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History in
a Pecan Shell
Begun as a crossroads
freight station used by Mexican ox cart freighters, it wasn’t until
1875 when buildings came into being on what had been El Mesquite
Rancho. Peña Station began appearing on maps and railroad
station lists. The Texas-Mexican Railway made adjustments so that
trains ran near the ranch and in 1881 it became an official stop.
For many years, Ringgold Barracks (Fort
Ringgold) was supplied from Corpus
Christi and San Antonio
through Peña Station. But because there was gap between the
station and the railroad tracks, it allowed James R. Hebbron to build
his own station even closer to the railroad. Hebbron platted a town
and when it acquired its own post office, Peña Station started
disappearing from maps – replaced by Hebbronville.
But it remained as a place because it was still the shortest distance
between Ringgold
and its suppliers. The military used it as well as the freighters,
preferring the flatland over the Rio Grande route which was subject
to washouts and had much thicker growth. As long as the route was
in use, Peña Station was still referred to by newspapers and
the occasional book that might mention the place. |
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1882 map of Encinal
(ghost county) & Duval
County (before Jim
Hogg County was established) showing "Pena"
(Below "D" in "DUVAL" near county line)
Red Line is the Route of the Texas Mexican Railroad
From 1882 Texas state map #2134
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
From 1920 Texas
state map #10749 showing Jim
Hogg County
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
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