Birthdays at the Colony

Here are some photos of two birthday parties at the Colony courtesy of my mother, Flossy Wilson Delgado and my cousin, Catherine Austin Thomas. I believe my mom received these pictures from someone else but I need to clarify that. Do you have memories of birthday parties at the Colony?
The next two photos [...]

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The Austin Family…A Few More Words

My cousin, Catherine Austin Thomas, sent me a lovely write-up about her parents, John Fuller Austin, Jr. and Nellie Wilson.
She begins, “My father was born in 1896 in Murray, Utah while his father was working at the smelter there. His father, a Yale grad, had sense to have the doctor sign a letter so [...]

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The Austin’s – An ASARCO Family

A remembrance of life in the Colony by Catherine Austin Thomas, who lived in the Colony from 1931-1948.
Long ago and far away, I was born the second child to Nellie Wilson Austin and John Fuller Austin, Jr. on July 8, 1927. I was born at the ASARCO Colony in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. [...]

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Ávalos Smelter School

This undated photo shared by Catherine Austin Thomas shows the Ávalos Smelter School. On the back of the photo she said, “The wonderful Ávalos school. Dad was the one who hired the teachers and set the curriculum. We had to be good–well sorta!”

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A Walk Around the Colony

My thanks to my cousin, Catherine Austin Thomas, for sending me this video that Herman Lowenberg filmed during the July 1986 Avalos Reunion. The clip below was filmed right after mass at Iglesia San Jose. I’m hoping those who attended the reunion can help identify homes and people so I can display the names [...]

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Kids in the Colony

These wonderful photos are courtesy of my cousin Catherine Austin Thomas, who lived in the Colony from 1931-1948. Of this first photograph she says, “My back is toward the camera – Grace Austin is next to me. Sybil Bonnell is standing. She was L.B. and his wife’s niece whom they always cared for. [...]

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Las Mañanitas

Feliz Cumpleaños to our cousin Catherine Austin Thomas and a song for her on this day. Listen to Las Mañanitas recorded by Tito Crixell and Henry Delgado, a John Lomax 1939 Recording Trip from the Library of Congress.

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Thomas Septimus Austin

From the Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, a biography of Thomas Septimus Austin (1853-1906), General Superintendent of the Southern Department of ASARCO, who was instrumental in building the Avalos ASARCO smelter, among others. “The professional career of Thomas Septimus Austin, who died at El Paso, Tex., Aug. 23, 1906, was contemporaneous with [...]

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Avalos Smelter Portero

J. Elena Navarro sent this photo from the 1986 reunion. She said, “Peñita was the gateman (portero) for many years – always watching out for us.” From right to left: J. Elena Navarro, Peñita, Charles Hardy and Catherine Austin Thomas.

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“Growing up in Avalos was like paradise on Earth.”

Today, I received a wonderful call from Catherine Austin Thomas, my second cousin on my mother’s side. Catherine lived in Avalos from 1931-1948. Her mother, Nellie Wilson Austin, was my grandfather Renie’s eldest sister. My grandfather’s family included his parents William and Catherine Decker Wilson, their children, Nellie Wilson Austin, twins Renie Wilson and [...]

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