Castolón
Castolón was originally called Santa Elena. The Mexican village of Santa Elena and Santa Elena Crossing are nearby on the border. Probably Leandro Silvas and Cipriano Hernandez were the first settlers in the area. During the Mexican Revolution some of the men of Mexican heritage would go into Mexico and fight with Villa or Carranza. Ocassionally some of the unrest in Mexico would spill over into the border area. So, in 1920 the US Army established Camp Santa Elena. One of the buildings housed the soldiers and a small building around the corner was housing for their cook, Magdalena Silvas, daughter of Leandro Silvas. Today it is known as the Magdalena House. [see below]
Mexican Revolution soon ended and Wayne Cartledge, who was in charge of Howard Perry's Chisos store
Farming had developed and in Wayne Cartledge established La Harmonia general store here to supply the farmers. When they got a post office the name of Santa Elena was already being used in Hidalgo County so the name Castolón was created. It probably references the nearby peak known as Castellón.
Mexican Revolution soon ended and Wayne Cartledge, who was in charge of Howard Perry's Chisos store
Farming had developed and in Wayne Cartledge established La Harmonia general store here to supply the farmers. When they got a post office the name of Santa Elena was already being used in Hidalgo County so the name Castolón was created. It probably references the nearby peak known as Castellón.
Altagracia "Alta" García sent this newspaper clipping from the San Angelo Standard Times to her sister Natividad G. Franco. Natividad''s daughter, Louisa Franco Madrid, has provided it to Familias de Terlingua. As Alta scribbled around the headline, the article has "a bit of the history of Castolón." It tells some of the stories behind Castolón's origins.
Click on the image below to enlarge it and make it more legible.
Castolón in the Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=Drawing:%20tx0982&fi=number&op=PHRASE&va=exact&co%20=hh&st=gallery&sg%20=%20true
Castolón likely named for nearby Castellón.
The barracks building that later became La Harmonia general store.
Bob Wirt looking at the Castolón Post Office in La Harmonia general store
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The Postmasters of Castolon in the official United States Archives
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/78774902 |
Click on image to enlarge it.
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Magdalena House
This is Magdalena Silvas daughter of one of the co-founders of Castolón, Leandro Silvas. Magdalena lived in the house now known as the Magdalena House when she was the cook for the soldiers in the barracks next door. The barracks building later became the general store La Harmonia.
1900 Census She was living with her parents in her grandfather's home 2 houses from Alvino Ybarra home; Brewster County Precinct 2
1910 Census
1950 Census
1910 Census
1950 Census
See Magdalena House in the Library of Congress:
www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=Drawing:%20tx0985&fi=number&op=PHRASE&va=exact&co%20=hh&st=gallery&sg%20=%20true
www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=Drawing:%20tx0985&fi=number&op=PHRASE&va=exact&co%20=hh&st=gallery&sg%20=%20true
Alvino House
This page was worked on March 15, 2021.
The newspaper article provided by Louisa Franco Madrid on the history of Castolón added September 14, 2021.
We added Magdalena and Magdalena House photos on April 19, 2023.
We added the Alvino House photo on April 20, 202
The newspaper article provided by Louisa Franco Madrid on the history of Castolón added September 14, 2021.
We added Magdalena and Magdalena House photos on April 19, 2023.
We added the Alvino House photo on April 20, 202
