by Javier R. Garcia
A story of downtown businesses surrounding Market Square / Town Hall during the 1910's can be told by examining the names of families who had a stake in its continued development and progress. The Besteiros was one such family that played a major role during that time and generations to follow.
--Beginnings
José N. Besteiro was born in Brownsville, Texas on November
10, 1870. His father, Jose Besteiro y
Trigo, was born in Spain and described as a “retail grocer” in the
1870 census for Cameron County, Texas, the same year he married Julia Perez from
Mexico. Their eight children were Jose
(b.1870), Martin (b.1873), Eustolia (b.1879), Manuel (b.1881), Juan (b.1883),
Baltazar (b. 1884), Maria (b.1888), and Rosalia (b.1890). By
1910 the Cameron County census lists Bestiero y Trigo as a merchant in dry
goods.
1907 May 3 ads for store fronting Market Square / Town Hall from 12 St (Manatou store would be built on the location in 1927 for Enrique Manautou which lasted forty years. It remained property of heirs and was recently restored by a great nephew)
According to the 1900 census, by the age of thirty José N, Bestero was a cattle dealer and purveyor of dry goods. He formed a partnership with Miguel Sahualla (the form was M. Sahualla & Company) which was dissolved in February of 1907 after which he partnered with his brother Manuel to open “La Frontera – Jose Besteiro & Bro. – Wholesale and Retail dealers in Dry Goods, Notions, Shoes, Hats, Ready Made Clothing, Gentlemen’s Furnishing Goods and Jewelry” from what was known as the old Barreda stand near Market Square. Like the Barredas, Fernandez’s and other families at the time, they acquired several pieces of downtown properties to do business from.
1907 May 3 ad
c1906 Barreda family business facing Market Sqaure / Town Hall from 11th St.
Catty-corner from Las Ultimas Novedades was the Fernandez Building built in 1882 called "La Villa de Llanes," a reminiscence to the family's origins in Spain.
--The Next Generation Moves In
By May of 1907 the Besteiros moved into their building on the corner of E Adams and 12 St which they offered “Las Ultimas Novedades (which roughly translates to "The Latest Novelties”) – José Besteiro & Bro.”
c1907 Robert Runyon archives
1912 December 13 ad
--The Tallest Building in Brownsville, Texas at theTime?
c1911 Park Hotel photo by Robert Runyon, The brick building next to the Fernandez Hotel (later Hoyt Hotel) could possibly be another structure built by the Besteiros which became the Guarantee Shoe store.
In 1913 the brothers invested in downtown by building what
is known today as “El Tapiz” building which was originally was the three-story
Park Hotel across the street from the Besteiro building – both on corners of E
Adams and 11th St. but that same year they offered the Park Hotel for
the price of $35,000. The architect of the Park Hotel was M.E. Tracy whose name is well-known among the architects whose
work survives in Brownsville, Texas.
C.F.L. Bock was contracted to construct the building. It was sold to Manuel Marquez but transferred
back to the Besteiro brothers by 1923.
1913 March 30 ad
In 1929 José Besteiro had a commercial brick building constructed next to the Plaza Hotel and purchased properties of Lot 4, Block 210 and Lot 3, Block 133. The Park Hotel, which was renamed the Plaza Hotel, was renovated in 1929 and five-year lease was sold to Miss Lula Cofer by Manuel Besteiro. The hotel had 32 rooms and the lobby was refurbished.
--Besteiro Building During the Mexican Revolution
c1915 photo of Villista boy soldier by Robert Runyon
Of the numerous properties owned downtown by José Besteiro,
one (which one exactly has yet to be determined) was used as a make-shift
hospital for wounded. Many of them were
boys conscripted to fight in the revolutionary struggles of Mexico. In a story transcribed verbatim by the late
wife of Col Sam Robertson who was president of the San Benito & Rio Grande
Valley railroad, Mr Robertson described the short life of Solomon (or Salaman)
Lerma of Zacatecas, Mexico who was a twelve year old boy who once helped save
his life. Before the two met, Solomon
fought for Pancho Villa to attack Matamoros and was severely wounded by machine
gun fire. It is from Mr Robertson’s
story that we learned that the wounded were transported to Brownsville, Texas
to be treated after all hospitals on both sides were filled. Robertson cites the Washington Theater and
“Besteiro Building” as being the two make-shift hospitals where the wounded
were cared for. It is very likely that
either building on the corner of E Adams and 12th St owned by
Besteiro interests are what Roberton was alluding to.
1915 August 21 ad
By 1915 the Besteiro brothers sold their business to Mr R.
McChesney and John D Ellis of San Benito who renamed general merchandise
business as McChesney Dry Goods Co. It
was at this time that stucco was applied to the exterior of the building and
the interior was remodeled and painted. The
store space measured 50 x 100 ft and storage space at rear of building measured
25 by 50 ft. Jose had also been in
partnership with Eduardo Leal in a general merchandising business at 1205 E
Elizabeth St which was dissolved in 1921.
During the time the Plaza Hotel was reacquired by the Besteiros in 1923,
they also transferred ownership of the “Guarantee Shoe Store” in the building
to Manuel Marquez which would be managed by J.R. Garza and B.L. Cain. The brothers owned extensive real estate
including two dry goods store with the other on E Adams and 12th St,
one block apart from each other.
1919 April 14 ad for former Park Hotel
-- His Last Business Venture
1931 August 1 full-page ad in Brownsville, Herald
By 1931 José N. Besteiro went into partnership with J.N.
Acevedo (who had twenty-four years of funerary experience) to open Delta
Funeral Home on 13th and E Harrison with all the modern equipment
and services available at the time.
Today this business still exists at the same location.
Ownership and usage of the one story commercial “José Besteiro y Hno.” building has seen many changes but it is locally remembered by many who recall it as the “Edelstein’s Furniture Outlet” during the 1950’s.
-- Civic Participation
Local newspaper items indicate that the Besteiros were progressive
businessmen united with other like-minded partners downtown to see Brownsville
grow and prosper. As early as 1904 Jose
got involved in a committee to insure that trash be hauled away from city
limits and burned and that standing water in barrels be eliminated to reduce
breeding conditions for mosquitoes. In
1907 his name was included on petition asking city to construct waterworks for
the city and deliver light plant which had been promised by city leaders years
before and voted for the bond issue to provide that need for the city and was
quoted as saying, “Jose Besteiro y Hno.:
We are in favor of everything that is good for the city, such as the
city building waterworks and electric lighting plant.” The Brownsville Development club was an organization
he joined in 1909 and was listed among stockholders in the MidWinter Fair
Association in 1911.
In 1929 his brother Manuel Besteiro ran for city
commissioner but lost election to George L. Deshna, Jr.
José Besteiro was a 32 degree Scottish Rite Mason, member of
the Woodmen of the World and honorary member of the Benito Juarez Society. He died at his home at 744 Monroe St. the age
of 65 on 25 December 1935. His last rites were conducted by
the Matamoros Aurora Lodge No. 14 (Masonic Order) and he was interred at Buena
Vista Memorial Park.
There is much more that could be told but for the time being - we'll honor Jose N. Besteiro for his role in the development of our downtown business center. This story will be updated with additional facts as they become available.
