The Alamo

My trip to the Alamo was both exciting and enlightening. I was able to glean quite a bit of information from the new historical photo-wall that has been set up. Paintings have also been added to the exhibit. Sadly, I did find some bias in that they did not delve into the fact that Texas was initially rebelling against its mother country. The Alamo was the pinnacle of a movement that had started long before. There were some excellent reasons for the independence movement, but they did not even mention the negative side.

In the Alamo exhibit there are heroes like Stephen F. Austin and Jose Antonio Navarro, who are portrayed as the blameless leaders who only wanted to bring more people to Texas. The murals show a prestigious Austin who is brave and honorable, but it does not tell of the darker side to his motives. It is a well known fact that Austin had intended to make money off of the endeavor. One of the main reasons for this war was because Texans wanted to retain their rights to own slaves, which had been ruled inhuman by the Mexican government. Instead the wall only refers to the fact that many feared the fact that Santa Anna had liquidated the Mexican constitution and was planning to create a dictatorship.

These facts are all accurate, but again only one side has been presented. Austin and Navarro had money on the mind and were willing to do anything to get it. They even went as far as drawing up contracts for each one of their slaves then forcing them to sign. All this was done in order to circumvent the Mexican governments ruling. These contracts were two sided agreements in which one side had no say in the matter, and simply signed ninety-nine years of his/her life away. Again, I state that both sides of the story have not been covered, and probably will never be. There will always be a bias! -333 words

Damn the Blessing

Mission Espada is an exceedingly beautiful landmark of San Antonio. Its importance has been noted by the National Parks Association and it is now under their jurisdiction and care. One thing that makes Espada of greater value than its counter parts is the dam/aqueduct. The aqueduct is the oldest in the United States. This structure was of great importance to the mission’s survival; in the present it is a lasting monument to a successful merging of cultures, and lastly a common ground to the surrounding community.

Back in 1731, Mission Espada was relocated to the flat plan lands now known as San Antonio. A major reason for this relocation was the San Antonio River which snaked its way through the landscape. This peaceful, steady flowing river made capturing water much more convenient. Once the Spanish had settled in they began to build acequias in order to divert water from the river. These man made channels served there purpose well and water was now readily accessible, but the true marvel of ingenuity was still to come. The “Aqueduct” was by far the most impressive accomplishment of the Spanish while settling the land. Not only was the water now being channeled, but it was being controlled. Even the purity of the water was significantly increased. Life had just become a whole lot better for the Spanish and the indigenous population on whose backs the aqueduct had been erected.

The aqueduct was so well constructed that it has withstood the test of time. For over two-hundred and seventy-six years the aqueduct has continued to carry this liquid gold we call water. While the land around the missions seems somewhat arid and dry, the water donated by this aqueduct has fed the vegetation around it and created a lush paradise. This landmark also serves as a tourist destination. It is responsible for helping maintain the steady flow of foreigners who trickle in our little slice of heaven looking for adventure. Occasionally even the wildlife will tack advantage of the aqueduct and dam when they have the urge to bathe and hydrate.

Throughout my life Mission Espada has been a common ground for my father and me. I have many memories of enchanting times spent playing at the mission. When I was about nine years old, my father used to take me to the dam and tell me its history. My mind would run wild with thoughts of what life must have been like when the aqueduct was the main source of water. Even as I grew older I constantly returned to the mission, never forgetting its importance. I even was able to capture some of its beauty in photographs which I entered into state competitions. Needless to say, they won!

In closing, I would like to state the importance of keeping this precious piece of our history free of debris. Espada dam was necessary to the survival of the missions original inhabitants; should it not have some measure of significance to us? This aqueduct is the oldest in the United States and should be treated accordingly. We should make it a part of our daily life, and include it in our family activities. I think having an occasional picnic at Mission Espada and its dam, would contribute greatly to the strength of the bonds that tie our community to them.

Mission Espada

On Friday the 7^th of September 2007 I had the opportunity to go to Mission Espada. This experience was quite enlightening and enjoyable even though the weather was rather unbearable. People were sweating profusely and our guide (Dora Martinez) had to utilize an umbrella to shield herself from the scorching rays of the sun. I had the feeling that the climate was not much different when the mission was established over 276 years ago in March 5, 1731. As we walked further into the establishment my mind began to wander, imagining what life would have been like all those years ago. I could not help, but think that it must have been very uncomfortable for all the inhabitants of the mission. There were no air conditioners, or insulation to moderate the temperatures. The only water was from the local well, or that which was brought in through acequias that were dug in order to divert water from the San Antonio River. Even though life was hard, Mission Espada has been more fortunate then the other local mission as time has passed. Espada is the only mission whose well has not been sealed, as well as the only mission where bricks were baked.

As the tour continued we came to the doors of the church. Dora explained to us that this door was very special because it was incomplete. We were all very curious as to what she meant because the door looked fine to us, but after she told us to look closer we became aware of what she meant. The door was unusually narrow and the stone arch above it was missing its edges. Dora elucidated to us that the reason for the unfinished arch was quite comedic. Apparently the mason simply ran away in the middle of the night after have murdered a man whose wife he had slept with. Of course this is still speculation, but there are some documents that partially support this claim. Over all my time spent at Mission Espada was simply delightful, and I will be making it a priority to visit more often.