1954 ~ Brownsville Firemen "Bring home the bacon"

by Rene Torres

We are the Champions

In front of 2,000 spectators, a Brownsville six-man team out maneuvered their Valley opponents to bring home the championship trophy. The occasion was the third annual Valley Firemen and Fire Marshals’ Association field day in Weslaco.   

After 16 fire departments concluded their firefighting demonstrations—the tone and all eyes of the crowd were fixated on the up-coming pumper races.

As the race competition grew near—the crowd murmured with excitement as the teams moved closer to the starting line.  Just like most sporting events have favorites, this event was no different. 

Edinburg stood out as the people’s choice to repeat.  The upper-Valley unit was currently the state champion in pumper racing, an honor it had earned for two consecutive years.

Weslaco, who had swept their adversaries in 1952, stood in the sidelines with what they thought was a winning group.

The Brownsville team—with total liberation from the pressures of the event, were decisively underdogs.

The race was simple enough that it took mere seconds to determine a winner.  The race/task was to leave the truck and hook-up a hose as they would to fight a blaze.

The favorite, Edinburg, the darling team of the event, showed their supremacy as they cruised to the finish line with a time of 20.2 seconds.  According to some aficionados, the race was a done deal.

But the Brownsville boys surprise the partisan crowd by displaying a flawless performance, with a winning time of 19.2 seconds.   Members of the victorious team were Santiago Santillano, Amado Garcia, Filipe Ramos, Charles Betz, Luis Camarillo, and Eugenio Herrera.

Other teams in the races and their times were Harlingen, 20.8; Mercedes, 24.0; San Benito, 24.6; Weslaco, 25.31; and Edcouch, 28.2

The Brownsville unit beat the clock and in doing so, defeated the best teams in the Rio Grande Valley, of which included state titlist, Edinburg.

Photo left to right:  Luis Camarillo, Charles Betz, Felipe Ramos, Chief Fred Lerma, Santiago Santillano, Amado Gracia, and Eugenio Herrera.

In the summer 1967, this writer was a Edinburg Volunteer Fireman. 

1926 ~ Olvera Shoe Repair Shop: Mending Soles

By Rene Torres

Today, under new ownership, the building that was once owned and that housed the Olvera Shoe Repair Shop is going through a facelift.  Victor Olvera started the business of mending soles in the Market Square area in 1926.   

from Brian Brodie's film "Siente la Ciudad"

In the beginning, the square was one of the liveliest places in the city. It was the center of business activity—a focal point in the city where vendors of all kinds sold their wares.  

Brownsville and the country enjoyed the benefits of the roaring twenties, when the country was in a festive mood and business was booming. 

But just like any business, the shoe repair shop had its ups and downs. Regardless of the status of the economy, the shop survived the depression and war years. 

A long-time employee of the shop, Jose Llamas said, “As money gets tighter, people want their things to last longer.”  The favorite footwear of then, was not ready for the shoe cemetery until it had several visits to the repair shop and/or passed through the hand-me-down cycle.  

The idea of diversification, and the fact that it was the only shop in town that provided “while-you-wait repair”, helped the store to endure.   Yes, in the good days the shop had a gallery of shoes perched among the shelves.  When that part of the business slowed, it was Olvera’s other business interest that kept the cash register ringing.   

According to one of his sons, Rolando, a retired pharmacist, remarked recently that his father never stood around to see his own shadow.  He was never content with the status quo—  always on the trail to fill his shelves with that unique product. 

from Brian Brodie's film "Siente la Ciudad"

Besides repairing wounded soles, the store also served as a pawn shop.  His army surplus business did well enough to compete with Whitman’s, which was mere steps away from the shop.   

One side of the building faces the heart of the historical Market Square, while the opposite side, fronts Washington street.    If you needed money, Olvera could also accommodate you with loan and in the same breath, rent you a room located on the upstairs of the building. 

from Brian Brodie's film "Siente la Ciudad"

Mr. Olvera died in 1973, and his son with the same name, took command of the iconic shop, only to face some hard times in the 1980s.  But as time progressed, the shop avoided slumps by providing consistent quality care at affordable prices.  Victor Jr., maintained a healthy list of customers by employing the same business sense used by his father.  

On or about the year 1996, Victor’s son, Mike, oversaw the business that still employed workable vintage equipment that dated to the early 1900s. Some of the tools of the trade might have been old, but the quality and service was always up-to-date.  .  

City of Brownsville photo

As the business ambiance around Market Square changed,  the shop made a move to a different site.    Mike, who vowed to keep the shop open if he could—  relocated to Boca Chica Boulevard.   After several successful years at that location, the business took its final curtain call.  The journey that began in the 1920s, lasted long enough to be part of the world-wide web. 

Victor Olvera, restored thousands of soles throughout the decades.  People from all walks of life came through the shop— to leave behind their leather treasures to see another day.   The shoe shop business faded, but the building will remain etched in Brownsville’s history, to serve as a remainder of the business stature of Victor Olvera.  He was the epitome of a good businessman. 

 

Google image of former Boca Chica location

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).

Texas Southmost College Korean Veterans

Texas Southmost College Korean Veterans...photo taken during a Charros Days Parade in the early 1950s.  Seated in the back are: Pat Tamayo, center and Ruben M. Torres Sr. to his left.

Brownsville Cotton Carnival: “Fats Domino” on stage

"Cool Cat" Martinez Makes an Apperance

by Rene Torres

Thanks to the Chamber of Commerce and the contributions of local merchants— the 1959 Brownsville Fourth Annual Cotton Carnival went on without a hitch.

The Carnival was a three day event that included two parades, a beauty contest, a free show for children, a bathing revue and swimming exhibition.

The final affair saw throngs of people jamming the Jacob Brown Auditorium where the Grand Cotton Carnival Ball was held. 

Adding to the excitement of activities was the performance of “Fats Domino” and his orchestra.

 Like an arrival of a Hollywood movie star, Domino traveled to the auditorium with his 15 piece orchestra in a pink Chrysler limousine.

 Just imagine being there listening the popular tunes of the era —“Blueberry Hill,” “Ain’t that a shame” and “I’m walking, which were among the top 20 tunes in the country for many weeks.  The $2 admission was all worth it.

Well! Brownsville resident Elia Cantu Senteno and her two girl friends were there.  There was just one concern. Elia, like most girls of that period had a curfew and that was always on the back of her mind as the music played on.

Elia, who still lives in Brownsville, recently declared that the auditorium was full and vividly remembers that there was constant screaming with every song. 

Although she didn’t stay until the final curtain, which came down at 1:00 a.m., she danced the night away while still meeting her mother’s mandated curfew. 

Also, that evening, a local nine year old kid shared the stage with “Fats.” David Martinez, the “Cool Cat, “as he was known in Brownsville, was a dancing sensation that Mr. Domino had met  in a previous visit to Brownsville.  It was then that Domino saw him dance and never forgot his name. 

David, who today is 65 years old and lives in Florida, recently, commented by phone that when Domino saw him among the audience— called him by name to join the band on stage.  Domino was so impressed with his talent that he extended him an invitation to travel with the band.

At first, David’s parents supported the idea, but after some in-depth thinking decided that a nine year old belongs at home. 

The program concluded with sixteen girls taking the stage.   Betty George was crowned queen of the 1959 Cotton Carnival Queen. With the crown she won a trip for two to Mexico City with $100 expense money. 

Second place went to Jeanine Sanchez, her prize was a weekend for two at El Padre Motel on Padre Island and set of luggage.  Third place winner was Shirley Brookins, she received a wristwatch.

Others Brownsville High participants were Corinne Anderson, Betty Delgado, Gloria Fernandez, Carolyn Lambert, Mary Bell La Tout, Phillis Maring, and Joanne Trickey.

A coronation ceremony was held at 3 p.m. in the Sunken Garden of Fort Brown Memorial Center and was followed by the Grand Ball at 9 p.m. at the Jacob Brown Auditorium.

Fats Domino who had been drawing large audiences wherever he was booked—was just as popular in Brownsville as the high school crowd jammed the auditorium.

NOTE:  David the “Cool Cat,” led the 1956 Charro Days Parade 

in his familiar “Tin Tan” attire—the multitudes that lined the streets give him a more than a healthy applause at every stop.  As time progressed, David left his dancing days behind, but continued in the music business.  In 1975, he was instrumental in forming  “The New Variety Band,” a group that after 40 years still plays today in the McAllen area.

Shown in photo: Concepcion Torres, Arnold Torres and David “Cool Cat” Martinez

1934 ~ Pan American Airways Aviators

reprinted here from South Padre Parade courtesy of Rene Torres

1939 Life Saving Tamales story & photo

Life Saving Tamales - 1939 Brownsville Market Square Plaza by Carl Mydans LIFE magazine.  Colorized by Bronsbi Estacion.

She came to the U.S. as an illegal immigrant

While in Brownsville she found love, hardship and the American Dream

By Rene Torres

Felicitas Ramirez was not any different than the many of today who want to come to this country for a better life.  As a youngster she grew tired of the many stories she heard of the wonderful opportunities afforded in the United States.

So in 1912, Falicitas decided to take the journey from Huatuzco, Veracruz to the promised land.  Carrying only the necessities and risking her life—she safely crossed the river and made Brownsville her home—and before long found employment as a housemaid with a pioneer family in town.

After several years in Brownsville, she found love when she meets Miguel Izquierdo, a legal citizen of the United States born in Brownsville.  Miguel sold home-made candy, moving his portable display counter from street to street or wherever there was a demand for his candy.

Miguel expressed to Felicitas that he needed help with his business, so in 1919 they married.  She continued to make home-made candy until 1924, when a more lucrative trade attracted him.

There was more money in Tamales

In 1937, Bill Brewster of the Herald wrote their story, “He built a small, two-wheel cart and began selling tamales.  Each day while his wife worked at home cooking, Miguel wheeled his wagon to a location by the memorial fountain of the Market Square and hawked his wares.  The tamales were excellent and Miguel’s tamales prospered.  He soon became known to his customers as the “Tamale King.”

Business was thriving and the original wagon was inadequate.  Miguel saw the need to build a second one that resembled a small steamboat.  It was mounted on wheels and from its smokestack raised steam from the heated tamales.  From then on the her tamales were known as the  “Life Saving Tamales.”

Only seven years after their marriage, one day Miguel failed to show at Market Square.  The entrepreneur who had work so hard to build his business was dead.  Customers wondered if the “Life Saving Tamales” were a thing of the past.

But then after  Felicitas replaced the “King,” to continue the sale of tamales from the familiar little steamboat cart located at its usual place.

 

Because her responsibilities grew of now making and selling, she was forced to change her hours.  No longer was the wagon standing at the Market Square all day.  Her business hours were from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

It was common for many of her customers to go by her house on Twelfth Street opposite the courthouse where they could also buy the fresh beef, pork or chicken tamales.

The once illegal immigrant that came to this county to live the American dream—with weary hands and fingers was still selling tamales in 1937.  Although she knew no English, Felicitas had found it necessary to learn enough to handle her trade, for the majority of her customers were English speaking who knew no Spanish.

Miguel set the foundation for a successful business, but Felicitas convinced the people, her customers, she had something they wanted.  The amazing thing is that part of their story occurred during the “Great Depression.”

Was Grover Cleveland thinking about Felicitas when he wrote “a truly American sentiment recognizes the dignity of labor and the fact that honor lies in honest toil?”

Public Market and Town Hall Photograph  no12 The Portal to Texas History.

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Mydans' photo in original black & white 

1943 Superman story by Rene Torres

Local Superman’s leap foiled

1943 June 30 ad

The “man of steel” first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938—and soon after, it entered our homes in the form of newspaper strips and then made it into the American living room on the radio.

During WW II, the superman radio series became a big success—as its listeners followed the quest for “true and justice.”  If you are from that era and/or one from today that follows the stranger from planet “Krypton—you are certainly familiar with the most heard radio opening through the mid-1940s…

Announcer Jackson Beck.

“Faster than a speeding bullet…  More powerful than a locomotive…  Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound…” Look! Up in the sky!  It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!

With that backdrop—and with the fact that locally, radio KRGV in Harlingen early in the 1940s aired the Superman series is where this story begins.

The juvenile adventure series (from 5:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) that traveled through the Valley airways for only fifty minutes had a great influence on many youngsters to leap from the highest tree… 

And that’s exactly what happened—when the local “man of steel” took flied from a tree and landed on a roof top as his friends from Krypton looked on.

 With war, rationing and lack of extra money—kids (boys/girls) of the era found ways to fill their stomachs with what nature and their surroundings had to offer.  

Climbing trees was common then, and the Valley had a lot to offer in –so-far as fruit producing trees. Kids In many cases could find something sweet just around the corner from their own mesquite tree.  

 But on this day, the kids forgot about their war wounds, the scraped knees and grazed elbows of the past and went on a most adventurous trip up a pecan tree.

A pecan it is…It was a sunny but windy day in 1942, when the adventures of the Brownsville superman had its beginning.  He was first seen at 148 Elizabeth Street, the residence of Mrs. George Stell.  

 It was well known to the neighborhood kids that Mrs. Stell had the peachiest pecan tree and set tree was the rendezvous for the local Tom Sawyers when she was out.  

But on this particular day—her arrival was sooner than expected and found the tree loaded with youngsters.   As the kids watched her every move, they began tumbling out the tree and running for cover. 

 Except for superman, one lad, that was too high in the tree to make it to the ground without being captured.   He looked frantically around and spotted a garage roof some few feet below.   

And just like the comic strip character, but without a cape, leaped for the roof and made it o.k., but something gave way.   And faster than a speeding bullet, the local Superman went straight through the roof and landed on the concrete floor.  After some intensive questioning from Mrs. Stell—it was revealed that he was not the real superman and said, “he didn’t think he’d come back.”  He also declared, “That he didn’t like pecans anyways.”

Anna Edwards recently wrote that over-protective mothers who, “Stop children from climbing trees and playing in mud are creating a nation of ‘cotton wool kids.’  “Many parents are reluctant to let children take part in activities they themselves enjoyed.”

According to a government study, Edwards points out, that climbing trees, riding bikes and even camping with friends are all on the decline—to the detriment of emotional health.