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History in
a Pecan Shell
The region is now
famous for the high
bridge and the local pre-Columbian artwork on area cliffs. The
name was from one of the region’s denizens, the whip scorpion. The
fanciful name comes from the acrid odor the arachnid emits when alarmed
(or stomped). The town came into being in 1881 with the arrival of
“Judge”
Roy Bean. Bean,
who had left San Antonio
under a dark cloud, was one of Texas’
most colorful characters and was undoubtedly aware of the impending
arrival of the railroad (The Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio).
The site became a camp for railroad workers, most of them fleeced
by Bean
in one way or another. With the construction of the Pecos
High Bridge, the rails were shifted and Bean left Vinegarroon
for Langtry,
the town with which he is most famously associated.
Photographer’s Note:
“This marker and its location may be of more interest than the actual
townsite of Vinegarroon. It is in a rather desolate but uniquely beautiful
desert roadside park, high on the top of a road cut on US 90 some
12 miles SE of Langtry.
The other prominent crossing of the Pecos, the
railroad bridge, is visible from the Vinegarroon marker site only
with binoculars or a telephoto lens.” - Barclay
Gibson |
 |
Former Vinegarroon
Station
Photo courtesy of Barclay
Gibson, June 2014 |
Vinegarroon Historical
Marker
Photo courtesy of Barclay
Gibson, September, 2011 |
Historical Marker
- on US 90
10 miles E of Langtry
4.6 miles W of Pecos
River bridge
Site of Vinegarroon
Crossing the Pecos
River Canyon was the last major obstacle in the Souther Pacific Railroad
faced in completing its southern transcontinental route linking New
Orleans and San Francisco. At "Tunnel No. 2" was excavated on the
west side of the canyon in 1882, a camp for the railroad workers was
established near the site. Named Vinegarroon for a type of scorpion
found in the area, the camp served as a temporary home for thousands
of primarily Chinese laborers. Roy
Bean had a saloon and served as Justice of the Peace in Vinegarroon
until it was abandoned after the rail line was complete in 1883.
(2001) |
The Highway Overlook
Photo courtesy of Barclay
Gibson, September, 2011 |
Gazebo on the
roadside park
Photo courtesy of Barclay
Gibson, September, 2011 |
Val
Verde County
County 1940s map
From Texas state map #4335
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/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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