2017 0513 Mels Antiques & Collectibles finds Fisher Cafe memorabilia

I just returned from Mel's Antiques & Collectibles in Olmito, Texas to find he just acquired a large collection of memorabilia from Fisher's Cafe which was once near corner of E Elizabeth and 10th St. across from the Majestic Theater.

There's the cafe sign with the downtown H-E-B behind it.  This photo is not part of the collection.  Take note of the steel mesh parapet and we'll have a quick look at the merchandise.

 The pieces may range from pre 1950s before Mr Del Mar Kuebke came to Brownsville and opened Fisjher's Cafe which lasted decades into the the 1970s.  Somebody please write to this blog and let us know more facts to include here.

Fisher's sponsored several baseball teams from West Brownsville Little League.  Mel & Del Trevino have several 8x10 photos and some have names written on the back with phone numbers.  Most of these boys might be in their 60's by now.  There were several large framed photographs of historic scenes from Brownsville but the photo on the left is of the cemetery at Matamoros, Tamaulipas.

 Here are a few bowling teams photos and certificates.

Many of these pieces were removed from the cafe when it closed.  Here's a Department of Health Permit for the cafe.

Stacks of photo postcards were included with several uncommon cards not usually found on Ebay or posted on internet are in the collection.  I grabbed a few to share with Bronsbil Estacion.  Two photographs (top right) show steel mesh parapet being installed.

Here's the building today with steel mesh still on it.

There were plenty rare photos of Port Isabel and South Padre Island so hurry in before all that stuff disappears into another collector's hands.

2016 0220 Antique Record Player at Mel's Antiques & Collectibles in Olmito, Texas

Sometimes you see something you know you'll probably never see again and this was one of those times when I stumbled into Mel's Antiques and Collectibles in Olmito.   That's him next to a 1920's - 30's era mahogany cased Columbia Grafonola Crank Gramaphone Record Player which still works!  He even gave a free demonstration!  Graphophone was the Columbia name for phonograph.  

I borrowed this of the internet to show crank handle

The louvered cabinet doors open the internal horn machines to adjust volume of sound and the bottom cabinet with opens to slots that hold record albums.. By the way, that 78 rpm record is Tex Williams Smoke Smoke Smoke (That Cigarette) which reminded me of Commander Cody's Hot Rod Lincoln.  

Compare the two if you want to:

Smoke Smoke Smoke (That Cigarette)

vs

Hot Rod Lincoln

As you have probably guessed,   Good thing it didn't fit in my car and I didnt have the money anyway but I sure got a  photo to remember it.  

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Charro Days late 1930s scrapbook photos

 

 Scrapbook photos purchased from Mel Trevino of Mel's Antiques & Collectibles in Olmito, Texas to be donated to the Brownsville Historical Association archives.

Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot and Chamber of Commerce Park off E Levee St. late 1930s

Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot (MoPac) passenger station at left and behind these two couples with Traveler's Hotel rising in distance.

Missouri Pacific RR Depot photo (Erik Sunde)

These two young men are in oark area between depot and Chamber of Commerce building.

postcard of MoPac depot park copied from Ebay

postcard of Chamber of Commerce building copied from Ebay

An ancient steamboat anchor be Chamber of Commerce Park is the spot where many visitors enjoyed the local history of our culture on the Rio Grande and there was also a 1877 Baldwin 2-4-2 locomotive parked there which now sits at the Historic Brownsville Museum on E Madison and 7th St.  No one seems to know what happened to the anchor so please give us a holler at (956) 555-KBRO if you know what happened to it.

At the right is the Moody Hotel and Texaco gas station garage corner seen elsewhere on this blog.  

late 1930's Brownsville High School Twirlers

Being in a Charro Days parade is one's shining moment in Brownsville history.  We have four for you here.

 

These photos were purchased from Mel and Delia Trevino at Mel's Antiques & Collectibles in Olmito, Texas.  Names of persons unknown.

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