacios Beacon, Thursday, January 17, 1952
 

DAMAGE AT COLLEGEPORT
 

Collegeport , Texas , August 20.--The tornado which visited this place Monday night was preceded by a brisk norther which blew all day Monday. That evening the wind gradually changed to west and then southwest by north from which direction it blew nearly all night, accompanied by heavy rain. Those who lived here during the 1909 storm estimated that the wind blew about 60 miles per hour. Considerable damage was done. Many small sheds and outbuildings were blown over. The new $10,000 school building was unroofed, also the Sholl block and several houses lost a portion of the roofs. All private docks and bath houses were destroyed and the T-head of the municipal wharf, also the bath house portion of the pavilion was strewn along the beach.
 

Many motor boats, sloops and schooners were washed high and dry on the bank and some carried inland along the Pilkington Bayou a distance of half mile. V. R. Haisley's barn was destroyed, causing the loss of one horse. Several silos were also wrecked. The rice crop harvested and being harvest[ed] was badly damaged and it is estimated that at least half the crop is ruined. In many places the ripe grain was threshed out of the standing heads to such an extent that the ground was white with grain.
 

Matagorda County Tribune, August 27, 1915
 

Wedding picture, picture of Miss Hattie at the top and photos with *s are courtesy of Chris Murat, great-granddaughter of Hugo's sister, Clara Kundinger Hubert.
 

More Kundinger Photos
 

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