The Forgotten Historical Towns of South Texas: Rio Grande City, Roma, and Hebbronville 

Building in Roma next to the church was in the movie Viva Zapata. Marlon Brando and Anthony Quinn. Horse in the balcony scene

I never forget Rio, lots of my fam are in starr county and been to that heb so many times

San Ignacio, Tx sits between Zapata and Laredo. It’s town square and historical architecture is very beautiful and most of the old buildings and houses downtown are still original. Some of the buildings still have bullet holes in the exterior walls dating back to Pancho Villa days. I really enjoyed this video.

I remember reading that many of these brick buildings were designed by a German with the last name Portscheler, his buildings can be found on both sides of the sides of the river, and the bricks came from Camargo, Mexico.

You should have shown in Roma the old Customs Building, on the same side with the Guerra building in the plaza. Thats where all the river-traffic was paying the custom fees. Back in those times Roma and South Texas was the place to be, people came from as far as Scotland and Germany. In fact all those old buildings in Roma and across the river now in Mexico, were designed by a German immigrant, Portscheller, who came from Hamburg. Portscheller signed up as a soldier for emperor Maximilian's army, but when Juarez took over and his times of soldiering ended, he took up his old trade that he learned in Germany and became an architect.

Been through those towns many times on the way to our families ranch in Lopeno. Always found those old buildings fascinating. So much history in that area.

Thank you for coming down south and explore these cities!!

Wow, what beautiful architecture & I'm so glad I've found time to check out some of your older videos before I head for Texas for part of the winter. Thank you for sharing your Secrets of Texas videos.

Thank you for putting together this video of these often forgotten towns of South Texas. Each of them has its own historical interest. What a beautiful church & seminary in Hebbronville. I grew up just north on the Rio Grande river (Webb County) but always love to go down south and visit McAllen, San Juan, Harlingen & Brownsville among others. I enjoy your other videos highlighting our beautiful state.

Good job. I enjoy seeing these old building and quaint little towns.

I love your style Hank! Thank you for your videos.

What history! THANKS for making this video, good luck and best regards ;)!

Helped man the birding center in Roma before covid forced us to stop, wished you would have filmed the courtyard behind the visitor center in Roma. Roma has the nicest people and her old buildings are beautiful, and was the end to navigation on the Rio Grande back in the day.

Thank you for posting this.

Interesting and well narrated. Nice work!

For some reason that place you love (7:21) looks like a scene from a Bonnie & Clyde film. Given it was supposed to be a scene in a far south Texas or Mexican town perhaps it is and the director sited the scene there because it is "the most Mexican town in Texas". I love your work. I grew up in Brownwood and didn't live again in Tejas for 3 decades but when I returned, being a different person entirely, I discovered soooo many treasures while traveling there 3 years. I finally realized the roots of so many traits and such and I now appreciate that state as no other.

Great video, thanks for sharing! I attended school in Harlingen and we played a few baseball games in Roma so know that stretch of 83 well! I always thought it was odd that yhe RGV was not considered south Texas, too. Not sure the origin, but geographically for purposes of research, South Texas is considered area soith of San Antonio through the brush country region and then roughly south of Laredo-Corpus line is Deep South Texas. Coming from the Willamette Valley of Oregon also thought it was odd it was considered a Valley, too. My HS history teacher claimed it was called a Valley because when they were trying to entice farmers way back when they often associated valleys with fertile soil. Supposedly when they would bring them down via rail they would go through the King Ranch region during the night so no one knew they actually weren't passing mountains. Marketing at its finest!

Great comments everyone. I drove by there in early December and reminisced about when my father and I would drive through to go hunting back in the early mid late 70’s. Great memories, great times. I’m from Harlingen but I reside in Denver. 🌼

What a neat old town. Interesting the connections folks have to places.

Another great video, thanks

I really enjoy your videos. Thank you! 👍😎🇨🇦⛪

Great shots friend. You just got another sub. Keep up the great work!

Hey, something you need to do to improve your videos, get up square and close to any plaques you come across , hold it for a few seconds so us viewers can pause the video and read it. I keep seeing you walk by these plaques and I’m wondering, what the heck did that say. Besides that, I’m enjoying your videos.

Hello from Kansas USA🇺🇸

I enjoy your channel. My grandfather had a farm in Balmorhea, Texas.

Wow, Just 'Subscribed' Great video.

It breaks my heart to see those old, historic buildings falling into ruin. I mean, for goodness sake give them to someone who has the money to save them but not the money to save and purchase. Something. Anything.

Right on . South Texas always in my heart. CCTX. Shouts out to Falfurias!

I did not realize you were going to Hebbronville. My Abuelita Idolina and all her siblings grew up on a ranch there! One of my brothers was born there!

Born and raised in rio,moved away when I got out of the army.always go back every chance I get.most of my friends are gone now.I still miss it.

Very cool.

Starr county towns are poplar with winter escapees.

I like how you became a Conquistador for just a moment when you were narrating in Roma, haha.

Thank you, Sir

The economy shuts down, the people leave, the buildings stay and decay. Sad.

If you guys want a history lesson of Roma and Rio...hit up R.C Salinas. That man is the sweetest person ever and knows everything there is to know about our history here :)

Thank you for your many videos. I am a non-Texas resident who has been thru some parts of Texas, including this area. Just wish I could see more. Your videos will have to suffice for now.

Ben Franklin 5&10 in Roma, TX. Quite a franchise back in the 50's and 60's.......

thank you for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love it... and i love the butterflies in your video... they are just everywhere... monarchs by any chance?

the amount of butterflies is impressive alone

I'm surprised no mention or video footage of Fort Ringgold when you covered Rio Grande City

You need to head down to Brownsville Tx and check out the old train depot which is now a museum, they have a steam engine on display , also check out the stillman museum both are downtown just a 15 minute walk from each other. Check out the old fort brown which is now part of the local university and last but not least there are remanents of an old plantation outside of town civil war era I think.

Very interesting!

3:39 That building looks to be close to 150 years old, if not older because of the way it’s constructed.

Rio Grande, Great Town; strong working people, Doña Elvia Elvia's Beauty Shop is a Rio Grande Citizen.

Been to all 3 of them in the past

My family was established in Rio Grande. Rodriquez's. Great Grandfather and Great Grandmother from Spain 1800's. He helped run and build the first railroad to run trade. He's mentioned in their Newspaper.

My dad's family is from Mission and McAllen. My mom just passed away and i wanna move back to south TX but it's not safe in 2024. Or is it not much different than any other time?

Spots on film added for effect or it’s the birds....lots of birds.....👍👍👍

8:37 reminds me of the missions California

Is there a problem with illeg+als crossing there like in many other places more west?

Cool Vid. Why the double or even triple curbs in Rio Grande City?

Looks like you were there during the butterfly migration.

Does it snow there? Is it really dry like a desert with miniscule rain?

home sweet home

Have been to padre isl. I wish I drove out of it

Roma was actually the most viable location. The route for steamboat "Bessie" was from Brownsville to Roma.

And next time mention all the battles that happen in rio grande and all those cowers of rangers that kill without mercy

Good Movie.

common fact PPL have a good living standard in towns with a main st that is grid design,

Have to redirect that traffic.

7:45 is hebbronville tx

what about santa rosa rio hondo primera combs la feria la villa rangerville los indios to many to name

I live a few minutes away from there hi guys welcome to my town and city

I live here in this town

Forgotten? Plenty of people live there and travel to and through these towns daily. They are definitely NOT forgotten. From Laredo TX BTW

I live in roma texas

Have family and Mercedes Edinburgh West Co co in Harlingen actually the ghost of them😭🌹

Can u go jogging from roma to reo grande how far is it😅 U didn't even drive a car or u edited the video

The butterflies love u

never any people, dogs, cats...

Every old town in America has a dead theater in it.

Tell someone hmy I only

Rio Grande City is the real town where the fictional "Lonesome Dove" was located

I was born in Roma, TX.

The brick house you see half burnt belonged to Lalo Ysaguirre,they were people of wealth,but he never married,so I guess nobody cared for the property,who knows.I heard it was arson.if so shame on whoever done this.

Can't people just swim across that river? Doesn't even look like Mexico on the other side.

Looks like any town USA

Looks nice but doesn't look like you could live and work in these areas

I once visited a shit town by the pan handle called Perryton Texas and the thing is with Texas they have dry county’s in a lot of areas so you can’t buy any beer unless you join their club plan b you gotta drive to the next town!

It's drug cartel corridor. Not safe to live there.

America is in decline everyone is flocking to Texas for the last gasp