Pila Blanca, Texas, Duval County, Pila Blanca Cemetery. (original) (raw)

Pila Blanca Cemetery Tombstone
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, October 2010

History in a Pecan Shell

Founded sometime prior to 1947, it may have had something to do with the (rather late) oil boom in and around Freer. Pila Blaca did have a school which has since merged with the Rosita ISD. The town was dropped from maps around 1990 and its most noticeable trace is the cemetery.

Pila Blanca Today

Photographer's Note:
"Pila Blanca is just a spot on [my] map and my travel there revealed a small community.�There are but only a handful of buildings, some residences, farm buildings and one whose purpose has been lost. The closest services are about 12-miles to the west at Freer.� Other than that, all there is to see are mesquite trees, and cactus. I�m sure there are jackrabbits and rattlesnakes even though I didn�t see any and I didn�t go hunting for them.� It is a very quiet and secluded place, but is a home to a number of people as indicated by the small, well-tended cemetery." - Gerald Massey

The road to Pila Blanca
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, October 2010

Pila Blanca, Texas Forum

Headstone of Jesus Ruiz 1875-1957
Photo courtesy

Subject: Pila Blanca, "the ranch"

Pila Blanca was my great grandfather's ranch (Jesus Ruiz 1875-1957). It was named for the big white water tank at the base of the old windmill. The windmill is hanging by a thread having been replaced long ago by an electric pump. My great grandparents are buried in the Pila Blanca Cemetery along with many generations of the Ruiz family. Ruiz descendants still own much of the old ranch.

It was on this ranch that my grandpa (Daniel Fernandez 1897-1968) met my granny (Jacoba Ruiz 1901-1975) while driving cattle to the tank. They fell in love and married only to be disowned by her father. It seems a cowboy was not what he wanted for his daughter. Although they reconciled, she was never "reowned" and, consequently, all the inherited lands went to her siblings.

We have always referred to this place as "the ranch" and I didn't even know it was considered a town. I am sending a pic of my great grandfather's headstone from the cemetery. - Dee Sengelmann, October 02, 2015

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