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Nuecestown
Cemetery
Photo
courtesy Roxanne Krisch |
History in a Pecan
Shell
Established
as “The Motts” by English and German settlers in the early 1850s, it was
renamed after the Nueces River. A temporary post office (1854-1855) was reestablished
as a permanent one in 1859. In 1875 the town was raided by Mexican bandits in
what is known as “The Nuecestown Raid.”
In 1885 Nuecestown had
a school with 32 students – considered one of the largest in Nueces County. The
preserved 1892 schoolhouse is now the largest reminder of the town that once numbered
200 (1896)
The town went into a decline in 1905 after being bypassed by
the St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railroad. The post office closed in the
late 1920s when the population was reported as 50. Residents left as the city
limits of Corpus Christi
grew closer and today it sits not far from fast food restaurants – with only the
cemetery and schoolhouse. |
 |
Nuecestown
Cemetery & Historical MarkerPhotographers'
Notes:
"The old cemetery I'm sure was intended to be on a nice quiet hill
over looking the town area and Nueces River bottom but urban sprawl from Corpus
Christi and Calallen has overtaken it and the cemetery is bordered on the
south by a busy Leopard Street and just a few hundred yards north is interstate
37." - Will
Beauchamp
"I recently came across your website while
trying to find the "hanging tree" I saw as a child. I have spent hours just browsing
and getting lost in your photos. I would like to add my own. I live fairly close
to the Nuecestown cemetery in Corpus
Christ, Texas and had ventured into it in 2005, I believe. Having lived in
this area all my life, I never knew the history until I came across your site.
I am attaching five photographs for your consideration. Thank you." - Roxanne
Krisch |
| Photo
courtesy Roxanne Krisch |
| Photo
courtesy Roxanne Krisch |
Cemetery
statue
Photo
courtesy Roxanne Krisch |
Nuecestown
Cemetery angel
Photo
courtesy Roxanne Krisch |
| "Beynon's Headstone
with tree in front & Taco Bell sign in the back ground. These were the parent
of 4 year old Elizabeth Beynon who was the first known person buried in the cemetery."
- Will
Beauchamp |
| "William Ball
- Survived being kidnapped during the 1875 raid by bandits, escaping to return
to Nuecestown." - Will
Beauchamp |
| "Side view of
Beynon's parents stone is Elizabeth's name. The parents died the next year after
her." Will
Beauchamp |
Nuecestown
Historical Marker &
Nuecestown Raid Historical MarkerThese
markers are located on Up River Road near the old townsite. |
 |
Historical
Marker Text
Nuecestown
Henry
L. Kinney (b. 1914), who founded Corpus Christi, established Nuecestown in 1852
at the location of the first ferry crossing on the Nueces River west of Corpus
Christi. He sent agents to Europe, primarily England and Germany, to promote
his new settlement. Each immigrant purchased 100 acres of land, a town lot, and
10 head of cattle.
Nuecestown, known locally as "The Motts" because of
several clusters of trees, grew to have, in addition to the ferry, a hotel, packery,
and one of the county's first cotton gins. A Post Office opened in 1859.
After
the Civil War it was a gathering place for cattle drovers in the area herding
longhorns to
be driven to northern railheads. On Good Friday, March 26, 1875, Mexican bandits
entered the region on a raid, causing many Corpus
Christi residents to flee. After plundering the Frank Store (3 miles east),
the raiders turned on Nuecestown, looting and burning T.J. Noake's store and Post
Office, killing one man, and capturing several hostages. A party of citizens pursued
the attackers unsuccessfully, and another man was killed.
When bypassed
by the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway about 1905, Nuecestown began
to decline. The post office closed in 1927.
(1973) |
 |
The
1875 Nuecestown Raid Historical Marker
Photo Courtesy Will
Beauchamp |
Nuecestown
Schoolhouse & Markers |
Nuecestown, Texas
Forum
Subject:
Nuecestown
Back
in the '60s & early '70s--and perhaps before that--there existed a tourist attraction
known as 'Old Nuecestown.' It was near the actual site of Nuecestown. It had a
fine restaurant, along with several buildings salvaged from the area. It featured
'gunfight' shows & had a lot of antiques on display, including a player piano
that came from one of Corpus
Christi's more noted brothels. I recall, as well, a horse-drawn hearse & several
other horse-drawn vehicles. Unfortunately, a fire in, as I recall, the early '70s,
rendered it a total loss. - C.
F. Eckhardt, Seguin,
July 08, 2011 |
Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, and vintage/historic
photos of their town, please contact
us. | |
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