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History in
a Pecan Shell
Frijole was named
after Frijole Peak, which has since been renamed Hunter Peak.
First settlement occurred in 1876 when the two Rader brothers built
a house on the site.
In 1904 the Smith family arrived and thereafter the site was also
referred to as Smith's Ranch.
In the early 1930s busloads of returning visitors from Carlsbad Caverns
could mail their postcards from Frijole.
Frijole had one business and ten people in 1936. The post office closed
during WWII
and the Smiths left in 1945. Frijole was dropped from maps by the
mid-fifties, although the Frijole Ranch was still within the park's
borders.
Rancher J. C. Hunter made the former town his headquarters - and when
much of Hunter's land was turned into Guadalupe
Mountains National Park - the old Rader brothers' ranch house
became a residence for park personnel. |
(Modified) 1920s
Culberson County
map showing Frijole (NW corner)
From Texas state map #10749
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
us. |
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