Rainy Day visits to Museum February 26

Another cold front arrived Tuesday afternoon, will winter never end? The wind changed to the north and the temp dropped 11 degrees in 10 minutes. Not a good day for outside activities, we opted on the Harlingen museum scene for Wednesday's activities.

The Art and Heritage Museum had a quilt display featuring variations on the Jacob's Ladder pattern. Made us think of Kathy Lupardus and her beautiful handiwork. Photos of the quilts were not allowed, but, of course, a picture book of the 18 quilts was available for purchase at the gift shop. Needless to say, we passed on that option.

An 18 minute video on the history of Harlingen produced by 2 of the local high schools provided an interesting overview narrated by local citizens.  On the grounds is located the first house in Harlingen, named for a city in the Netherlands. constructed by Lon C. Hill. in 1904.

We visited the parlor, the kitchen, a bedroom, and Lon Hill's law office. He was a successful lawyer in Beeville who moved to the area after trying a case in Brownsville in 1903. He started a rice plantation, owned a brick factory, started a railroad, and developed the canal system necessary for irrigation. He also built a sugar mill, which was burned by Mexican bandits in 1917. He built the first school next door to his house so his 8 children along with neighbor children could receive a proper education. Each Hill child had a personal firearm and slept with a dark colored robe on the foot of the bed in case of bandit attack during the night. 

Next door to the Hill House is the first hospital opened in 1923 by Ida Gilbert and Marie Yeager in 3 old army barracks. On display were a doctor office, a dental office, a maternity room, and a pharmacy. The old instruments resemble medieval torture tools more than helpful healing aids. 

Across the courtyard is the Paso Real Stage Inn built in 1860 on the banks of the Arroyo Colorado near present day Rio Hondo. A ferry crossing was also located there. The Inn also housed the post office still intact inside the structure. 

 The historical museum, unfortunately, is currently closed for renovations. This building was formerly the Air Force Police Squadron and Brig. The entire museum complex is located on the grounds of the Harlingen Army Airfield (HAGS), an artillery training facility in WWII. The sub-base where the actual gunnery training facilities were located is now Laguna Atascosa NWR. 

Just a few blocks away is the Marine Military Academy and the Iwo Jima Memorial Museum. By the time we reached this destination, the mist had turned to rain and the wind gusts had increased considerably. We opted to take a few photos from the warmth of the cozy jeep. 

Harlon Block, a Weslaco native, was the man holding the flag pole at its base. He was killed 6 days later and is buried at the base of the monument. 

The small museum is filled with memorabilia and personal belongings of Marines who participated in the siege. A 30 minute film described the Japanese stronghold, a catacomb of underground passages and the hardships faced by the Marines during their 5 week long struggle for the 2 mile by 5 mile piece of volcanic rock. 

The monument is the original plaster that was used to cast the bronze version located at Arlington National Cemetery. Donated by the artist, Dr. Felix W. de Weldon. On active duty with the Navy, he constructed a scale model of the event within 48 hours of its happening. He selected the Military Academy in Harlingen as an inspiration to the cadets. 

Along the drive over, we saw a  flocks of gulls and Black-bellied Whistling Duck.