One of the towns that sprang up in the Rio Grande Valley in the early 20th century, Monte Christo was platted in 1909 by the Melado Land Co. Among the first settlers were Otto Woods (1882-1956), who managed the townsite, and Virgil Lott . . . — — Map (db m292469) HM
Baseball was introduced to the Lower Rio Grande Valley in the 1800s by soldiers stationed at forts Brown and Ringgold. Games played against each other and local city teams were popular public events. Popularity of the game increased with the rapid . . . — — Map (db m292458) HM
Before colonization, this valley was a lush thicket of woodlands and brush, nourished with rich soil deposited by the Rio Grande. Throughout the Lower Valley the landscape represented a broad variety of plants and animals. Types more common north of . . . — — Map (db m269539) HM
A fine example of a mid-20th century motion picture theater with regional stylistic influences, the Border Theater was completed in 1942. Dallas architect William J. Moore designed the structure, which was built by contractor George Holliday. The . . . — — Map (db m283540) HM
The Capilla de la Lomita was built on the ranch of Mr. Rene Guyard in 1865 by the Oblate fathers. In addition to being a place of worship, it acted as a way station for Oblates traveling on horseback between Brownsville and Roma. It was rebuilt in . . . — — Map (db m239812) HM
In 1907, John J. Conway and James W. Hoit began the Mission Canal Co. Irrigation System, which was instrumental in the early agricultural growth of the area. Here they built the first pump station out of hand made brick from Madero. The 106-ft. . . . — — Map (db m224226) HM
In 1909, Dr. Samuel McPheeters Glasgow gave the first sermon in Mission and organized a Sunday school class. Along with Dr. M.W. Doggett, Dr. Glasgow organized First Presbyterian Church of Mission on January 9, 1910. The pair was also instrumental . . . — — Map (db m292430) HM
Taken at Fort Ringgold in Rio Grande City, this photo shows members of the U.S. 4th Cavalry's baseball team circa 1934. Soldiers stationed there came from all over the United States and many played baseball in their free time. During World War . . . — — Map (db m292456) HM
David Gregg Wood, Sr. (1876-1965) originally came to the Valley in 1893 and settled in Mission in 1908. Wood, who served as mayor, city commissioner, and president of the First National Bank, led the way for many improvements in the area's water, . . . — — Map (db m292460) HM
Site of the guest house at La Lomita. Built of adobe at the same time as the Cook House, it housed transient visitors to the Mission and Oblates in route to other destinations in the valley. Like the other outbuildings of the chapel, it was torn . . . — — Map (db m239811) HM
Once the lands of the Mission of the Oblate Fathers, this property (160 acres) was owned by Bryan from 1910 to 1916. While residing here he wrote many articles and engaged in a magazine debate with Senator Albert J. Beveridge. — — Map (db m292466) HM
John Davis Bradburn (1787-1842) was born in Virginia and reared in Kentucky. He entered Mexico in 1817 with Francisco Mina's Army to help upset Spanish colonial forces in the War of Independence. He became a naturalized Mexican citizen and in 1821 . . . — — Map (db m224222) HM
Lands for La Lomita ("The Little Hill") Mission came from the 1767 Spanish grant of Joseph A. Cantu, and were donated in 1861. Used as farms and ranches, the lands supported the priests and their charities. The original chapel, built in 1865 at a . . . — — Map (db m224224) HM
The original chapel at Rancho La Lomita in 1865 was built of adobe by the fathers and ranch workers. Upon the death of Mr. Guyard in 1871, the ranch was willed to the Oblates. This first chapel was torn down in 1885, and it was not until four years . . . — — Map (db m239813) HM
Played on Labor Day, September 7, 1953 at 30-30 Field, The Mission Derby was the culmination of a long-running feud between rival teams the Madero outlaws and Mission Spikes 30-30 Rifles. Fans were treated to an 11-inning thriller which included . . . — — Map (db m292444) HM
This burial ground has served the Mission community since 1913, when graves were moved here from the first city cemetery because of unsuitable land conditions. Those buried here include John J. Conway (d. 1931), city of Mission founder; Dr. Cleo . . . — — Map (db m292462) HM
Leonardo Alaniz ("Leo Najo") was one of the first Mexican-born players to play professional baseball in the United States, debuting in 1924 with the San Antonio Bears of the Class A Texas League. After early success in the minor leagues, he was . . . — — Map (db m292454) HM
Frenando "Nango" Rivera Sr., manager of the Madero Valley Brickers, is seen around 1941. The Brickers played in the small farming community just south of Mission and along the Texas-Mexico border. The Madero Valley Brickers represented the Valley . . . — — Map (db m292457) HM
In the early 1920s, Najo and several other young men in Mission formed a town semi-pro baseball team, the Mission 30-30s, named after the Winchester Model 1894 rifle, which was popularly known as the 30-30 rifle. The 30-30s became a baseball . . . — — Map (db m292452) HM
The Mission Grapefruiters were a minor league baseball team based in Mission, Texas. The
Grapefruiters played as members of the Class D level-Gulf Coast League in 1926 and Texas Valley League from 1927 to 1928, winning the 1927 league pennant. The . . . — — Map (db m292459) HM
In 1916 the City of Mission entered into a 99-year lease agreement with the Missionary Society of Oblate Fathers for the purpose of creating a public park for the use and benefit of all its citizens. Named for this society of Catholic priests, . . . — — Map (db m292441) HM
This church was established in 1899 as the first mission of the historic La Lomita Church (5 mi. S). Originally known as Our Lady of the Mission (Nuestra Senora de la Mission), it was renamed Our Lady of Guadalupe (Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe) in . . . — — Map (db m292442) HM
Pictured here are old-timers around 1918-1920. Brothers Francisco Estevis Sr. and Tomas Estevis played baseball at locations along the Military Highway near the Rio Grande. Games such as this one are known as pick-up sandlot ball, also referred to . . . — — Map (db m292450) HM
Site of the fathers' residence and, after 1871, also the La Lomita Ranch Headquarters. The first building which stood here was constructed of adobe shortly after the original chapel in 1865. A newer five room residence replaced it in 1899. This . . . — — Map (db m239807) HM
First known as Teatro La Paz (Peace Theatre), this cultural arts center was built about 1912 by Juan Bautista Barberá, a native of Spain who came to the United States in 1905. A bricklayer by profession, Barberá brought films, lecturers, actors, and . . . — — Map (db m195636) HM
Designed by San Antonio architect Harvey P. Smith, this two-story edifice was constructed of brick with white stone trimming and erected on the site of Mission founder John Conway's business offices. Intended to house the multi-firm organization of . . . — — Map (db m195637) HM
Mission women formed the Tuesday Club in 1910 and four years later organized the Civic League of Mission to care for a city park and start a library. The library occupied a shelf in an empty store and moved between temporary sites. The Mission . . . — — Map (db m292439) HM
The small shrine to the Virgin Mary is not an original part of the Capilla de la Lomita grounds. It was erected in 1956 during the "World year in honor of Mary Immaculate" by the Oblates, whose patroness she is. The statue honored the fathers who . . . — — Map (db m239810) HM
