In September of 1871, a public school was organized on Martin Ranch 3 miles from Ysleta with E.N. Ronquillo as the teacher. Martin Ranch was owned by Alexander Martin who owned a lot of property in San Jose. Martin donated land for Catholic Church in 1892. Classes were conducted in homes until a school building […]
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Ysleta School History Series: Old Stone Courthouse
The Old Stone Courthouse was built in 1882 when Ysleta was the county seat. It didn’t act as the courthouse for very long because Ysleta lost the county seat election of 1883 to El Paso. The Ysleta school district moved into the old courthouse in 1884. In 1915, after a successful bond election, construction started […]
Event-Anita Blair: El Paso Legend, May 21
Coming up this month we will be hosting a very interesting talk and exhibit by local historian Joseph Longo about a force of nature in El Paso: Anita Blair. Anita was the first El Paso woman elected to the Texas Legislature and the first blind woman to be elected to office in the United States. Though […]
Dead Reckoning: Where Were El Paso’s Earliest Cemeteries?
By Mark Cioc-Ortega Concordia Cemetery opened in 1884, Evergreen in 1893. The Smelter Cemetery was supposedly established in 1882, but was not used much before the 1890s. So, where did El Pasoans bury their dead before that? The answer, it seems, is “just about anywhere they wanted to.” Back yards, empty lots, hillsides. The population […]
El Paso’s Own Mona the Elephant
Mona was the first Asian elephant to be bought to the El Paso Zoo in November 1956. Mona was born in the wild in 1954. When she first came to the zoo she weighed 7oo pounds. During the 1950s, the El Paso Zoo collection of animal began to increase and the zoo begin to develop. […]
Event: History of Agriculture in El Paso, April 23
On April 23, 2016, 10am, at the Burges House, 603 W. Yandell, master gardener Bill Hooten will give a talk on early El Paso agriculture and what can be grown in El Paso followed by a Q & A about keeping your garden looking its best this spring and summer. Light refreshments will be served, and […]
Alligators at San Jacinto Plaza
With San Jacinto Park opening on April 16, the alligator will still be a part of the identity of our Placita. This is an undated photo of an alligator at the San Jacinto Alligator Pond. If you find this interesting and want to see more of theses photos, please call the El Paso County Historical […]
Research books available at the Burges House Library
Here is a link to a list of some of the books available for research, or just browsing, at the Burges House, 603 W. Yandell. Stop by and see us Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or give us a call at 533-3603. Burges House book list
To Live and Drink in the Borderland, Part II
As many of you know, we hosted an event titled “To Live and Drink in the Borderland” back in September highlighting El Paso’s rich and varied history as it pertains to the brewing of beer. Because of the success of that event, we held Part II on St. Patrick’s Day. It was also a hit! Featured are some photos of the event.
El Paso Pioneer: Samuel Schutz
The Pioneer Association of El Paso was formed in 1904 by men who had come to the city before 1900. Among its ranks were builders, merchants, traders, lawyers, farmers, miners and others who came west to make a new life or find their fortune. Some of the records of the Pioneer Association are housed at […]