First United Methodist Church Cotulla

This church has 135 years of warmly receiving visitors and making a difference in the lives of those it has touched.

Cotulla’s First School

The international and great northern railroad developed Cotulla in 1881, and the first school opened on this site in 1885, with classes for primary, intermediate and advanced student.

LaSalle Courthouse

In 1931, the 1904 courthouse was demolished and La Salle County built their fourth and current courthouse on the same grounds as the previous courthouses.

The secret of successful change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new."

– SOCRATES

Cotulla Main Street celebrates 10th anniversary

Cotulla Main Street has recently announced the 10th anniversary of its Texas Historical Commission designation.

The program earned its recognition in October 2006, as a Texas Main Street City by the State of Texas and joined 89 Main Street Cities in their mission of promoting economic development. In May of 2006, the Cotulla City Council adopted a resolution citing their official goal of revitalizing the central business district with the context of the preservation and rehabilitation of its historic buildings. The program functions as a one-staff-member office, a 13-chair Advisory Board, and volunteer assistance for events. General Manager, Patsy Leigh has proudly served as the organization’s lead since 2008.

“While I’ve been involved with the Main Street Program, we have been able to see many improvements in our historic district downtown,” Leigh said. “There are still projects to be completed, but they will come about in the very near future.” Cotulla Main Street Stakeholders, (L-R) Gil Rocha, Deryl Morris, Councilwoman Trish Garcia, Mayor Jose Javier Garcia, Councilwoman Mary Koraleski, Erica Bustamante, Patsy Leigh and Larry Dovalina.

Community Investment

The first Protestant church in Cotulla, this congregation was organized in 1881 as the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The first services were held in the home of John Freeman by the Rev. W. H. Keck. In 1883 the members built a frame chapel at the site of the present parsonage. The only church facility in town, it was shared with Presbyterian and Baptist congregations. The current brick sanctuary was constructed in 1906 during the pastorate of the Rev. Temple G. Woolls. An educational building was added in 1928.

Bringing History to Life

A bronze statue of Cotulla’s namesake founder watches over Veterans Park downtown in Cotulla, Texas a project directed by Cotulla Main Street Program. The full-size representation of Joseph Cotulla stands above a bubbling water feature that calls to mind the first artesian well dug in La Salle County by the scion of Polish immigrants who settled in the South Texas Brush Country and established a homestead in the 1880s.

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