Micaela Hernandez Garcia was born in Castolon (then known as Santa Helena), Texas May 8th, 1905. The youngest child of Cipriano Hernandez and Juana Silvas, she lived in Castolon until she was about 11, then at a site along Alamo Creek for a few years, and then in Terlingua de Abajo. In December 1922 she married Miguel Garcia. He died in a mining accident in Shafter, Texas in July 1938.
In 2003, when Micaela was nearly 98 years old, two members of the Big Bend National Park staff had the opportunity to interview her. She was in failing health and in a nursing home in Odessa, Texas. She wanted to share her stories about her family and her life, but she was very weak and the staff members had to pause frequently to let her rest. Many of her answers were just too weak to be understood.
At one point in the interview, the staff member asked Micaela what her favorite pastime was when she was young. She suddenly became alert and answered in a clear voice: “Oh, we danced. I loved to dance. And my favorite song was the Blue Waltz.” “And where did you dance?” asked the interviewer. “Oh, in the big rock circle on top of the hill!”
This is where Micaela danced.
In 2003, when Micaela was nearly 98 years old, two members of the Big Bend National Park staff had the opportunity to interview her. She was in failing health and in a nursing home in Odessa, Texas. She wanted to share her stories about her family and her life, but she was very weak and the staff members had to pause frequently to let her rest. Many of her answers were just too weak to be understood.
At one point in the interview, the staff member asked Micaela what her favorite pastime was when she was young. She suddenly became alert and answered in a clear voice: “Oh, we danced. I loved to dance. And my favorite song was the Blue Waltz.” “And where did you dance?” asked the interviewer. “Oh, in the big rock circle on top of the hill!”
This is where Micaela danced.
This is the threshing circle, or Arrastra, at Terlingua de Abajo. It was used for threshing grains. The stalks would be placed around the outer third of the circle, then mules or burros would be walked around the circle to loosen the grain from the stalks. The stalks would then be removed and the grain collected.
The threshing circles also served important social functions. They usually were on high ground in a large cleared area, and were favorite gathering places for villagers for dances and other activities.
The threshing circles also served important social functions. They usually were on high ground in a large cleared area, and were favorite gathering places for villagers for dances and other activities.