La Joya in Hidalgo County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Nellie Leo Schunior School

Photographed by James Hulse, April 22, 2023

1. Nellie Leo Schunior School Marker

Inscription. This school's roots lie in the former town of Havana (2 Mi.S), where between 1890 and 1944 area children, most of whom lived on, nearby ranches, attended classes in a one-room schoolhouse. Nellie Leo Schunior (1878- 1920), who later became the first superintendent of Chapin (now Edinburg) schools, taught in Havana from 1913 until 1916. Several years after her death, persistent flooding of the Rio Grande caused Havana residents to relocate their town to this area. They renamed the town La Joya, and built a new school in 1926 which they named in Schunior's honor.

Erected 1992 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3571.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.

Location. 26° 14.925′ N, 98° 28.891′ W. Marker is in La Joya, Texas, in Hidalgo County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 83 and Stadium Street, on the right when traveling west on U.S. 83. The marker is located on the front of the school by the street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 W Expy 83, La Joya TX 78560, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Texas.

It is also in the American South.

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 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Havana (approx. 1.6 miles away); Peñitas (approx.

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2.6 miles away); a different marker also named Peñitas (approx. 2.6 miles away); Peñitas Common School (approx. 2.6 miles away); Peñitas Cemetery (approx. 2.8 miles away); Los Ebanos Ferry Crossing (approx. 5.2 miles away); Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park (approx. 7.7 miles away); Laurel Hill Cemetery (approx. 9.4 miles away).

Also see . . . Havana, TX. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)

Havana is off U.S. Highway 83 two miles north of the Rio Grande and eighteen miles northwest of McAllen in extreme southwestern Hidalgo County. The community dates from the Spanish Texas era and is situated on a land grant made to José Matías Tijerina by Spain in 1767. Tijerina named the site for Havana, Cuba, which he had visited while traveling from Europe.

(Submitted on May 25, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Photographed by James Hulse, April 22, 2023

2. Nellie Leo Schunior School Marker

The view of the Nellie Leo Schunior School and Marker from across the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, April 22, 2023

3. The view of the Nellie Leo Schunior School and Marker from across the street

Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 3,568 times since then and 274 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 25, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.