La Rancho

The Ranch Schools

1938 Landrum Students-- On a knee, Walberto, Roy Orson, from left to right: Edio Leal, Gilberto Zepeda, Alfredo Garcia, Edward Keller, Benito Leal, Viola Keller, Arminda Farias, unknown, Leal, Maria Luisa Zepeda, Estela Keller, Angelica Garcia, Anita Leal, Janie Wilson, Crockett, Lydia Rodriguez, Jimmy Landrum, Margaret Keller, and the bus driver Alfonso (Poncho) Leal.Photo Courtesy of Clara Zepeda, Identifications by Gilberto Zepeda

In 1910 a committee of prominent men of the community headed by James L. Landrum met to discuss the educational needs of the area. Those present at the meeting were J.E. Keller, Jose Esparza, James L. Landrum, Antonio Esparza, Pedro Zepeda Jr., Enrique Zepeda, and others.

It was decided to join three of the ranch schools on one campus. El Naranjo, La Encantada, and El Calaboza. The committee chose La Encantada since it was the middle school.

Don Jose Esparza said he would donate an acre of land along the Military Road and in the middle of the of La Encantada Ranch. He deeded the land to the school district and expressed the wish that it be named La Encantada in honor of La Encantada Ranch, where his ancestors and family had been born and raised. His wish was granted at this meeting. In 1958, La Encantada was moved from the Military Highway to Hwy. 1577 because the enrollment of the school had increased so much that the old campus and buildings were no longer adequate.

By 1904-1905, Cameron County had 58 schools, mostly one room schools at individual ranches. The county schools that are now part of San Benito I.S.D. were La Encantada, La Paloma, El Naranjo, and El Calabaso. These were one room schools.

School	Pupils	Teacher
La Encantada	24	1
La Paloma	29	1
El Naranjo	24	1
Calabaso	30	1

Los Indios Elementary Photo courtesy of San Benito Historical Society

The committee agreed to form a school district and it was named Cameron County Common School District No 3. Mr. James Landrum decided to move the location of the school. The district bought 10 acres of land on the Rice Tract Road and spent $70,000 of the taxpayers' money for land and school buildings. At the same time, at La Paloma School the wood structure was demolished and four rooms and an office of cinder blocks were built. Great credit must be given to Attorney J.B. Wells for having organized the Cameron County schools.

Before 1904 the children on the farms were taught by teachers brought in by the land owners. At first the teachers came from Spain, later Mexico and in the late 1800's home grown teachers taught the children.

The land owner's children went abroad to get their education and later attended Brownsville schools.

Some of the early teachers were Mrs. McMurry Wills, Josie Wells, Estela Perez, Vera Woods, Gordon Raul Garza, Armador Padires, Miss Castillo, Angelica Leal, A.X. Benavides, Berta Cabaza, Willie Montamayor Bayor, Zefa Esparza, Clara Zepeda, and Paulita Cavazos.