1934 Icebox Cookies from Van Horn

Click on the images for a closer view!

Van Horn, the Crossroads community for our own Texas Mountain Trail, has its history determined by its location.  Through time, it has always been a place travelers passed through...whether by foot, horseback, wagon, train, bicycle or automobile.  It was also an important stop on the historic highways--the Bankhead Highway and the Old Spanish Trail! 

We found this recipe from 1934 in a Van Horn Hospital Auxiliary cookbook, and wanted to share it with you! 

Click here to view a lovely three page .pdf about Van Horn's legacy in welcoming travelers, plus, the entire recipe! 

Eggs, butter, brown sugar!

Mixing in dry ingredients!

Add pecans, form into loaf and rest in the icebox!

Slice, then bake!

 

Hot and ready to eat!

Van Horn's Clark Hotel Museum

Today, we're sharing photos from Dan Baeza of the Clark Hotel Museum in Van Horn.  The museum chronicles the history of Culberson County and of Van Horn, with a special eye towards the traveler.  The building has been home to a hotel since the early days of that community.  Upstairs there are even exhibits of travelers' rooms.

 Originally, the "front door" of the hotel was on the north side of the building, as the train station was just steps away.  When the highway came to town, the "front door" of the Clark Hotel was moved to the south side of the building, where it is today, at Broadway Street (the main street in town).  Read more about it here.

Early Photo of Jackson Hotel, Van Horn

D.B. Jackson at the Hotel Center (Jackson Hotel), Photograph, n.d.; digital image, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth14142/ : accessed July 14, 2014), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Clark Hotel Museum, Van Horn, Texas.

Another interesting photograph of early Culberson County history in the collection of the Clark Hotel Museum in Van Horn.  Our Texas Mountain Trail worked with the Portal to Texas History on the digitization of the museum's photography collection in 2006, so the collection is online! 

Van Horn: 1912

Mr. and Mrs. Ponciano Villalobos, Photograph, April 8, 1912; digital image, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth14276/ ), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Clark Hotel Museum, Van Horn, Texas  Dedication at the back of photo reads," Dedico Este Retrato a, Mi Querida Mama, Pas Chacon En, Pruevas de amory y, Respecto. que le Tengo. Ponciano Villalovoz, Van Horn, Texas, April 8, de 1912" 

Back to Front: Clark Hotel Museum in Van Horn

Van Horn's history is held for residents and visitors in the old Clark Hotel, now the Clark Hotel Museum.  A story about the Clark Hotel from our Texas Mountain Trail website:

"How would you go about turning a building around so its storefront faces a different street? Just change the street name? How about simply building a new façade, complete with a new front door. The Clark Hotel in Van Horn did just that. During a major thoroughfare construction through Van Horn in 1925 automobile routes known as the Bankhead Highway which ran from Washington D.C. to California and the Old Spanish Trail running from Florida to California, became the new U.S. Highway 80. This road paralleled the community’s Front Street which runs along the railroad tracks, becoming the primary commercial avenue. The Clark, as well as many of the other structures along the south side of Front Street, reversed their facades so that they would face the new highway. The transformation symbolized the passing of a horse-drawn era where most travelers arrived by passenger train to one of automobiles and highways, a paradigm shift that would permanently change much of rural Texas.

For the Clark, however, it was merely another alteration in a long history of changes, beginning with the structure’s initial construction in 1901. It was, in fact, built upon the razed remains of an earlier 1889 commercial building. The new construction served as commercial center for a variety of unrelated businesses until 1918 when a new owner converted the building into a hotel. The design typifies the two-story hotel of the era, with a lobby and public spaces on the first floor and rooms, some with private baths, on the second. Although simple and relatively unadorned, a detail standout is the mahogany bar in the former saloon, an 1876 import from France. The Clark stands as the oldest building in Van Horn and its “about-face” occurred a year before its final expansion phase in 1929. The building’s history includes service as retail space, commercial offices, opera house, community center, pool hall, saloon, drug store, newspaper printing office, dance hall, and court house throughout the 20th century. In an amusing combination of functions, the rowdy saloon activity on the first floor would often disrupt the sober court sessions in progress on the second. The hotel continued to provide respite to travelers until 1968. Today, the Clark Hotel serves as a regional historical museum for the Van Horn Historical Society and its own storied history."

Photo by Dan Baeza

1912, Van Horn

Mr. and Mrs. Ponciano Villalobos, Photograph, April 8, 1912; digital image, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth14276/ : accessed June 07, 2014), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Clark Hotel Museum, Van Horn, Texas

Another photograph from the collection of the Clark Hotel Museum in Van Horn.

Photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Ponciano Villalovoz (Villalobos), April 8, 1912, in Van Horn, TX. Dedication at the back of photo reads," Dedico Este Retrato a, Mi Querida Mama, Pas Chacon En, Pruevas de amory y, Respecto. que le Tengo. Ponciano Villalovoz, Van Horn, Texas, April 8, de 1912" 

1940: Love the hat!

From Van Horn's Clark Hotel Museum collection of early images of Culberson County, in the Portal to Texas History.  "Rosa Lee Wylie and Wanda Lenell Baylus, Photograph, ca. 1940; digital image, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth13917/ : accessed May 30, 2014), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Clark Hotel Museum, Van Horn, Texas."

Celebrate National Trails Day with us!

If you post photos and stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Flickr with the two hashtags, #txmountaintrail and #nationaltrailsday, we'll be able to find them online...and we'll select our favorites to include on stories and features about the Texas Mountains all summer long!  Join in the fun and hashtag to your heart's content!

Train Wreck, 1960

From the collection of the Clark Hotel Museum, via the Portal to Texas History.  "Train Wreck, Photograph, 1960; digital image, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth14265/ : accessed May 20, 2014), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Clark Hotel Museum, Van Horn, Texas."

From the collection of Van Horn's Clark Hotel Museum

Click on the photo for a closer view!
Vida McAdoo and Alma Gibson, Photograph, 1913; digital image, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth14171/ : accessed May 12, 2014), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Clark Hotel Museum, Van Horn, Texas

From the collection of Van Horn's Clark Hotel Museum, an image from 1913!

A Museum for Travelers and a Cycling Event for Everyone!

Today we're featuring the photography of Dan Baeza showcasing the Clark Hotel Museum in Van Horn.  The museum tells the story of early travel in Far West Texas and the history of Van Horn and Culberson County, which is steeped in cross-country travel and hospitality to travelers.

Read more about the Clark Hotel Museum, and the "Front to back, back to front" story here. 

#30DaysofBiking

We want to give everyone EARLY notice of a great cycling event in our Texas Mountain Trail region, a fundraiser for the Food Pantry of Jeff Davis County.  Mark your calendars and start planning to take part in the October 4th, Wheels and Heels for Meals event!  Participants will be raising support for the Food Pantry as part of their involvement in the event...which is definitely a WIN/WIN/WIN!!

From the calendar entry on our Texas Mountain Trail regional events calendar: 

Wheels/Heels for Meals is a charity bike ride from the Food Pantry of Jeff Davis County to Valentine and back. Other shorter rides are also available. There are 2 pit stops along the way and lunch is served in Valentine. This year, a walk has been added. The entry may walk 2 to 8 miles. At the end of the day, there is the traditional cook out at Dolce Far Niente. - See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/fort-davis-wheelsheels-meals#sthash.yLHMoPnx.dpuf

Wheels/Heels for Meals is a charity bike ride from the Food Pantry of Jeff Davis County to Valentine and back. Other shorter rides are also available. There are 2 pit stops along the way and lunch is served in Valentine. This year, a walk has been added. The entry may walk 2 to 8 miles. At the end of the day, there is the traditional cook out at Dolce Far Niente. - See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/fort-davis-wheelsheels-meals#sthash.yLHMoPnx.dpuf

"Wheels/Heels for Meals is a charity bike ride from the Food Pantry of Jeff Davis County to Valentine and back. Other shorter rides are also available. There are 2 pit stops along the way and lunch is served in Valentine. This year, a walk has been added. The entry may walk 2 to 8 miles. At the end of the day, there is the traditional cook out at Dolce Far Niente."

Sound like fun?  Put this one on your calendar and stay tuned for more information throughout the year!

Dining Along Historic Highways: Viva Big Bend Food Festival on Saturday!

Our Texas Mountain Trail non-profit is happy to be participating in the Viva Big Bend Food Festival this Saturday, with a free program with photographs, recipes and samples on Saturday at Marfa's historic Hotel Paisano at 4pm.  Everyone is welcome! 

Today, we feature images from the Paisano's sister property in Van Horn, the Hotel El Capitan, now fully restored and operating as a hotel and a place to have dinner at the Crossroads of the Texas Mountain Trail.

#30DaysofBiking

One of our favorite roads to cycle is the first 30 miles or so (which are paved) of FM2810 heading southwest from Marfa.  Called "Pinto Canyon Road," this scenic stretch was featured in the film "No Country for Old Men," and has little vehicular traffic too, making it great for bicyclists.

Van Horn's Clark Hotel Museum by Dan Baeza

One of Van Horn's products is the talented photographer, Dan Baeza.  It is our pleasure to share his images of the town's historical museum, set in the old Clark Hotel building.  The museum offers a glimpse into earlier days and the accommodations for travelers in this small town, the Crossroads of the Texas Mountain Trail.  When you're in the area, visit the Clark Hotel Museum!

1966-7 Van Horn Basketball Prince and Sweetheart

Richard Carillo and Adalinda Tarango,
Basketball Prince and Sweetheart, Photograph, 1966 - 1967;
digital image, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth13889/),
University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History,
http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Clark Hotel Museum, Van Horn, Texas.

Antelope Hunt 1912

Fred Gibson and James Hanibal Beach, Photograph, ca. 1912; digital image, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth14175/ : accessed January 13, 2014), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Clark Hotel Museum, Van Horn, Texas. 

Another great image from the collection of the Clark Hotel Museum in Van Horn.  Our Texas Mountain Trail organization helped the museum with a grant to preserve photographic images of early Culberson County.  Click on the photo for a closer view!

1935-6 Van Horn Basketball Team

1935-36 Van Horn Basketball Team, District Champs, Photograph, ca. 1935 - 1936; digital image, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth14229/ : accessed January 07, 2014), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Clark Hotel Museum, Van Horn, Texas. 

 

One of our organization's first preservation projects was to work with Van Horn's Clark Hotel Museum and the Portal to Texas History to digitize the photography collection chronicling the history of Culberson County.

This gem was included in that collection:

Photograph of coaches and basketball team. Photograph of the Van Horn Basketball Team, 1935-36. District Champions. Front Row-Bob Hurt, Roy Johnson, D.L. Moore, James Mayfield; Second Row-Horace Oiver (Superintendent), Baylus Wagnon, Bart Knight, Dutch Walters, Ben Medley, Raymond Wheat (Assistant Coach), Back-Jimmy Terrell (coach)

Link to this photograph online at the Portal to Texas History.

On the Road on the Van Horn Advocate

Each week, our Texas Mountain Trail Executive Director sends the Van Horn Advocate--our home community's local newspaper--a photo and/or information about fun places to visit in Far West Texas.  As a non-profit organization charged with promoting heritage tourism and visitor-ready communities, sharing great places with folks IN the region is as important as sharing great places with folks from far away.

Pick up a copy of the Advocate when you're passing through...the newspaper's office is on Broadway, the main street in town, north of the freeway just two blocks.

Van Horn is an important stop on I-10, and has always been a crossroads.  Not only is it THE crossroads for the historic 1960s original Texas Mountain Trail scenic driving route, but also the Butterfield Overland Stage Route (southern route), the Old Spanish Trail and the Bankhead Highway.

Van Horn's Clark Hotel Museum, photo by Dan Baeza

Van Horn's beautifully
restored 1930s cattlemans
hotel, the El Capitan still
welcomes travelers

Texas Mountain Trail also covers local events like the
wonderful annual Lighted Christmas Parade in Van Horn

Hello to 2014!

Dawn at the Clark Hotel Museum in Van Horn

Hello to our friends at the start of a new year, a new beginning, and hopefully...new days of adventure, discovery and understanding of our Texas Mountain Trail region.

We'll continue to share the places and experiences that make our region special all through 2014, but keep your eyes out for a "new look" for this blog in the days to come! 

In the meantime, do you know we can be found all over the social media landscape?

In addition to our website and events calendar (www.texasmountaintrail.com) we are on:

Facebook  www.facebook.com/TexasMountainTrail
Twitter  www.twitter.com/trailgirl
Instagram  www.instagram.com/texastrailgirl

Wishing everyone a terrific holiday!

One of our favorite photos from our home community, Van Horn, of the Clark Hotel Museum, just steps away from the Crossroads of the Texas Mountain Trail.  Happy Holidays, everyone! 

Van Horn's Clark Hotel Museum

Today, we're sharing photos from Dan Baeza of the Clark Hotel Museum in Van Horn.  The museum chronicles the history of Culberson County and of Van Horn, with a special eye towards the traveler.  The building has been home to a hotel since the early days of that community.  Upstairs there are even exhibits of travelers' rooms.

 Originally, the "front door" of the hotel was on the north side of the building, as the train station was just steps away.  When the highway came to town, the "front door" of the Clark Hotel was moved to the south side of the building, where it is today, at Broadway Street (the main street in town).  Read more about it here.

Bankhead Highway Meeting in El Paso!

Photo by Dan Baeza, sign in the collection
of the Clark Hotel Museum in Van Horn

Tuesday, December 3, 2013 - 5:30pm to 7:00pm,
El Paso Community Foundation
    333 North Oregon St., 1st floor
   in El Paso

Location

• El Paso Community Foundation
• 333 North Oregon St.
• 1st floor
• El Paso,

- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/el-paso-trip-through-time-bankhead-highway-texas#sthash.iMt62Xd5.dpuf

Help Tell the Story of the Bankhead Highway in Texas!
Individuals are encouraged to attend this public meeting to share information and visual items related to the historic Bankhead Highway for use in the two-year survey project led by the Texas Historical Commission (THC).  The THC will introduce the project at the meeting and involve community members through discussion, question-and-answer session, and displays of historical Bankhead images. Please bring your historical photos, postcards, maps and other Bankhead-related items to the meeting. With your consent, staff will scan or photograph materials so they may be included in the project if appropriate. We hope to see you there!

The event listing on our web calendar is HERE.  Read more about the Bankhead Highway on the Texas Historical Commission's website, HERE.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013 - 5:30pm to 7:00pm

Help Tell the Story of the Bankhead Highway in Texas. Individuals are encouraged to attend this public meeting to share information and visual items related to the historic Bankhead Highway for use in the two-year survey project led by the Texas Historical Commission (THC).  The THC will introduce the project at the meeting and involve community members through discussion, question-and-answer session, and displays of historical Bankhead images. Please bring your historical photos, postcards, maps and other Bankhead-related items to the meeting. With your consent, staff will scan or photograph materials so they may be included in the project if appropriate. We hope to see you there!

- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/el-paso-trip-through-time-bankhead-highway-texas#sthash.iMt62Xd5.dpufTuesday, December 3, 2013 - 5:30pm to 7:00pm

Help Tell the Story of the Bankhead Highway in Texas. Individuals are encouraged to attend this public meeting to share information and visual items related to the historic Bankhead Highway for use in the two-year survey project led by the Texas Historical Commission (THC).  The THC will introduce the project at the meeting and involve community members through discussion, question-and-answer session, and displays of historical Bankhead images. Please bring your historical photos, postcards, maps and other Bankhead-related items to the meeting. With your consent, staff will scan or photograph materials so they may be included in the project if appropriate. We hope to see you there!
- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/el-paso-trip-through-time-bankhead-highway-texas#sthash.iMt62Xd5.dpuf