LaFitte's Well

By DAISY MARTINEZ 

If you’ve always wondered about Lafitte’s Well, or even if you’ve never heard of it, today you will have the chance to learn about the mystery surrounding the historic site.

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museums Foundation will host this month’s “Telling Our Stories” series featuring the story “The Historic Lafitte Well in Laguna Vista.”

Earlier this year the LMMF donated $­­1,400 to recreate the well in Laguna Vista that is believed was once a watering hole dug by the French pirate.

Ed Meza, director of Port Isabel museums, said the site has a lot of historic significance.

“People have always talked about the well,” Meza said. “There’s controversy of whether it’s history or folklore, of what’s behind it and of what it was for.”

Meza said old maps show the well was a watering hole for Lafitte’s troops at the time of the U.S.-Mexican War.

“The well is part of the history of the [Laguna Madre] area,” Meza said. “We are hoping people will remember the well has been there for many, many years and we invite them to join in if they have any stories to tell about the well.”

Rod Bates, a local historian and owner of Antiques at Tarnava/Rio Bravo Gallery, will give a presentation on the well.

“I’ve been researching the well to see if the folklore has been blown out of proportion,” Bates said. “When the Port Isabel Land Company developed the Laguna Vista area they tried to market the well as ‘Lafitte’s Well,’ so that’s where much of the story might be from.”

Despite the difficulty of separating fact from fiction, Bates said there is “no doubt” that the well has historical value.

“In 1946 Zachary Taylor and his men camped around the well,” Bates said. “The well also served ranchers in the area. Wells were life.”

However, Bates said he believes if there is such a thing as Lafitte’s Well, it would most likely be somewhere in Port Isabel and not in Laguna Vista.

“No ones knows,” Bates said. “Folklore goes way back. When I was a kid, the well had a sign that said ‘Lafitte’s Well,’ but who knows?”

Bates said the well was there before the 1900s at a time when Laguna Vista was not yet developed.

“The well was important for ranching, early exploration and other things that go beyond Lafitte’s Well,” Bates said. “It put Laguna Vista on the map even before Brownsville existed. That alone should be a point of pride.”

Bates said no matter the truth behind the well, it was a spot that needed to be marked as a historical site in Laguna Vista.

“There’s a lot of debate on the well, but that’s what makes history fun,” Bates said.

The historian said he will base his presentation on “probable true history” and will provide facts as best he can.

The “Telling Our Stories” series is held every last Thursday of each month. The program is in its fifth year of existence.

“There are people who are not aware of how rich and historic the area is,” Meza said. “There’s folklore, military history and fishing industry history.”

The presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.