Von Ormy, Texas

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Von Ormy is a city located in southwest Bexar County, Texas, United States. It has been known as Von Ormy since the late 1880s. Prior to 1880, the community was known as Mann's Crossing, Garza's Crossing, Medina Crossing, and Paso de las Garzas. Von Ormy lies along the Medina River at the crossing point of the historic Spanish Camino Real.

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[edit] Geography

Von Ormy is located at 29°17.143508894265977′N, 98°38.84264945983887′W [1].

[edit] Early history

Archeological digs by the University of Texas at San Antonio have revealed a pre-European settlement of Coahuiltecan Indians within the boundaries of present day Von Ormy. This ancient village was located along the bank of the Medina River between modern Garza's Crossing (Somerset Road) and Mann's Crossing (I-35).

European settlers, initially Franciscan missionaries and Spanish and mestizo soldiers, arrived in the region in the early 18th century, intent on subduing and proselytizing the natives. Canary Islanders arrived soon after to settle the nearby town of Bejar (modern day San Antonio. They began to raise cattle along the Medina River and were involved in the cattle trade between Spanish Louisiana and South Texas. Notable among these were the Ruiz and Casillas families. Early records of Von Ormians can be found in the baptismal, burial and marriage records of Mission San Jose and Mission Espada; they are usually listed as living "on the Medina" or simply "Medina."

By the early 19th century, Von Ormy was an established community, serving as the crossing point of the Medina along the Camino Real. During the Mexican War for Independence, the "Battle of the Medina" was fought nearby. Antonio López de Santa Anna served as a lieutenant and became familiar with the area during this campaign.

[edit] The Texas Revolution

During the War for Texas Independence, Santa Anna (now the Mexican President and General-in-Chief) camped in Von Ormy prior to making his final march on the Alamo. The spot is marked by the Santa Anna Oak, a large live oak under which the general encamped. Blas Herrera, the "Paul Revere" of the Texas Revolution, rode his horse from Von Ormy to San Antonio to warn the town of Santa Anna's approach. After the war, the doors to the Alamo were taken to the Herrera ranch, where they stayed until the Daughters of the Republic of Texas brought them back to the Texas shrine during their restoration of the Alamo.

The Ruiz-Herrera family cemetery located in Von Ormy is the burial place of Blas Herrera, as well as Francisco Antonio Ruiz, who was alcalde, or mayor, of San Antonio during the siege of the Alamo.

[edit] Republic of Texas and statehood

Following the revolution, Texas pioneer Enoch Jones built a fortified ranchhouse, locally known as "the castle." Jones soon sold the property to famous Texian spy Deaf Smith, who lived in the house for several years. In the late 1800s, the "castle" was sold to Count Norbert Von Ormay, a Prussian count, for whom the city was named. Count Von Ormay arrived with his wife and servants from Prussia in the early 1880's. He registered a cattle brand at the Bexar County Courthouse, was often cited in the San Antonio Evening Light's gossip page, but little else is known about him and he disappeared soon afterwards. Many years later his son emerged in Brazil. The castle remained abandoned until the 1990s.

The first Catholic Church in Von Ormy had been established by Marianist missionaries in 1836 on the Herrera Ranch. It soon became known as Santisima Trinidad Mission and was located at Garza's Crossing on the Medina River. Ruins of the church can be seen today and the historic cemetery is being eroded by the river. Santisima Trinidad burned in the late 1890s and a new church was built by Franciscan missionaries in the 1910s about a mile upstream along the new Laredo Highway's crossing of the Medina River. Against much local protesting, this old stone church was destroyed when the Laredo Highway was widened to created Interstate 35 during the 1930s. The current church was built in the 1960s and renamed Sacred Heart of Jesus.

During the 1920s, a tuberculosis sanitarium was built in the city. Subsequently 20 percent of the population died after being infected from working in the facility or being in contact with infected workers.

The Von Ormy school operated from the early 1900s until 1956 when it closed after the creation of the Southwest Independent School District.

The town's post office opened as "Garza's Crossing" on January 16, 1872, under postmaster William G. M. Samuel. It was closed May 7, 1874, but was reeastablished June 10, 1875, under new postmaster Robert J. Sibert. It was again discontinued August 16, 1875. On January 14, 1879, a new post office was reopened using the name "Mann's Crossing," with postmaster Anton F. Krause. This too was closed (November 9, 1880). It was again reestablished under postmaster Branson Bywater on September 13, 1886. On December 4, 1886, the post office changed its name to "Von Ormy," which has since remained the town's designation.

In January 1906, the first bridge over the Medina River at Von Ormy was built by the International-Great Northern Railroad.

[edit] Recent history

In 1914, the town had two grocers, a general store, a cotton gin, and a population of 350. In 1946 the population was still 350. After World War II, the community declined; in 1965 nine businesses and 100 residents were reported. Since that time the population has grown slowly, and in 1990 Von Ormy had 264 residents and twenty businesses. Currently, there is a strong movement, led by the Committee to Incorporate Von Ormy (CIVO), to incorpporate Von Ormy into a municipality.

Today, several pioneer families who settled in the region prior to the Texas Revolution still comprise a large percentage of Von Ormy residents, including the Ruiz, Herrera, Vara, Flores, Mann, Reyes and Quintana families.

Von Ormy is served by the Jarret Volunteer Fire Department, which was established in 1975 in order to provide fire protection for the upcoming bicentennial celebrations.

[edit] Von Ormy Day

Beginning in 2006, Von Ormy has held an annual parade and festival termed "Von Ormy Day." It is held on the second Saturday after Thanksgiving. Upcoming Von Ormy Day's will be December 1, 2007; December 6, 2008; and December 5, 2009. Von Ormy Day was established to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the town name being changed to Von Ormy by its postmaster. When it was created the community had not held a large-scale parade since the bicentenial celebration in 1976.

On Von Ormy day the Von Ormy Historical Society crowns a Count and Countess. This honor is given annually to persons who have contributed greatly to the historical preservation of the area or who have provided exceptoinal community service in the area. Recent Counts and Countesses include:

  • Count and Countess Von Ormy I, Peter and Amelia Torres (2006)
  • Count and Countess Von Ormy II, Joe and Mary Louise Castro (2007)

[edit] Incorporation Effort

In the summer of 2006, a group of Von Ormy residents organized a series of public meetings in Von Ormy concerning the future of the community, the lack of basic public services and possible solutions to these problems. Overwhelming support for the creation of a City of Von Ormy was expressed by attendees at these three meetings. In order to pursue this community desire, the Committee to Incorporate Von Ormy, a Texas non-profit association, was organized. In addition to residential members, CIVO also includes over 20 commercial members representing nearly all local businesses.

CIVO has received written endorsements of County Judge Nelson Wolff, County Commissioner "Chico" Rodriguez, Congressman "Ciro" Rodriguez, State Rep. David McQuade Leibowitz, State Sen. Carlos Uresti, and San Antonio City Councilman Phil Cortez.

After confirming that it was in the best interest of Von Ormy to incorporate CIVO filed the necessary petition to the City of San Antonio to allow an election for incorporation within its extra-territorial jurisdiction. Following a series of negotiations with the City of San Antonio planning department, the petition was amended on August 15, 2007 to reflect an agreed upon City Limits. Von Ormy received the endorsement of the San Antonio Planning Commission on January 23, 2008. On January 31, 2008, the San Antonio City Council passed a resolution to allow Von Ormy to hold an election on incorporation. On May 10, 2008 voters approved the proposition to create the City of Von Ormy by a vote of 88% in favor and 12% opposed.

[edit] Famous residents

[edit] References

  1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
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Municipalities and communities of
Bexar County, Texas
County seat: San Antonio
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‡This city also has portions in adjacent county or counties