Home Care In Rosenberg, TX

Admission includes a tour with a docent, who will take you through exhibits, railcars and the historic Tower 17.

ROSENBERG, Texas — On its two acres right alongside four active railroad tracks, the Rosenberg Railroad Museum uses a variety of spaces to bring the history of railroading to life.

"For so long, people traveled by horse and buggy or by boat, but really, to develop the United States, it took railroads to get people where they needed to go," said Rainey Webster, the museum's executive director. "We like to preserve that history and tell the story of how it’s impacted us today."

Some of it is on display inside its education station, which houses the museum's model train exhibits. Seven different layouts feature gauges of train and very different landscapes.

The largest track is outside.

"It has what we call a G-gauge model train on it," Webster said. "It’s a depiction of Fort Bend County in the 1950s."

The garden track is connected to the gallery building, which houses the story and history of railroading in Fort Bend County..

"Our staff here are all trained to deliver that history in an educational and fun way and to really relate to our guests, whether they’re 2 years old or 65 years old," said Webster.

Admission includes a tour with a docent, who will take you through those buildings, as well as to the historic Tower 17, which was decommissioned in 2003.

"It's the only surviving rail structure in Rosenberg, Texas," Webster shared. "It basically controlled the flow of traffic, if you will, on the tracks for 100 years, which is amazing because it has all the technology from the electro-manual computer, so you’re pulling levers to control signals and tracks, to telegraphs to candlestick phones to technology in the early 2000s."

It's in between two railcars that you can tour on-site. One is a 1970s MOPAC caboose. The other is a private business car called The Quebec, which has been restored to its 1920s glamor.

"It’s really neat to see," said Webster.

There are so many other interesting stops on the property. You can check out an old bath house, the only spot where rail workers could bathe. Take the kids to the discovery room to learn and play. Tour a collection of antique speeders used to cart crews along the tracks.

"We hope when people visit us, they take away information about how railroading has impacted the area, the development of so many areas," Webster said.

For more information about when you can visit the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, click here.

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Hidden Gems is brought to you by Dairy Queen.

The historic city of Rosenberg, about 30 miles southwest of Houston, has been rapidly growing.

From April 2020 to July 2022, Rosenberg's population increased by 6.4 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. At almost 41,000 people as of July 2022, the town has added more than 10,000 residents since 2010.

As the Fort Bend County area tries to balance its past with its future, one local couple is doing their part to preserve its historic buildings.

Robert Duran’s family has lived in Rosenberg for generations, going back to the late 1800s. His ancestors helped build railroads, bringing workers to the area. His wife, Cheryl Duran, moved to the city during her senior year of high school in 1979. She met Robert shortly after and said the two quickly became "inseparable."

Together, they own Duran's Roofing and Remodeling. Robert estimates that they've helped repair or remodel at least 20 historic buildings.

"This property was owned by my great uncles," he said from a salon building his daughter now owns. "They had a service station here."

At one point in his childhood, Robert lived across the street from the building.

The Durans bought the building nine years ago, along with a series of apartments, and fixed up the property.

The couple has also done work on the Rosenberg Railroad Museum and the Moore Home, which is run by the Fort Bend Museum. The Durans converted a former tire shop downtown into an events space and their office. The building was originally built in the 1940s.

"The brickwork outside is original to this building," Cheryl said. "So that’s one way we’ve tried to help with keeping the original look and still bring new inspiration to downtown Rosenberg."

When Robert was working on the salon, some offered to help him tear down the property, but he declined. He said his work is driven by a love for the town.

"There’s a lot of value in these kind of buildings," he said. "They’re really built really good. You’re gonna put money in them, but you know, you're keeping history alive."

Over the years, Robert and Cheryl said they've met residents who remember Robert's older family members. The couple said they're doing what they can to preserve history, while also building a future for their children.

"It’s neat to be able to be a part of history, to bring back history," Cheryl said. "And also when you come into downtown Rosenberg ... you get a good sense of the place."

Fort Bend County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, has become a hotspot for people to live, work and build their businesses, thanks in part to rising new developments and transportation projects.

Spanning nearly 900 square miles, Fort Bend leads the region in affordability, quality of life, level of educational attainment and population diversity, with 29 percent of their population being foreign born, the highest percentage in metro Houston, according to the Partnership's Houston Facts publication.

Since 2000, Fort Bend County’s population has tripled and is expected to reach 1.8 million by 2050, according to Woods & Poole.

Fort Bend is primed for more growth as new developments and infrastructure projects get underway that will drive businesses and connectivity.

Infrastructure

Only 30 miles southwest of Houston, Fort Bend County encompasses six thriving cities including Fulshear, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Stafford and Sugar Land. Home to various transportation networks like I-69, Westpark Tollway and Fort Bend Toll Road, residents have convenient access to all the Bayou City’s top attractions and other cities.

To accommodate growth, several infrastructure projects are underway.

Proposed in 2016, the Highway 36A project aims to create a major transportation corridor by adding 65 miles to the existing Highway 36. An environmental study will be initiated for the proposed project later this year, after being delayed due to the contract needing updates. If the project comes to fruition, Highway 36A would run through Brazoria, Fort Bend and Waller Counties, relieving congestion, improving freight movement and providing more hurricane evacuation routes.

Additionally, the Westpark Tollway, which leads into FM 1093 that serves Fort Bend and Harris Counties, is currently under construction. The project will extend the Westpark Tollway from FM 723 to the Texas Heritage Parkway.

In March, Fort Bend County announced $70 million in funding for 30 mobility projects. The new funding will increase the county’s investment in the northbound segment of Grand Parkway frontage road construction—from Westheimer Parkway to Cinco Ranch Boulevard. The funding will also support segmented frontage road construction along Highland Knolls Drive to the north and FM 1093 to the south on either side of the Grand Parkway.

Business Community

Home to a diverse and growing commercial sector consisting of Fortune 500 companies, large employers, international businesses and innovative startups, Fort Bend has become an ideal location for businesses due to its talented labor market and close proximity to Houston.

Over the last decade, Fort Bend’s business community has skyrocketed from 8,600 businesses to nearly 15,000, according to the Fort Bend County Economic Development Council.

In 2021, Frito-Lay, the $18 billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo, Inc. expanded its facility in Rosenberg. The $200 million investment will add two manufacturing lines for Funyuns and tortilla chips, as well as increase capacity in its warehouse to enhance capabilities and enable future growth. The project is expected to be completed this year and will provide 160 new, full-time jobs.

“We’ve called Rosenberg home for nearly 40 years. Throughout that time, the support of Fort Bend County has helped us invest in the right areas so that we can continue to grow and provide jobs to the community,” said Laura Maxwell, senior vice president of supply chain, PepsiCo Foods North America.

Other major employers include Amazon, FedEx, UPS, SLB, Champion X, Dollar Tree and Texas Instruments.

Additionally, Fort Bend houses seven business parks that offer development-ready and redevelopment spaces.

Quality of Life

Recently crowned the second-best county to live in Texas, Fort Bend County is famously known for its exceptional quality of life.

From catching a baseball game at Constellation Field and taking a stroll through Seabourne Creek Nature Park to attending a concert at the Stafford Center or the Smart Financial Center, there is no shortage of activities.

Sugar Land Town Square, a 1.4 million-square-foot mixed-use development, offers a multitude of dining and shopping options. This premier destination is strategically placed at the at the intersection of U.S. 59 and Highway 6 and features a 300-room full-service hotel and conference center, an 82,000 square-foot City Hall, 167 mid-rise residential condos, 566,000 square feet of Class A office space and 223,000 square feet of retail and restaurants. Anchored by a central plaza and green space, the Sugar Land Town Square provides the ultimate gathering space for concerts, festivals and other community events.

Another one of the county’s biggest allures is its award-winning education system and access to top-ranked colleges and universities in greater Houston. Boasting six school districts and four institutions of higher learning, including the University of Houston – Sugar Land, Fort Bend continues to lead the region in educational attainment, with 48 percent of adults having a bachelor's degree or higher, the highest percentage than any other county in Greater Houston, according to the Partnership's Houston Facts publication.

As more people move into Fort Bend, new developments are underway.

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Austin Point, a first-of-its-kind 4,700-acre master-planned town, is set to revolutionize Houston living. Strategically placed at the future intersection of the Grand Parkway and the Fort Bend Parkway, Austin Point will feature 1,600 acres of mixed-use commercial development, including 14 million square feet of apartments, retail, office and medical space.

Additionally, the new development will include a walkable downtown area with an “innovation zone” that will feature hospitals, technology and life sciences labs and corporate headquarters.

When fully completed, the development will consist of 14,000 homes, with an estimated population of 50,000, more than Rosenberg, which has about 40,000 residents.

The first phase of the development, which recently broke ground, will include the main amenity, The 1824, a central park and community center with a café, wine bar, large front porch, an event lawn, children's play area, beer garden, food truck court, walking trails and a dedicated space for outdoor fitness activities and games.

“[Austin Point] reaches families of all life stages, from the single mom with two kids to the young couple that's looking to move out to the 'burbs and start a family, the mature families with kids, moved-down grandparents that are chasing their grand-babies out to the suburbs,” said Mike Miller, senior vice president of Signorelli’s land division, developer of Austin Point. “[It] really caters to this diverse county and allows for housing to respond to all those needs.”

Other new developments include The Grid, a 192-acre mixed-use center. Located at the gateway of Houston’s innovation corridor on I-59 in Stafford, The Grid provides more than 350,000 square feet of office space, hotels, pop-up shops, a food hall, rooftop dining and 2,400 urban residences. The Grid features vibrant public green spaces for concerts, festivals and outdoor movie screenings. The first two phases of the project have been completed.

"Fort Bend County is ripe for a large-scale, authentic, high-end mixed-use center, which is exactly why we chose this site for The Grid,” said Brian Murphy, managing principal of Edge Realty. “With excellent access to other parts of Greater Houston, one of the fastest growing populations, the highest median household income in the region, and a pro-business culture, Fort Bend was the obvious choice for us."

Discover more about Fort Bend County and how it continues to foster growth at the Greater Houston Partnership’s Future of the Houston Region on Oct. 31.

ROSENBERG, Texas (KTRK) -- Rosenberg water bills could soon rise $120 more a year, but its main supplier says it beats the alternative of not having water at all.

A cool splash is exactly what some neighbors need right now.

"It's nice and cold," Rachele Fojtik said. "It feels good, especially with the heat. It doesn't bother you for a few minutes."

The water is a substance that could be in trouble.

"That would be frustrating, especially with the heat," Fojtik said. "It would make like a hell of a lot miserable more."

Rosenberg gets nearly half of its water from the Brazosport Water Authority. The agency wants to build a massive reservoir.

This way it could store water. If it's not built, in severe weather cases, the water authority could be without water for six months.

Rosenberg city leaders say this doesn't mean neighbors in their community won't have water for all that time because they would look to other areas for their supply.

However, BWA officials told the city council last week water issues could be possible like other neighboring cities have recently faced.

"Nobody had running water, so you couldn't take a shower," BWA general manager Ronnie Woodruff said. "You couldn't flush the toilet. The cost of not having water is quite expensive."

The project would be $650 million, and the majority would be funded by a company that would also use the reservoir, and the rest would be public. City leaders explained that the average water bill would increase by $10 monthly for eight years.

Four dollars would come from a recent rate increase, and the other $6 would be for the reservoir project.

"We need water," a Rosenberg resident, Linda Wilkinson, said. "We can cut back on electricity, but we need water."

Neighbors know they need water not only for everyday use but as a way to beat the heat as well.

"I'd rather have a higher water bill than no water at all because, with no water at all, we aren't able to cook or take baths and enjoy everyday life," Fojtik said.

Rosenberg is already facing a water issue. The city told ABC13 that with the current high temps and lack of rainfall, the city may soon enter a water conservation plan soon.

A reservoir city leaders said would help with this not only in the short term but 50 years from now.

Duke Ragan ended a career-long layoff and had to survive his first knockdown to preserve his unbeaten record.

The 2020 Olympic Silver medalist was dropped in the fifth round but came on strong down the stretch to eke out an eight-round split decision over Jose Perez. Scores were 76-75 on all three cards, one for Perez and the other two for Ragan as part of an ESPN+ preliminary stream Saturday at Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, Texas.

The featherweight bout saw Ragan make his way to the ring for the first time since last October 29, as an injury kept him out of the ring for nearly a year. The first few rounds saw the Cincinnati native box in accordance with someone who has just one knockout as a pro.

California’s Perez (11-2-2, 5KOs) turned the tide in a big way in round five. A left hook behind Ragan’s textbook defense produced the bout’s lone knockdown. Ragan bought himself time when his mouthpiece became dislodged and his corner took its time to rinse and reinsert. Perez enjoyed continued success in round six but was buzzed by a right hand just before the bell.

A clash of heads left Perez with a cut outside his right eyelid. Ragan (9-0, 1KO) stepped up his activity and commitment to power punches in the final two rounds to eke out the win.

Giovanni Marquez made quick work of Donte Strayhorn, to the delight of his hometown fans. The second-generation boxer from nearby Houston earned a second stoppage in their ESPN+-aired junior welterweight bout to remain unbeaten as a pro.

The 22-year-old prospect boxed with poise and perfectly set up his explosive finish. Strayhorn (12-5-1, 5KOs) was pinned along the ropes before he was forced to the canvas courtesy of a right uppercut. Marquez (7-0, 5KOs) sent him to the canvas for a second attack before a subsequent attack to force the stoppage at 2:44 of round two.

Marquez’s father Raul was a former IBF junior middleweight titlist and current Showtime analyst, who also works his corner.

Kelvin Davis had to fend off a determined Narciso Carmona to preserve his unbeaten record with an eight-round, unanimous decision victory. Scores were 80-72, 79-73 and 77-75 for Davis, the older brother of 2020 Olympic Silver medalist Keyshawn Davis who faces Nahir Albright on the ESPN portion of Saturday’s show.

Davis (10-0, 6KOs) hurt Carmona with a right uppercut in round three but otherwise boxed from the outside and failed to provide anything to keep his opponent at bay. Spain’s Carmona (11-2-1, 6KOs) came on strong in the later rounds but the fight was too far out of reach by that point.

The career slide continued for Humberto Galindo. A loss was avoided by the Tijuana native but he still had to settle for an eight-round, majority draw versus Chile’s Oscar Bravo. Ellis Johnson (76-74) scored the bout for Galindo. Robert Hoyle (75-75) and David Sutherland (75-75) scored five rounds apiece for Bravo, who suffered two point deductions to fall just short of an upset win.

Bravo was deducted one point each in round three for low blows and the fourth for excessive holding. It nullified a strong second half surge for the visiting Chilean, as Galindo (14-3-2, 11KOs) slowed down the stretch.

All four career blemishes for Galindo have come in his last five starts. Bravo is winless in his last three fights but earned another payday with his strong showing. A pink slip is likely in Galindo’s future, unless he is willing to settle for life on the B-side.

Alan Garcia went the six-round distance for the first time but claimed a shutout decision victory over Nelson Hampton (10-8, 6KOs). Scores were 60-54 on all three scorecards for Kansas’ Garcia, a training stablemate of three-division and reigning IBF/WBO strawweight titlist Yokasta Valle.

Opening the ESPN+ stream, Uzbekistan’s Jakhongir Zokirov enjoyed a successful pro debut with a fourth-round stoppage of Mexico’s Guillermo Del Rio (4-5-1, 2KOs). Zokirov (1-0, 1KOs)—trained by Joel Diaz and managed by Vadim Kornilov—scored two knockdowns on the night. The latter forced an immediate stoppage at 0:39 of round four in their heavyweight bout.

Headlining the main show, Kazakhstan’s Janibek Alimkhanuly (14-0, 9KOs) meets Germany’s Vincenzo Gualtieiri in a WBO/IBF middleweight unification bout.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox