2016 Taken on the Brownsville Raid Tour

James Mills gives vantage point from International Blvd. where city was once divided by Fort Brown by a dirt road and 4-5 ft high wall.

 There were four infantry barracks with rears toward wall which divided town from fort.

 The main entry to Fort Brown was where E Elizabeth St intersects with International Blvd today and becomes Universal Blvd today.

 About fifty-four attendees sat for a brief overview of what has become Brownsville's greatest and most controversial topic which was seldom spoken about until a century after.

James Mills gave a slide-show presentation to prepare us for the tour and answered questions afterward.,

It was a thrill to get to meet Harry Lembeck, author of Taking on Roosevelt:  How One Senator Defied the President on Brownsville and Shook American Politics and James Leiker, author of Racial Borders:  Black Soldiers Along the Rio Grande.

The tour made its way down Washington St toward Market Square with Mr. Mills pointing out locations where several details of incident were recorded and are now parts of the mystery of the raid.

 Market Square was where our City Police department was in 1906.

 "Several ear-witness say they heard shots fired by black soldiers right over there" 

 On E Elizabeth St was where several bars and saloons were located.  Weller's Saloon allowed soldiers to drink in an area at the back of the saloon.  Other saloons did not welcome black soldiers.

 Here's a view from 1906 of E Elizabeth St.

 This is another view of E Elizabeth taken nearly a decade later.

Lieutenant Dominguez was shot in the arm around the corner from this location where the Miller Hotel once stood.

That's the Miller Hotel as it was on the corner of E Elizabeth and 13th St.

This spot was once 15th St between E Elizabeth and Washington St where a house owned by the Cowan family was shot into not long after a children's party had ended.  

 That might be the Cowan house that was shot into on the left which standing on 15th St which is now a paseo after the street was closed and paved for pedestrian traffic.

Another view looking down Cown Alley with house on right.  Streets were numbered or had American presidents named after them while some alleys were named families whose homes did not face main streets downtown.

 At Jefferson and International we got another perspective of the close distance from town to fort.

 Here is the vantage point 110 years before.

 E Elizabeth Street with Miller Hotel on left.  The main entry gate to Fort Brown in distance.

1940s - Celaya Candy Co. and Chevy Panel Van

Celaya Candy Co. was located at 519 E 12th St.  This may be Simon Celaya who was married to Louise Celaya and they lived at 1334 W Levee St.  We thank Tate Celaya for sending this to us via Rene Torres.  As stated on the Chevy panel truck they provided cigarettes, tobaccos and sundries which means a variety of items.  They are are listed in a 1948 telephone directory as Celaya Package Store.  Any additional information would be much appreciated.  

Here is our best guess as to where the business was located.  

2016 0730 Walkabout in Downtown Brownville

photos by Javier R. Garcia

 Michelle Serrano and Carlos Solitaire outside of Brownsville Arts & Music (B.A.M.) gallery.

Father & Son:  William and Jerry "Doc" McHale-Scully 

 The interior of B.A.M. @ 1045 E Washington St.

 On exhibit:  Texture Transmission solo art show by Alejandro Macias.  The blue-faced man kind of looks like William in the photo posted above but his name is "Carlos"

Creative forces of the art and music scene development in downtown Brownsville.  

 Dannie Alvarado at Kraken Lounge @ 1123 E Adams can make art or pizza to go!

Artists Lydia Lilly Blanchard from the Historic Brownsville Museum (and Gallery Director for the Carlotta K. Petrina Museum) and Jesse Burciage in front of the San Fernando building offering their art for viewing or sale.  Lydia had this to add about C.K.P.:

The Carlotta K. Petrina Cultural Center (C.K.P.) is a historical building, The true movement is called R.O.C.A. : Revival of the Cultural Arts. But the soul is the community! We are here to introduce Fine Arts to our future, our children but also open to all those to desire to learn. Whether it be to play a guitar, a violin, piano, recorder and/or our newest option "drums". We are also teaching Folkorica Dancing and visual Arts.

We believing in supporting other organization so we work hand in hand with them. We have partner up with a ministry called "Kids Cafe" that consists of feeding children ages K to 18 who are considered homeless by the term "displaced". They along with the parents live in very temporary housing (hotels and etc.) that can last from one day to a week (not knowing when they will end up in the actual streets). We help by providing a secured place for them to meet to eat a good meal that come from great donors like Denny's, Chickfila, etc. Today along with a meal the children were given a workshop for a chance to draw a picture, in hopes of qualifying for an art contest promoted by the Jazz Festival. Again another organization CKP is supporting by involvement.

Even though our building is in dire need of repairs, it doesn't stop the generosity of our volunteers to keep loving and giving. We often do fundraisers that help pay our light bill and other monthly bills. When possible we also provide scholarship to help students pay for the lessons. I am not going to lie but we need lots of financial help or donations of time and or skills to help update our building. We invite the public to come by especially on a Saturday and check us out. You will be wonderfully surprise! There is just so much more to CKP.

 Miriam & Son on the Walkabout on E Adams St / Market Square 

 Pre-owned video games on the menu in front of Kraken Lounge with Marla Garza and Duaine Slovak

 Artist Puente in her art studio with sneek peek at an unfinished work @ 741 E Elizabeth

 Live music @ El Hueso de Fraile

 The Blitz hit the stage also at El Hueso @ 837 E Elizabeth St

terra's Bar & Grill NOW OPEN

Josue Morales, Christian Nevares and Juan Flores took their catering business and opened it as a bar & grill downtown to join other local businesses in revitalizing our downtown experience.

With everything made from scratch using locally grown herbs terra's serves up burgers, fajitas, a range of salads, pastas, fish tacos and salmon steaks.  I ordered the 1/2 lb. burger combo with cheese and bacon.  

Like other businesses downtown, terra's showcases art by local artists who decorate the restauarnt with affordable art.  One such artist is Tony Antinori.

Gabriel Trevino also has some of his work displayed on terra's walls.

terra's bar & grill opened on July 25th 2016 at 915 E Elizabeth (across H-E-B).  Hours are Sun-Thurs 11- 10 pm and Fri-Sat 11-12 am  (956) 621-0886

I was offered a delicious sample fish taco and took a photo before devouring it into oblivion.  That homemade tortilla brought it all together.  Be sure to try them out.  They also have live music with special guest Lizzie Atorga and will be open for tonight's "Walkabout" event scheduled at 7 pm into the night.  They have a $6.99 lunch menu which aims to satisfy your hunger and budget.  I got a 10% discount for sharing my visit so be sure to post your experience on social media for extra savings.

1977 San Benito Old Greyhound Stadium

Photo and narrative contributed by Leo Rodriguez

On Sunday, October 30, 1977, a spectacular HorseShow was held at San Benito's Old Greyhound Stadium. Antonio Aguilar and his family performed two shows, one in the afternoon, other in the evening, before packed crowds. Fans from all over the valley and northern Mexico made the journey to witness first hand this extraordinary event.

The show starred Aguilar, his beautiful wife Flor Sylvestre, and their two sons, Pepito & Antonio Aguilar Jr. Both Aguilar and his wife were huge movie and recording stars in Mexico, deeply admired by millions of faithful fans in Mexico and the U.S.

The Aguilar's traveled with their own troupe, and string of beautiful and talented show horses. The Aguilar family was fitted in elaborate costumes which drew the attention of all.

There was hot sun, loud Spanish music, and a HorseShow that left an impression on many. Children as well as adults were taken aback at the beauty and talent of the galloping, dancing, performing horses. Aztec and Spanish dancers danced in a center ring at the old stadium.

After the San Benito show, Antonio Aguilar took his HorseShow to the White House, invited by President Carter.