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History
in a Pecan Shell
The town had been a stop on the San Antonio-Brownsville stage line.
It was known as Santa Margarita Crossing before Nicholas Bluntzer
moved into the area about 1860.
The school for the town was opened in the 1870s, but flooding by the
hurricane of 1919 necessitated its relocation. Justina Bluntzer, daughter
of Nicholas, donated the land for the school. The school held classes
until it was consolidated with the Banquete
ISD in 1971. |
Blunzer
School & Casa Blanca Land Grant historical marker
Photo courtesy Gerald
Massey, October 2010 |
Historical Marker
Casa Blanca Land Grant
The first spanish land grant awarded in what is now Nueces
County was the Casa Blanca Land Grant. Granted in 1798 by the
spanish government to Juan Jose de la Garza Montemayor (1765-1816)
and his three sons, Juan Manuel, Jose Perfecto, and Jose Agustin,
it was located between Penitas Creek and the Nueces River. Originally
called Penitas Grant, it consisted of 70,848 acres, or sixteen sitios
of land.
The Montemayor family established a ranch near Penitas Creek. Since
it was near the site of Casa Blanca Fort, it became known as Casa
Blanca Ranch. Under continual attack by indians, the ranch remained
in the Montemayor family until 1849, when it was purchased by William
Mann (1818-1855). Mann later divided the lands and sold portions to
area farmers and ranchers. Following his death, his heirs sold 22,000
acres to Richard King.
Eventually, oil was discovered in Nueces
County, and the owners of the former Casa Blanca Land Grant became
oil producers. Today, the principal industries on the Casa Blanca
lands are oil and gas production, farming, and ranching. Lands included
in the grant now lie in the counties of Nueces,
(44,042 acres) and Jim
Wells (26,806 acres).
(1988) |
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Casa
Blanca Land Grant historical marker
Photo courtesy Gerald
Massey, October 2010 |
Bluntzer, Texas
Forum
[Your article]
mentions that the Bluntzer school "was moved to land donated by
Justice Bluntzer, a son of Nicholas Bluntzer." That is incorrect,
it should read "was moved to land donated by Justina Bluntzer, a
daughter of Nicholas Bluntzer."
I am a grand-nephew of Justina and great-grandson of Nicholas and
am very familiar with the ownership of the Bluntzer School lands
as I abut it. I have recently contacted the Texas Online handbook
about the error as well. Thanks. - John L. Bluntzer, January 08,
2005
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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