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Onishi
Family – "In 1885 another railway depot was established in Mackay by the
New York, Texas and Mexico Railroad and was named after the son-in-law of Colonel
Hungerford. The Onishi family worked the rice fields in the Mackay area."
Photo
courtesy Wharton County Historical Museum
See Wharton
County Old Photos |
History
in a Pecan Shell
John W. Mackay, Nevada silver mining millionaire invested in the New York,
Texas and Mexican Railway (The "Macaroni" Line) and had this station named after
him in 1881. Telferner, Louise, and Inez
were likewise named after family and investors - mostly family. The rails of the
NYT and M railroad were taken up in the 1980s, although the former roadbed is
still evident. Victoria,
Texas has recently launched a "Macaroni Festival" to commemorate this short
line railroad that didn't originate in New York and never came remotely close
to Mexico. |
Baron Morimura
– "Baron Ichizaemon Morimura IV was a banker who invested in the Japanese
farms near Mackay. Baron Morimua IV, was the founder of Noritake Inc."
Photo
courtesy Wharton County Historical Museum
See Wharton
County Old Photos |
| The town
of Mackay fell within boundaries of "Shanghai"
Pierce's vast holdings and the land became part of A. P. Borden's property
through inheritance since Borden was Pierce's nephew. |
|
Mackay Depot
Marie Borden with daughters of Mackay Ranch families 1920s
Photo courtesy Ruben R. Hernandez |
| A.
P. Borden Estate stationery
Photo courtesy Ruben R. Hernandez
|
| A
1930s cotton field in Mackay
Photo courtesy Ruben R. Hernandez
|
| Russian and Chinese
laborers were imported to work a Department of Agriculture experimental farm in
1907. The government agronomists had thought camphor trees would thrive in the
coastal climate. Today two cemeteries of the workers are the only reminders of
the experiment. |
| Borden built stores
in both Pierce
and Mackay. Houses were built for employees as well and many of these - although
greatly altered from the original models - still stand today - covered in poison
ivy. A school (1912) is the most distinctive ruin due to its orange tile roof. |
| Mrs. Borden taught
Sunday school in Pierce in a church that she had her husband build. Borden retired
from the Pierce Ranch and started farming on his 5,000 acres.
After Borden
died in 1934 the ranch and buildings were sold to oil wildcatter Johnny B. Ferguson.
Mackay reported a population of 40 in 1940. Ferguson struck oil in 1949 and his
Superior Drilling Company offices were housed in Mackay's former store.
After Ferguson died in 1978 the area reverted back to nature and by 1990 the houses,
store and former school were abandoned to wild vines, tall grass and tallow trees. |
| Class
of 1927
Click
on photo for larger image and names
Photo courtesy Ruben R. Hernandez
|
| Mackay
Manor House, 1930s
Photo courtesy Ruben R. Hernandez |
A
flood in Mackay, circa 1930s
Photo courtesy Ruben R. Hernandez |
Mackay
Texas ForumMackay
Photos and Mrs.
Marie Hough Borden
My extended family and I want to thank you for
posting the Mackay pictures. Our ancestors live on through these photos and stories.
Attached are a few more photos you may post if you find them of interest. - Respectfully.
Ruben R. Hernandez, October 04, 2005
Mackay
Pictures
More pictures of life in Mackay, 1920s and 1030s. They involve
family members, but they demonstrate the lifestyle in Mackay between 1920 and
1940 when we left to make our home in Houston. I feel good that they are being
seen in public, as they should be, as part of a historical montage. - Ruben
R. Hernandez, July 05, 2005
Mackay
Class of 1927
- Ruben R. Hernandez, June 21, 2005
Mackay
Pictures
Thank you so very much for your work. When I open up this site
and there was our family home for some 34 years, from 1916 to 1940. I have shared
your site address with my Hernandez cousins in our Hernandez Family website so
that they too might enjoy the photos and comments about the place where their
ancestors lived and worked and where some of them were born. Here are more Mackay
pictures you may use. Please continue your "work in progress". - Ruben R. Hernandez,
June 20, 2005
Mackay,
Texas
My mother was born in 1928 and her family was part of the Mexicans
who work there. Her father Jesus Vasquez and Mother Solida Melendez were farm
workers. Thanks. - Jane, June 16, 2005
Old
Photos of Mackay
My 6 siblings and I were all born in Mackay, TX between
1917 and 1934. My dad and mom, Candelario and Manuela Hernandez had a special
relationship with A.P. and Marie Borden and often had them in our home for a Mexican
dinner or morning coffee and "pan dulce".
I have several pictures of
the Bordens and of scenes around Mackay. I am also prepared to add some historical
data and stories about life in Mackay in the 1930s and 1940s. For example
(1), in addition to the Russian and Chinese immigrant workers, there were a large
number of Mexican families working the Borden Ranch.
(2). All my siblings
and several uncles and cousins attended the elementary school on the ranch.
(3) There was/is a cemetery solely for the Mexican families. It is located
about half mile to the east of the main road leading from US 59 to what was the
Borden Manor House. Our home was on this road on the banks of the Bosque Creek
(Slough). - Ruben R. Hernandez, June 10, 2005 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, and vintage/historic
photos of their town, please contact
us. | |
|
