Activities & More in The Rio Grand Valley
Time sure flies when you are having fun. Finally today
we enjoyed a perfect day once again, - great for an afternoon at the pool. That
was after we visited the Don-Wes flea market to pick up a toilet seat. Our seat
had begun to blister so we ordered one from B&T RV Supplies at the flea market
at a definite discount. Unfortunately there was a glitch in the order and it
won’t be in till next week. When we added our Washer/Dryer four years ago we
were unaware it drained into the black tank rather than into the grey as we
expected. Two wash loads fill the black so when we began the third was it had no
place to go but over the edge of the bowl. Well when it overflowed it damaged
the seal of our china bowl toilet. Because we have the ball-type trap, no odours
came into the unit so we never rushed to fix the problem. So, now that we have
to replace the seat – on this model that means taking the toilet out – we’ll
have our favourite tech Silver, from the reasonably priced RV Mobile Home
Service, come to replace the seal and the toilet seat at the same time. This may
not be a difficult task but John doesn’t want to get into something he may not
be able to finish and he prefers to call the experts.
Park activities have been extremely active this week with dances and evening
entertainment plus a daytime schedule that is very busy. Tonight they are
hosting a theme party where each table sings a song and puts on a skit to
demonstrate the theme. I took an advance look at the tables and it should be a
great evening entertainment. Unfortunately for a number of reasons we will not
be participating.
Scheduled events such as Shuffleboard League on Monday, and for fun on Saturday
and Sunday are high points of our week. After the game last Monday friends Don
and Elaine treated us to a delicious lunch featuring homemade fishcakes, home
made brown bread (Don’s grandmothers recipe) plus extras – very tasty feast for
sure. That afternoon the group of us visited long time friends and new
fulltimers (they just sold their park model) Marv and Irene at Encore Harlingen
for happy hour. They head out on their exciting adventure mid February. Thanks
guys.
John and I had been trying to find a warm day to host a Subway party. Tuesday
was scheduled to be that perfect day. Well no one tells lies like a weatherman
and it ended up as a sunny but very cold day. The party went well, but it turned
soooo cold by the time the sun began to set. We couldn’t cancel because we asked
good friends from another park - Mal and Suzanne from Ontario - to stop by as
well. Unfortunately we had 12 for supper and since our unit only seats 6 for
socializing, by 6:30 everyone retreated to their warm units and Mal and Susanne
came inside for a warm friendly extended visit. By the way if you want an easy
entertaining meal, Subway platters include either 5 or 7 -12” subs cut in thirds
for a very reasonable price. You choose your sandwiches, your breads, dressings
etc. Add some coleslaw, chips, appetizers and you have a great meal.
I am happy to report that John and Jim won the Silver medal in the Encore
Olympics 8-ball billiard tournament. Event took place at Southern Comfort RV
Park. I reported 8-parks participated last week but there are only six – total
of 12 games with two hosted by each park. To celebrate I treated John to a tasty
salad at Applebee’s, thanks Amy for your great service.
One highpoint this week was I was a guest on the BC Almanac at CBC Radio in
Vancouver last Friday. Mark Forsythe hosts a call-in talk show during the
Vancouver RV Show. I was honoured to be associated with in-studio guests Al
Cohoe, director of the RV School that is held each June at Okanogan University
in Kelowna and major supporter Fern Northcott. Mark called me at Paradise Park
in Texas and we chatted for about 10 minutes. Unfortunately I was so interested
in relaying the joys of this lifestyle that I forgot to mention Spirit or RV
Living.net. Not sure why I forgot but I guess I had a seniors moment. It was a
good interview and hopefully a few people will decide the RV life is really a
great way to explore this continent. That’s it for this week. Take care till
later P&J
_________________
Peggi and John McDonald
DONNA, TEXAS. Donna is off U.S. Highway 83 and State Spur 374, fourteen miles northeast of McAllen in southeastern Hidalgo County. It is in territory that was granted to Lino Cabazos as part of the La Blanca land grant on May 19, 1834, by the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The Cabazos family inhabited the area for at least twenty years after taking possession of the land, and their descendants continued to live in the area into the twentieth century. The first known Anglo-American settler was John F. Webber,qv who, accompanied by his wife Sylvia (Hector), a former slave, settled in the area in 1839. The Webbers moved to the area in order to escape persecution for their interracial marriage.
Several families from northern states, including the Ruthven, Champion, and Hooks families, settled the area. Thomas Jefferson Hooks arrived in the Lower Rio Grande valley in 1900 and the following year moved his family to Run in southeastern Hidalgo County. In May 1902 he helped to form the La Blanca Agricultural Company, which purchased 23,000 acres fronting the river two miles east and two miles west of the site of present Donna and extending north eighteen miles. He gave part of his purchase to his twenty-one-year-old daughter, Donna Hooks Fletcher, a divorcée. She settled in the area and established the Alameda (Grove) Ranch. Fletcher stocked the ranch with Jersey cattle purchased from the Lassater Ranch in Falfurrias and ran a successful butter business. The Hidalgo and San Miguel Extension (later called the Sam Fordyce Branch) of the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway reached the site in July 1904, when the town was founded. In 1907 the town received a depot and was named Donna in honor of Donna Fletcher, who was postmistress when the Donna post office opened in 1908. That year the first store in west Donna was established by Ed Ruthven, and the community was recognized as the Texas station that shipped the most produce in a year. A 500-ton-capacity sugar mill was built in Donna that year. The Donna Developer was first printed on December 1, 1910, in Chapin. That year the Community Church was constructed and shared by the town's Protestant groups. The First Presbyterian Church was founded on July 10, and the First Baptist Church was organized on July 24, 1910. The telephone exchange was installed in 1911. Donna incorporated on April 13, 1911. By 1912 the town was divided into Donna and East Donna. East Donna, the Mexican side of town, had a post office named Beatriz, after Beatriz Hooks, from 1912 to 1916. Saint Joseph Catholic Church and a school for Mexican children were located there.
The first teacher in Donna was Paciana Guerra of Mier, Tamaulipas, hired in 1911 by Severiano Avila, Apolonio Ballí, and Ventura Benitez to instruct their children. In 1913 the first graduating class of four graduated from Donna High School. At that time the Donna school district encompassed all of Weslaco and reached to the Mercedes corporate boundary.
A store was moved from Run to Donna in 1914 by Andrew Champion. In 1915 Donna had a population of 1,500, a bank, a hotel, four churches, two cotton gins, the sugar mill, and a weekly newspaper named the Donna Dispatch, published by B. L. Brooks. In 1916 the Donna Light and Power Company was incorporated by A. F. Hester, Sr., T. J. Hooks, Dr. J. B. Roberts, and twenty stockholders. The American Legionqv Hall, Donna Border Post No. 107, was dedicated in 1920. Donna had an estimated population of 1,579 in 1925. By 1936 it had a population of 4,103, a railroad stop, multiple dwellings, and 110 businesses.
The citizens of Donna first started using the motto "The City with a Heart in the Heart of the Rio Grande Valley" to promote the city in the 1940s. By 1945 the town had a population of 4,712 and seventy-eight businesses and continued to be a citrus and vegetable growing center. In 1953 Donna had three gins, three wholesale groceries, hardware and farm implements dealers, a wholesale distributor for feed mills, and the Donna News. The election of 1954 drew attention to Donna when Bob Jefferys, a newspaperman, requested that a special contingent of Texas Rangersqv be sent to the city by Governor Allan Shivers.qv He alleged that the election campaign was becoming violent because political bosses were physically threatening voters. The American Legion Hall was designated a historical landmark in 1964. In 1967 Donna reported 110 businesses (including eight manufacturers), ten churches, a bank, a library, and a newspaper.
From 1920 through the mid-1960s Donna had segregated schools. A third school for migrant students was in operation through the 1970s. The justification for its operation was that migrant children needed more attention because of their parents' work. It was opened to children in the third to eighth grade and had a separate campus. Donna had a population of 8,982 and 122 businesses in 1978. After the 1970s the economy in Donna continued to be based on fruits, vegetables, and the tourist trade. In 2000 Donna had a population of 14,768 and 369 businesses.
There are five coloniasqv immediately south of the Donna city limits off Farm Road 493. Colonia Nueva is on Farm Road 493 two miles south of Donna; Colonia Algeria is on River Road and Eleventh Street next to the city dump; Colonia Tierra Prieta is on the east side of Farm Road 493; Colonia Salinas is south of Donna; and South Donna is a subdivision. Water is provided to the colonias by Colonia Nueva Water Distribution System, a privately owned enterprise that purchases water from the city of Donna and resells it to 400 colonia domiciles. Tierra Prieta also receives water from North Alamo Water Supply Corporation; it had an estimated population of 180 in 1986.
RV Parks and Resorts
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Alamo
Palms Mobile Park Welcome to southern hospitality - Texas Style! |
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Alamo
Paradise Acres Information about our RV park and local attractions. |
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Anchor
Marina Park Anchor Marina Park and Family Courts Motel Marina in Port Isabel/South Padre Island offers 75 Boat Slips (25 covered with lifts), 50 RV Spaces, 24 Motel Rooms, 2 Guest Lodges, and a pool. |
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Bentsen
Palm Village RV Park Beautiful nature-friendly RV Park in Mission. Large pull-thrus and cabin rentals. |
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Bit O Heaven RV Park |
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Casa del
Valle RV Resort Casa del Valle offers convenience and exceptional service. The finest RV Resort in Alamo! |
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Destination South Padre Island RV resort and development |
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First
Colony MH and RV Park Friendly, active adult RV park conveniently located in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, in San Benito. |
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Green
Haven Mobile Park We rent mobile homes and RV lots on Hwy 281 north of Edinburg. |
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Kenwood
RV Resort Unsurpassed convenience in a serene and scenic environment! |
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Llano
Grande Lake Park Resort & Country Club Welcome to our little spot of paradise. |
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Martin Valley Ranch |
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New
Harbor Lodge & RV Park Small RV park located in Zapata, Texas. |
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Oleander Acres |
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Palmdale RV Resort |
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RGV Chapter of Tx Recreational Vehicles Assoc. |
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RV Park
de El Fuerte 26 pull-thru sites w/full hookups laundry, showers, river tours |
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Seven
Oaks RV Park Seven Oaks RV Park lies within the boundries of the Seven Oaks Country Club.The site describes the facilities, activities, rates and special offers. |
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Snow to
Sun RV Resort Friendly and charming resort just 10 minutes from Mexico! |
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Tropic Winds MH & RV Resort |
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Twin
Coves Fishing Camp Twin Coves Fishing camp is the gateway to Tigre Grande. With lakeside rv sites, boat ramp,cabins,rec hall, and plenty of wildlife and tranquility. |
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Valley
Gateway RV Park 46 acre quiet, country setting, family owned since 1984. 96 full hookup spaces. Friendly, courteous management. |
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Valley
Grande Mobile Homes Where Winter Texans make their home year around. We are a Mobile Home and RV Park located in McAllen, Texas. |
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Valley
View Estates Valley View Estates Sales & RV Pad Rentals, Mission TX |
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Victoria
Palms RV Resort In the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, Victoria Palms Resort offers the Winter Texan an inviting retreat with community spirit and wonderful recreational facilities. Explore our professional health club with two spas and a huge pool, our 18 hole, par 72 golf course and historic club house, a 12,000 sq. ft. ballroom, restaurant and poolside bar. |