|
Pila
Blanca Cemetery Tombstone
Photo courtesy Gerald
Massey, October 2010 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Founded sometime
prior to 1947, it may have had something to do with the (rather late)
oil boom in and around Freer.
Pila Blaca did have a school which has since merged with the Rosita
ISD. The town was dropped from maps around 1990 and its most noticeable
trace is the cemetery.
Pila Blanca
Today
Photographer's
Note:
"Pila Blanca is just a spot on [my] map and my travel there revealed
a small community. There are but only a handful of buildings, some
residences, farm buildings and one whose purpose has been lost. The
closest services are about 12-miles to the west at Freer.
Other than that, all there is to see are mesquite trees, and cactus.
I’m sure there are jackrabbits and rattlesnakes even though I didn’t
see any and I didn’t go hunting for them. It is a very quiet and
secluded place, but is a home to a number of people as indicated by
the small, well-tended cemetery." - Gerald
Massey |
The
road to Pila Blanca
Photo courtesy Gerald
Massey, October 2010 |
Headstone of
Jesus Ruiz 1875-1957
Photo
courtesy |
Subject: Pila
Blanca, "the ranch"
Pila Blanca was
my great grandfather's ranch (Jesus Ruiz 1875-1957). It was named
for the big white water tank at the base of the old windmill. The
windmill is hanging by a thread having been replaced long ago by an
electric pump. My great grandparents are buried in the Pila Blanca
Cemetery along with many generations of the Ruiz family. Ruiz descendants
still own much of the old ranch.
It was on this ranch that my grandpa (Daniel Fernandez 1897-1968)
met my granny (Jacoba Ruiz 1901-1975) while driving cattle to the
tank. They fell in love and married only to be disowned by her father.
It seems a cowboy was not what he wanted for his daughter. Although
they reconciled, she was never "reowned" and, consequently, all the
inherited lands went to her siblings.
We have always referred to this place as "the ranch" and I didn't
even know it was considered a town. I am sending a pic of my great
grandfather's headstone from the cemetery. - Dee Sengelmann, October
02, 2015 |
| 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
us. |
|
|
HOME
