Douglas Braudaway Livres

Set against the backdrop of the Texas frontier, this book explores the rich history of Del Rio, from its origins as a waystation along the San Antonio-El Paso Road to its emergence as the Wool and Mohair Capital of the World. It captures the essence of the region through tales of the U.S. Army's Camel Corps, influential radio stations of the 1930s, and the involvement of U-2 spy planes during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The narrative also highlights the Italian Colony of West Texas and significant civil rights cases, painting a vivid picture of Del Rio's impact on both local and global stages.

The Southern Pacific Railroad was the second transcontinental line built in America, and the first that was open year-round. Railroads of Western Texas brings to life the days of frontier towns, the open range, and the building of the state of Texas. This part of the state's railroad history includes politicians and movie stars, train wrecks and robberies, shoot-outs and gun-running. Railroads of Western Texas reveals engaging stories of San Antonio and El Paso during their boomtown years. It tells of the creation of communities out of whole cloth including Hondo, Sanderson, Marfa, and Sierra Blanca. Other towns-villages really-blossomed when the iron rails came through: Uvalde, Del Rio, Alpine, Valentine, and Judge Roy Bean's town Langtry (the man known as "The Law West of the Pecos"). The railroad featured the third highest bridge in the world (the High Bridge over the Pecos River), and the fourth largest man-made lake in the United States (Medina Lake). These rails carried men and munitions during the Spanish American War and the Punitive Expedition, and many more\ during the First and Second World Wars.