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History
in a Pecan Shell
Helena
once held great promise. It was founded by Lewis Owings and Thomas Ruckman. The
name came from Owings wife Helen. Ownings went on to become the first Governor
of Arizona (Territory). Helena's situation on the San Antonio River and the Chihuahua
Trail guaranteed it would become a major city.
Helena became the
first Karnes County Seat when the county organized in 1854 and during the
Civil War it served as a major point on the "Cotton Road" between Matamoros,
Mexico and Alleyton, Texas
(Colorado County).
See The
First Karnes County Courthouse
According
to story, the demise of Helena can be traced to one man. He was a rancher whose
son was shot and killed in Helena. He demanded revenge and when he couldn't find
the individual(s) responsible, he instead swore to kill the entire town. When
the railroad came through the area, the rancher practically gave the railroad
their right-of-way and we can see the results today. The
other story was that the railroad was demanding a bounty of 35,000 dollars and
the town could only come up with 32,000. The railroad insisted on the full amount
and moved on to Karnes City
when the extra money couldn't be raised. The second story is believable, but doesn't
have the pathos of a father's grief. |
| The
Helena Museum Complex
TE Photo, 2001 |
| Old
Storefronts in "downtown" Helena
TE Photo, 2001 |
| State
Highway 80 through Helena
TE Photo, 2001 | |
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