Castolon

Castolon, also known as La Harmonia Ranch and Campo Santa Helena, was a small community in southwestern Texas, located in what is now Big Bend National Park along the Rio Grande. The location was first settled in 1901 by Cipriano Hernandez, who farmed the area and built the original Castolon Store, now known as the Alvino House.[2]

Castolon Historic District
Army Officers' Quarters, Castolon
Castolon Historic District
Castolon Historic District
LocationAlong Rio Grande at jct. of Park Rtes. 5, 9, and 35, Big Bend National Park, Texas
Coordinates29°7′48″N 103°30′47″W
Area800 acres (320 ha)
NRHP reference No.74000276[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 6, 1974

History

The area began to attract refugees from nearby Mexico who were fleeing the Mexican Revolution of 1910. The Castolon area was the site on a U.S. Army encampment, called Campo Santa Helena, to house units patrolling the Mexican–American border. However, by the time the camp was complete in 1920 the border was quiet and the camp buildings were never used by the Army. In 1921 the La Harmonia Company was established in the barracks, operating a trading post and farming cotton.[2] The La Harmonia Company was established in 1918 by Howard Perry, who owned the Chisos Mining Company in Terlingua, in partnership with Wayne Cartledge. Cartledge and his son Eugene chose the name and managed the company. The La Harmonia Company lasted until 1961, when it was sold to the National Park Service. [3] The store burned down in a fire in May 2019.

2019 Fire

On May 22, 2019, a fire started a day earlier in Mexico jumped the Rio Grande. Due to strong winds, temperatures around 110°F, and low humidity, the fire spread rapidly.

A sudden wind direction change with strong gusts "showered embers across the Castolon Historic District, igniting the latrine building and barracks (which housed the La Harmonia Store and Visitor Center)". This resulted in widespread damage to both buildings.[4]

Description

Castolon is divided into two areas. "Old Castolon" comprises the Old Castolon Store, a cafe-residence and a shed. The Army Compound includes a barracks, now the Castolon Store, a recreation hall, latrine, two officers' residences, a granary and tack room, and the Magdalena, Garlick and Alvino residences. The Magdalena and Garlick houses post-date the Army construction and are associated with La Harmonia Ranch, while the Alvino house pre-dates the Army. All of the buildings are built with adobe walls, and most are roofed with corrugated metal roofing. A few use traditional vigas, latillas and a soil roof covering.[5]

Castolon was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 6, 1974.[1]

Climate
Climate data for Castolon, Texas (Feb 1, 1947–Mar 31, 2013)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 90
(32)		 97
(36)		 105
(41)		 109
(43)		 115
(46)		 117
(47)		 115
(46)		 114
(46)		 110
(43)		 105
(41)		 99
(37)		 90
(32)		 117
(47)
Average high °F (°C) 68.2
(20.1)		 74.4
(23.6)		 82.9
(28.3)		 91.9
(33.3)		 99.8
(37.7)		 103.4
(39.7)		 102.2
(39.0)		 101.1
(38.4)		 96.3
(35.7)		 88.5
(31.4)		 77.7
(25.4)		 68.4
(20.2)		 87.9
(31.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 51.4
(10.8)		 57.0
(13.9)		 65.0
(18.3)		 73.8
(23.2)		 83.0
(28.3)		 88.3
(31.3)		 88.3
(31.3)		 87.3
(30.7)		 82.4
(28.0)		 73.0
(22.8)		 61.0
(16.1)		 51.7
(10.9)		 71.8
(22.1)
Average low °F (°C) 34.5
(1.4)		 39.5
(4.2)		 47.1
(8.4)		 56.2
(13.4)		 66.2
(19.0)		 73.1
(22.8)		 74.4
(23.6)		 73.5
(23.1)		 68.6
(20.3)		 57.7
(14.3)		 44.2
(6.8)		 35.4
(1.9)		 55.9
(13.3)
Record low °F (°C) 7
(−14)		 5
(−15)		 22
(−6)		 28
(−2)		 44
(7)		 42
(6)		 60
(16)		 64
(18)		 47
(8)		 29
(−2)		 21
(−6)		 7
(−14)		 5
(−15)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.37
(9.4)		 0.29
(7.4)		 0.23
(5.8)		 0.41
(10)		 0.96
(24)		 1.45
(37)		 1.71
(43)		 1.62
(41)		 1.47
(37)		 1.06
(27)		 0.36
(9.1)		 0.30
(7.6)		 10.24
(260)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.001 in) 2.73 1.89 1.38 1.95 3.97 5.22 6.46 5.89 5.37 3.72 2.00 2.37 41.90
Source: Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute[7]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "History of the Castolon Area". Big Bend National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  3. "La Harmonia Store". Big Bend National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  4. "Big Bend National Park" (PDF). The Paisano. National Park Service. 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  5. Battle, David G. (February 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Castolon". National Park Service. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  6. "US COOP Station Map". Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  7. "CASTOLON, TEXAS (411524), Period of Record Monthly Climate Summary". Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
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