All sources sited from Mr. Buddy Dossett's Application for state historical marker for the Water District Building, 1996 : "Robertson convinced the railroad to designate a depot, named Bessie in honor of Benjamine F. Yoakum's daughter, just east of the Resaca de Los Fresnos (that is, present-day San Benito.)". His source was J.L Allhands, Gringo Builders, 1931: "Brownsville Daily Herald, April 15, 1907 at third page (no page numbers), reports that 'the site for the depot building at Bessie was located Saturday by Chief Engineer Burgess of the St. L. B. & M..." Second source: Brownsville Daily Herald, December 18, 1906, at fourth page (no page numbers): 'S.S. Robertson came down last night from his work at Bessie. He reports everything is moving along nicely and he says he is making the dirt fly.' " Third source: Gringo Builders by J.L. Allhands. "Brownsville Daily Herald, 'The News from Bessie' March 12, 1907 at first page (no page numbers)." Name Change: 'With the change of the Company's name, that of the railroad station has also been changed and Bessie will be known hereafter as San Benito. Application has been made to have a post office established there.' " 'New Company is Organized', Brownsville Daily Herald, April 5, 1907, at first page (no page numbers): "San Benito Officially Recognized", id., May 27, 1907, at second page reports that the Railroad has changed the name of the depot to San Benito, and that the postal authorities had agreed to change the name of the post office from Diaz to San Benito effective July 1, 1907. In late 1906 or early 1907, when Robertson applied for the creation of a post office at Bessie, he learned that there was already a post office in Gaines County named Bessie.

Upon learning this, Robertson decided to change the name of Bessie to Diaz. The owners of the Mercedes tract had named their town Diaz and had advertised it as their town to Mercedes, Robertson decided to rename his town Diaz to capitalize on the advertising, provoking the threat of a lawsuit, Col. Sam Robertson, CoFounder and First Postmaster of City, San Benito News, February 27, 1961. Whether Robertson had begun negotiation with the Heywood Brothers at the time he decided to apply for a Post Office with the name of Diaz is not known. On April 2, 1907, the postal department approved the establishment of a post office for Diaz, Texas, with Sam Robertson as Postmaster. This certificate is on display at the San Benito Post Office. By the time the certificate was issued, the decision to change the name of the town to San Benito had been made. On May 11, the post office department approved the change of name from Diaz to San Benito. San Benito was incorporated in 1911. On June 27, 1911, an election was held on whether San Benito should become incorporated; On July 3, 1911, County Judge John Bartlett issued an order declaring San Benito incorporated and declaring the officers who had been duly elected to serve as mayor and city commissioners. Vol. 17, Pages 256-259, DEED RECORDS OF CAMERON COUNTY, TEXAS.

July 27, 1911 From an oral interview with Minnie Gilbert, early historian and writer for San Benito Light and Valley Morning Star newspapers, by Felicia A. Brown

Mr. John M. Breen was the first mayor of the incorporated town of San Benito. Other early mayors were J.A. Hollingsworth, McMurray Richey, Dr. C.M. Cash, J. Scott Brown, E.L. Baramore and Louis Witte.   From an oral interview with Minnie Gilbert, early historian and writer for San Benito Light and Valley Morning Star newspapers, by Felicia A. Brown.

J. Scott Brown was chosen first commissioner with 140 votes. The second commissioner chosen was J.H. Haynes with 137 votes. "Pool Table Tax Reduced by 1911 City Commission," San Benito News, Feb. 27, 1961, page 7.

"The first San Benito policeman was Daniel Hinojosa who was appointed by the newly-formed city council in August of 1911." "Daniel Hinojosa First Policeman," San Benito News, Feb. 27, 1961.

"In 1912 the office of police chief was formed and Thomas M. Ross was the city's first chief with Hinojosa serving as his assistant. The men were given the right to chose their own deputies." "Daniel Hinojosa First Policeman, San Benito News, Feb. 27, 1961.

"San Benito's first serious fire was in 1911. Agar's Warehouse was afire. Bucket brigades were formed in a desperate attempt to extinguish the flames. In 1915 there was another alarm, and people began to consider the fact that San Benito was growing rapidly and needed something more than a spur-of-the-moment bucket brigade. The next year the first real Fire Department in the city was established with W.F. Buessing acting as chief. It was a thrilling day in 1917 when the first fire engine was delivered to Mayor and Toolan's garage. The engine was purchased by public subscription and featured a Model T chassis mounted with two 30 gallon chemical tanks. It was a work of art to the enthusiastic spectators who eagerly inspected it. However, the crowning glory was a large, full blown pink rose which adorned the tool box."   "First Fire Truck Had a Pink Rose Painted on Side," San Benito News, Feb. 27, 1961.

"The first jail was merely a mesquite tree with a little shelter to which they chained prisoners under guard. The first building used as a detention center was crudely built of 2x4s with gaps in between the boards. It was situated at the end of Rowson Street beside the railroad where the Paul Boone Garage was later built. One night in 1914 a prisoner hoping to burn a route to escape succeeded in destroying the jail and himself. For the next 12 years the police department was located wherever the city council met--the Sterling Building and other locations--until in 1926 the present site was purchased. The city offices were upstairs, and the jail downstairs with police offices in the rear downstairs. The fire engines were housed at the side. The city moved out in 1936 to the Aztec Building and the police department took over the entire space. Then a few years ago a new building housing the police department and city court was built next to the fire station and the fire department started operating as a separate unit. The police force grew from one officer to two to the present nine man group. The first radio car was purchased in 1949, and there are now four in use.(1961)" "Daniel Hinojosa First Policeman," San Benito News, Feb. 27, 1961.

The library was started by Mrs. Alba Heywood when she called on all citizens to observe Library Day on Oct. 1, 1914 by bringing spare books to a downtown repository. From an oral interview with Minnie Gilbert, early historian and writer for San Benito Light and Valley Morning Star newspapers, by Felicia A. Brown. "The 'modern' library was the result of the concerted effort of the Council of Women's clubs under the leadership of Mrs. E.I. Bucklin, president. For many years the citizens of San Benito had bemoaned the fact that no library was available, but up until 1936 when the Council took over, no positive plans had ever been formulated." "A board was organized and a call for book donations was issued. The call was answered in full strength, and when the library held its formal opening at 375 S. Sam Houston on May 1, 1936, here were already 250 volumnes catalogued and on the shelves with more pouring in every day." "In six short months the number of books on hand swelled to 2,982, with some being sent from as far away as Illinois. There was a wide range of topics available and just about every important author represented, from Chaucer to Sinclair Lewis." "Miss Effie Watson was the first librarian, and Mrs. Daisy Kenton assisted Miss Watson. Both served the library and the community for many, many years in their respective positions." "Memberships were sold at ten cents each and entitled the purchaser to the privilege of checking out 68 books. Many women's groups bought memberships enforce and sold them on the street and door to door. The Pennsylvania Avenue Club was the first literary club to have 100 percent membership." "The original plan for the library called it a combination women's building and library. The city commission granted a site in Heywood Park, opposite the Stonewall Jackson Hotel on Stenger, and Hadley Smith, local architect, prepared the plans. The commission studied Smith's plans for the building which allowed for over 20,000 volumes and meeting space for the women's groups, and agreed that such an edifice would not be in violation of the original Heywood stipulation. (When the land was deeded to the city by the Heywoods, it was with the strict understanding that the land would be used only for public use.) The estimated cost was $10,000." "Controversy reared its head when attorneys were of the opinion that the deed of gift of the land would prevent operation of the women's building policies as planned. However, the question was solved when the library committee received a quit claim deed to the title of the lot from the San Benito Land and Liquidation Company." "In September, 1940, Mayor Louis A. Witte received the green light from the National Youth Administration in Washington, and construction work by this organization began." "The men's groups of San Benito were also influential in securing a permanent building for the library, and some of the male members of that first joint committee were: W.W. Housewright, Alex M. Bowie, W.C. McConnell, Bob Collins, Kenneth Lake, Dr. James D. Casey and Elmer Morris." "The long awaited opening of the present home of the library took place on May 29, 1942. The new building had club rooms in the rear complete with kitchen facilities, and the books were kept in the front. However, additional space was soon needed for the rapidly growing number of volumes in the library, and the city eventually presented the library with the back rooms which now provide reading room." "An interesting feature in the reading room is the unique Memory Shelf. Many books are donated as memorials in leu of flowers at funerals. The room is lined with religious, music and art works plus most of the reference materials available." "There is also a children's section complete with furniture sized to fit the juvenile readers."   "Library's History Dates Back to 1936," San Benito News, Feb. 27, 1961.

"By the mid-1920s the town had become so large that the old aldermannic form of government no longer served. Citizens voted themselves a charter, calling for a city manager as administrative head of government, answering to a mayor and four commissioners." From Charles M. Robinson, III, A History of San Benito

"The first map of the City of San Benito, prepared by Sam A. Robertson for the San Benito Land and Water Company, dated April 27, 1907, is filed at Book S, Pages 185, DEED RECORDS OF CAMERON COUNTY, TEXAS. J.L. ALLHANDS, RAILROADS TO THE RIO (Salado, Tex.: The Anson Jones Press, 1960) at 79, states that Robertson prepared the first plat of his city in January, 1907. The Company was already selling town lots by April 9, 1907, Things Moving at San Benito, BROWNSVILLE DAILY HERALD, April 9, 1907, at first page (no page numbers). Streets included Batts, Combes, Heywood, Hicks, Landrum, Powers, Robertson, Rowson, Stenger, and Adele (named after Robertson's wife). Robertson's house was situated at the corner of Adele Street and Sam Houston Boulevard." From Mr. Buddy Dossett's Application for state historical marker for the Water District Building, 1996-- Footnote #169 --J.L. Allhands, Gringo Builders (Private printing, 1931) at 252-256.

Located at the Missouri Pacific Railroad baggage room. "Existence of the San Benito Commercial Club, as a full-fledged organization, is mentioned in the official roster of commercial organizations in Texas in 1910. This fact is confirmed by Paul Cottrell, pioneer newspaper editor of the city. The first office of the San Benito Commercial Club was located in the Missouri Pacific Railroad building where the present ticket office is now. The chamber of commerce offices since then have been in various locations, including the city building, the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, the water district building and, since 1957, in the new Community Building." "Chamber of Commerce Organized a Year Before City Chartered," San Benito News, February 27, 1961, page 7.

"San Benito's first bond issue election was held on March 9, 1912, with the polling place located at Porter's next to the Farmers' Bank on North Sam Houston." "Pool Table Tax Reduced by 1911 City Commission," San Benito News, February 27, 1961, page 7.

"Curfew for all boys under 16 was passed on March 25, 1913, and they were to be off the streets by 8:30p.m." "Pool Table Tax Reduced by 1911 City Commission," San Benito News, February 27, 1961, page 7.