Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > The Lighter Side

ROAD TRIP: A BBM Game

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MaineWriter:
Oxien, TX

In 1900, the heirs of John Harris of Galveston offered for lease a league of land in the southeast part of Runnels County. This area was to become known as the Oxien Community. On July 27, 1905 a post office was opened with W.W. McKissack as postmaster. The mail was brought from Talpa three times a week at first; when the town grew the mail was brought daily. At one time Oxien consisted of a cotton gin, a general store with post office, a telephone switchboard, and a filling station. In later years an another store and filling station were opened. Oxien’s school was built in 1909. In 1913 the Oxien school and the Dietz school consolidated. The combined school was relocated on the Jarm Morrison place. In 1920 a larger building was erected. After this the school was know as the Dietz School District No 31. In 1930 this school was consolidated with Crews. In the early days church was held in the school house. In 1924 the Baptist Church was organized and a building built. It disbanded in 1937. The post office closed in 1913. The town site is marked with a few brick and rock foundations.


Leslie

Fran:
Namao, AB

jpwagoneer1964:
Olmito, Tx

OLMITO, TEXAS. Olmito is off U.S. highways 77 and 83 two miles northwest of Brownsville in southern Cameron County. The Olmito post office opened in 1905. A station was established in the area in 1911, when the St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railway was constructed. In 1914 the community had a population estimated at fifty, a post office, a grocery store, and a cotton gin. The next year a school was also in operation in the town. The post office closed in 1918 and reopened in 1925. In 1933 Olmito had a population estimated at seventy-five and seven businesses. The population remained at seventy-five through 1948, when there were two businesses in the area. By 1950 the town had a population of 150 and six businesses, and in 1952 the population was 200. In 1970 the Olmito Independent School District was consolidated with the Los Fresnos Independent School District.

Since the 1980s Olmito has received attention because of John Lennon Memorial Park, which is leased to the county at a dollar a year by the McNamara brothers because Lennon "did a great deal to promote peace and world harmony." The park holds an annual celebration in conjunction with Earth Day and another on Lennon's birthday.

During the 1960s a colonia developed northwest of Olmito. It too was known by the name of Olmito. In 1986 it had 274 dwellings and a population of 1,233. Olmito is Spanish for "little elm."

Mark

Meryl:
Oxkutzcab, Mexico

MaineWriter:
Bigfoot, TX

Originally called Connally's Store, the name was changed to honor William A.A. "Bigfoot" Wallace who was a resident of the area. A museum devoted to "Bigfoot" Wallace is the main draw for visitors.

The town dates from 1865, although they didn't get a post office until 1883.

The town suffered a disastrous fire in 1903. By 1907 there were 105 students in the Bigfoot school. Devine absorbed Bigfoot's school in the statewide sweep of school consolidations of the late 40s.

This is a portrait of Bigfoot Wallace:



Leslie

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