24/11/2023
Interesting Terlingua history!
Traces of Texas reader Sarah Thompkin kindly sent in this 1973 image, taken on the border in Terlingua, Texas. On the left is the still-extant old adobe church, Santa Inez, and in the background is the also still-extant Perry Mansion, built in 1906 by Howard Perry, who owned the quicksilver mines that were the foundation of his wealth. Perry built his Perry Mansion based on the Moorish architecture from his visit to Almadén. The two-story structure had nine bedrooms, a wine cellar, nine 10-foot arches, and a 90-foot front porch. By 1913, Perry had built in Terlingua the Chisos Hotel, a "company store," an ice-making plant, telephone service, a company doctor, and mail delivery three times a week. By 1936, he had created the Chisos Theatre and the Oasis Confectionery Shop. Miners, mainly Mexicans, were provided rent-free dwellings, many of which also still stand --- in various degrees of decrepitude. Perry joined the New York Yacht Club in 1920 and remained a member until 1944, owning during that time three different yachts, none smaller than 59 feet. In Perry's words, "If I had not wanted the yachts, I would not have made so much money, which I had to do in order to have them." In any case, Terlingua became the "Land of Perry." He controlled the place. A collapse in quicksilver prices and a string of lawsuits eventually resulted in the closing of the mines and marked Terlingua's descent into ghost town status. The Perry Mansion fell into disrepair but has been restored in the last few years and is now gorgeous.
Sarah found this photo in the National Archives. Thank you, Sarah!
