Pisek, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pisek, Texas
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 Pisek, Texas
Location in Texas
Pisek, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Colorado |
| Elevation | 291 ft (89 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
77950
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| Area code(s) | 979 |
Pisek, also known as Lone Oak, Sandy Point, or Nickols, is a ghost town in Colorado County, Texas. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, and it's no longer a busy community. Pisek became a ghost town after 1941. Its residents moved to a new spot called Lone Oak. This historic site is located along a railroad line between Fayetteville and New Ulm.
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Where Pisek Was Located
Pisek was found in the very northern part of Colorado County. It was near where the BNSF Railway crosses Fischer-Buller Road. A stream called Boggy Creek flows through the area. It eventually joins Cummins Creek.
Nearby roads include Lutonsky Lane and Buxkemper Road. You can also find 10th Street and Stokes Road to the northeast. Schmidt and Kickler Roads are to the south. The junction of FM 1291 and Fischer-Buller Road is about 1.1 miles (1.8 km) south of the railroad crossing. New Ulm is about 7.7 miles (12.4 km) east of this junction. Fayetteville is about 5.8 miles (9.3 km) west.
History of Pisek
The community of Pisek first appeared in the 1880s. It had two businesses back then. It was located where the town of Lone Oak is today. This spot is along FM 1291, about 3 miles (4.8 km) from the Fayette and Austin County lines.
The Railroad Arrives
In 1887, the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway finished building its line to Boggy Tank. They built a turntable there, which helps trains turn around. Many people living in Pisek were from Czech and German families. They decided to move to this new railroad spot. The railroad tried to name the new town Sandy Point. But eventually, the name Pisek was chosen. It was named after a town in the Czech Republic.
Growth and Decline
Between 1896 and 1907, Pisek had its own post office. During this time, the town also had a saloon, a cottonseed warehouse, and a few stores. Pisek did well while it was the end of the railroad line. But once the railroad was completed all the way to Houston, things changed. Residents started moving back to the original Pisek location. In 1941, the last store in Pisek closed and moved away. The railroad then renamed the site Nickols.
The new community of Lone Oak was named after a single oak tree. This tree stood near an important intersection. In the year 2000, Lone Oak had about 50 people living there.
A Story from the Past
About 3 miles (4.8 km) to the east of Pisek, there is a special marker. It tells the story of Mary Theresa Hennecke Juergens. Mary and her husband, Conrad, came to Texas in 1833. They built a cabin there.
During the Texas Revolution, Mexican armies invaded Texas. Many settlers fled the area in what was called the Runaway Scrape. The Juergens family decided to stay. However, Mary, who was pregnant, and her two stepsons were taken by a group of Karankawa people. Mary gave birth to her daughter, Ann Margaret, while she was with them. Later, Mary and Ann Margaret were bought back for $300. This happened at a trading post on the Red River. Sadly, the boys were never found. Conrad, Mary's husband, died soon after.
Mary later remarried. She lived near Frelsburg until 1871. Then she moved to Ohio. She passed away there in 1891.
