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Editor's
Introduction:
We received a letter from a young reader asking about Woman Hollering
Creek. Her alert and informed teacher suggested she contact us. This
letter came not long after we read a piece by (Houston columnist and
author) Leon Hale. In his column Hale complained that he's
been asked about this particular creek scores of times, if not hundreds.
His complaint was (and probably still is) that people expect columnists
to know these things - when it's nowhere in the columnist's job description.
He said something to the effect that he wished the Texas Highway Department
wouldn't post such curiosity-piquing signs.
The reader mentioned that she was unable to find an answer anywhere
- including the Handbook of Texas - Online or otherwise. So, in hopes
that it will prevent letters, email and questions to columnists around
the state - here is what we've heard: |
| Caution:
Wild Curiosity next 20 miles
TE Photo, April 2001 | |
|
The
CreekFirstly,
The term "Woman Hollering" is probably a very loose translation from the Spanish.
The widely-known legend of La Llorona, "the weeping woman" or "she who weeps"
is told to children all over Mexico and the Southwestern U.S.
A
letter (see forum below) offers another (more plausable) source for the name.
The
creek does actually flow when there is sufficient rainfall although it may be
reduced to a mere trickle. It flows toward New
Berlin and St. Hedwig.
|
Woman Hollering Creek Forum |
| Woman
Hollering Creek as it flows southeast from its source ponds toward FM 1518 and
further down where it crosses under I-10. Woman Hollering Creek empties into Martinez
Creek just northeast of St Hedwig. - Ruben R. Hernandez, June 2007 |
Woman
Hollering Creek: Another Version of the Colorful Name
I have contributed stories and photos for Mackay
and Falfurrias in the
past. I came across your coverage about Woman Hollering Creek and since I live
about three miles from the source of this creek, I'd like to add some additional
information, and the attached photo. (See photo above)
I have lived in
Universal City, just outside the front gate to Randolph Air Force Base, for over
45 years. I take my grandchildren fishing on the small ponds / lakes just south
of the base golf course. These ponds are the source of Woman Hollering Creek.
A map found on page 137 of Rand McNally's San Antonio and Vicinity shows its source,
although the small ponds are not shown. The ponds shown on the map are within
the golf course; although the creek's source ponds are outside the golf course
boundaries. The attached picture shows Woman Hollering Creek as it flows southeast
from its source ponds toward FM 1518 and further down where it crosses under I-10.
Woman Hollering Creek empties into Martinez Creek just northeast of St Hedwig.
As
I understand it, Webster's Handy College Dictionary defines "holler" as the verb/noun
"yell". I would not confuse "hollering" with "weeping" as the legend of La Llorona
implies. The legend of Woman Hollering Creek is totally different. The old folks
in the Universal City area have told me that the woman "hollering" was actually
a pioneer woman who went to the creek to either get water or to wash clothes and
was attacked by indians, thus she "hollered" or yelled for help. A friend whose
family owned a ranch for many years on Lower Seguin Rd, about 1/2 mile from the
creek's source, vouched for the story several years ago. I passed the legend on
to my grandchildren as we netted minnows at the source of the creek. - Sincerely,
Ruben R. Hernandez, Universal City, June 28, 2007
Subject:
Woman Hollering Creek
At
one time, back in the early '80s, the Highway Department sign at Woman Hollering
Creek actually did read Woman Hollow Creek. It stayed that for about a year until
somebody got through to the folks who put up the signs & told them what the name
of the creek actually was. This was when there was an effort to identify the names
of all the rivers, creeks, & draws in the state & put road signs with the names
on them. There are a lot of 'Five Mile Creek,' 'Fifteen Mile Creek,' & similar
signs, because some of the creeks didn't have actual names. They were called "that
creek you cross five miles out of town on the County Seat road."
Along
State 16 below San Antonio there's Macho Creek. This has nothing to do with the
modern usage of the word 'macho.' 'Macho' is the Spanish word for a gelded mule.
There's a creek in Seguin, tributary to the Guadalupe, that apparently
has never had a name. At any rate, when the state tried to find out the name of
the creek so a sign could be put up, no one--not even the oldest folks in town--could
remember the creek ever having a name. - C. F. Eckhardt, September 06, 2006
Subject:
Woman Hollering Creek
The
local story I was told about Woman Hollering Creek dates back to the period of
the Republic. Supposedly a woman from a local settlement--which settlement wasn't
named in the story I heard--was kidnapped by Indians, possibly Comanches. Her
husband and other men from the settlement pursued the Indians, but were outnumbered
and couldn't rescue the woman. She was raped, tortured, and then murdered on the
banks of the creek. The husband and his party could hear her screaming but were
unable to help her. Supposedly her screams can still be heard on occasion. Be
that as it may, on old Republic-period maps the creek now known as "Woman Hollering
Creek" was called "Arroyo de la Llorona." - C. F. Eckhardt, Seguin, September
02, 2006
Maps dating from the 1830s give the name 'Arroyo de la Llorona' to the stream
now known as Woman Hollering Creek. - C. F. Eckhardt, Seguin, April 30, 2006
I
enjoy reading your website. In regards to Woman Hollering Creek, here is some
information for you.
The creek itself starts at Randolph Air Force
Base, in the back part of the base near the golf course. Randolph is 2 miles
west of Schertz on FM78.
Once years ago, when we first moved
here in 1971, I saw it on a map, but swear at that time it was called Woman Hollow
Creek, though I could be wrong. The Texas Highway Dept. has county highway maps
dating from the 1930s, so it would be easy to check the creek's original name.
In any case, the creek was used by both settlers and Indians for water.
Probably one day, a woman came to get water, and saw some approaching Indians,
and began yelling a warning, hence the name Woman Hollering Creek. Or perhaps,
one of her children fell into the creek, again hollering for help. This is probably
as good as any. ... .- Holly Hilpert, July 10, 2002
Woman Hollering Creek is a real and sentimental story to those of us that are
true to our South Texas roots. Get your stories correct, for the sake of Texas
History. I just came across your website. After reading the info on WHC, I did
not care to read more of your site. Sorry!! My loss. .....HA!! - Belinda Bell,
July 05, 2005
Anyone wishing to share information, stories, or photos of Woman
Hollering Creek, please contact
us.
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