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Lighthouse Visitors Are From 15 States
Reprinted from the Port Isabel Press, Jan. 1, 1954 Fifteen states were represented by visitors to the Lighthouse during the past week according to Jesse Ickes, State Park keeper in Port Isabel. Mr. Ickes has been keeping track of different states represented and they include Louisiana, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska,…
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Late 1970s Downtown Port Isabel
Downtown Port Isabel in the early-1980s. The 2nd Queen Isabella Causeway opened for traffic in September 1974. The traffic pattern through Port Isabel changed as a result of the new route. Garcia Street (the last street before crossing the causeway) was less traveled and Maxan Street, one block north of Highway 100 became more developed.…
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Port Isabel Man, 120, Is Probably Oldest In Texas
Inocencio Rosales, Known As ‘Don Chencho’ Helped Build Lighthouse; Recalls Early Valley History The following is an article reprinted from the Brownsville Herald (August 15, 1943) by Clarence LaRoche about Don Chencho. He was a remarkable individual that embodied the spirit of what it takes to pioneer on the south Texas coast. Texas was just…
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William Egly, Unsung Hero of the Lower Laguna Madre
In 1895, William Egly transferred from the Lydia Ann (Aransas Pass) to take over the role as Principal Lighthouse Keeper at the Port Isabel Lighthouse. The Egly’s had relatives in the Rio Grande Valley. There is a record of at least one visit in 1893 during which time the Egly’s stayed for several weeks and…
