Special to El Rrun-Rrun
As the morning sun glows through the thick fog announcing its presence with a skyline of white and gray – with that also appears, the most unique highway in America, the Military Highway.
Born in days of Zachary Taylor and sidelined by the brush country of then – it meandered along the north bank of the Rio Grande from Brownsville to Laredo.
In 1961, Henry N. Ferguson wrote, “A stranger might travel its two-hundred-mile length without once suspecting he was in the United States.”
Its uniqueness centers around the brilliant flowers and exotic fruits that engulfed the fronts yards. There were picturesque haciendas that formed the perfect setting for the romantic vowels of Spanish music. And along the way, stood the farm houses resembling old cathedrals. Displaying its rustic art– the tools of toil from past generations.
Ferguson declared, the dusty road, once traveled by scores soldiers, was representative of this border’s golden past. Interwoven with the beauty, excitement and progress of the twenty-century.
Twenty years later…
Ferguson declared, the dusty road, once traveled by scores soldiers, was representative of this border’s golden past. Interwoven with the beauty, excitement and progress of the twenty-century.
Twenty years later…
A young Irish Californian, who attracted your attention with his west coast sunshine looks, was also intrigued by this mystical road. He came to Brownsville just like many did before him, and was consumed with the smell of fertile soil that was once described as the “Garden of Eden.”
G.F. McHale-Scully, grew up in San Luis Obispo and had fond memories of his Sunday rides with the family along the Pacific Coast. The sights and sounds were immeasurable, “never short of spectacular,” it was more than just a ride, he expressed.
Scully commented, “We were a good catholic family, constantly harangued by the old Irish priest that the family that prays together, stays together. It seems to me that the family that drives together, strives together.”
While in Brownsville, apparently those deep-seated rides from his past, continued in his new mother land.
G.F. McHale-Scully, grew up in San Luis Obispo and had fond memories of his Sunday rides with the family along the Pacific Coast. The sights and sounds were immeasurable, “never short of spectacular,” it was more than just a ride, he expressed.
Scully commented, “We were a good catholic family, constantly harangued by the old Irish priest that the family that prays together, stays together. It seems to me that the family that drives together, strives together.”
While in Brownsville, apparently those deep-seated rides from his past, continued in his new mother land.
Time Warp in the Valley Past…. In this piece, written in 1982, Scully expresses his sensitivity toward nature and the landscape that adorns it… He eloquently wrote about the splendor he experienced in his voyages of discovery – traveling the highways of Rio Grande Valley.
For me… “Highway 281, exiting Brownsville, destination Hidalgo, an hour’s respite. There is history, a virginity, the sweet smell of manure mixing with fresh redolence’s of country air. Horses, cows and goats graze together by the side of the road munching on tall grass, turkeys and chickens darting past, their wings flapping in constant fright. Cats and dogs will never know a better life.”
For me… “Highway 281, exiting Brownsville, destination Hidalgo, an hour’s respite. There is history, a virginity, the sweet smell of manure mixing with fresh redolence’s of country air. Horses, cows and goats graze together by the side of the road munching on tall grass, turkeys and chickens darting past, their wings flapping in constant fright. Cats and dogs will never know a better life.”
The ancient highway has been a fascinating mixture of legend, fact and history. It has the flavor of past with today, a tint of the future.
“I return from these excursions bittersweet. I see 281’s fate the same as Hidalgo, mass development the culprit. When I hear politicians proudly proclaim that we will have suburbia from Brownsville to McAllen by the year 2000. I cringe inside.
"I’m a melancholy, nostalgic fool, but I want to remember the simple beauty of 281 to tell my children what they missed.”
Buried treasure is not necessarily underground – the resurfaced road of today, stands on sacred ground. “A dignified sentinel, keeping watch over its land and people. While still revealing its charm of days-gone- by.
(Note: Excerpts from this story were taken from “Military Highway is Unique,” by Henry W. Ferguson and “Time Warp in the Valley ‘s Past,” by G.F. McHale-Scully. Photos by Joe Hermosa.)
Buried treasure is not necessarily underground – the resurfaced road of today, stands on sacred ground. “A dignified sentinel, keeping watch over its land and people. While still revealing its charm of days-gone- by.
(Note: Excerpts from this story were taken from “Military Highway is Unique,” by Henry W. Ferguson and “Time Warp in the Valley ‘s Past,” by G.F. McHale-Scully. Photos by Joe Hermosa.)
11 comments:
Why do you 'Blow' this White dude, Montoya. McHale hates Mexicans, bro!!!!!!!!
Your kidding right, about McHale. Have you lost your mind?
Where did you discover this piece, Juan? I didn't realize I used to be that skinny. God have mercy on those poor ingrates that didn't live the Rio Grande Valley as we experienced it. And we still live it. We have 40 years of experience from the front trenches. And we're still fighting for that same vision that sometimes becomes blurry from too many beers downtown. The putos can talk their shit, but we've always been the real deal. And we say that with humility. Long live El Rrun Rrun and fuck all you motherfuckers who haven't drunk deep from the Rio Grande!
McHale is married to a pure Mexican de a madre, or is he not married anymore? She used to be a teacher at Pace High School. And as for the article, there is so much truth about the content for many of us remember 281 as the major highway out of Brownsville, passing through all those ranchitos that belonged to the de la Garza, Cortina, Esparza's, Zayas, Cepeda, Sanchez, Coy families who were the founders of the area after their ancestor Don Jose Salvador de la Garza Falcon was granted the Espiritu Santo land grant of what is now the southern tip of Texas in the late 1780's. All of a sudden this land is partially stolen by the gringos in Brownsville and the descendents of the da la Garza family, who fought to keep their land, were considered outlaws. That is the story I remember my parents sharing with us when we were kids and visit the historical church and the cannons that were situation in the area. What a beautiful picture we had in our minds as kids, but the kids now-a-days could care less for they are all glued to those stupid cell phones. What a shame.
It was always said by the old folks that there was a tunnel from the church to the house so in case of an attack by Mexican bandits they could escape.
Military Highway does not "appear;" it is always there. Rewrite!
What happened Juan, did you finally get your lazy as a job and can't update your blog?
This is the way it starts. First they hold hands and then.......
Where is Juanito?? Nothing of interest since Sept. 12th?
Que pasa, donde estas?
40 years, you got to be kidding you pinche gringo newcomer. I have been here since 1939. You are just another California liberal looking for a new place to lite and some new victims to exploit. You don't know shit and being married to a Mexican doesn't qualify you for anything.
And Jerry thought that he was such a super teacher. BISD had no huevos to fire him for it is well known that he never did anything in the classes but sit on his ass with his feet on top of his desk. He thought he was too good for everyone else and would play with himself during in-service sessions or write his lesson plans for the whole year. Ese vato no vale madre and it is sad that all his ex-students know that. Que vuerguenza! Oh, but he was the first one to circle the office when checks were handed out.
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