1949 Gus 'n' Honey tour the Rio Grande Valley

More Honey Gianfala scrapbook photos purchased at Mel's Antiques and Collectibles in Olmito

 These photos of Honey were most likely taken while she lived in Louisiana during WWII and she's also dressed like Rosie the Riveter.

 Women joined the workforce while men went off to war.

The original Rosie the Riveter for those unfamiliar with the iconic character

 These were taken during an outing in the upper RGV.  The first photo could have been any of several train depots that came in 1904 with the St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico RR as part of the Gulf Coast Lines which broadened commercial rail transport from the RGV.  The "Ancient building" is typical of commercial brick structures built from the late 1860s to early 1900s in the RGV.  Los Ebanos, Texas is in Hidalgo County and part of the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission statistical area.

Pharr St.L.B&M RR as a RGV train depot example.

*

*Addendum to Gus 'n' Honey La Lomita photos

 St. Joseph & St. Peter Seminary in Mission. 

This Seminary burned in 2009.

A statue of Jesus Christ stands above a contruction fence surrounding the remains of the St. Joseph and St. Peter's Seminary in Mission on Wednesday morning. The site was being demolished until City of Mission officials stopped the process on Wednesday morning.

By Nathan Lambrecht/The Monitor | Posted: Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Thanks again to Mel Trevino at Mel's Antiques & Collectibles for being such a great help!

Gus Gianfala meets WW1 hero Sergeant Alvin C. York

 c1948 Gus Gianfala with Alvin "Sergeant York" --  written on back of photo:  Guss Gianfala + Sergant Yotk.  Guss help bring this well in.  Please send this back to me.  use in the same aid deal close to York."  Gus Gianfala was a plumber / electrician from, Louisiana who came to Brownsville with his wife "Honey" in 1948.  This was probably taken somewhere in Tennessee.  

Alvin Cullum York a.k.a. "Sergeant York"

If you haven't seen this movie you sure missed out on a great ol' flick.

 Alvin C. York in 1953

[for more amazing fotos from the Honey & Gus photo album click link below]

!!LINK BELOW!!

c1948 Louisiana Photos from the Honey 'n' Gus Photo Album

 A man sits next to dirt road with umbrella and "DINNERS READY" sign near restaurant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

 "Istrouma" is the Indian word for the area of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  We do not have a lot of info on this theater but have provided "Cinema Treasures" with these photos for their online references.

Honey -n- Gus "Love Before Brownsville, Texas"

Louisiana, June 1940

It looks like Honey is sitting in a 1938 Packard Coupe in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

 2534 Boca Chica Blvd.  Brownsville, Texas

Their backyard 1990

Honey -n- Gus Mother's Day photos

"June 1943 Ma, taken while visiting us" in Baton Rouge, La

Mama - June 1960 Brownsville, Texas at Gus -n- Honey's house at 2534 Boca Chica Blvd.

1920 / 1949 / 1955 / 1967 / 1989 Gus Gianfala ~ Final Obit

 1989 1017 This is Agustus Gianfala's obituary found on microfilm at the library.  Ol' skool research at its best if you have the date in hand.

His love, Honey Gianfala

Written on the back of this postcard photo:  "where will I be ten years from today Patterson. La.  Feb. 11, 1920 Agustus Gianfala"

[We'll leave the answer to his question for some future historian and head for the '50's.]

 1953 1125 Honey wins a small conciliation prize and gets her name in the paper

1955 Gus creates Brownsville Boys Athletic Club

Story by Rene Torres published in The Brownsville Herald 2008 0113

 Written on the back:  "Brother William Vessel presenting keys to 1956 Ford "Fairlane" car, to Gus.  Won November 4, 1955 from St. Joseph's Academy, Brownsville, Texas."

Jim Tipton shared his memory from an earlier posting on Facebook

[Digital copies of The Brownsville Herald from public library Photoshopped/cropped for easier reading]

 1958 1104

 1958 0627

 1959 0123 "Gianfala is president of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Building and Construction Trades Council, the group making the protest."

 "Gianfala and Mayor M.M. Vicars are the ones mentioned..."

 1963 0812 Gianfala presses for raises in wages to boost local economy

 1963 0812 Gianfala AP article via Harlingen in San Antonio Light

 1966 0123 Gianfala in the news again

 1967 0129 [other photos from article removed]

 1967 Interview with Gus Gianfala about Hanger 9

That's where the search ended.  Hope you enjoyed it.

The photos of the Honey -n- Gus photo album of memories were gifted to her best friend "Maggie" whose daughter later who sold it off in an estate sale and ended up at

1949 ~ More photos of Gus -n- Honey with story by Adrienne Simoneaux Merrell

Follow-up to yesterday's post "1949 - Gus -n- Madeline Gianfala lived on Boca Chica Blvd"

 Jan' 1949 Honey & grapefruits

Oct' 16, 1949 by roadside cactus La Joya, Texas

 July 23, 1949 Gus and Honey at Port Isabel

"Lucky" their cat

 A Brief Story About Gus -n- Honey by Adrienne Simoneaux Merrell

Agustus A. (Gus) and Myrtle (Honey) Gianfala, came from The Patterson/ Morgan City, Louisiana area, to reside in Brownsville, TX, about the same year ...1947 , that my parents, Jules J. and Ozelia Simoneaux did."Gus" was of Italian descent, but was brought up in Louisiana , as was Honey.

I grew up knowing Gus and Honey, as they were my parents very good friends. They had no children ,and they were almost exclusively to themselves! Gus passed away in 1989 ,and Honey lived alone in their little home at 2534 Boca Chica Blvd.,that I believe they purchased in the year 1949. 

She lived there all of those years , until she was unable to care for herself any longer . 

My parents drove her to the store sometimes when it was raining ,but most of the time ,she donned her scarf and walked every single morning to HEB for her coffee and a biscuit . After WalMart opened ,and HEB closed the little cafe area, she would walk to WalMart for her breakfast and socializing with her coffee klatch ! Honey and Gus loved all animals, especially birds and cats. Honey would buy food for all the stray cats that meowed at their back door. In turn, they had quite a menagerie!

In her late 90's , still in good health, and after both of my parents passed , she admitted herself into the "Spanish Meadows" nursing home in Brownsville, where I kept in touch with her . 

I was astonished to see these pictures come to light, whereas ,the Gianfalas were very private people and I suppose the reason is that their belongings must have been sold after she passed, since there were no heirs.  

Here is her last reply to one of my letters... I believe right before she moved into the nursing home . I tried to keep in touch with her as an honor to my parents and their friendship with the Gianfallas. 

Honey and Gus are resting peacefully together at "Buena Vista Park Mausoleum in their beloved adopted city of Brownsville, TX Submitted lovingly by: Adrienne Simoneaux Merrell Longview, Texas

To the Gianfalas:  May their souls be joined in peace and heaven forever

Update:  Jim Tipton of Tipton Ford has this to add to their story

We think this Sacred Heart Chuch in Brownsville, Texas.  It was in Honey's photo album