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Revist the South Getty Street of the 1950s


Time has erased much of the history from South Getty, a street once filled with the majestic homes of early Uvalde settlers, some homes dating back to the 1880s. Many of these homes could still be admired in the 1950s, but today vacant lots and small businesses dot the landscape, interrupted by an occasional dwelling.

The shells of former businesses have long stood deserted but continue to conjure up memories from those who traveled and lived on South Getty in the 1950s.

The red brick 301 Coca-Cola Bottling Plant still stands at the corner of South Getty and West Calera. It officially opened on June 13, 1941, with Albert M. Biedenharn Jr. as manager. It served seven counties at the time. Uvalde resident Ben Harp worked as a driver for Coca-Cola from 1951 until his retirement in 1986.

“Bob Alford hired me. Back then we had drivers who serviced Eagle Pass, Crystal City, Hondo, and Medina. We had a bottling room and we also bottled Buck Brand strawberry, orange, and root beer flavors. These weren’t available in San Antonio, just Uvalde. I delivered to Horners, Schwartz, IGA, and Piggly Wiggly but also traveled to Rocksprings, Barksdale and Utopia once a week. In the summer we were really busy, delivering to Garner Park and Leakey, so we would hire extra helpers.”

Harp recalls that across the street on the northwest corner was Modern Grocery and Market at 231. Owned by W. I. Lucas, the store was sold to Leslie McMains in 1950.

Closer to town just south of city hall on the corner at 108 was Cotton Howerton’s Service Station, which opened under his management on July 27, 1950. Howerton’s youngest daughter Janice says that her dad actually ran the station for Jimmy Hope and that her dad worked there for three years before opening his own grocery store and gas station on East Main.

Daughter Marilyn Howerton Peebles recalls that all four of Howerton’s daughters were involved in their dad’s business ventures, taking turns at various jobs.

“My dad taught me early on to make change,” she said.

Howerton’s oldest daughter Frances Whiteaker, who lives north of Uvalde, recalls that she kept books for her dad at the South Getty station and adds, “In later years my dad drove a gasoline truck for Albert Ray and, later, Hershel Ray when Albert passed away.”

On the west side of South Getty was G. E. Auto Supply at 105; Lee the Tailor at 109-111; and M. L. Flowers & Son Plumbing at 113-119. Flowers had installed hot and cold running water in the rooms at the Stevenson Hotel back in 1921, a feature that not many homes had at the time.

The impressive three-story mansion of Judge Green B. Fenley stood at 230 S. Getty. Teenage dances were often held in the third-floor ballroom next to the billiard room. The house was built in 1900 by W. P. Dermody, whose daughter Louise was married to Grady Mahaffey in that same house. When there was no one left to look after the house, relative Florence Fenley lived in the house until her death in 1971. The house was moved three miles south to Batesville Road in 1975.

Today the Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary occupies the spot where the Fenley House once stood as well as the site of the Franklin home at 220 S. Getty. In the ‘50s the Vess Funeral Home, later the location of Wentz Flower Shop, was between the Church of Christ on the corner at 214 and the Franklin home. Frank Elijah Franklin died in 1949. Ann Bailey Reagan, formerly married to Robert Ray “Bobby” Ham, grandson of the Franklins and brother to Herby Ham and Ann Molloy, recalls that Elijah’s wife Addie was a well-known nurse in the community. Addie later sold the house to Watson Frazar who built a new funeral home on the site, and the house was moved.

The Alamo Lumber Company was on the southwest corner of West Garden and South Getty at 207. The building remains today. Uvalde resident George Morgan worked at the lumber company for 17 years, from 1955 to 1972. Morgan recalls that the company was owned by a family in San Antonio but was managed by Bob Studer. At the time, Morgan says there was a service station on the corner to the north.

“The office and front display were in the front, and there was a wide driveway with lumber bins at the back all the way to the alley. To the south of the bins was a covered area for items which shouldn’t get wet.”

Morgan’s fondest memory of working at the store was in 1956 when employees sat on the backs of trucks and watched Dale Evans in the Uvalde Centennial Parade.

To the south of the Coca-Cola plant at 319 S. Getty was the J. G. Smyth home built by Albert West in 1909. West rented the house for a while; tenants included Pete Walcott, who operated the Genevieve Gold Mine on the site of the Knippa traprock. The house, once known for its profuse azaleas, was occupied by the Smyths beginning in 1920.

Albert West’s brother Sol West built the house at 329 on the corner of South Getty and West Mill in 1907. Prior to 1953 it was occupied by Dr. H. E. Donges and his wife, Alice. Rancher William A. Bowles bought the house in 1953 and lived there until his death in 1962. Both the Smyth and Bowles houses are still standing.

On the east side of the street at 328, now a vacant lot, was the old Ingram home, built in 1906. After W. S. Ingram’s death in 1931, Flora Ingram and her daughter Verda continued living in the house. John Brigman recalls that Mr. Ingram was an early undertaker in Uvalde and had also taught at Leona Ditch, owned a variety store, and ranched. Virginia Wood Davis adds that Mr. Ingram’s undertaking business was at 124 South Getty, later the site of Pearl Distributing.

Today commercial entities have taken up much of the 400 block of South Getty between Mill and Doughty Ave. on the west side where a number of Uvaldeans, including Harry and Mary Alice Carper at 429, called home in 1950. Both Roy and Georgie Benson at 441 died just prior to 1950, and the house was then occupied by William Mack Lawton. There’s now a gas station at that location.

On the east side of South Getty at 408 was the Charles A. Horn home, known historically as the Hatch-LaRue home. Back in the 1880s the house was surrounded by 14 acres which were later subdivided. The house was literally cut apart at one time and the front part moved southward and later purchased by Sam and Ida Woodley Mangum.

Former Uvalde resident John “Tinker” Turman recalls that the Horn home was inherited by Mildred Turman Horn from her Aunt Ida who had no children. The house was next door to Turman’s grandfather John Cyrus Turman’s house, which later burned. The two houses were separated by a lot containing Mrs. Lula Woodley Turman’s rose garden. John Turman’s sister Betty Knaggs remembers, “Prior to Aunt Ida’s death, Charles and Mildred built a home on the ‘rose garden’ lot but moved into the larger house at 408 when Mildred inherited the property.”

Turman recalls that when his dad died in 1952, the funeral was held in the old home. John Brigman, a cousin to the Turmans, adds, “My family would come in from the ranch the day before a holiday, and my mother would cook the turkey for the big meal. All the Turmans, Brigmans, and Horns would gather at Aunt Ida’s.”

Brigman continues, “After moving to 408, the Horns rented the smaller home to Dr. Skates. It is still there as well as the house at 408, though it has been remodeled.” Brigman remembers that Hershel Ray, for whom Charles Horn worked, lived farther south at 430 S. Getty and next door to the Rays were Callie Finley, Ray’s mother-in-law, and her son Lonnie.

The 500 block of South Getty was largely commercial back in the ’50s. 501 was a residence and 509 was the American Mattress Shop. Otis Bourg lived on the northwest corner of Cardwell and South Getty, and across Cardwell was R. F. Bourg at 515. Next to 515 at 519 was the South Side Grocery and Market, owned by Otis Bourg. A. W. Evans Texaco station was to the south at 521.

On the east side of Getty at 520 was Bourg Realty. Eugene E. Stallcup owned a grocery store at 508 and lived at 502 until his death in 1963. Widower Oscar T. Cardwell, for whom Cardwell Street is named, lived with the Stallcups until his death in 1951. Stallcup’s daughter Vera married J. Austin Taylor, the son of Austin Taylor, known for his church hymns.

Germer Motor Company was located at 603 S. Getty at the intersection of South Getty and the Crystal City Highway.

J. W. Cooksey purchased Herbert Germer’s business, the Lincoln-Mercury dealership, in July 1952. South of the dealership at 611 was the Leona Valley Creamery, owned by Jack Roosa. The creamery changed hands in 1952, but Jack Roosa continued as owner of the ice cream plant.

In the same block at 633 was the home of Horton Blake Gilleland and his wife, Claudia, who lived in the house until their deaths in the ’60s. The site is now occupied by Agro Equipment. Across the street were three commercial enterprises: Anderson Welding Service at 610: Grand Prize Distributing at 620; and First and Last Chance Grocery at 634.

Beyond the Cargile and South Getty intersection were several residences. At 723 was the Old Folks Retirement home and the residence of R. R. Rose. The two-story dwelling is still there today.

Y. O. Coleman and his family lived at 807 South Getty. Robert Coleman, who offices in Uvalde, says that his dad built the house in 1947 and lived there until 1967.

Coleman recalls, “There was another house on the lot that was moved elsewhere. The house my dad built was actually a garage apartment and is still standing today. The flagstone rock which covers the facade came from the Rosenow Ranch.”

Coleman vividly remembers his neighbor John A. Jones who lived to the north of his house at 803. “Mr. Jones had a huge garden, and each year he would have the Person brothers come and plow the garden with their mules.

Mr. Jones raised his own food and ground his own coffee. His main crop was black-eyed peas. I ate over there a lot. Today, West Evergreen Street runs through the land where he lived.”

Coleman adds, “To the north of Mr. Jones was Charlie Halsell, and to the south of our house was James Wakefield at 811. There was hardly anything on the east side of Getty at that time except a garage. My grandmother Nettie Boales Coleman lived at 708 South Getty in a house that my dad built.”

Albert Racer lived at 829 S. Getty and next door to him was Elsie Wakefield at 827. Her house is still standing.

For many former and current Uvaldeans now in their 70s, 80s, and 90s, time hasn’t erased the fond memories connected with South Getty in the ’50s.

Most of the homes and businesses are gone, but those special times spent with grandparents, cousins, friends, and colorful neighbors are easily conjured up, and times are relived in an instant. It was a special time, and South Getty was once a special place.

Allene Mandry was born in Uvalde where she attended elementary school before moving to San Antonio. Now a retired teacher, she has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education from Trinity University. She spends her time doing genealogy research and giving presentations on genealogy. Mandry and her husband, Arthur, live on a ranch near Camp Verde.

Virginia Wood Davis Archives|El Progreso Memorial LibraryThe old Coca-Cola Bottling Company, which stood at 301 S. Getty St.

Virginia Wood Davis Archives|El Progreso Memorial LibraryThe old Coca-Cola Bottling Company, which stood at 301 S. Getty St.

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