Weslaco

By Blanca E Tamez, Bianca Tamez, Karen Gerhardt, et al.

Book Overview

Often called "The Magic Valley" because of its tropical climate and rich soil, the Lower Rio Grande Valley is a fertile agricultural region known for its cultivation of citrus, sugar cane, cotton, and
a variety of vegetables. In the heart of the Valley is Weslaco, a typical Valley town that serves as market, business, social, religious, and educational center for a broad Hispanic/Anglo population. This compilation of mid-Valley memories focuses on the development of agriculture and community life in Weslaco from the early 1900s to the 1950s, as once again the Valley undergoes transition, this time from agriculture to international trade due to NAFTA. Featuring images of Weslaco's buildings, schools, colorful residents, lively celebrations, and
the Texsun Corporation, which employed Valley workers for almost 60 years, this photographic tour
provides insight into the area's diverse heritage.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0738503053
• ISBN13: 9780738503059
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC)
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Beautiful Volume!

Karen Gerhardt, museum director, has produced a beautiful volume called Weslaco, the history of the town in pictures and text. Drawing on the museum's extensive photography collection, she and intern Blanca Tamez have told all sides of the story of the town's history and cultures, its industries, farms, recreations, institutions, and its people. The production values are excellent for a book of this type. It is indispensable for anyone who is interested in local history. I gave a copy to a friend who spent his childhood in Weslaco. He was deeply touched by the story and the pictures, especially a photo of his uncle standing next to a tent in the town's earliest days. Karen's previous publication credits include Bale O' Cotton, about cotton ginning; Chasing the Bone Pile, a history of the Strecker Museum at Baylor University; and a film script about the home front in Texas during the Civil War. All proceeds for the Weslaco book go toward the new Agricultural Discovery Center.

Terrific photo history

The photos show the history of Weslaco in South Texas from 1919 to the 1950s. As a librarian I am thrilled to have this coverage of early days in the Rio Grande Valley. The pictures show the growth of agriculture, the multi-cultural nature of the area and the businesses that contributed to the Mid-Valley's growth. I've not seen these photos in print elsewhere and this successfully captures the character and history of Weslaco within its pages.