Natalia in Medina County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Natalia

"Queen City of the Southwest"

— 1912 - 2012 —

Natalia Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 1, 2022

1. Natalia Marker

Inscription. The history of Natalia is inseparably linked with the history of the Medina Valley Irrigation Company Project now known as the Bexar, Medina, Atascosa Water Control and Improvement District No 1. Natalia, named after the daughter of Dr. Fred S. Pearson, the main engineer who designed and built Medina Dam, was destined to be the "Queen City of the Southwest." The town was laid out on the main line of the Missouri Pacific Railroad and the old International and Great Northern Highway, just 28 miles southwest of San Antonio. In August 1912, Natalia was the site of a commissary for the irrigation project; and at the same time, the first parcels of irrigation land and lots in Natalia were open for sale. Twenty-seven lots were sold on the first day. The community, modern in its very design, boasted a $40,000 hotel, macadamized streets, electric lights, and water works. The streets running east and west were named in honor of some of the principal engineers of the Medina Dam Project. In 1931, Griggs Canning Company built a canning plant to accommodate the year round growing season of vegetables grown in the area. The plant employed

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500 people and ran 24 hours a day, canning spinach, beets, tomatoes, sauerkraut, hominy and pickles. It was the first canning plant in Texas to can green beans. Natalia's boonomy came to a halt when IH 35 opened in the late 1960's bypassing the downtown area, but Natalia is once again in the process of living up to the title of "Queen City of the Southwest."

Erected 2012 by Medina County Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1912.

Location. 29° 11.525′ N, 98° 51.593′ W. Marker is in Natalia, Texas, in Medina County. It is at the intersection of 2nd Street (State Highway 132) and Miller Street, on the right when traveling north on 2nd Street. The marker is located south of the City of Natalia building in a small courtyard area between the buildings. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2048 TX-132, Natalia TX 78059, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hill Country

and in the San Antonio Metropolitan Area.

The Natalia Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 1, 2022

2. The Natalia Marker

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Natalia Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Natalia (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Natalia Independent School District (approx. 0.4 miles away); Robert Lee Bobbitt (approx. 2.1 miles away); a different marker also named Robert Lee Bobbitt (approx. 2.2 miles away); Trimble Cemetery (approx. 3.1 miles away); Devine Evergreen Cemetery (approx. 3½ miles away); Devine Lodge, No. 590 (approx. 4.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Natalia.

Also see . . . Natalia, TX.

Natalia is on the main line of the Missouri Pacific Railroad and Interstate Highway 35, sixteen miles southeast of Hondo in southeastern Medina County. It was founded by the Medina Irrigation Company in 1912
Photographed by James Hulse, March 1, 2022

3. The Natalia Marker in between the buildings
and named after Natalie Pearson, daughter of Fred Stark Pearson, prime motivator of the irrigation project and builder of the Medina Dam. The community has had a post office since 1913; Natalie's name was spelled wrong. After the deaths of Pearson and his wife, who were passengers on the Lusitania when it went down in 1915, the Medina Irrigation Company was forced into receivership. Source: The Handbook of Texas

(Submitted on March 5, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The Natalia Marker is at the far left of the building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 1, 2022

4. The Natalia Marker is at the far left of the building

Credits. This page was last revised on March 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 746 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 5, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.