Hospitality Hero--Glennda Merritt-Alcorn

Presentation of the Texas Mountain
Trail Hospitality Heroes Award by Drew
Stuart to Glennda Merritt-Alcorn at the
historic Hudspeth County Courthouse
in Sierra Blanca last week

Our Texas Mountain Trail organization recognizes people of the region who go above and beyond in their service to travelers.  Drew Stuart, TMT Board Member from Salt Flat nominated Glennda Merritt-Alcorn, and we were pleased last week to present the award to her at the historic Hudspeth County Courthouse in Sierra Blanca.  Drew Stuart:

"The woman I mentioned as a nominee for Hospitality Hero is Glennda Merritt-Alcorn, of Dell City and Sierra Blanca. Glennda has served for 6-plus years as administrator of Northern Hudspeth County EMS. In those years, Glennda has transformed the service from a rugged rural operation into a modern, professional ambulance service, pursuing and securing grant funding for new equipment, establishing sources of revenue, recruiting and providing training for responders and overseeing daily operations - all while responding personally to emergency medical calls at all hours of the day and night. For much of her time with EMS, Glennda worked purely as a volunteer.

The vast majority of the calls to which NHC-EMS responds are traffic accidents on Interstate 10  (there's generally at least one each day), and, as a direct result of Glennda's tireless work, travelers to our region are assured of reliable, professional ambulance service in the event of an accident or medical emergency in Hudspeth County.

EMS work can be exhausting and, at times, emotionally difficult (and sometimes thankless) - I think it would be wonderful to acknowledge Glennda's service to the region and to travelers in West Texas!"  

Thank you, Glennda, for all you do and congratulations! 

Potato Latkes from Chipotle Texas!

This year, our Texas Mountain Trail non-profit organization participated in a statewide foodways project with Texas Folklife, collecting stories, photos and recipes from some of our region's best food producers.  We thank Chipotle Texas for their cooperation with this great project.

Here's is a a recipe from Fort Hancock's own Chipotle Texas for Potato Pancakes!

2 cups peeled, shredded potatoes
1/4 onion, shredded
1/3 cup chopped green onion
2 eggs, beaten
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour (or as needed)
1 1/2 tsp. Sabroso All Purpose Seasoning (or to taste)
1 cup canola oil (or as needed)

Preparation

• Place the potatoes in a cloth, and wring them to remove as much moisture as possible.

• Mix the potatoes, onion, green onion, eggs, flour, and Sabroso All Purpose Seasoning together in a bowl until thoroughly combined. 

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers (oil should be about 1/3 inch deep). Drop about 2 tablespoons of the potato mixture per patty into the hot oil, and flatten the potatoes to make the patties 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick.

• Brown the patties in the hot oil until golden and crisp on the bottom, about 5 minutes, then flip and cook on the other side.  Drain the latkes on paper towels, and serve hot.

• A dollop of sour cream or cream cheese and a light sprinkle of one of our Sensational Chef Salts will add a little extra zest.

Take the Fort Hancock exit off I-10, between Sierra Blanca and El Paso and head south about a half a block.  Soon you'll see Chipotle Texas' retail store, where many of their products are sold! 

 
 

How would you like to drive in the Mountains in one of these?

 

 

This lovely vehicle takes a starring role in a little "dream" document we created for our "Dining Along Historic Highways" series...this one...on the Bankhead Highway!  From our website:  "This historic route, established in 1919 and considered the first paved transcontinental highway, connected Washington, D.C. with San Diego as part of the National Auto Trail system. The Texas segment was pieced together county by county entering from the east at Texarkana swinging down to Dallas and making its way across Texas to exit at El Paso." In our Texas Mountain Trail region, the old Bankhead Highway generally follows 1-20 from Midland/Odessa to I-10 around Kent, through Van Horn and Sierra Blanca, then through the backroads to the Mission Trail and El Paso.  CLICK HERE to get to our visual introduction to dining along the Bankhead Highway today...there's more to come in the weeks and months ahead! 

The Only Adobe Courthouse in Texas

The majestic entrance to the Hudspeth County Courthouse in Sierra Blanca
Photo:  Randy Mallory, THC

We are always encouraging travelers to get off the freeway and explore the sights of our mountain communities.  Today, we'd like folks to take a look at Sierra Blanca.   This little town has a one-of-a-kind courthouse...the only ADOBE courthouse in the state of Texas!

From the Texas Historical Commission website:

"This 1919 building is the only adobe courthouse in Texas. Architects Buetell and Hardie designed the building in a Mediterranean style reminiscent of Renaissance Revival. Exterior work included installing new piers for structural reinforcing of the foundation to support the 18-inch adobe walls. A new metal shingle roof was installed and exterior stucco removed and replaced. Upgrades to mechanical, electrical and plumbing, as well as installation of an elevator and fully accessible bathrooms were incorporated. Work began in late 2002 and was completed by April 2004."

You can see photos of the restoration here and  here.
:You can read more about Hudspeth County here.

The Lost Finlay, Texas

"Post office, Finlay, Texas" 1937, Dorothea Lange

"The postmaster's seat, Finlay, Texas" Dorothea Lange

A railroad stop west of Sierra Blanca in Hudspeth County, Finlay was photographed in 1937 by Dorothea Lange for the U.S. Farm Security Administration. 

No longer a stop, Finlay may be considered one of those "lost" places in the region.  On the Southern Pacific line, Finlay's reason for existing is explained by Larry Francell, of Fort Davis, retired Director of the Museum of the Big Bend,  "Steam locomotives consumed vast amounts of fuel (coal primarily) and water.  Regular water stops were required, with the distances determined by natural sources or locations where wells could established." 

Thanks to Larry Francell and to Texas Mountain Trail board member, Travis Roberts for their help with this entry!Photo Credit: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, [ LC-USF34-016741-E ] and Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, [LC-USF34-016740-E]

Hudspeth County Courthouse in Sierra Blanca

This beautiful structure was built in 1919 and is the only adobe courthouse in the state of Texas, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places!  Do youself a favor and get off the freeway at Sierra Blanca to take a look at the inside of the building...the feel of the place is unique and proportions are interesting, perhaps because of its 18 inch thick walls!  To read about the Texas Historical Commission's Courthouse Presrvation Program, click here! 

You never know what you'll see!

Yep!  Those are peacocks outside Sierra Blanca's grocery store!  It looks like someone is feeding them....it pays to get off the freeway and explore small towns...you'll never know what you'll see! 

Evening Light on Sierra Blanca, I-10 heading east

Just west of Sierra Blanca, there's a parking area on east-bound I-10; in the evening light, Sierra Blanca mountain seems to glow and provides the traveler with a beautiful sight!

Cafe in Sierra Blanca

This week we feature the photographs of Ted Bell from Little Rock, Arkansas.  Here's his shot of a cafe sign in Sierra Blanca.  Check out Ted's Flickr stream here.  Thanks, Ted!

Rob Hann's "Six Man Football in West Texas"

Our last showing of Hann's photographs of the Sierra Blanca Vaqueros, from his series "Six Man Football in West Texas."

Hann writes about the series:  "Football is important in Texas. The tiny, remote towns of Far West Texas are often too small for high schools to sustain a regular football programme, sometimes having less than 50 students, boys and girls, in the school. In that part of the country Six Man Football thrives. Devised in Nebraska in 1934, the game is played throughout West Texas today and is a big part of small town life. The game is fast and high scoring and all kids, whatever their abilities, can play their part. I loved my time out there and remember well the thrill of driving an empty desert road towards a distant patch of green under lights burning bright in the Texas night."

Tomorrow, we'll feature a photograph from Rob Hann's series, "Deserted States of America."

Rob Hann's bio.

Sierra Blanca Vaqueros

One of Rob Hann's photographs of Sierra Blanca's Six Man Football team from his series, "Six Man Football in West Texas."

We're featuring Hann's work all week.  See entries from the past two days for more images from Hann's Six Man series!

Photographer Rob Hann's "Six Man Football in West Texas"

All this week, we're featuring the work of photographer Rob Hann.  Hann was born in England, and has worked for many publications in the UK and the US, including The Times Magazine, The Telegraph Magazine, Wired (UK), Glamour, and many others.  He enjoys West Texas, and has two series on his website which we'll feature here this week:  "Six Man Football in West Texas," and "Deserted States of America."

Here's a shot of the Sierra Blanca Vaqueros, from Hann's series, "Six Man Football in West Texas."  Hann's website says: 

"Football is important in Texas. The tiny, remote towns of Far West Texas are often too small for high schools to sustain a regular football programme, sometimes having less than 50 students, boys and girls, in the school. In that part of the country Six Man Football thrives. Devised in Nebraska in 1934, the game is played throughout West Texas today and is a big part of small town life. The game is fast and high scoring and all kids, whatever their abilities, can play their part. I loved my time out there and remember well the thrill of driving an empty desert road towards a distant patch of green under lights burning bright in the Texas night."  

To read Hann's bio, click here.

Adventure Cycling's Southern Tier Route Across the U.S.A.

Adventure Cycling Association has mapped a route across the country--the Southern Tier Route--which runs from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL and cyclists taking that route ride right across the Texas Mountain Trail Region--Anthony, El Paso and the Mission Trail communities, Sierra Blanca, Van Horn, Fort Davis, Alpine and Marathon.

This is a photo of the stretch between the Mission Trail communities and Sierra Blanca. The mountains in the distance are in Mexico.

For more information about cycling through the region, including a list of cycle-friendly hotels, click here to visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike

Starting now, through the weekend, we'll be posting views of the Southern Tier route through the Texas Mountain Trail region. We'll also be in Wichita Falls at the Hotter N Hell 100, marketing the region to cyclists...if you're going to the event, visit us at our booth and say hello!

Border Healing Woman

Hidden under a lantana plant in the Van Horn cemetery is the grave of Jewell Babb, a healer who lived in Valentine, Van Horn, and near Sierra Blanca. A book, Border Healing Woman, tells the story of her life and her work. Her healing powers are well-remembered by people still living in the area.

Read more about it on our women's memoirs page, here.

Movie Set, Poor Farm: You never know what you'll see at a historic marker

Sometimes you're rewarded richly for detouring for a historic marker. Take our experience on North Loop Road in El Paso County, as we followed Adventure Cycling Association's Southern Tier Route (runs from California to Florida and cuts through the Texas Mountain Trail region) from Sierra Blanca to El Paso.

We were looking for easy rest spots for cyclists, and wen we saw the sign in Socorro, we decided to take a break from the road. We could not believe our good luck, for not only was there a shady place to enjoy a picnic lunch, but an interesting "campus" of old adobe buildings. We learned this was the site of El Paso's second poor farm, named Rio Vista Farm. It housed the indigent, CCC and Mexican laborers, and was a location for the film, 'Traffic.' (see archway constructed for filming.) Rio Vista Farm is currently a center for social programs in the area, and there are hopes for full restoration of its buildings.

Down in the Valley

The backroads between El Paso and Sierra Blanca take you through agricultural fields very close to the international border. (The mountains you see are in Mexico!) Travelers can see chile, pecans, alfalfa, corn, cotton and other crops growing in irrigated fields. This was taken on Hwy 192 near Esperanza, on Adventure Cycling Association's Southern Tier Route.

For more information on cycling in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike

Texas' Only Adobe Courthouse

The Hudspeth County Courthouse in tiny Sierra Blanca is the only adobe courthouse in the state of Texas. Take the time to get off I-10 and explore this small community. Walk inside the courthouse to enjoy the spacious feel of this distinctive adobe structure.

For more information on adobe architecture in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/adobe

Courthouses

Van Horn's Clark Hotel Museum has many paintings created by local folks, charming paintings of places important to the community.

Texas distinguishes itself as taking pride in its courthouses. In Far West Texas, we have the state's only adobe courthouse in Hudspeth County in Sierra Blanca. Jeff Davis and Presidio Counties have renovated their courthouses and Brewster County has a lovely courthouse as well. Back in the 1960s--before there was an appreciation for historic preservation--the Culberson County courthouse (pictured here) was razed for a newer building, a decision the city fathers have regretted ever since.

For more information on Van Horn's Clark Hotel Museum, click here.

For more information on the Texas Historical Commission's Courthouse program, click here.

Adobe Courthouse Detail

Sierra Blanca's Hudspeth County Courthouse is the only adobe courthouse in the state. Here's a detail from above the entrance.

For information about Sierra Blanca, click here.

Want to visit adobe structures in Far West Texas? Check out: www.texasmountaintrail.com/adobe

Old Roadside Culture

Here and there, the remnants of an old roadside culture still exists in the region. In Sierra Blanca, architecture enthusiasts enjoy looking at the cafes and motor courts of decades past.

For a hint of Sierra Blanca's interesting history, click here.