Castolon Historic District
a.k.a. La Harmonica Ranch,Camp Santa Helena;Castolon Army Compound
Along Rio Grande at jct. of Park Rtes. 5, 9, and 35, Big Bend National Park, TXThe primary significance of the Castolon Historic District lies in the border relations between the United States and Mexico. The general border unrest of the first part of the 20th century, occasioned by the Mexican Revolution and World War I, resulted in U.S. Cavalry patrols to protect lives and property along the Mexican border. The Castolon Army Compound (known as Camp Santa Helena) was constructed to garrison such troops. Although it was constructed just as these border tensions eased and consequently saw little use by the Army, it is nevertheless a tangible remnant of this facet of our relations with Mexico.
The first store in the Castolon area was begun about 1903 by Cipriano Hernandez in the east end of the so-called Alvino Residence. Acquired by Clyde Buttrill and James Sublett in 1914, the enterprise was moved to the "Old Castolon Store". Under the partnership of Howard Perry and Wayne Cartledge (acquired in 1919), the Castolon Store continued to serve residents on both sides of the border, first at old Castolon and later in the barracks building at the Army Compound. It is still operated by a concessioner under NPS jurisdiction. As manager of "La Harmonia Enterprises," (a name selected "in an effort to restore and maintain peace and order in the area, ... and to promote the idea of harmony between Anglo-Americans and Mexican-Americans in the area") Mr. Cartledge was a storekeeper, rancher, farmer, and trader. To the residents of the area, both Mexican and American, he was also a friend, employer, banker, broker, postmaster, lawman, and counselor; and above all, he was honest and fair. That the United States and Mexico have enjoyed good border relations since the end of World War I has been in large part due to men like Wayne Cartledge.
The site and structures at Castolon are significant in that they embrace all of these activities and their consequences, and are tangible evidence of this interesting and important part of our national history.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.