MATAMOROS, TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO: On Rio Grande directly opposite to Brownsville, Texas. A small congregation of loyal Catholic subjects maintained religious services in a ranch house as early as 1765 and called the place San Juan de los Esteros. In 1796 it was given the name "Congregation del Refugio." In 1821 it was organized as a village and called Matamoros, in commemoration of the priest, Mariano Matamoros, who had been executed by the Spaniards while serving in the ranks of the Mexicans who were then battling for independence. Present population about 2,000. During “COTTON TIMES" when all the cotton from the Southern States of the United States was being brought to neutral Mexico, while the Federal and Confederate armies were fighting, the population of Matamoros at times was about 40,000. After the Civil War in the United States it gradually diminished, and in 1882, when the yellow fever swept the border, it decreased to about 6,000, its normal figure. The Catholic church situated on the Plaza La Capilla, on Tenth Street between Morelos and Guerrero, was built in 1842 by private subscription. The Cathedral on Plaza de Armas, was begun in 1825 but not finished until 1831. The Protestant church on Plaza de Arrieros was built by the Society of Friends in 1876. The Protestant church on Morelos between 5th and 6th Streets was built in 1866. The town plat was arranged in 1823, but the fortifications which surround the city were planned by Mejia in 1865. These fortifications were remodeled and reënforced by General Nafarrate in 1915, when General Jose Rodriguez attempted to storm the city. The street railway was constructed and began operating during the year 1872. The owners and builders, Francisco Armendiaz and brother. The first 75 miles of the Mexican National Railway from Matamoros to San Miguel de las Cuevas, was constructed and operated in 1881-1882. During July, 1904, work was begun at Monterrey on the connecting link which later in the same year created a through line from Matamoros to Monterrey. The electric light plant was constructed and put into operation during 1907, Dr. Miguel Barragan being the promoter and builder. The Casamata (casemate or arsenal) was constructed in 1865. It has been used as an arsenal ever since, but against its north walls many political prisoners have been shot to death. The old cemetery at the southwest end of the town was first used in 1832. It is still used by those who have relatives buried there. In its southwest corner is the bone pile wherein are cast the bones of those whose relatives have failed to pay the annual tax or those who have long since been forgotten. The bones taken from the graves and scattered in the bone pile where the sun may shine on them and the vultures strip them of any flesh. The opera house, opposite U. S. Consulate, was built in 1864. VALLEY COUNTIES Immediately after the concluding of the Treaty of Guadalupe, at Queretaro, Mexico, February 2, 1848, the new territory acquired being that from the Nueces River south and southwest and north of the Rio Grande, was made a part of Nueces County, Texas, which had been created in 1846. WEBB COUNTY: Thereafter, on January 28, 1848, was created and organized out of Nueces County; STARR COUNTY: Thereafter, on February 10, 1848, was created and organized out of Nueces County; named after J. H. Starr. CAMERON COUNTY: Thereafter, on February 12, 1848, was created and organized out of Nueces County, with an area of 3,308 square miles, with its county site at Santa Rita (near San Benito pumping plant). Named after Ewin Cameron. ZAPATA COUNTY: Thereafter, in February, 1851, was created and organized out of Webb and Starr Counties; and HIDALGO COUNTY: Thereafter, on January 24, 1852, was created and organized, with an area of 2,356 square miles, out of Starr and Cameron Counties. WILLACY COUNTY: In January, 1912, was created and organized out of Cameron, about 200 square miles; Hidalgo, about 700 square miles; Starr, about 100 square miles. BROWNSVILLE, FORT BROWN, POINT ISABEL, AND BRAZOS DE SANTIAGO BROWNSVILLE : When Taylor marched to the Rio Grande he found the territory embraced in the Brownsville town site, a beautiful garden. The Mexicans had the river front under cultivation and wonderful flower gardens bedecked the spot, while the fields flourished with corn and bean crops. After the invasion by Taylor, the Mexicans were timorous and many neglected or abandoned entirely their fields. Shortly afterwards the town of SHANNONDALE was started just north of the present international bridge. At Shannondale the first house owned by Americans was constructed. The ever shifting channel of the Rio Grande cut that town site away many years ago. The town site of Brownsville includes the present waterworks plant and runs thence east in a straight line just south of the West Brownsville Lake to a point on the Point Isabel Highway; thence south to the garrison fence. The first house built in Brownsville still stands on the northeast corner of Levee where it is intersected by 12th Street. It was the property of C. Stillman, one of the founders. Brownsville was incorporated by act of January 24, 1850; the act of incorporation repealed March 1, 1852, effective April 1, 1852. Incorporated again February 7, 1853; amended February 3, 1854, and again February 8, 1860, and again January 23, 1874. FEDERAL BUILDING: Corner Elizabeth and 10th Streets, was completed and occupied by postoffice and custom-house, November 1, 1892. The restoration and rehabilitation of Fort Brown, which was destroyed in November, 1863, was begun in 1868 when all of the buildings now in the garrison were constructed excepting the gymnasium and new brick building on the east side of the lake. The gymnasium and brick building were built in 1906. The first telegraphic communication between Brownsville and the outside world was on May 1, 1871, when the Western Union wires were brought into Brownsville from Corpus Christi. The little Rio Grande Railroad strung its wires from Brownsville to Point Isabel at about the same time. A line was also built from Brownsville along the Rio Grande to Brazos de Santiago. The old Courthouse, now Masonic Temple, was built in 1886. The new Courthouse was built in 1912. The Rio Grande Railroad from Brownsville to Point Isabel, twenty-one miles distant, was completed in 1872. It is a narrow gauge with a roadbed of mesquite ties, some of the original ties still being used. Until 1882 this little road transported to Brownsville nearly every pound of freight destined to Monterrey, Zacatecas, Chihuahua, and Northern Mexico. The Mexican Catholic Church on 12th Street was first occupied in June, 1859, though its construction was started in 1854 by Father Peter Kalum. The Episcopal Church was completed in 1854 but was blown down during the storm of October, 1867. The new building was completed February 11, 1877. From 1856 to 1892, the Methodists held their services in a little box house on the lot now occupied by the Federal Postoffice building. The present Methodist Church, corner of 10th and Washington Streets, was completed in 1909. The Presbyterian Church, on Elizabeth Street, corner of 9th, was completed in 1864. The Baptist Church, Elizabeth Street, corner of 8th, was completed in 1908. The Catholic Cathedral, Elizabeth Street, corner of 6th, was completed during 1912. The Convent of the Incarnate Word, St. Charles Street, between 7th and 8th, was completed in November, 1853. The Presbyterian Mission School, Washington Street, between 10th and 11th, was completed in 1864. The Presbyterian Church for Mexicans, Adams Street, between 6th and 7th, was completed during 1913. St. Joseph's Catholic College for Boys, Elizabeth Street, between 6th and 7th, was built in 1867. Telephone system introduced into Brownsville, 1904. Electric lighting system and waterworks inaugurated in 1908. Sewerage system established in 1908. Brownsville owns its own electric lighting system, waterworks, and sewerage system. City Market, between Washington and Jefferson Streets, and 11th and 12th Streets, was built in 1862. Remodeled, 1912. Block paving laid on principal streets during 1912. Graveled streets, 1916. Grammar school, fronting on 9th and Jefferson Streets, built in 1891. New county jail, on 12th Street, was built in 1912. Old cemetery, directly northeast of new courthouse, between 11th and 12th Streets, first used in 1848. Abandoned, 1864. New cemetery, between 4th and 6th, first used in 1853. The International Bridge across the Rio Grande completed in 1909. Prior to its construction, passengers and freight crossed the river in ferry-boats, propelled by poles or oars. First train into Brownsville over St. L. B. & M. Ry. in June, 1904. |