Connect With Us

The concept of documenting the development of Hallettsville came about after many, many informal gatherings and conversations between local historians and genealogists who, driven by their own innate curiosity, seemed to ask each other the same questions: Does anyone remember where the bank, the hotel, the drugstore, etc. were? Our answers were based on personal recollections, educated guesses and even an occasional fact or two. We also started to wonder how many other people were asking themselves the very same questions. 

So, the idea was born; to document the development of Hallettsville, block by block, beginning with the original town site. As a result, we have all banded together to become what we fondly call the “Block Party”. Since our original declaration, the scope of our project has become very evident; there is literally no end in (site) sight. Our approach is unique. The research is not limited to names, dates and places but literally bricks, wood and mortar. Our families do not consist of parents and children but instead Blocks and Lots. Our goal is to use whatever resources are available to assemble as factual a history of the development of Hallettsville as humanly possible. 

While we have committed ourselves to this project, we need all the help we can get. So, if anyone visiting this website has any documentation or pictures of any type about the development of Hallettsville, please contact us at the following address: w0rth1ng1959@gmail.com. 

Your help will be deeply appreciated by our troop of intrepid and probably slightly delusional volunteers. 

If you're interested in more records, you can visit the Lavaca County Archives at

the Courthouse Annex at 406 N. Texana Hallettsville, Texas 77964.

The current hours are:

Monday - Wednesday 9am to 4pm (closed 12 -1)

Thursday - Friday by appointment only

For more information about the Archives and the Press Gang contact:

Lisa A. Lowe, Records Management Officer 361-798-9110

AKA THE LAVACA COUNTY RECORDS RETENTION GROUP

Mission Statement:  To Preserve the historical records of Lavaca County and make them available to the public.

We are the voice …  

of the people who use 

these records

of the people who 

created these records.

of those whose lives 

are documented in 

these records.

The Lavaca County Records Retention Group aka the Press Gang is a group of local citizens who volunteer in the Archives cleaning, repairing and rehousing the unique historic records of Lavaca County. Our first official workday was May 15, 2006. The Press Gang has had workdays at least once a month since 2006 except during Covid.  

The Press Gang meets twice a month at the County Archives, normally on the first and third Mondays of the month depending on county holidays.

The success of the Record Retention and Archives project would simply have been impossible without the continued support of the Dickson Allen Foundation. The Foundation’s belief in our project and their commitment to protecting our unique county history is a shining example of leadership in action. 

Here is the Facebook Press Gang Page

Facebook.com/lavacacountypressgang