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TO: INTERESTED PARTIES
FROM: MARK WOLFE
DATE: SEPTEMBER 14, 2018
RE: PORVENIR MASSACRE HISTORICAL MARKER
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has completed work on the text for its marker telling the story of the Porvenir Massacre. THC thanks all of the many individuals and organizations who have expressed an interest in, and participated in the development of, this project. We are particularly grateful for the guidance provided to staff by Commissioner Lilia Marisa Garcia, Professor of History at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas Historical Commission earlier this year as the Commission’s official Professional Historian. With her contributions, and thorough research on the part of THC’s professional marker staff, we are confident that the text is accurate and ready to be sent to the foundry for casting early next week. On completion, in approximately six weeks, we hope that the various parties of interest will join in dedicating the marker at its permanent location in Presidio County.
Thank you again for your patience. The stories of Texas can be complex. There is much to celebrate, but there is also a darker side to our history, and those stories must also be told. The THC is the only state agency in the country to initiate a process for seeking out these “Undertold” stories and memorializing them at no cost to the state’s taxpayers. Since the Undertold Stories program was put into place in 2006, more than 110 markers have been installed, with such themes as Freedom Colonies, education, underrepresented groups, and civil rights. Only by telling these disregarded, or even forgotten, stories can we truly understand the complicated tapestry that is Texas.
We don’t take this responsibility lightly. THC markers are made to last many generations, so we take as long as necessary to finalize text. We apologize for any inconvenience that may have caused, but are confident that the end result is a better, more accurate, product.
We continue to welcome comments on this text, or on the text of any of our more than 16,000 markers across this great state. The order will go to the foundry on Tuesday morning, September 18th. Comments should be directed to Charles Sadnick (charles.sadnick@thc.texas.gov).
Thank you again for your interest and participation, and we look forward to working with you on future projects.
Texas Historical Commission staff (BB), 7/17/2015, rev 3/5/2018, 5/17/18, 9/10/18, 9/12/18, 9/13/18:
27” x 42” Official Texas Historical Marker with post
Presidio County (Job #15PS02) Subject (Atlas ) UTM:
Location: US 90, northwest of Marfa
PORVENIR MASSACRE
PORVENIR WAS A COMMUNITY IN REMOTE NORTHWEST PRESIDIO COUNTY ON THE RIO GRANDE. IN THE MIDST OF MILITARY CONFLICTS, INCREASED ETHNIC TENSIONS AND RETALIATORY RAIDS ALONG THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER AND IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA DURING THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION, THE SMALL FARMING AND RANCHING SETTLEMENT WAS THE SITE OF A NOTORIOUS TRAGEDY IN 1918.
A GROUP OF TEXAS RANGERS FROM COMPANY B IN MARFA, U.S. ARMY SOLDIERS FROM TROOP G OF THE 8TH CAVALRY, AND LOCAL RANCHERS ARRIVED AT PORVENIR IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF JANUARY 28, 1918. THEY CAME TO THE RANCH OF MANUEL MORALEZ AND SEPARATED FIFTEEN ABLE-BODIED MEN AND BOYS FROM THE WOMEN, CHILDREN AND ELDERLY MEN. THOUGH INITIAL ACCOUNTS DENIED ANY WRONGDOING, LATER TESTIMONY CONFIRMED THAT THESE 15 VICTIMS WERE SHOT AND KILLED. FAMILY MEMBERS CROSSED THE RIO GRANDE INTO MEXICO TO BURY ANTONIO CASTAÑEDA, LONGINO FLORES, PEDRO HERRERA, VIVIANO HERRERA, SEVERIANO HERRERA, MANUEL MORALEZ, EUTEMIO GONZÁLEZ, AMBROSIO HERNÁNDEZ, ALBERTO GARCÍA, TIBURCIO JÁCQUEZ, RÓMAN NIEVES, SERAPIO JIMÉNEZ, PEDRO JIMÉNEZ, JUAN JIMÉNEZ, AND MACEDONIO HUERTAS.
IN JUNE 1918, GOVERNOR WILLIAM P. HOBBY AND ADJUTANT GENERAL JAMES A. HARLEY DISBANDED COMPANY B, DISMISSED FIVE RANGERS FOR THEIR ACTIONS AT PORVENIR, AND FORCED CAPTAIN J.M. FOX’S RESIGNATION. STATE REPRESENTATIVE J.T. CANALES FILED CHARGES WITH THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AGAINST THE TEXAS RANGERS, FOR THE OPPRESSION AND MURDER OF HUNDREDS OF HISPANICS ALONG THE RIO GRANDE. AT AN INVESTIGATION BEGINNING JANUARY 31, 1919, LEGISLATORS HEARD AND RECEIVED TESTIMONY REGARDING SEVERAL INCIDENTS INCLUDING PORVENIR. AS A RESULT, THE TEXAS RANGERS WERE REORGANIZED AND REDUCED IN SIZE. IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE ATTACK, APPROXIMATELY 140 REMAINING RESIDENTS OF PORVENIR ABANDONED THE COMMUNITY.
(2015)
MARKER IS PROPERTY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS
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