The Town That Was So Wild That It Killed Itself
Helena, Texas
Near the town of Pana Maria, six miles away, is what is now a near Ghost Town, a town that was at one time called the Meanest town west of the Brazos River, Helena.
Helena was established at a very good location, on the Camino Real, and trails created by Buffalo and Native Americans. Spanish Conquistadors used this trail, Santa Anna used it from the Alamo to Goliad, the McGee party used the trail, the Polish used it, Sam Houston used it. This trail was on the major trail from the Gulf Coast to the interior of Tejas.
In 1852, Helena was established as a halfway point from San Antonio to Goliad, for trading and rest. Mr. Thomas Ruckman settled in the area, and started a small store near the site of the old courthouse in Helena. Mr. Ruckman established a grist mill on the San Antonio River near the town and the settlement started to grow, the Stage Line used the site as a rest area, and other vendors moved in to exchange goods.
As time progressed, and the great cattle drives came and went the town grew, the county of Karnes was developed around the town, and Helena was elected as the County Seat. In it's heyday it boasted of hotels, saloons, gambling establishments, as well as the Court House.
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Helena Courthouse Museum
Outside Jail Cells
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The Helena Courthouse, as it stands today, in its heyday the County Seat of Karnes County. Helena, had a jail and a courthouse, and meted out Justice as needed in this early west cattle town. There was much activity going on, and with the drinking and such cowboys wound up in jail, not one of the most pleasant places in the town. Pictured above are two of the 'jail cells' which were not much more than metal boxes with locks on the door, many the cowboy spent a night in them after a day of drinking and 'carousing'
There were accounts of cowboys riding over to Pana Maria, after having a few rounds at the saloon, and harassing the local Polish People, even accounts of riding their horses into the new Church there. The Death Knell of the town was when one of Mr. Thomas Ruckman's sons was killed in the town in some gunplay. Mr. Ruckman wanted the guilty party taken care of, demanded that he be hanged. The town would not give up the man, as there were questions on his total guilt, it may have been self defense. Mr. Ruckman told the town that if the party were not given over, or hanged for the death of his son, that he would kill the town. The town never gave over the man accused of killing the Ruckman boy. At this time the Rail Road was establishing right of way through Karnes County and was speculating in Helena. The Rail Road offered a fair price for the land, but some balked. Mr. Ruckman, true to his word, gave the land needed for the right of way to the Rail Road, but the land given took the rail away from Helena, and to Karnes City, without the resources of the Rail Road, the town soon died. Today it is a near ghost town, there are people living there, there is a Post Office, the children now go to Karnes City to school, about 6 miles away. The town never totally died, however, you can visit the old Court House there, where a museum is located, and the stories told. There is even legend of one of the old oak trees being a 'hanging tree'. Visit the town and ask the locals.
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