11, 12, 23

What do 11, 12 and 23 have in common? The obvious answer is that 11+12=23. The other commonality is they are streets in McAllen and they each have a historical marker site. The first site is at 118 N. 11th (between Ash & Beech). Here you will find the McAllen Lodge #1110 A.F. & A.M. This Masonic lodge was organized by Master Mason R.M. Bounds and a group of about 30 Masons in Dec., 1915. Prior to a temple being erected here in 1927, the group met at the Joseph and Osbourne buildings in McAllen. The lodge and its 200+ membership continues to be active in civic affairs in the city. In 1995, the Texas Historical Commission recognized this site.

Now, if you backtrack to 12th street and cross business 83 (watch for traffic) and go to the intersection of 12th and Beaumont, you'll find the next marker at the First Presbyterian Church of McAllen. First Presbyterian was established in 1908 when the Rev. M.W. Doggett preached the first sermon in a local lumber yard. The first sanctuary, a prominent McAllen landmark, was build in 1910. The Church encountered some tough times from 1909 to 1919 because of the Mexican Revolution, but was sustained by its woman's society that was formed in 1909. As McAllen Grew, so did First Presbyterian. A fellowship hall was added in 1949, followed by an education building in 1953 and a new sanctuary in 1959-60. A Historical Marker was placed in 1994. (If you look right above the corner of the pickup box, you can see the marker.)

I also discovered another piece of history at this site. As I approached the church, I noticed a structure across the street from it. I thought it looked like some type of memorial and that is exactly what it is. The engraving reads: McAllen High School Memorial. After some additional research, I learned the site was the original location of McAllen High School and this memorial commenorates that.

Now, we have one more stop on this tour and it is at the intersection of S. 23rd and Ithica street, St. Joseph the Worker catholic Church. The church was dedicated in 1963, but it is not the historical site. The history is what lies within. Supposedly at the top of three rickety ladders that lead up to the belfry, is "Bessie" the steamboat bell. From the 1840's to the early 1900's, more than 100 steamboats plied the Rio Grande transporting supplies to troops in both the Mexican-American and Civil Wars. as rail service developed, steamboats became obsolete and it was sometime in 1900 that "Bessie" made her last voyage on the river. From 1902 until 1909, the 400-lb bell was used by John Closner at his Sugar Mill near Hidalgo. If you noticed, earlier, I said "supposedly" when introducing the bell. This is because to this day, there exists a controversy over whether this is the real bell or not. In 2007, employees at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan Del Valle discovered a bell that had been in storage since 1970 when a small plane crashed in to the shrine. Another story tells of of how the bell was given to Sacred Heart Church, survived a fire in 1924, cracked in 1937, and was the recast and given to St. Joseph the Worker. To read the whole story, go to www.themonitor.com/news/bell_6402___article.html/bessie_fort.html

So, not only do we find history in McAllen, we find mystery. Will we ever solve the mystery of "Bessie" the bell? Maybe someday the truth will be tolled. Until then, join me as I seek out other historical markers around McAllen