Stories from La Quatro y Viente Uno

 by Juan Picazo via our Facebook pagina

Image courtesy El Rrun Rrun blog 

1953 Brownsville Compress and E Jackson homes

My mother's old brick home on Van Buren St. (2 houses from Saldañas food store back then) still has the bullet holes shot by a rival neighborhood gang.

I was probably 5 years old around 1975-1976 when several drive-by shootings were directed at my house.

My older brother, R.I.P, and some of his friends, 4-21 FoodPackers, (I guess there was a connection with that name and Saldaña Food Store which was in the same block ) had a rivalry.

Unfortunately, one new year's night, they were ambushed right in the front yard of my parent's yard.

Precisely at 12 midnight, when all the fireworks and gunshots were going on, the rival group did another drive-by, fatally shooting a young man right in our front yard.

I always remember rushing to the floor and taking cover under the dining room wooden table.

I'm guessing it was traumatic for me just being 5 years old. Maybe that's why I still remember at the age of 51. I also remember walking home from the downtown bus station. My Mom and I were coming back from Amigoland Mall. Police were at my house because another drive-by had just happened.

What I remember the most from listening to all the adults and the neighbors talking was that my father ran out of the house in his underwear and chased a car while shooting at it down Van Buren St. all the way to "La Dieciocho" (International Blvd.) It was referred to "La Diechiocho" because 18th Street next to Saldaña Food Store continued for a ½ block and connected to International Blvd.

That ½ block is now part of where Pizza Hut is. There was also a group of girls from 4-21 called the "4-21 something Dolls". They all had a black, little, round tattoo on their face close to their cheek. It resembled more a birthmark. I know 2 of my friend's Mom's had that tattoo. That's why I know because one of them told us. We were in 6th grade at the time at Longoria Elementary.

Wow. I had no idea I was going to write so much and on my phone!

I guess nostalgic episodes can really have an impact when one reminiscences.

Editor's birthplace at 2354 1/2 E Jackson St.

~ Juan Picazo

The following comments are shared from the Facebook page:

Guera N Boly D

My neighbor for long time was willy El chueco

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  Albar Acevedo

  Guera N Boly D Era Willi Chueco no carnal?

  
  
  • Guera N Boly D

    Albar Acevedo from what I remember he was in the from porch of a house with some friends and got shot up

    

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  • Albar Acevedo

    Guera N Boly D yup he got shot and left him paralyzed on one side of his body .y le decian Willi chueco
  • Shannon Yevtte Rodriguez

    Pura 4-21

  Paulo Espinoza

  La 4-21! C/S

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• Hilda Garcia

  I lived around 17th and International 2 blocks from the Buena Vida project, across the street from what was KFC and Los Camperos in the 70’s
• Aurora Mireles

  Guys from Southmost came to McDavitt to fight with my brother Mickey1959. Mickey fought and won I was so scared.

• MaLou Matamoros

  I lived on 14th street and Tyler and that’s one of the reasons my parents didn’t let us go out, but I do remember my sister going to Cummings and she got beat up by a gang and after that they moved her to another school. Very sad situation

Rey David Robledo

I grew up on Van Buren and 24th/25th 2 houses from the compress’ fence ‘67-‘85. I remember my parents telling us to be careful when we would go to Saldaña but never knew why.

Lizz Ramirez

La 4 21

Esther Jaimes

Wow, thanks for sharing! Yup, it was, la 4-21, La morlla, La 12, La Villa Nueva, And others! It was sure very scary!

Je Lo

My deepest sympathy; I had some cousins (3rd) and el puerto guys jump me almost everyday of my jr. high and high school life. They must have seen West Side Story?? I often wonder why they picked me. Pinches montoneros. because of that I realized why so many of us have a below U.S. income margin. We can't work together because we watched to much T.V. violence.

Rey Ybarra

My mom’s neighborhood. We practically grew up at my grandparent’s the Rochas home on Jackson St and 20th St along with our cousins the Cano’s and the Martinez’s a few blocks down

elipe Martinez

East side 4-21 BCV 4ever 2gether as 

Maria De Los Reyes

I lived on Van Buren by the Brownsville Herald!

Lourdes-Miguel Aguilar

My father grew up in La Muralla and he said it was tough back in the days (1930s-50s)

Van Vaughn

My office was at 4th and E. Washington from'75-96 where I worked with federal inmates. I was aware of La Parra and Las Prietas gangs but was oblivious of the gang activity in 4-21. Thank you for sharing your story

Estella Pineda

Awwwww,

I moved to thar neighborhood back on 77-78. why I do I remember my sister was born in 1978 at the house we lived in

1915 E. Van Buren.

We lived there for abt 3 years.

I met the Picassos, The Boards, The Zepedas, n sum people u can't remember.

I went to Longoria Elementary 4th, 5th and 6th grade.

I remember walking to Saldańa, but was a bit scared, cuz there was some girls that would like to bully whoever they thought was a target. Until one day, I had to put on my big girl panties n fight them back. I had to.

Over all I had good memories from my childhood neighborhood .

Felipe Martinez

Lucho Potuano

Guillermo Escorcia

Next to my street, 21 and Jackson

Elena Resendez Zorola

When my dad delivered Kerosene back in the late 1940s, he’d tell my mother: today we have “el 421 area, “la moralla” area, El Barrillo Mexicano, las Prietas,el Southmost, los tendajos, la Fronton y llenar el tanque en Velvorene ( not sure if that was the name where he filled up the huge tank on the truck. The company was on East Fronton and maybe 2nd. I loved to watch them fill up the tank.

Grew in this barrio till I was 17 and moved. Great memories. We were the original 421 Boy Scout Troop in the 80’s based at Holy Family Church. Our chant was 4 Scouting 2gether as 1. The other troops in Brownsville and the Valley did not like us cause we kicked their @$& all the time in competition

Raul Silguero

I grew up at 2234 E Jackson.

Marisol Hinojosa

I used to work near by back in early 2000's I used to walk to UtB to and from work. Never again. I was targeted and I noticed right away guy was walking behind me I ran in the gas station and told the cashier. She hid me behind the counter for almost 30min till the guy left. I called my now husband boyfriend at the time he escorted me to class

Raul Silguero

Born and raised 2234 E. Jackson. By the compress. 1946 -

[born 1965 at 2354 E Jackson - see photo above - house is still there today 7/27/2022]

Mata Carlos

Mi Barrio never muerto..4-21 c/

Juan Picazo

How I wish the true origins of the name "La 4-21" were recorded somewhere.

I remember going to a Brownsville museum downtown, and they told me that there was no records of a 421 calvary during World War II.

My father, Samuel Picazo, was born in 1925. I remember him telling me that when he was a little boy around the age of 12 the neighborhood was already called 4-21. That would make the year 1937 or 1938.

World War II was from 1939 to 1947.

Like I mentioned, I wish the neighborhood's name true origins were recorded somewhere because the individuals that were alive when the name "421" came to be have already passed away unless there are some 100 plus year-olds still alive. It would be so interesting to speak to someone from that era/age.

I guess we'll never know or pinpoint the exact origins of the name "La 4-21"

421 Family -- Eloisa Chavarria

Ponch Gmz

Born and raised 2234E Van Buren St

Will NEVER forget my barrio...and my awesome childhood... 4-21 papa

Childhood days with John Taylor  [who responded] great memories in the barrio !

Rudy Carr

Puro West side! La West Levee! We grew up in barrios, not colonias.

Rudy Carr

Puro West side! La West Levee! We grew up in barrios, not colonias

     Juan Picazo

Rudy Carr LOL..true!

I thought it was so funny and weird when people would ask me , "De que colonia eres?" / "Which colonia are you from?"

   Rudy Carr

Juan Picazo yes!! Colonias en Mexico, not here. I remember, La Muralla, La 421,La 802, La Parra, La Riverside, La Southmost, El Puerto. Do you remember any others?

     Juan Picazo

Rudy Carr the original Brownsville neighborhoods!

Umm...yes..others are El Ramireño, La Hayes and you can't forget the neighborhood projects. La Buena Vida, La Villa Verde, etc. there are more but they don't come to mind at the moment.

     Rudy Carr

Juan Picazo Simon!! La bougainvillea!

     Rudy Carr

Juan Picazo I think I had Camaradas in all of them. Great memories.

Garza Captain

I grew up on Riverside in-between El Ramireño and El West. It was neutral territory back then you couldn't travel to other neighbors unless you knew someone that lived there. It wasn't until I went to Central Jr High that I made friends with other people from La Muralla, La Para, El 4-21, and El Puerto. Like I mentioned before, you couldn't go into their neighbors unless you knew someone from there. This was in the mid 70's.

     Ponch Gmz

Garza Captain when I'd ride my bike to el disco de oro I was shittin brick... but hell...we were rebels brotha....awesome times

Frances García Mata

I grew up in La 4-21 in the early 60s, and it was a peaceful neighborhood! We knew all our neighbors, and I remember playing outside, walking to elementary school, walking to the corner store, visiting our friends, and many more wonderful memories!

Alamo on E Adams and 9th St

 by Juan Manuel Vélez Salinas

Ramiro Gonzalez and Fernando R. Balli gave me the opportunity to research The Alamo / El Alamo in order to prepare the structure for a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark designation and future tax credits to maintain the property. Let me give the short version of the research.

Manuela Alcala (1845-1924) married to Lucio Bouis (1837-1886), purchased the lot where the building is located in 1891, after the public school opened at E. 8th St. in 1889. Lucio and Carlos Bouis were operating La Anacuita (E. 11th and Adams streets) since 1892, offering groceries, crockery, books, and stationary. Being closer to the public school could improve sales, so they move the store in August 1893, once the property was completed.

SAMUEL W. BROOKS designed and built the building, raising "the level with the sidewalk to increase its healthfulness as well as add to the appearance of the street." Stephen Fox suspected this possibility, and now I have been able to confirm this assumption after a deep research.

The importance of the building is that now we know who the architect was, understanding a smaller scale in which Brooks worked. It is also interesting how the commercial and residential spaces are connected and their hierarchy. Finally, this The Alamo / El Alamo & Manuela A. Bouis Residence raises the possibility that much of the brick structures built in Brownsville between 1890 and 1903 were designed by Brooks due his position as Surveyor for the City of Brownsville. He was the first contact for anyone interested in constructing a building at the time.

Ramiro González y Fernando R. Balli me dieron la oportunidad de investigar El Álamo/El Álamo con el fin de preparar la estructura para un Monumento Histórico Registrado de Texas y futuros créditos fiscales para mantener la propiedad. Permítanme dar la versión corta de la investigación.

Manuela Alcalá (1845-1924) se casó con Lucio Bouis (1837-1886) compró el terreno donde se encuentra el edificio en 1891, luego de que se abriera la escuela pública en la calle 8 E. en 1889. Lucio y Carlos Bouis estaban operando La Anacuita (E. 11 y las calles Adams) desde 1892, ofreciendo abarrotes, vajilla, libros y artículos de papelería. Estar más cerca de la escuela pública podia mejorar las ventas, de manera que mudaron la tienda en agosto de 1893, una vez el edificio se completo.

SAMUEL W. BROOKS diseñó y construyó el edificio, elevando "el nivel de la acera para aumentar su salubridad y mejorar la apariencia de la calle". Stephen Fox sospechada esta posibilidad, y ahora he podido confirmar esta suposicion tras la investigacion.

La importancia del edificio es que ahora sabemos quién fue el arquitecto, entendiendo una escala menor en la que trabajó Brooks. También es interesante cómo se conectan los espacios comerciales y residenciales y su

Sorry no new posts for a long while....

 

Public Service Message for young people

especially for "woke" college students

Home of Joseph William (J.W.) and Nancy Martin Shidler in Brownsville Texas

 Scott Horne  

This was the home of my g. grandparents Joseph William (J.W.) and Nancy Martin Shidler in Brownsville Texas. They retired to Brownsville from western Pennsylvania in the 1930's and purchased this home that sat on 10 acres with the Resaca surrounding the property. The property was located north of downtown on what is now Shidler Drive. My g. grandmother wrote that she fell in love with this home the very first time she saw it. J.W. and Nancy lived here until the mid 1950's when the sold the property due to age and health reasons and returned to Pennsylvania to live with their daughter(my grandmother). My g. grandfather was a kindly man and believed in helping others. A family story has been told that when J.W. was returning to Brownsville from a visit to Pa. he met a gentleman who was down on his luck and wanted to start his own business. J.W. and the man went into business and purchased machinery to clean out the Resaca's around Brownsville. Eventually the man repaid my g. grandfather and had his own business. J.W. Shidler, I believe was appointed Water Commissioner for Brownsville for a period of time. I would be surprised if anyone alive today would remember J.W. and Nancy Shidler. J.W.'s brother Dr. Walter Shidler and wife Della with their daughter Sarah lived in San Benito where Walter died in 1965. On a brief trip in the early 1980's my grandmother visited Brownsville to look for the house. Sadly the house had been demolished and apartments now stand on the property. The only landmark left was a street sign that read, "Shidler Drive".

Residential Revitalization: Adams St 1st to 3rd is 2nd to None

 by Bob Davalina

The forward trend of revitalization of homes and buildings in Brownsville, Texas continues.  The focus has been mainly centered on downtown proper where the buildings have a story to tell with local or state historical markers.  Only a few blocks away, and on the other side of Palm Blvd historically known as West Brownsville, are a few small seemingly insignificant homes that are becoming more  noticeable as residents begin to beautify them.

This late '20s or early 1930s aprtment building near 1st St. is a real eye-catcher.  No time was spent to gather any information about these homes.  Some are may be finished properties and some are in progress of being completed.  Some homes I saw were radically altered from their original look while others seem true to form.  I'll allow you to critique or point out any shortcomings in comments if you like.  I just wanted to share a few photos from a very small section of town.

The main regret about seeing any old neighborhood you were raised in might be the presence of fenced yards, especially on a corner lot.  Some homes have bars on windows or steel shutters which are also the result of crime rising over time.  Other than that, these homes seem to have the original beauty that sets them apart from their neighboring homes.  

This home was renovated and is now a rental home.  The resident took an interest in what I was doing while another man approached me and asked what I was doing taking pictures of homes on his block.  I let him know I was only interested in the old houses and didn't work for city or county tax departments to relieve the apprehension he was probably experiencing.  

I find these concrete strip driveways very appealing.

Flanked by two towering trees, this small home has a lot of charm and is a reminder of the home I was raised in.  

I like the fence -- it gives it a rural country look doesn't it?  

This corner home is my favorite.  If I was an old man, and I pretty much am, I wouldn't mind spending a few late afternoons or evenings sitting on a rocking chair on that porch.  I think of it as the "American Dream" because of the white picket fence.  

Layton Grocery Store 540 Monroe St - Bulluck & Malinen Custom Leather

Brownsville has a custom leather shop and it's on E Monroe St behind the police station.  The B&M Custom Leather Shop is in an old building that stood abandoned for many years with nothing to tell of its history. I had been asked in the past if I ever came across any photos or documents related to the store but I have not so if you can help please contact us.  The building belongs to Rosendo Escareno and has been renovated by Fernando Balli to double as as a business and residence.

This lawn jockey probably had a metal ring attached to the hand and was used as a hitching post.  

1940s era advertisement

A side view of the building.  

Display of custom leather products.  

Mr Bulluck is a Marine veteran from Minnesota.

Jordan Xavier Bulluck in his workshop.  He has an Instagram page where you can see daily posts of leather products fresh from the shop.

Original store safe.

Handmade leather crafting tools

Kitchen area

Living and sleeping quarters 

Leather sewing machine

photo:  Jordan Xavier Bulluck i

I finally replaced my old wallet with a new one from B&M Custom Leather (Bulluck & Malinen Custom Leather)

What is Brownsville?

 "What is Brownsville?"

A Barbacoa breakfast on Sunday morning

or a midnight drive thru Whataburger craving,

A late afternoon sunset over the resaca

or the early morning call of the Chachalaca,

A virgin Mary sticker on the back of a car

or a Dallas Cowboy helmet sitting in a bar,

Food stamp Maria wearing sweat pants all day

or sophomore Maria working hard toward degree,

The old blackened outdoor barbecue pit

or the shaded little porch where the old folks sit,

The gnarled twisted finger like branches of Mesquite

or the places around town your family and friends meet,

The red, white and blue the stars and the stripes

or the eagle and cactus of red green and white,

A scorching summer day of one hundred degrees

or a late December cold front of shivers and freeze,

Border walls and violence, a cartel stronghold

or a quiet place to live, to work and call home,

On the border by the sea

or a tall lofty palm tree.

Title: What is Brownsville

Description: a poem- by Carlos Rodriguez