|
|
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 Marker
Photographers'
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 Marker
These markers are
located on Up River Road near the old townsite. |
 |
Historical Marker:
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
|
1907 Nueces
County postal map showing Nuecestown 13 miles NW of Corpus
Christi
From Texas state map #2090
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 vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
|
|
HOME
Texas
Gulf Coast
East
Texas
Central
Texas North
Central
Texas South
Texas
Panhandle
South
Texas
Texas
Hill Country
West
Texas
Texas
Ghost Towns
Texas
Counties
