D. Guerra & Sons Store
McAllen, Hidalgo County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Brothers Enrique (1886-1935) and Modesto (1888-1927) Guerra opened a grocery business in the new town of McAllen in 1908. Their father, Diódoro (1867-1932), joined them in 1910, and the men established D. Guerra and Sons Store. The business moved into this new building in 1912 and operated until 1964. The rectangular plan brick and concrete commercial building has a distinctive front façade with a recessed doorway, concrete brackets, and a cornice with starburst and garland designs. A course of dentil brick molding is surmounted by a molded brick sign recording the historic business name and date of construction.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Brothers Enrique and Modesto Guerra opened a grocery in the brand-new town of McAllen in 1908, joined two years later by their father Diódoro to form D. Guerra and Sons. The family moved the business into this handsome brick and concrete building in 1912, where it operated until 1964. Its distinctive façade—recessed doorway, concrete brackets, and a molded-brick cornice with starburst and garland designs—still records the firm's name and construction date.
Why it matters
The store reflects the Tejano merchant families who helped build the commercial life of the Rio Grande Valley as new railroad towns rose across South Texas.
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Related people
- · Enrique Guerra
- · Modesto Guerra
- · Diódoro Guerra
Themes & tags
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