South 15th & 17th Streets

I have three more historical sites to share with you this week. Two are located in McAllen's Entertainment District - S. 17th Street and the third is two blocks East on 15th.
Cine El Rey - ("The King Cinema"), located at 311 S. 17th. the Cine El Rey was designed by W.E. Crawford and erected in 1947. At that time McAllen had 4 other theaters, but they catered to the English-speaking populace. After WWII, there was an influx of nearly 5-million immigrants from Mexico who came to work in agriculture as part of the Government's "Bracero Program". Cine El Rey was built in the city's Mexican Quarter as a "Mexican Theatre" and showed only Spanish-language films. It served the community in this capacity until the mid 1980's when it also began showing second- run American features. The cinema closed in 1988. From 1996 to 1998, the building was used as a religious outreach center. The Cine El Rey has been lovingly preserved from its projecting neon marquee to its enamel panels adorning the lower portion of the front facade, and sports a plaque indicating its listing on the National Registry of Historical Places. Inside, except for necessary code updates, the theatre retains its original charm and serves as a venue for art films and live performances.

"Patio on Guerra"
Did you know that at one time, 17th Street was known as Guerra Street? I didn't. Around a century ago, three brothers from Starr County bought a building in downtown McAllen. When the political atmosphere in Starr County got to "hot", their father, Deodoro Guerra high-tailed it out of town and joined his sons in McAllen, thus began "D. Guerra and Sons". The building located at 116 S. 17th has served as a blacksmith's shop, grocery store, used clothing shop and a warehouse for a sporting goods store. Today, it houses the newly opened restaurant, "Patio on Guerra", [(956) 683-4446] owned by cousins Art & Che Guerra and Che's wife Becky. Area history encompasses the building. Inside, there are portions of the original tin ceiling as well as a 100-year old bar from San Miguel, Mexico. The walls sport vintage beer ad posters. Outside, a line of bricks are inscribed with the names of the Guerra men from they time in Spain through the present.

My last stop this week is at 306 S. 15th Street. Sacred Heart Catholic Church. I had fun trying to get a picture of this structure. It's really tall! I was awestruck by all of the stained-glass windows. The white stone framing them makes them pop. According to historical marker, Priests from LaLomita Chapel in Mission ministered to Catholics in McAllen from 1908 to 1911, when a mission was begun here and a wood frame chapel was built. By 1917 a school and rectory were added and Sacred Heart became an independent parish. When I was researching "Bessie" the steamboat bell (see my Wichita Street blog) there was mention that a dispute over ownership of the bell kept it from being purchased by Sacred Heart and saved the bell from a fire in 1924 that destroyed the church. Since there a couple of other Sacred Heart Churches in the area, I don't know if this is the same church or not. The Sacred Heart parish has served as "Mother Church" to many missions in central Hidalgo County.
Take a stroll down 15th or 17th street and check out some more of McAllen's history.