The St Valentine's Day Massacre on Brownsville Station

by Javier R. Garcia

I want to thank Jim Barton for putting me back in the fight.  We'll be examining a swarm of media seekers trying to force public opinion even after the city was gracious enough to invite them to their own town hall meeting to discuss relocating the Jefferson Davis stone which they hate so much.  After the Jefferson Davis Memorial stone meeting, they continued to pester our city commissioners at city hall where more important matters are needed to be addressed.  If you want to view nearly two-hour video of town hall meet click link-- the sound is of poor quality. 

Townhall: Jefferson Davis Memorial - 11/29/17

Ms. Serrano at town hall doing her "He's a great guy... yadda yadda" spiel.  Note uninterested reactions from her support base behind her.

spiel - noun  .a long or fast speech or story, typically one intended as a means of persuasion or as an excuse but regarded with skepticism or contempt by those who hear it

Here's some of the media spill-over about that rock which followed the town hall meeting and was observed on our Facebook page last weekend.

Michelle Serrano, who stated at town how meeting that she works for a local museum, spoke with reporter Derick Garcia who is a knock-off of the Ryan Wolf reporter who achieved a grand celebrity-like status using social media in the Rio Grande Valley and sensationalized cockroach hunting in RGV restaurants.  He did good.

Instead of searching for cockroaches and rats, Mr Garcia searches for controversial issues since humans respond better to that and we all know the media is all about ratings.  KVEO-23 lacks experience of other local affiliates KVEO-4 and KRGV-5 when it comes to reporting news.

In the interview Serrano condescendingly speaks to Garcia's viewers on what Brownsville's culture is and basically hijacks it by saying Charro Days is something "Our culture" celebrates.  Whose culture?

If I did it right, here is link  to video so you can watch the so-called news segment but you will probably have to have your Facebook account open since it was posted on Garcia's FB page.

Serrano once ran a downtown hole-in-wall establishment called "B.A.M." (Brownsville Arts & Music) and tried a lot of things in the name of art and music including drag queen shows that no one was interested in seeing so the club folded.  What does this have to do with her activism against that rock in park?  Nothing.

At this time there are plenty of young energetic promoters, musicians and artists working as, or with entertainment or social clubs and art galleries creating events downtown. B.A.M. will likely become a footnote in downtown's punk rock scene and memories of bands who played there or be forgotten for the most part but those who remain move forward as the immense Market Square and surrounding projects continue to develop.

 What follows are a few other comments that were sent to the page 

It looks as though city set up cameras to undermine threat coming from ani-rock history activists but Derick Garcia publicized cameras to warn them.  It's a li'l kick in the ass for Big Brother. 

Someone suggested they will go after religious statues next and I agreed then ....

This history teacher took something I wrote literally so I spoke to him about Jesus.  For the most part, people on Brownsville Station are appreciators of the history and culture and the vintage photos we post.  Other than that - they do not have time to fight over a rock.  Life has real challenges for them so I do not seek a base to escalate this ridiculous rock fiasco.  We will just have to wait and see what solution will be discovered.  

A vintage Lynda Carter photo posted to page drew up a red-flag for one particular person....  By the way the rock haters have called me misogynist and other names and even poke fun and make childish crude remarks about proponents of rock who have not engaged with them on social media the way I have but their character assassination attempts have not affected me in any way yet that I know of.  

Osbert ran for judge or some other political seat a couple of years ago and claimed to have a PhD when I met him at a Port Isabel anti-LNG protest.  A friend told me he used to cut her lawn only a few years ago.  Whatever or whoever he is, today he is a follower of Antonio Castillo- the instigator who brought racist charged accusations to the people of Brownsville, Texas.   While spying on Antonio's Facebook page one day I discovered that some of his friends are "keeping tabs" on the Brownsville Station Facebook page.  Maybe Osbert thought he could call me out about what is appropriate to post on the page but the funny part is that he didn't understand the meaning of the word "prude."

Mr Juarez is also a follower of Antonio Castillo but came to defend Derick Garcia's amateurish ostentatious reporting.  I was just toying with him.  No one cares about the rock as much as they do but they seem to feel threatened by what I post on a Facebook page.  If you're someone who visits this blog but does not have a Facebook account - congratulations!!  This is the Facebook culture and you don't want to be apart of it if you have real issues to deal with.

 I'm not sure but I think he's an used car dealer or something.

Then he tapped out

The Derick Garcia's statement that the majority of people who wanted stone removed was not true .  The meeting was made for rock haters and handful of rock proponents.  They do not represent entire city of Brownsville but the media wants you to believe they do.  They even drew up phony statistics to fool people that rock haters represent a majority of people in Brownsville.  Fake news.

I realize they are only expressing their opinions but we just have to wait and see what happens, right?   Rock haters are using media to pose questions about that rock as we are about to celebrate Charro Days.  Every year the media finds something to create controversy over issues on the border but I guess this year it's a rock.  Has Ms. Serrano taken up "the cause" which was once Antonio Castillo's cause?  It should soon be over and they can celebrate, right?

Of course most people on our page who do bother to comment make much more intelligent comments than other Facebook pages for Brownsville. That I can brag about.

No one wanted to hire Castillo to teach in Brownsville, Texas after he insulted the majority of people living in our peaceful city on the border so he moved to Las Vegas where it's hotter than hell.  The Paiutes called nearby Death Valley "Tomesha" - Land of the Flaming Earth.  I hope he gets to explore that area.  Good riddance Antonio.  You should have taken Jim Barton with you.  

 Has anyone seen or heard from Jim Barton?  I hope he didnt die yet.

Commissioner Jessica Tutreau supports Antonio Castillo's agenda to remove rock but cannot give an cohesive argument on why she stands on the issue other than it bothers a small group which is what this is.  All the other so-called 5,000  "online" petition signatures the rock/history haters boast about came from liberal networking by people who "aren't even from Brownsville."  If anyone was wondering, I was born in Brownsville, Texas but raised in California but have lived in Brownsville my whole adult life and people didn't act like this before.  Remember that?

I say put it on a ballot to vote at the next election -- all or nothing - to keep rock or remove it completely.  I would be interested in seeing what the outcome would be. 

Trolling the trolls I did.  They love to fight over that rock.  There were more in the past but that's in the past so we wont look that far back but instead, see a response to another instigating rock hater who made a scene at what was supposed to be a peaceful town hall meeting to resolve rock issue, in our next post:

click --->  Not an endorsement  <--- click

1862 0802 Letter to Charles Stillman from Nat Mitchell

San Antonio,  Aug.2  1862

My dear friend

Your esteemed favour of ____ date, acknowledging receipt of the $550.00 came duly to hand & was glad to learn the money had gone safely to hand.  You must excuse my laziness for not having noticed at an earlier period the receipt of your very welcomed favour.  The fact is, I was kept pretty busily engaged during the month of July, electionessing, as I was a candidate for the respectable & heretofore lucrative Office of District Clerk for this County – and am happy to state, my efforts, united with those of nearly all the good Secessionists of the County, were crowned with entire success.  Our entire ticket being elected at the late August, electing notwithstanding the secret, though strong opposition arrayed against it, by the old Union party, who dare not openly avow such sentiments, but invariably put forth a ticket in every election in the County.  You will have heard, ere this reaches you of the fight St. McRea of Donahue’s Company, had with a party of 69 renegade Germans and a few Americans, in the vicinity of Fort Clark.  They left 33 dead on the field, asking no quarters and receiving none.  Therefore, no prisoners were taken.

9/35

We captured 33 st___es small arms, 13 Six Shooters, 83 head saddle horses & all their camp equipage & provisions – losing on our side 2 killed on the field & 18 wounded, one of whom has since died of wound.  This party was en route to the Rio Grande for the purpose of crossing into Mexico & there await the advent of old Abe’s hurlings [hirelings?] into Texas.  they were all well armed & fought with the most stubborn desperation. 

I have no local news of interest to communicate & as regards war news, you get the same I do and almost as soon.  The draught still prevails to an alarming degree.  Stock water is failing in many portions of the State & in some given out entirely.  Many Grist Mills have had to stop for the want of water, to the great prejudice of the inhabitants generally.

Crops of all descriptions, especially in the grain growing districts, have yielded about 1/3 of the usual amounts & as a consequence, breadstuffs are very high & steadily advancing.  Every thing to eat & __ __as, has attained the most fabulous prices.  Flour 18 to 20 cents pr lb.  Corn & Meal 2.00 to 3$ pr Bu.  Bro Sugar 25¢ pr. lb. Coffee $1.25 pr. lb.  Molasses $2.00 pr. Gal.  Soap, Saleratus, Candles etc none to be had.  Ten cent calies [?] @ $1.00 pr. Yd.  Bro & Black Dimities -75¢ pr Yd.  Denims $1.50 pr. Yd.  Whiskey $4.00 pr. Bottle, bad at that.  Brandy all gone.  Segars all gone.  Tobacco, chewing, 3 to 4$ pr lb.   Confederate money abundant & Shinplasters, still more abundant,  The Power Mills near this City, have not done much as yet.  They have a large supply of good material expect to be able in a short time to turn off daily at least 1000 pounds, which ought to kill a good many Yanks, expediciously &

[top right page]

energetically applied.  Nearly all the troops in Texas are on the move for Ark. & Miss.  The reported capture of Baton Rouge by our forces, needs confirmation, although it is believed in official circles in this place.  The War spirit still pervades nearly all classes of our population & are resolved to fight it out with the d d cut-Throat Hessians to the bitter end, even though everything should be sacrificed in the resistance, as the hatred for the North is daily inter_______ , but at the same time, all would hail a proclamation of peace with joy & shouts of gladness, if upon honorable & just bases.  The Country West of us, has of late, been troubled by predatory bands of Indians, killing and stealing.  A suitable number of good men, are now in position to put a check [?] to their wunderous [?] & t___ing operations.  You have never sent me any Yankee papers, at least, if you have, they have never come to hand.  I would esteem it a great favour to receive one semi occasionally as I like to read their mordeful lust [‘mortiful’ or wonderful list?] & see their views in regard to the War.    On the last page of hereof please fine a Memorandum of articles much needed by your humble servant, & which he would like you to purchase for him & send by Genl. Wm. B. Knox of this place, who has a train of Mule Wagons loaded with cotton, no en route to Brownsville.  Genl. Knox will be in your City about the time this reaches you, whol I can recommend to your consideration as a worthy & intelligent gentleman.  If you can purchase the needed articles for Confederate funds, please do so & forward Bill & the amt shall be forthwith remitted

10/35

if not, please advise me as early as practicable, so that I may make arrangements accordingly.  Stamps for answer enclosed.  I would not bother you with this trifling matter, could the articles be had here.  Genl. Knox has promised to bring them in his Wagons.  Present my kind regards to friend Howlett & say to him I have never heard from him in relation to my dem_t from the Brownsville or Rio Grande Lodge & that I would be highly gratified if he would be kind enough to attend to it for me.

With many wishes for your health & happiness

I am as ever, most truly ______  Nat Mitchell

Memoradum

1 Rs. Bleached Domestic For [?] Shirts

5 or 6 Yds. Linen for Bosoms.  Not too fine

1 Doz prs Cotton ½ Hose   No 10 good quality

2 prs Merino Drawers,    Large Sizes

2 pairs Cassimere Pants.  33 In. Legs, 36 _o, Waist

1 ps. French Prints, Purple or Brown, small figures

1 Box Saleratus   [precursor to baking soda]

3 Silk Neck ties.  Black

1 pr Calf Sleeves – No 7

1 Merino Under Shirt –

If the Pants are not the be had, please send 6 Yrds. Cassimere, suitable for winter purpose [?]

Respectfully etc

Nat. Mitchell 

2016 0705 Jefferson Stone Marker Removed!

Photo sent by anonymous person -  "Morning Walker"

Last night while the rest of us were celebrating this nation's birthday, the Jefferson Davis stone, which stood off the corner of Washington Park on E Adams and 7th street, mysteriously disappeared without any clues as to the exact method used to remove it.  A city employee discovered the strange theft early this morning.  City officials and law enforcement were immediately  notified.

Investigators questioned members of several activist groups who participated in the Juneteenth event that was held at the park two weeks ago.  As expected, all fingers pointed to the organizer of the event who has been named as a person of interest.  Although we published his name in earlier posts, we are withholding it unless he is officially named as a suspect. 

We will update this story as soon as we obtain more information but expect an arrest to occur by this afternoon.  If you have any knowledge about this crime please contact the Brownsville Police Department only if you can provide specific names or a description of people, vehicles or special hoisting equipment used to commit this despicable act.

And remember - you're only a rat if you rat on your friends so please cooperate with the police in this case.

*************  UPDATED 7/9/2016 ********************

We'll take a brief look at this situation which quietly unfolded online after the faked photo was posted on our sister page on Facebook.  The post was made about 10 a.m. the morning after the Fourth of July.  Some people were shocked but everybody kept their cool.

I even posted video of "Rock Fight" song by Cheech and Chong which opens with Pedro de Pacas (played by Cheech Marin) with his wailing voice imitating the sound of a police siren which transitions into a wicked laugh....  It's fun to watch the opening scene with the cop but the song fit the situation apropos.

** Click here to see "Rock Fight" 1:48 funny video **

Hahahahahaha
I want all you mother's off the street
Or you'll end up as bloody meat
World war three has just begun
So if you can't rock you'd better run

A new wave is on the rise
With safety pins stuck in their eyes
The time has come let's get it down
Let's find a way to dance around

At the rock fight,
Tonight there's gonna be a rock fight
I have to look into the cock fights
There might even be a fist fight
At the rock fight,

 Later in the afternoon it was inevitable that someone would actually check on the stone to verify and sure enough it happened but by this time the hoax had already been confirmed.

That poor rock had taken a lot of abuse from the rock haters who want to remove it so at least they got to have their fantasy. 

 You never know what you'll see on Bronsbil Estacion.  Thanks to all who can take a joke.

Brownsville Parks & Recreation must have received a few calls because they posted this on their Facebook page with the message:  "All are well, taken today at Washington Park" in reference to all the markers in the park very few people living in Brownsville realize exist.  By the way it is the "Jefferson Davis" stone but you spotted that when you read the original post heading.  ;)

 

Not quite an apology to B.E. friends but more like a thank you note. 

Please don't mess with Brownsville, Texas History

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. 

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.