Palo Alto College

San Antonio, Texas

SMALL TOWN HISTORY: Castroville, Texas

Benjamin Perez & Stella Guzman	Fall 1998
History 1301	Hines

Castroville, Texas Castroville Homepage

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Castroville was the first settlement between San Antonio and the western border of Texas, and was founded on September 3, 1844. It is located about 25 miles west of San Antonio, and was named after Henri Castro. Henri Castro was born in France to a prominent Jewish family in 1786. Castro had been to the U.S. as early as 1827 and before returning to France in 1841 he obtained his citizenship. When he returned to Texas he was instantly attracted to the colonization movement by General James Hamilton. By early 1842 both Castro and Hamilton were back in Texas, where he got a land grant from the state of Texas and from Sam Houston. In return for the land grant, Castro was to bring 600 families or single men to colonize the area within a period of three years. He quickly returned to France and began recruiting settlers to go to Texas; he had the most success in Alsace, a Rhenish Providence. By the summer of 1844 seven ships, carrying over 700 people, left for Texas. Eventually over 20 more ships would follow, bringing over 2,500 settlers. Castro played a very important role in the colonization of Texas, second to Stephen F. Austin.
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Soon after arriving in Castroville, colonist built shelters for their families and began clearing land for planting their first crops and fruit trees. Seventy-six houses were inhabited by 700 colonists in 1847; mechanics and skilled craftsmen of all trades were among these first settlers.

Over 500 acres were in cultivation, mostly corn, along with small amounts of cotton, sugar cane, and tobacco. Although pure water, wood, prairie land and a fertile river bottom welcomed the settlers, they encountered a drought extending to 15 months in 1848. Locusts made an appearance in the next planting season and destroyed all their crops. The spring of 1849 showed no favor as well, when the cholera epidemic claimed many of the colonists lives.

Six months later four Alsatians were accidentally killed by Indians. Although they had no major problems previously, after the murders all the settlers remained uneasy. Through all the complications Castroville prospered.

In the 1870's, the new St. Louis Church was built, along with a new and larger courthouse. In the 1880's when the "Sunset Road" (Southern Pacific) was building its railroad Castroville anticipated its going through the town. The land was already promised but local residents refused to pay the price for the railroad; it instead developed in Hondo. Castroville was at this time named as the county seat, but after two elections it was moved to Hondo.

Records show that Castroville had only 827 inhabitants with 159 families in 1876, and economic life was a standstill. Highway 90 did not become a main route for travel through Castroville until 1940 when it was built and took the place of the bridge across the Medina River. Because of settlers' ability to self sustain themselves on farming, they survived the Depression of the 1930's. That and the fact that they were pretty much isolated for the last 50 years.

Many of the original buildings still stand today. With some renovations and remodeling they have since been converted to shops, houses, and Texas Historical Markers for tourists to view. Some of the original buildings include:

Burger House, built in 1844, considered 'the oldest house in Castroville'.
The first St. Louis Church, built in 1844, only used four years before a larger church was built.
The Henri Castro Homestead, built in 1845, only this building remains of the five large and several smaller buildings.
The Claude Dubis House, built in 1847, one of the first stone houses built.
The Walter House, built in 1852, bought from Henri Castro for $50.00.
The third St. Louis Church, built in 1870, still in use today.
The A.H. Tondre House, built in 1911, purchased from a Sears, Roebuck catalog, and shipped as numbered pieces by rail.
The Old Highway Filling Station, built in 1926, operated as a thriving business until 1955.

Some of the buildings have been converted into antique shops, which Castroville is also famous for. Today there are more than 10 antique shops in the town. There are antique shows annually in April and September for tourist and visitors to attend.

Castroville has retained most of its Alsatian culture through its annual celebrations and holidays. What started 115 years ago with only a handful of families and friends celebrating the feast day of St. Louis has turned into the "grand daddy of all church festivals" every August 24th. Another tradition Castroville holds is it's "Old Fashioned Christmas" every first Saturday in December, by gathering in Houston Square.

Wagon train on Houston Square enroute to Carrizo Springs circa 1900.

Castroville is the home of almost 3,000 people yet it continues to maintain a very low crime rate. There is a total of only six officers in Castroville not including the Chief of Police. Even though there are only two police officers on duty at a time, they manage to patrol the 20,000 vehicles that pass through the town on Highway 90 each day.

Other than Highway 90 the only other main way into town is the town airport. The airport is located two miles east of Castroville, towards San Antonio. It is considerably smaller than the San Antonio International Airport, but it contains roughly the same things. It has a lounge, terminals, phones, and restrooms; fuel and maintenance are also available. The runway is 150 feet wide and 5000 feet long.

Castroville was quoted by Luanne Butler as being the next Boerne because it has become the fastest growing town in Medina County. Within the last two years major corporations have built new franchises including: Sonic, McDonalds, Ace Hardware, Chevron, and Texaco. Within the next year Pizza Hut, Blockbuster and several banks and hotels will also stake their claim into Castroville's growing economy.

Bibliography

Castroville Home Page

Medina Economic Development Foundation. Medina Co. Texas in Profile. May 1998.

Luanne Butler. Castroville News Bullitin. Feb'98.

"Castroville" Texas Monthly Guidebook. August 1996.

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