1965 Golden Eagles High School Baseball Team

Abner Doubleday: Inventor of Baseball was in Brownsville, Texas

1917 Ft Brown 3rd Calvary vs 64th Motor Company (photo) Daily Ranchero 23 October 1969 clipping and inset of Abner Doubleday

While the true story as to who invented baseball is still in question—Abner Doubleday’s name is still associated with the creation of the game in 1839. 

Doubleday was stationed in the Valley with Zachary Taylor’s U.S. Army during the Mexican War—once in Port Isabel (1846) and again at Brownsville’s Fort Brown in 1848.  

It is not known whether Doubleday organized a game while stationed here— but we can always speculate that maybe he did?  Abner was long gone when the game found a diamond in this city…

The first Brownsville amateur baseball team was formed in 1868—this is when the real reporting of the game started in the Brownsville Ranchero. 

It was on a Christmas Day when the inaugural game pitted the Rio Grande Club of this city against Club Union de Matamoros. It was advertised as the championship of the border. 

The boys from the other side of the river put-up 49 crooked numbers on the board with the city squad crossing the plate 32 times. As time progressed, both cities added more teams, but it was not until the turn of the century that baseball became the king of sports in this region.   

The Brownsville Herald credited John D. Hill, who came to the city to get into the rice business, with giving the sport a push in 1903.  Hill’s son, Frank, was a college pitcher at Kentucky, and after watching an Army team take on local civilians, he decided that the family should organize a local team.

By 1904, when the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway came into town, a city team was in place.  The squad won all its games that year, including one over a strong team from Corpus Christi, and it declared itself the South Texas champion.

In 1910, Brownsville joined Corpus Christi, Beeville, Laredo, Victoria and Bay City in the professional Southwest Texas League.

Sam Bell was the first manager of the Brownsville Brownies, and local pharmacist W.G. Willman was named the secretary.  One manager who went on to bigger things was also in the league—famed University of Texas coach Billy Disch managed the Beeville Squad.

1910 Brownie

The Brownies won their first game of the season, a 2-1 decision over Corpus Christi on Jacinto day in 1910.  The team finished the year with a 68-47 record, good enough to win the second half and set up a playoff against Victoria.

The teams split their games in Brownsville, then divided the next two in Victoria.  To accommodate large crowds—by some reports, between 8,000 and 9,000 fans, the series was moved to Corpus.

Brownsville took the next two games and the first league pennant.  Among the players on the team was pitcher John Taff, an Austin native who appeared in seven games for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1913.

The Southwest Texas League lasted two seasons, but Brownsville went on to field teams in three more leagues—the Texas Valley (1938), Rio Grande Valley (1949-1950) and Gulf Coast (1951-1953).

1863 Robert E Lee

Robert E. Lee in 1863. 

I'll admit, I don't know much about the Civil War in Brownsville, Texas.  So much of "the real fighting" was far removed from south Texas.  Brownsville was spared a lot of carnage and prospered from guess what?  Cotton.

Charles Stillman and his partners began raking huge profits on a business they were doing before the war began.  Whatever could be shipped could be handled by Charles Stillman & Co. However, war also stopped business on occasion and he was under an incredible amount of stress with the risk of losing all his property and hid in Matamoros where he had plenty of friends and spoke the language.  But the entire war prevented him from seeing his family and he was deeply saddened by that.  Had he traveled north to see them, his property would have been seized and he would have been branded as a Union sympathizer.  But I digress... 

Did you know there is a building at our local college named after Robert E Lee?  I get it.  Most people don't care.  That's fine.  But did you know that many of these Civil War "heroes" were former invaders of Mexico?   An unpopular war among historians is the invasion of Mexico by the United States.  We also call it The War with Mexico or Mexican-American War.  Whatever we say about it there is no use in getting angry over it.  That is not how we are supposed to discuss history, is it?

Those of us choosing to live here do so and reap the benefits of those things that make our existence here as pleasant as can be expected - which is a lot.   The media would have the rest of the country believe we are being overrun with illegal immigrants and cartel violence but we know we have it good here on the border --  so far.  Our people are peaceful.  We do not need to stir up hate here in Brownsville, Texas and act like what we see happening across America with people creating all sorts of animosity.

The majority of us do not have decedents who pioneered Brownsville's earliest histories.  I know I do not but I still enjoy learning about the place I live.  Those who do have long family history here should tell their stories whether it be on social media or printed material.  People should tell us what they know about Juan Cortina or Texas Ranger atrocities if they want to.  Tell the history in anger and you will get attention for a while but in the end no one wants to hear you whine.  Tell the history and make your point and if you do not get the reaction you hoped for move on.

As for myself I think I would like to learn more about war and killing later.   I am enjoying the stories about the buildings and the people in the photos that we see posted here on Bronsbil Estacion.

God bless America - Land of the free

Javier R. Garcia

1927 June 3 Jefferson Davis stone marker is dedicated

Front page image from Brownsville Herald 3 June 1927 and textual information accessed through Newspaper Archive Academic Library Edition at Brownsville - Public Library

The Jefferson Davis Highway was supposed to extend from Canada through the United States reaching deep south Texas.  Why it was never completed may be learned later and will be included here at another time.  The memorial stone was placed at the intersection of Elizabeth St and Palm Boulevard by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.   Frank Tiech, who erected Confederate memorials all over Texas and other southern states delivered the stone.

With a United States Flag on one side and Confederate flag on the other, a tablet embedded in the stone bears the following inscription:

"Commemorating the services to the United States of America of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America. 
Graduated from West Point in 1828. 
Served on the Indian frontier from 1828 to 1835. 
United States Congress 1845 and 1846
U.S.A. Colonel commanding Mississippi troops.
Landed at Point Isabel, Texas, 1846
Hero at Buena Vista and Monterrey
Declined post of Brigadier General,
U.S.A. Secretary of War, 1853-1857
United States senator from Mississippi 1849, '51, '57, '61 (resigned)
Soldier, statesman, martyr
Erected by United Daughters of the Confederaccy, 1926"

[Any one have any idea why they threw in the word "Martyr"?]

The original plan was to erect stone at Port Isabel where Jefferson Davis landed during the invasion of Mexico also known as the War with Mexico.  Brownsville was probably chosen as the terminus for the proposed highway which never reached Brownsville.

The stone was dedicated on June 3rd, 1927 to mark the 119th birthday of Davis.  The ceremonial fanfare included speeches and placing of flowers on the memorial.  Miss Kate Daffan of the Daughters of the Confederacy expressed the purpose of the stone marker:

"History speaks today in an object lesson.  The little children march to the memorial in honor of Davis, carrying a Confederate flag in one hand, and a Union flag in the other, showing the love that all parts of the nation now have for each other."

Speaking for governor Dan Moody was Thomas Ball of Austin who added to the above sentiment by praising the spirit between citizens of Brownsville and Matamoros to "shake hands across the border"  and commending the human spirit which makes it possible for there to be love and friendship between the North and South again.

************************** UPDATE 30 June 2016  *******************************

1971 photo by Kevin Odabashian borrowed from his self-published pictorial guide to "Landmarks of Early Brownsville." Some of the photos he took are a testament to what once was as some buildings he photographed have since then disappeared. Even so, thanks to work preservationists did many years ago we managed to save much of our history for future generations.

Since people who pledged to preserve tablet on stone here aren't here anymore it's up to the present generation to protect all historical markers and landmarks in historic Brownsville, Texas. 

Brownsville High School and Palm Blvd late 1930s

 Looking down Palm Blvd from intersection of E Elizabeth St.

 The historical stone monument to Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States, was dedicated by the Daughters of the Confederacy 

Present location of marker at Washington Park (photo from www.mitteculturaldistrict.org ) 

 Cruising past the high school

Hopefully this postcard will help you pinpoint exact locations these photos were taken.

1858 Jan'y 12 ~ Letter to Elizabeth from Charles Stillman

Most documents written to or from Charles Stillman are business letters which tell us much about how he embarked on several money making ventures but those he wrote to his wife Elizabeth reveal more about the kind of man he was. In 1858 his widowed niece found herself alone in Brownsville and bullied by a few older women in town.  Here's li'l bit of Brownsville-made frontier gossip for the busy-body historian.

Brownsville Jany 12. 1858.

Dear Elib,

....I judge you are trying to make the time pass as agreeably as possible, Holedays to Mr Woodhouse and myself have been like all others, hard work, with gloomy feelings, we

however proceed with a determination to conquer our misfortunes, and leave others to make their calls and gifts, and pass their

time as their inclination and judgment dictates it was a sad day, "New years" for Mrs North, she spent the day in tears, to see a person yield to grief is always painful to me. I can and smother my own trials, but to see it in others that I esteem, is more trying than my own feelings.

[Humphrey E. Woodhouse, like Charles Stillman, came from a merchant shipping family from Wethersfield, Connecticut and became a business partner of Stillman when he arrived at Brazos Santiago in 1848.]

Mrs Woodhouse has not calld upon Mrs North since I have been here, all other Ladies in Town have been kind to her, Mrs Smith & Passmore in particular, since my first call on Mrs W she has not mentioned Mrs N. name, Mrs N feels her conduct but never utters a word of complaint, against Mrs W. from want I have been able to see I condem Mrs W. and poor Woodhouse has yoked himself I fear to one who will make this world a hell for him, I trust my apprehension are wrong, and we will let tis matter drop I should not have alluded to it here, had I not been so foolish as to have listened to her on my first visit, and her object was to prejudice me against a Lady that under all and any circumstances I was bound to protect a Nice, and a widow of my partner who lost his life in the attempt to save my property, if she was the foulest person on earth I should feel myself bound to protect, but a person devoted to her Husband as she is deserves the admiration of all in these days of vanity, I believe until I came here she had here contemplated of spending her days and now she will not leave unless his corps proceed her, I do all I can to sooth her, but I am a poor hand at that, and it places a chain around me that I would willingly free myself off.

[Mrs North was widowed when her husband Frank North died after a warehouse belonging to Charles exploded.  Frank was Charles' nephew who he had held high hopes for.]

Say to Jimmy [his son James] that I also reed his letter but have not had time to write him by this mail, will do so next....

[In many letters to Elizabeth Charles expresses a longing to bring Jimmy back to Texas to Laureles Ranch to see livestock and ride on the open plains away from the cold blandness of Connecticut etc.]

I have rec'd a letter from the Major dated at Washington, he has re'd no appointment yet, he will probably visit you, respecting naming the Baby Chapman, do as you please you are one that likes to have their own wish always complyed with. The Major places great confidence in me, he knows he can confide in me, and wishes me to think and believe him to be devoted to me his blarney has never taken root, he has many good qualities, but he is not a Jewitt. It would flatter the Major no doubt, and you can do just as you please but never breath that I was make all the blarney yours consulted on the subject, I would not have him think I was gull'd.  if his luve is spared hime he will become a distinguished man and a very popular one, no one understands the art of studying popularity than he does, or is more desirous of it, and should his wife live, we may some day see him President of the U.S. she has a well balanced mind and directs well his ambition and energy,  I admire and respect the Major.

[James Jewett was a business partner and good friend and Charles named his first son after him.  "Blarney" is talk that aims to charm, persuade or flatter and "gulled" means to be fooled or deceived.  Major William Chapman was Quartermaster at Fort Brown and we know much about Brownsville during its beginnings from a book compiled of his wife Helen's letters titled "The News From Brownsville" edited by Caleb Coker]

...The mail is about closing and I must close, will endeavor to find time between the mails to write you more at leisure and reply more fully to yours, after the mail arrives it gives hardly time to give proper attention to our commercial letters, remember me kindly to our friends and kiss all of the children for me, it is hard to be seperated from them but such is the destiny of your

Faithful Husband

Chas Stillman

[We learn in subsequent letters that:
Mrs Woodhouse had slandered Mrs North and making things worse Mrs North had confided to Mrs Smith who in turn told Mrs Woodhouse all she said which was not kind and there was a Mrs Fry in the middle of all this drama.  Charles expressed again to his wife that he only looked into the "triangle fight" matter for his friend Mr Woodhouse and was glad to be done with the matter and hoped to never revisit it again. 
Charles confides to Elizabeth that he feels all parties involved acted improperly including Mr Woodhouse who behaved "ungentlemanly" and Charles feels he can never have the same respect for him thereafter.]

Blowing **IT out of Proportion ~ Word to my Hater

This post is for rock hater leader and the many readers who paid more attention to the "My Turn - response to letter ..." post than the more fun and awesome 2016 0618 Pre-Father's Day Car Show at Historic Brownsville Museum post with all those close-up classic car photos and not much writing! 

PROFANITY:::  DO NOT READ BEYOND THIS POINT / DO NOT CLICK ON IMAGES

Here's a snippet or two borrowed from Jim Barton's dead blog which used to be called "Mean Mister Brownsville" but he tried to reinvent himself by renaming it "Observer" but that ploy backfired on his ass.  Even though all he does is trash talk the city of Brownsville he still has a handful of loyal readers who egg him on.

Click on images to "Blow it out of proportion"

These small snippets are when I trolled Jim's blog to get a feel of what kind of people want to remove the rock and they were happy to oblige.  There is much, much more but I will not waste much time with it.  This is just in case the rock hater was referring to me and if he wasn't I apologize but if not then I would like him to please show who offended who and I will be satisfied he isn't exaggerating or lying or whatever the politically correct word is these days.  It's just that in all his public statements he seems to play on people's sympathetic ear by playing the victim.

As for the rock hater, you do not see his name among the "anonymous" posers but I suspect the poster with fake account of woman's name is actually ACastillo (the rock hater who is trying to make a name for himself by attacking the city and historical association and now me) using a fake account with initials "S.M."  It's only a hunch but he likes to repeat the phrase "This is 2016..."  and he also wrote to me on my Facebook page "you're better than this" (as if he knows me but I never met the guy).  But he has a pattern of repeating those same "points" in his speech when taking about the historic marker.

Thanks again to the many people reading this blog!!  I may focus more time on learning about the War with Mexico (or Invasion of Mexico by the United States) and Civil War incidents in south Texas but I will not use it to spread hate and divide our community.  Yes - some things that people did way back then was not always nice but they're all dead so if they are in hell what does that matter to you or me?  If you believe in hell that is.  If you do not that's okay too of course....

*****UPDATE June 28th 2016*****

The Rock hater leader loves to be in the news and lie to his followers he is making progress in our city.  He calls those that disagree with him bigots.  You're the fucking bigot Antonio Castillo. 

Here's a sample of how the history hater used his whining to influence a writer of RGV Life Magazine to post this selection of photos to a "Washington Park" Facebook page.  [Words in boldface my emphasis] I have nothing against the online magazine or these other groups coming together.  That's what the John Lennon song tells us to do, right?

I asked the author of post to explain what he meant by "In our country what has been lost is the freedom of expression."  I guess the rock hater complained that someone was criticizing him.  That's how Mr Rock Hater leader gets support - from people who like to listen to whiners.

Here is the response and retort.

I had some fun with Photoshop - my counter protest - freedom of speech / expression.  I call this masterpiece of shizz "Mock the Rock in the Park" Party at Washington Park in Brownsville, Texas 19 June 2016

This is what the rock / history hater leader looks like.

1942 Photo Arthur Rothstein Brownsville, Texas

1942 colorized photo by Arthur Rothstein of sign for bridge leading from Brownsville, Texas U.S.A. to Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico showing E Levee St with the Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot and El Jardin Hotel built in 1927/28 during the annual Charro Days festival celebrated every year to this day since 1938.

MY TURN - response to letter printed in our local newspaper

by Javier R. Garcia

Our local newspaper has been giving a lot of attention to a subject that is as ridiculous as some of the rest of the news we read happening across the nation which has to do with the removal of confederate symbols.  Brownsville may be poor economically but it is rich in history and forgiving of those parts of our history in which all our ancestors were guilty of treating others unfairly so I digitally took apart piece by piece a letter written to the editor to address this individual's rant.

The two groups he may be referring to are members of the LGBT community and advocates for the West-end Hike & Bike trail.  There's nothing wrong with organizations banding their resources  to help each other make their demands heard.  God bless America - Home of the Free.  The museum he is referring to is only one block away from park where stone marker sits.  I do not know if these individuals have raised the money it would cost to move the stone marker but the city should not have to pay for it's relocation.  Should they?  Are you willing to pay for that?  If so please contact the rock haters.

This cannot be proven as a fact and I don't need to counter-prove it unless he is willing to confess another man's superiority or supremacy over him.  There is no such thing as a white supremacist except in their own mind.

The young ones he is describing are probably a few social justice millennials.  You know the type -- mindless, zombie-like, irresponsible, disrespectful of their elders, pot smoking, all-day video game playing part-time college kids living in that rebellion stage some of us in the above-40 category went through when we were up and coming in the world while facing little responsibility in life.

Their older supporters are in the West-end group and anti-Liquefied Natural Gas* (both groups) of which I have little or no disagreement with.

Here's where I come in.  I responded to a college drop-out who verbally attacked me on our Facebook page "Bronsbil Estacion" and talked down to our readers by boasting how "highly educated" he was so I called him out and discovered he had not completed a formal education whatsoever by his own admission.  As an administer for a tribute Facebook page with a few thousand readers and blog, I have experience with trolls - people who make insulting comments for cheap thrills.  I beat them at their own game.  It's really no big deal. 

The writer is referring to me and another Mr. Garcia who does an outstanding job of sharing our history on his Facebook page "Yesteryear's Brownsville."  I happily admit that posting photos does not qualify me as a "legitimate historian" but I pride myself of the knowledge about our local history where I was born even though I was raised in Pacoima, California.  But the other Mr. Garcia is a long-time Brownsville citizen and a well studied self-motivated sincere and talented historian and artist in my opinion.

No need to be confused over which Garcia is which.  We do not do what we do for name recognition.  By the way did you know that Brownsville has TWO historical museums?  That caused confusion in the past but now they are in the process of merging and working together.  Anyway....

I think the writer should prove an instance where I or anyone "belittles young female" but this is just a manipulative ploy to gain sympathy for his cause and generate hatred for me (yes, I have haters)  just like he did by whimpering in front of a camera videotaping him.  If his sympathizers accuse me of having an agenda then my agenda is to promote our local history - not all of it - just the parts that I learn about so I know what I am talking about.

Click and fast-Foward to 1:18 to see him whimpering

This is the part that interests me most - his use of the racial epithet "Whitewashed" used to describe people of Latin ancestry who have assimilated into the American culture.  Picture Marco Rubio or Ted Cruz and you'll get the idea.  Other insults these Chicano-type social justice warriors like to throw out there are:  "Coconut" or "bollio" (bread roll) to describe the American of Latin descent for his or her skin color being brown on the outside while suggesting he is "white" on the inside.  They will also call a person a "vendido" which is basically a traitor to their own race when they disagree with you or take the side of the "oppressor" whatever that is.  I have also been called wetback - dirty Mexican - and beaner (I like that one) while growing up in California.  Being called names does not bother me.

No need to waste time on his hystorical rant.  The guy is a divisive person....   By the way, kudos to the BHA for ignoring him.  The Herald sure loves to give him all the attention he asks for.  People also hate on Brownsville's founder, Charles Stillman.  There is a blog that constantly hates on the city -- sometimes to point out the blatant corruption -- and to criticize our founder which is just plain weird coming from a city as great as Brownsville but then again, there are some in Salt Lake City who do not revere Joseph Smith who founded the Mormons etc. so go figure.

There's talk -- just that.  Talk.  Empty talk actually.  The BHA does recognize the history of Spanish land grant families and Mexican/Tejano contributors to our history.  I know -- I'm still a volunteer for them.  No one historic group is oppressing any other group in Brownsville. 

Some history lesson, eh?

LoL - city pardon soldiers from 1906....   This person and his friends have harassed our commissioners to the point that they are no longer willing to listen to him.  The Brownsville Herald still is because they want to join the mainstream media that thrives on controversy.  This blog does not thrive on controversy and is only responding to attacks against our city, historical association and now, me.

The writer should apologize to the city and historical association for not coming to the table as a mature adult and politely asking to be heard and helped to find a resolution.  A local businessman who is in agreement that the stone in the park should be moved offered $1500 start-up money but they will never see it because the "rock haters" started off by insulting everyone that did not agree with them.  I hope the city continues to ignore them. 

About 20 people showed up according to an anonymous source posting on another blog.  I'll bet that insincere line about respecting "most people's day of worship" comes from an atheist.  While atheists are capable of respecting religious views, this particular one doesn't respect the handful of historic-minded citizens of Brownsville and calls them racists and people of Hispanic origin who join or volunteer their time to promote our mutual history as "whitewashed".  That is wrong - plain and simple.

Actually, only 20 people is not a lot.  There used to be more but they finally got tired of the long winded social justice warrior but a few were willing to sit under the hot sun for nothing on Saturday.

Most people who have read this blog may not be accustomed to reading such drama here.  This is mostly meant for those who know me personally and would like to know how I feel about said individual.  Please do not bother to submit insulting comments on this page.  They will be ignored.

*[No to LNG unless tax abatement offer is rescinded and LNG companies offer training and high-wages to our local citizens comparable to those earned for similar jobs across the U.S.A.]

2016 0618 Pre Father's Day Car Show at Historic Brownsville Museum

Puffy clouded blue skies added to the beauty of the day for Historic Brownsville's Museum Pre-Father's Day Classic Car Show held in the parking area on the sixth street side of the museum. 

1964 Plymouth Valiant Slant 6-225 cu in 2 dr sedan with custom body work & paint / engine and mechanical work by Gary Bryant of Olmito, Texas.

Above info from Valiant copied from informational marker with car.  The rest of the cars I'm just going to wing it. 

 1957 Ford Thunderbird

 No one knows - unless they've ever owned and restored one of these classics - the amount of time and expense and lifetime experience that goes into restoring a car.  The museum staff and volunteers really put on a well organized show.  There was talk of another one possibly.  If you own a classic car please contact the Historic Brownsville Museum at 956-548-1313 or drop by at 641 E Madison St to find out how you can get involved. 

 Father and Son ride their Coca-Cola mini car.  Big fun in a small car.

 1969 King Migdet Series III   (?)

 1933 Plymouth (?)

 The Plymouth pays homage to war veterans with this fine airbrushed art on the rear

 I am no photographer but like to post close-ups.  The devil is in the details.

1966  Volks-Wagon

 1953 Chevrolet heading out to 6th St (?)

 Early 1930s Studebaker with unusual head lenses and grill

 Black Plymouth next to Studebaker

 There was plenty of shade and refreshments and the hot dog vender served up some good food!

 Rear window of Plymouth

 Mid '60s Ford Mustang

 Two hefty Jeeps

 Late 1960s Camaro

 VW bug

 1970s ~ International Scout

 1967 Ford Galaxie 500 (?)

 You should've seen the sparkle dance off the paint as this '57 Chevy drove by. 

 Two of the main organizers for event were Fernando San Miguel of Historic Brownsville Museum and Jesus Reyna of Brownsville Classic Car Club as was HBM's Lydia Blanchard (not in photo)

Hey Meester you dropped your sombrero