This one-block-square tract of land was deeded to the city of McAllen for use as a public park in 1917, six years after the town was incorporated. The donor Mayor Oliver Percy Archer (1869-1930), was a prominent local businessman and civic leader. . . . — — Map (db m225185) HM
On South 23rd Street at Ithaca Ave W, on the right when traveling south on South 23rd Street.
The steamboat "Bessie", last of the Mifflin Kenedy-Richard King Rio Grande shipping fleet of the mid-1800s, carried this 400-pound bell instead of a whistle. After its final trip on the river in 1902, the bell "Bessie" was used until 1909 on John . . . — — Map (db m292428) HM
On South 16th Street at Booker T Avenue, on the left when traveling north on South 16th Street.
In 1936, when Eugene and Georgia Hubbard found no churches for African Americans in McAllen, they established Little Bethel Baptist Church on the corner of Fresno and 18th streets. It was named Little Bethel as Bethel is Hebrew for House of God. . . . — — Map (db m225176) HM
On Bicentennial Boulevard near Beaumont Avenue, in the median.
Famed New York Infantry Regiment. Encamped in McAllen during 1916-1917 bandit troubles, guarding the border and preventing the smuggling of arms across Rio Grande to Pancho Villa. Tour of duty here seasoned the men for rigors of World War I, wherein . . . — — Map (db m224085) HM
On North Main Street at Ash Avenue, on the right when traveling south on North Main Street.
This site was a city park with antelope, javelina, and deer before a group of businessmen decided McAllen needed a hotel to serve as a business and social center. The Casa de Palmas, a three-story structure with a red tile roof built around a center . . . — — Map (db m224075) HM
On South 12th Street at Austin Avenue, on the right when traveling south on South 12th Street.
This church began with McAllen's first Presbyterian worship service. Held by the Rev. M.W. Doggett in a local lumberyard in 1908. Dr. W.A. King and George Pollack were first elders. Although adversely affected by the Mexican Revolution (1909-1919) . . . — — Map (db m224069) HM
This burial ground, which predates McAllen, likely began as a small ranch cemetery in the 1800s. The earliest known burial here, in 1895, is of Gertrudis Cavazos. Most of the property was deeded by the Arnold family; other portions were acquired . . . — — Map (db m224087) HM
On North 10th Street (State Highway 336) at Jasmine Avenue, on the left when traveling north on North 10th Street.
The McAllen School Board authorized construction of Lamar High School in 1938, through a bond election and funding from the Public Works Administration. Architect Marion Lee Waller’s original design included an L-shaped floor plan only one room . . . — — Map (db m195634) HM
On South Main Street at Chicago Avenue, on the left when traveling north on South Main Street.
This noteworthy Moderne style commercial building remains a distinctive McAllen attraction. Morris Randall Nelson built and owned the building, designed in 1949 for the use of the J.C. Penney Company. Nelson, born in McPherson, Kansas, followed his . . . — — Map (db m195630) HM
On South Main Street at Chicago Avenue, on the left when traveling north on South Main Street.
[Top plaque]
300-308 South Main Street
Built in 1949
Listed in the
National Register of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
[Bottom plaque]
City of McAllen
M & J Nelson Building . . . — — Map (db m195632) HM
On North Main Street at Cedar Ave, on the right when traveling south on North Main Street.
The earliest record of Methodist church activity in the lower Rio Grande Valley dates to 1849. Circuit-riding ministers served an area along the Rio Grande from Brownsville to Roma. In 1909 the Rev. C.W. Godwyn was assigned to serve Methodists in . . . — — Map (db m292418) HM
On North 11th Street at Beech Avenue, on the right when traveling north on North 11th Street.
This lodge, organized by Master Mason R. M. Bounds and about 30 other Masons, was chartered on December 8, 1915. Meetings were held in the Joseph and Osborne buildings, two early downtown commercial structures, prior to the lodge erecting a temple . . . — — Map (db m292412) HM
On South Main Street at Chicago Avenue, on the right when traveling north on South Main Street.
Built in 1935, this was the sixth location of the McAllen Post Office after its creation in 1907. The facility was dedicated on January 22, 1936, and served as a postal facility until 1957. Since 1958, the building has been used for a variety of . . . — — Map (db m195629) HM
On North Main Street at Ash Avenue, on the left when traveling south on North Main Street.
The coming of irrigation to dusty South Texas in 1890 made the Valley green and agriculture productive. In 1903, the St. Louis, Brownsville Railway Company was established. The new railroad went from Corpus Christi to Brownsville with a western . . . — — Map (db m224077) HM
On Business U.S. 83 at North 6th Street, on the left when traveling west on U.S. 83Business .
During WW II, because of rationing, Andrew J. Paris (1919-1997) and his family had no sweets to sell in their Detroit, Mi. tobacconist shop. In 1942, in Mexico City, Paris found an ample supply of candies and chewing gum to save his family's . . . — — Map (db m166219) HM
On North 15th Street at First Avenue, on the right when traveling north on North 15th Street.
This house was built in 1933 for Percy Herman (1884-1967), a major influence in the development of McAllen. Herman was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and in 1910, he married Stella H. Lazarus. Herman soon moved his family to Texas where he opened stores . . . — — Map (db m224081) HM
Near Sunset Drive 0.2 miles east of South 10th Street (State Highway 336).
One of the larger adobe homes in the state, Quinta Mazatlan was designed and built by Jason Chilton Matthews (1887-1964) during the late 1930s. Adobe blocks used in construction were made at this site. A composer, writer, and adventurer, Matthews . . . — — Map (db m224193) HM
In 1908, just one year after McAllen began to develop a group of residents established this cemetery on land donated by the Hidalgo Canal Company. The oldest marked grave here dates to 1909. The McAllen Chamber of Commerce maintained the cemetery . . . — — Map (db m225167) HM
On South 15th Street at Chicago Avenue, on the right when traveling south on South 15th Street.
Priests from La Lomita Chapel in nearby Mission ministered to Catholics at McAllen from 1908 until 1911, when a mission was begun here and a wood frame chapel was built. The congregation remained under the guidance of the Rev. J.M.F. Guenneugues, . . . — — Map (db m166222) HM
On Pecan Blvd (Bypass State Highway 495) at North Col Rowe Blvd, on the right when traveling west on Pecan Blvd.
Organized in Pharr in 1916 by the Rev. Paul Birkman and five charter members, St. Paul Lutheran Church moved to McAllen in 1917. Early worship services, conducted in German, were held in the First Methodist Church. The Lutherans purchased the former . . . — — Map (db m224082) HM
On North 15th Street south of W Hackberry Ave, on the right when traveling south.
Samuel Lynn and Marjorie Williams Miller were early McAllen leaders. Sam had interests in a nursery, banking and real estate, and was co-owner of the Hidalgo International Bridge. In 1930, he donated 109 acres of land to establish the municipal . . . — — Map (db m292415) HM
On North Main Street at Ash Avenue, on the right when traveling south on North Main Street.
The town of McAllen began developing after the arrival of the railroad in 1905. Introduction of an irrigation system made vegetable farming possible. Soon there was a hotel, a grocery store, a Presbyterian church, a bank, and a weekly newspaper. In . . . — — Map (db m224071) HM
On West Houston Avenue at South Main Street, on the right when traveling west on West Houston Avenue.
The city of McAllen was founded in 1904 and incorporated in 1911. The first medical practitioner was Dr. J.B.F. McMillan who arrived in 1906. Dr. Frank E. Osborn built a two-story building in 1918 with a pharmacy on the first floor and doctor's . . . — — Map (db m224067) HM
On Bicentennial Boulevard at Austin Avenue, on the right when traveling south on Bicentennial Boulevard.
The San Antonio & Aransas Pass (subsidiary of the Southern Pacific) Railway laid track south to the Rio Grande Valley and McAllen in 1927. This passenger depot, designed by railroad architect Leonard B. McCoy, opened in August that year. The . . . — — Map (db m195626) HM
Front Text:
Patrick Henry
"Give me liberty
or
give me death"
2nd Virginia
Revolutionary Convention
23 March 1775
Left Side Text:
Liberty or Death
On 23 March 1775, toward the end of Patrick’s famous . . . — — Map (db m243927) HM WM
On South Main Street at Mobile Avenue, on the right when traveling north on South Main Street.
On this wall we honor Americans who fought in all wars for our nations principles of freedom, liberty and justice. It is with sad hearts and tearful eyes that we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Let us never forget... . . . — — Map (db m225169) WM
