Cenizo Journal Winter 2013 | Page 13

Maiya’s st. Jonah Orthodox Church Italian Cuisine Seasonal Menu Diverse Beer & Wine Lists Signature Cocktails ◊ Come, See & Hear the Services of Early Christianity Sunday 10 am • Wednesday 6:30 pm 405 E. Gallego Avenue • Alpine, TX 79830 bigbendorthodox.org • 832-969-1719 Open Wed - Sat at 5pm 103 N. Highland Ave Marfa 432.729.4410 Cartledge at Castolon did not come into the Park until 1960. Although the Anglo ranchers had the larger spreads, a significant number of families originally from Mexico also held title to ranch land. On both the larger and smaller ranches, the cowboys and farm workers were mostly of Mexican origin, even though some had moved from further north in Texas to take up resi- dence in south Brewster County. Family names such as Sada, Solis, Villalba, de la O, Celaya, Garcia, Chavarria, Valenzuela, Molinar, Franco, Ybarra and many more owned ranches themselves or lived on the Anglo ranches, or populated settlements like La Coyota, Glenn Springs and Terlingua Abajo. With the last of the ranch land coming into the Park in 1960, there were families who were transplanted outside the Park scarcely more than fifty years ago. Since the last sur- vivors of these pioneer families are now in their 80s and 90s, preserving their stories, in their own words, is an urgent priority. These early residents of Brewster County, born or raised within what became Big Bend National Park or in its Study Butte/Terlingua neighborhood, now live across the Trans Pecos. Unless and until more of these unnamed, unknown predeces- sors can be given their due recognition, the history we claim is incomplete. As Howard Zinn has made clear in his A People's History of the United States, this country's story, great as it may be when heard from its majority white-Anglo perspec- tive, is fully told only when all its people can be heard to speak. If you know a Big Bend pio- neer who can tell a story or are a descendant with a story to preserve, please contact one of the following at Big Bend National Park: Archaeologist Tom Alex (432) 477-1144 Archivist Kate Hogue (432) 477-1153 GALLERY Felix Valenzuela's freighter caravans took a week to travel from Terlingua to Alpine in the 20s and 30s hauling out quicksilver and returning with supplies. This drover, whip draped around his neck, hauled water for man and beast on the trip. C ONTEMPORARY W EST T EXAS A RT 401 N. 5th Street • Alpine TX 79830 (432)837-5999 Representing work by Charles Bell • Karl Glocke Ling Dong • Carlos Campana Hours vary or by appointment Art and Guitar classes • Weekend workshops offered Hand-painted signs and graphics Cenizo First Quarter 2013 13