B003 Early Construction Depended On Ladrilleros At Relampago Brick Factory 1907
Master brickmakers [Maestros Ladrilleros] pour clay into molds at a brickyard [ladrillera] located South of Mercedes, Texas.The community is now known as Relampalgo. Brickmakers were skilled craftsmen who understood selection and harvesting of clay, building molds, pouring clay, as well building wood fired kilns and firing bricks.
Brickmaking skills were passed generationally through families. One family member described their skills: 'They all knew how to mold [haver hechura]. They knew clay, which clay to use for brick. They knew how to fire [quemar]. They knew how to set [asentrar] bricks in the kiln. They learned all that from their father'. [9]
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B002 Brickyard Supplied Materials for Mission Revival Style Buildings in Early Mercedes 1907
The demand for bricks was high, as Mercedes ordinances required certain buildings to be constructed using masonry or stone, the architectural aesthetic preferred by city founders. Brickyards like this one were located south of Mercedes, close to the Rio Grande River, where deposits of alluvial clays provided the raw material needed for brick manufacturing. [9] Typically, buildings using this type of brick were covered with stucco. Some of the early buildings standing today are probably constructed using this locally produced brick. These include the Graham School at 203 W 10th Street and the building at 246 S Texas Street, which was the original Hidalgo Bank.
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U152 Bricks Drying at Relampago Brick Factory 1960
In 1902 the American Rio Grande Land and Irrigation Company acquired a parcel of land where they established the town of Relampago in 1908. A devastating flood in 1910 nearly wiped out the town. This brick factory built to utilize river mud from the Rio Grande for brick production survived the disaster. Many early buildings in Mercedes were built from these bricks. The factory remained operational until the 1960s. Today Relampago persists as a small community.[89]
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U155 Relampago Factory Produced Bricks for Early Mercedes 1960
The factory operated until sometime in the 1960s. There is a large kiln in the center, and 10 small kilns on the left, each with a chimney. There are stacks of wood to fire the kilns on the left side. The railroad in front provided transportation to Mercedes and other markets [89]
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A001 Original Hidalgo County Bank Building on Northeast Corner of Texas and 3rd 1913
The Hidalgo County Bank building, which is pictured here was founded in 1907 by J.M. Johnson, William M. Price, S.P. Silver, and John Closner. It was the first bank in Mercedes. Several of the founders were also investors in the American Rio Grande Land and Irrigation Company. Other early banks in Mercedes included Planters Bank and First National Bank. In 1928, Hidalgo County Bank moved to a new building that was constructed diagonally across the street in the empty lot seen here. The bank survived the Great Depression of the 1930s and thrived until it collapsed during the banking crisis in 1989. The original building still stands today and has been occupied by many businesses over the years. [93]
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Q001 Hidalgo County Bank Advertisement Postcard 1916
Looking Northeast in Mercedes from the corner of Texas Avenue and 3rd Street at Hidalgo County Bank in its original building which was built in 1907. The building has changed hands many times over the years. For several decades, it was Queen City Drug which had a full soda fountain and a huge cosmetic counter. Today the building houses a restaurant. The building and those to its right still retain many of their original Spanish Colonial architectural features. The bank moved to a new building in 1928.
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L015 Hidalgo County Bank Featured Walnut Fixtures, Rich Mosiac Tile Floor, Elevators 1940
When the Hidalgo County Bank moved to this new building in 1928, the newspaper said 'One of the most modern structures in South Texas, and the only building outside Brownsville to be equipped with elevator service. Steam heat is provided for every office...The interior of banking rooms present a most unusual effect with walnut fixtures throughout, and a tile floor of rich mosaic colorings. Windows for ten tellers are provided, with separate offices for bank officials. ' The building was one of several in Mercedes designed by R. Newell Waters. [69]
Hidalgo County Bank and Trust was 82 years, 26 days old when it was closed on July 26, 1989 by the Texas State Banking Commission after being declared insolvent. [93] The building remains standing today in 2023, but the fine exterior was covered over during a renovation project in the 1990s.
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U150 Early Photograph of the Elks Club Building 1927
Look closely to see through the windows where the ballroom was. In later photographs, it had been converted into smaller rooms for the hotel. The building is under construction. There are ladders and barrels on the sidewalk, and the road is blocked off. [50]
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I003 Mercedes Elks Club with Elegant Ballroom Was A Popular Venue 1928
The Elks Club built this Mediterranean-style building with a red tile roof, stucco exterior, and arched windows at Missouri Avenue and 2nd Street in Mercedes in 1928. It stands today but is now boarded up and abandoned. During the Great Depression, the Elks Lodge's revenues declined, and businesses began to rent office space in the building. It became the Chamber of Commerce Building in the 1940s. [64][65] When the older Mercedes Hotel that stood at the corner of Texas and Second Street was demolished in the 1950s, this building became a hotel, and was renamed the Mercedes Hotel. So, it often confused with the older Mercedes Hotel.
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L013 Mercedes Chamber of Commerce and Part of Business District 1928
Looking East from Missouri Avenue and 3rd Street, this postcard features the Chamber of Commerce building that was originally built as the Elk's Lodge. The home across the street on the right was built and occupied for many years by Dr Caballero and his family. Both buildings still stand today in the Mercedes Historic District.
The smokestack for the Electric Power Plant is seen in the distance. Although the smokestack was demolished years ago, the hulking power plant building still stands today in 2023.
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L014 Originally the Elks Club on Missouri Avenue 1928
The first of several Mercedes buildings designed by architect R. Newell Waters [4], the entrance of the Elks Club Building features ornamental brick work, a detailed arched doorway, and Mediterranean light fixtures, and a large clock above the door. There was a roof top terrace and decorative red tile. Inside, the lodge featured social rooms, library, shower baths, a ballroom and a roof garden.
Upon completion of the building in 1928, the newspaper reported 'The building with its spacious corner lot represents a total investment of 65,000 dollars and is one of the most handsome fraternal lodge homes south of San Antonio. It is of beautiful architectural design and modern in all of its appointments. The interior has been neatly and artistically decorated and it now awaits furnishing.' [65][66]
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U156 Invitation to Dance at Elks Club 1939
The elegant Spanish language invitation from hosts Jose H Alamia Jose Leal and F.G. Armendariz states 'We have the high honor to invite you and your distinguished famila to an elegante Dance on Sunday July 11 at the Grand ELks Salon'.The Tony Orchestra provided the music, Lucy Tijerina Family Collection https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/lucytijerinainvi/11/[50]
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U142 Elks Club Building Used as Lodging 1960
By the 1960s the building was being used as a hotel and apartments. A sign for the now air conditioned hotle has been added. Wooden panels have been added to some windows reducing them in size. An additional structure has been added on the roof. The street lights have been removed and a traffic sign has been added at the corner.[50]
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U144 Rear of Elks Club Building 1960
Rear of the building in the 1960s when it was being known as the Mercedes Hotel and served as hotel and apartments. Some of the windows have been recued in size with wodden panels.
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G002 Valley Industries Produced Delaware Punch and other Soft Drinks 1928
The advertisement on the back of this advertising card describes the products of the Valley Industries of Mercedes: 'Pure cane sugar, triple filtered water and only ingredients that actually come from the citrus fruits is the reason why we are compelled to have such large warehouses and so many delivery trucks to cover the entire valley'.
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G001 Valley Industries Was Largest Beverage Producer in the Valley 1928
Production of beverages from citrus was a major industry in the Mercedes area. Valley Industries, located between Mercedes and Weslaco, produced beverages such as Delaware Punch.
Even industrial buildings included Mission Revival architecture features such as the parapets which crown the exterior walls of the Valley Industry buildings seen in this postcard.
The advertisement on the back of this card says: The Valley Home of Delaware Punch. The largest Beverage plant in South Texas where only pure food beverages are manufactured. Volume at this plant makes it possible to market beverages with a fruit base to retail at five cents per bottle.
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F007 TexSun Company near Mercedes Juice Produced Juices from Valley Citrus 1950
The TexSun Company near Mercedes produced orange and grapefruit Juice for consumers across the United States. According to the historic marker at the former site: The citrus industry was an integral part of the Rio Grande Valley economy in the 20th century. In 1932, valley citrus producers formed the Rio Grande Valley Citrus Exchange. The exchange began production under the labels of TexSun and TexMaid, and later had a box company, juicing and canning facilities, and a dehydration plant for citrus pulp-based cattle feed. Texsun became a public corporation in 1956. The plant ceased operations in 1991. [92] Today, the Citrus World Corporation produces juice with the TexSun name today from citrus grown in Florida and Mexico.
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Q002 Many Mercedes Residents Worked For Texsun Juice Plant 1949
This is an advertisement postcard for the Texsun Juice Company. The company produced juice from Valley citrus oranges and grapefruits from the 1930s until 1991. The citrus processing plant was located between Mercedes and Weslaco at one time. Families living near the plant recall the ever-present scent of oranges and grapefruits being processed and the sound of boilers running 24 hours a day.
Texsun Juice Company was a major employer in the area until the late 1980s. In order to save money and increase profits, farmers began to grow less labor-intensive crops such as grain, cotton, and sugarcane instead of citrus. As a result of reduced citrus production, the company eventually closed.
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