Bessie

The steamboat "Bessie", last of the Mifflin Kenedy-Richard King Rio Grande shipping fleet of the mid-1800s, carried this 400-pound bell instead of a whistle. After its final trip on the river in 1902, the bell "Bessie" was used until 1909 on John Closner's plantation east of Hidalgo. A dispute over its ownership delayed the purchase of "Bessie" by Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen, and saved it when a fire destroyed (1924) the church. In 1926 it was placed in the rebuilt church. Cracked in 1937, and recast from original metal, the bell was later moved here to St. Joseph the Worker Church. (1975)

Bessie is a historical marker in McAllen, Hidalgo County, dedicated in 1975. It is one of 138 historical markers documented in Hidalgo County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 236 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 26.1979, -98.2468 near McAllen. The nearest cataloged historic site is M. & J. Nelson Building (historical marker), about 0.6 miles away. Others within a short drive include Southern Pacific Depot, Cine El Rey, and Campsite of "The Fighting 69th".

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5215000384. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.