San Benito recognizes historical landmarks

SAN BENITO - The historical society this month completed the first phase of recognizing landmarks here that help celebrate the city's 100 years.

Two more buildings were added to the list of historical sites, which now number 10, including a section of Resaca de Los Fresnos.

The Farmers State Guaranty Bank and the Smith-Reagan Insurance Agency Building were recently honored with landmark emblems.

These designations are different from Texas Historical Commission markers, which can help building owners seek grants or tax abatements.

The markers will help visitors and residents recognize important relics within the city, San Benito Historical Society officials said.

"We have many sites and buildings that are significant to our heritage because they all tell a story about the city and its people," Tootie Madden, historical society president, said.

"As part of the history, we also considered the architectural relevance of these landmarks."

Over the years, the society has recognized a number of sites as historical. In 2004 and 2005, the society named La Especial Bakery, La Azteca building and Resaca de Los Fresnos as local landmarks.

Other buildings with markers are Alexander Marketing Co. off Stenger Street, where fruits and vegetables were once shipped north, Stonewall Jackson Hotel, also off Stenger Street, Fred Booth Elementary School and a railroad engineer's home, both on Zaragosa Street.

The cast aluminum markers are about 12 inches in diameter and are numbered consecutively. They include the image of the home of San Benito founder Col. Sam Robertson.

The markers are made by Southwell Co. of San Antonio, which also makes the state's markers, Madden said.

Each of the markers have been placed on the buildings.

Smith-Reagan Insurance Agency and Farmers State Guaranty Bank are both on North Sam Houston Boulevard. Both buildings are from the early 1900s.

The Farmers State Guaranty Bank is one of the first non-wooden buildings built here. Historical society members said the building was next to the original San Benito Land & Water Co. and the San Benito Hotel. It was once home to local and district officials for Central Power & Light.

The Smith-Reagan building once housed a band, a real-estate agency and the Port Isabel-San Benito Navigation District, as well as offices for insurance agencies, doctors and attorneys.

Original features in the building include a pressed tin ceiling, a walk-in vault, a tiled fireplace and original business signs.

Smith-Reagan officials could not be reached for comment Friday.

Historical society Vice President Mary Hardy said the group wants to include a brief history of each site, like Texas landmarks, in the future.

Money to pay for the markers came from the historical society's annual pecan sale, Madden said.

Madden and Hardy said the group already has a short list for the next group of sites that will be recognized.

"We had so many that had not been honored," Hardy said.