X001 A-MUZ-U Theater near Camp Llano Grande West of Mercedes 1916
Theaters and cafes popped up near Mercedes to entertain the soldiers and servicemen. at Camp Llano Grande. The A-MUZ-U Theater was a popular destination. It would have been showing silent movies as talkies were not available until the mid 20's. Eateries such as the Cold Milk and Pie Shop must have also been popular destinations for the soldiers.
According to the Mercedes Tribune in August 1917, soldiers from Indiana hosted an Indiana Night benefit at the A-Muz-U theater to raise money for the Camp Llano Grande YMCA building. Three home movies from Indiana were shown: a garden dance party given by one of the soldier's cousins, the funeral of an Indiana poet, and footage of a Indiana University vs Perdue football game. [47]
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X002 Soldiers from Camp Llano Grande entering the A-MUZ-U Theater 1916
In this photograph, soldiers from Camp Llano Grande near Mercedes are entering the A-MUZ-U Theater. The theater is covered with film posters and signs advertising 'Home Made Ice Cream and Very Best Lemonade.' The Western Queen, another theater, is located to the right. According to a local newspaper from 1917, there was also another theater behind the camp, the Broadway, and that 'soldiers thronged the theaters each night from the time supper mess kits are cleaned until the bugle sends them home.' At the time, only silent movies were available. The Western Queen accompanied the movies with music, which the soldiers enjoyed very much. [47]
Prohibition did not pass until several years after this photograph was taken, but there are no bars or signs for liquor or alcohol. It is possible that speakeasies existed but did not have signs to mark their presence.
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Q007 Stewart Club House Was On Beautiful Resaca Southeast of Mercedes 1920
The Stewart Club House was one of many clubhouses Mercedes land developers built to entertain customers during the early 1900s. It was located on Llano Grande Lake near Mercedes. The lake is now known as Progresso Lake and the Club House no longer stands. The lake is actually a resaca, an arm of the Rio Grande River that became isolated when the river changed course.
The W.E. Stewart Land Company promotional brochure lured buyers with this exaggerated description: 'This is where the Stewart Land Co. entertain their excursions parties while in the Rio Grande Valley. Beautiful Rio Grande Lake is long and deep, its banks overshadowed with trees. The slopes are covered with sweet scented wildflowers, and fishing provides a profitable pastime'. [35][36]
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Q012 Stewart Club House Promotional Brochure Lured Potential Land Buyers 1916
The image of the Stewart Club House was featured in the land development company promotional brochure. In 1913, the American Rio Grande Land and Irrigation Company acquired a significant portion of the Llano Grande grant and developed the West Tract. [35] In 1916, the United States government stationed troops along the Rio Grande to control raids from Mexico and established a camp at the Llano Grande railroad depot, near Mercedes. The guardsmen erected a watchtower at Progreso. On December 14, 1917, the irrigation company sold 30,000 acres at 90 dollars per acre to the W. E. Stewart Land Company. [53]
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Q009 American Rio Grande Land Company Clubhouse, Still Stands North of Mercedes 1938
This Dutch Colonial style structure was built by the American Rio Grande Land and Irrigation Company as a clubhouse for prospective land buyers in the 1910s. [35] It still stands on Harmony Hill, just North of Mercedes. Over the years it has served as the location for various organizations and clubs. Many modifications have been made to the original structure, and it is now abandoned and in need of repair.
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L025 Llano Grande Resort Clubhouse Still Stands West of Mercedes 1940
The Llano Grande Country Club House was the one of many buildings in the Mercedes area designed by architect Newell Waters. Construction began in 1928. The structure was built of hollow tile covered with stucco, with a Spanish tile roof and reinforced concrete foundation. A tower was located on the west side, and the first floor contained a ladies' parlor, men's locker rooms, and showers. The club house was finished inside and out with native wood. According to the local newspaper, the club house was 'situated on the banks of the Llano Grande Lake in one of the most beautiful spots in the Valley.' [57]
The building later became a residence for Harold Lehman. Today the clubhouse serves as offices for the Llano Grande Lake Park Resort. [4]
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Q008 Bougainvillea Restaurant Was Located On US 83 and Mile 2 West 1950
The Mercedes Enterprise reported that the Bougainvillea Restaurant opened on Friday, October 10, 1947, and served 'Chickens, Steaks, Chops and Seafoods at all Hours.' Mr. and Mrs. Al Strittmatter owned the restaurant which was located 'just past the highway bridge west of Mercedes'. [48] Its red tile roof, stucco exterior and Bougainvillea plant for which it was named, nodded to Mission style which was popular in the Mercedes area.
Local businesses Model Cleaning, Tullis Office Supply, Mercedes Sheet Metal Work, and Economy Plumbing took out large ads in the newspaper to welcome the new business to town. The restaurant was a popular spot for both dining and social gatherings. It closed in the 1960s and the empty building stood for many years before being demolished.
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K002 Cover Girl Contestants, RGV Livestock Show of Mercedes 1955
The earliest mention of a livestock show in a Mercedes newspaper appeared in the Mercedes Tribune in 1914: Help demonstrate what the Lower Rio Grande Valley can do in agriculture, horticulture, and livestock by exhibiting your best products at the Rio Grande Live Stock Show and Fair at Mercedes, October 8, 9, and 10... [63]
The livestock show became an annual event that featured the Cover Girl Beauty contest. The fortunate contest winner's photograph was featured on the livestock show's cover, hence the name Cover Girl. The 1955 Cover Girl winners are featured in this postcard. The Ad copy on the back of the postcard reads: SUPPORT YOUR CHURCH for a BETTER U.S.A. A few of the girls featured in the Cover Girl Contest conducted each year in the Valley Livestock Show and Rodeo, Mercedes, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.
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K003 Cover Girl Contest Winners, RGV Livestock Show of Mercedes 1955
In 1949, the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show moved to its current location at 1000 North Texas in Mercedes. This postcard shows the1955 Cover Girl Beauty Contest winners. The copy on the back of the postcard reads: The four top winners in the Cover Girl Contest held annually at Mercedes, Texas, during the Lower Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show. The entire Valley joins Mercedes each year in the celebration of their event.
In addition to being members of either FFA or 4-H, Cover Girl contestants were required to have an animal or agricultural project entered in the livestock show. The Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show and the Cover Girl beauty contest are still held annually today, in 2023.
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Q010 Nuevo Record Company Publicity Postcard from Mercedes Band 1960
Publicity postcard for Mercedes native Gilberto Perez y Sus Compardres on their trip to Florida in the 1960s. Gilberto Pérez founded his band in 1959 and it became one of the most renowned bands in the Conjunto music genre. Gilberto said that many of his songs reflect on his life in Mercedes. For 60 years, he and his band toured throughout the United States and Mexico to packed dance halls at many events. He was celebrated with special honors, including induction into the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and shared the stage with almost every major figure in Tejano and Conjunto music during his career. [64]
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Q011 El Sombrero Restaurant was Mercedes Gathering Place for Many Years 1960
The El Sombrero Restaurant was known for its delicious enchiladas and steaks. Its function room was a popular gathering place for civic organizations and celebrations. Wayne and Margaret Love owned and managed the restaurant for many years. Their motto was 'Because you LOVE good food'. The restaurant closed sometime in the 1980s and the structure has been demolished.
The advertising copy on the back of the card says 'Located on the Lower Rio Grand Valley Main Street- Highway 83, Mercedes. Specializing in Charcoal Broiled Steaks and Mexican Food. Private Dining Rooms serving small groups or 200. Lunches - Food to go - Dinners - Seafoods l Nationally Famous Strawberry Pie. Telephone LO 5-2282.
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