Many in the Rockne area spent Memorial Day weekend cleaning up in the aftermath of the storms, high winds and possible tornado reported in the southern part of Bastrop County on May 28.
In its preliminary damage survey, the National Weather Service said strong to severe thunderstorms moved through the area with winds peaking near 80 mph and causing damage to roofs and trees. The weather service said it’s possible there could have been a small tornado but surveyors were unable to find a path.
Driving down Fohn Road on May 29, one could see the metal roof of the County Barn was partly missing, and a large piece of its tin lodged in the top of the huge oak tree outside Lily Oaks across the road.
After last week’s winter storm, taking snow photos has lost its allure. Spring can’t get here fast enough for me.
Before the extreme weather hit, I spent an afternoon visiting with Thomas and Shane Wilhelm at Lily Oaks, their farmstead and event venue at 189 Fohn Road in Red Rock. It was great to see that they are working to restore the Wilhelm home, which dates from the early 1900s.
Thomas’ great-grandfather, Andy Wilhelm, built the house (they estimate between 1917 and 1920). Andy Wilhelm and his wife Annie raised 10 children in the home. The last owners to live in the house were Thomas’ great-uncles, Fritz and Billy Wilhelm. After they passed, the property sat in a family trust for a while. The county ended up using a portion on the back side of the property to expand the county barn facilities, and Thomas and his dad, Terry Wilhelm, made a proposal for the home and about 3 acres of the land. Without their vision, the century-old home would have likely been torn
Rockne News: Century-old home in rural Bastrop County gets new life as wedding venue msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.