2018 May 28 - Porsche 959 mini

Fun with Photoshop

1930s - Stormy Beginning for Mauldin Family

Just a few storm photos courtesy of Junita Mauldin

 1930-31 home on Boca Chica Blvd near Brownsville Airport

 One bedroom home built by Les Mauldin.  His wife Etelka "Tita" and daughter Junita in doorway.  An outhouse was later added next to building.

 Junita Mauldin standing holding her birthday cake

 Three candles

 Playing in mud after a storm

 1933 storm removed second home on Boca Chica property from cement blocks

 Front door had antique hinges with layer of copper sheeting formed around them by Les Mauldin

 Junita on the outhouse with door blown off

By 1933 the one-bedroom home was a storage shed.  This photo was probably taken by Charles Hardin.  His wife, Katherine is seen holding broken pieces of furniture while Etelka "Tita" Mauldin poses with a smile. The ladies are all wearing bright white while Les is dirty from all the clean-up work.  Junita looks like she is holding mangoes.

1969 Fort Brown and downtown Brownsville, Texas aerial views

 1969 August aerial photo Brownsville, Texas

 Immaculate Conception Cathedral (top left- E Jefferson and 12th St) and Market Square / Town Hall (right center) with Fire Station No1 on E Adams and 10th (bottom right) 

 Texas Southmost College Library and Gorgas building and many Fort Brown buildings (top center) with Immaculate Conception Cathedral at bottom center

 Fort Brown Motor Hotel surrounded by Horseshoe Lake with Jacob Brown Memorial Center at center.  The infamous Casa de Nylon (bottom left) and Customs - right center

 A closer look at Market Square / Town Hall and surrounding buildings

 From top center to right - King Mart and International Bridge to Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico.  There are many recognizable buildings downtown-- no need to name them all.

 Entrance to Matamoros and El Jardon Hotel at bottom center.

Coca Cola building, Methodist Church, Cameron County Courthouse / Post Office across the street from The Majestic Theater on E Elizabeth and 10th

The Vivier Opera House and Goodyear Tires Servive buildings are gone from E Levee and 10th as is the Sinclair gas station (top center).  They called that tall building the Pan-Am Bank at the time maybe ... It is now used for Cameron County offices

Please send any corrections or add your additional comments below 

Mittie A. Pullam - Brownsville Educator Honored in the News

Compiled by  Mittie Pullmam School Naming Committee   

2008 October 2

Frederick Douglas Elementary

1975 BISD Newsletter

1975 Brownsville Herald section

2000 July 26

2003 February 17

2008 September 29

2008 October 2

1972-73 Skinner Elementary

1973-74 Skinner Elementary

1974-75 Skinner Elementary

2008 October 8 at Luby's in Brownsville, Texas-- Mittie Pullam at head of table with members of her family and committee members who petitioned to have a school named after her. Some of the committee members were also former students.  

Mittie Pullam at Luby's at Sunrise Mall celebration lunch in her honor when naming of school after her was made official 

 2010 February 20 

 Mittie Pullam Elementary Displays

Clifton Adams National Geographic photo of Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot on E Levee St

This photograph was taken by Clifton Adams who worked for the National Geographic Society, photograph is dated 1928.
This beautiful building was built by the Missouri Pacific Lines along with the Kelwood Company architects of San Antonio, who designed it, they also were the architect’s for the Hotel El Jardin. Construction of this structure was started in August 1926 and finished in late March 1927. It was built of hollow clay tile blocks, concrete and stucco. The interior of the building was just as beautiful as the exterior. Unfortunately, this beautiful building was torn down in 1965 at the request of the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce. 

It would be great to rebuild this railroad station next to the hotel El Jardin and redevelop that part of Levee street in downtown Brownsville.

~ Jose Cazares

1992 0201 Bruce Aiken Special to Saturday Plus - Brownsville Herald

by Bruce Aiken - Brownsville Herald

Here's a story that appeared in the Brownsville Herald's "Saturday Plus" February 1, 1992.

 

Tejano Union soldier.  Courtesy photo _ Valley Morning Star

Maybe Bruce Aiken would have known what to do about that rock. He could not find records for Private Pedro Garcia, Company E. 1st Cavalry so maybe not.  At least we have another story about Washington Park which can be told however you want to tell it.

Here is update:  Article written by Norman Rozeff of Harlingen.  Click title for Valley Morning Star 30 August 2015 link to article or read in-part below:

Part II:  Action & Reaction of Union Soldiers

Civil War Union Hispanics and the Excecution of Private Garcia

"One solution, with which Haynes concurred, was to transfer the unit to Louisiana. Upon hearing of this, turmoil in the camp crested. To emphasize the importance of military discipline the army would need an object lesson and found it in the case of Pablo Garcia, who was part of the Second Texas Cavalry Regiment. Private Garcia was charged with leaving his sentry post at Punta del Monte on May 10, 1864, before being regularly relieved. (This was the Yturria ranch north of what would become Raymondville.) To this he pleaded guilty but not guilty to charges of desertion and to conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline. Captain Edward G. Miller presided at Garcia’s court-martial. Garcia was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to be executed by a firing squad on June 22, 1864.

On the late afternoon of the scheduled execution, fully equipped brigades accompanied by several bands marched to Washington Square. Accompanied by a priest Garcia was apparently then at peace with his Maker. He pushed away the bandage blindfold and bravely faced the 12-man musketry. He was not dead after their action. Two soldiers were called forth, one putting a bullet into his heart and another into his brain. To the solemn tune of the Dead March soldiers of the fort were then paraded by to view the grisly scene of Garcia’s body. They could not help but be stunned by the justice meted for a seemingly minor offense. The citizens of Brownsville also witnessed this sobering scene."


Note:  the two histories dont exactly match but we'll leave that to some future historian to unravel.

Pedro Sanchez

 Pedro Infante

Brownsville Herald's Don Pedro -- "And out he went"