[Historic Marker Application: Cisneros House] Page: 9 of 34

                                
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in Matamoros, Mexico, served as Matamoros City Commissioner and as Tax
Collector for the State of Tamaulipas before moving to Brownsville in
1913.*1  The year coincided with his marriage to Eulalia Gomez.   The
couple had seven children, two daughters and five sons. Apparently, he
continued his services in Matamoros for some years after he and his wife
moved into their new house at 451 E. Adams Street. He was involved in
other money-making ventures in Matamoros in the 1920s, his son Sergio
Cisneros reports. This was the operation of a wholesale grocery and liquor
store, "La Zona Libre," with his brother Antonio. During the prohibition
era, it was illegal to produce alcohol on the Brownsville side of the
border; so the demand for liquor shifted over to legal purchases in Mexico
with illegal smuggling back to Brownsville.   During his later years in
Brownsville Cisneros worked at various commercial ventures. He was a
naturalized citizen.-
According to Cisneros' son Sergio, owner of the house for over ten
years, it was the site of many celebrations, one in particular in 1927 when
he himself was baptized and his Godfather, Licenciado Francisco Castellanos,
Governor of the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico, was guest of honor.
The character of the Cisneros residence itself takes on some of the
characteristics of the first owner's personality. It is a very bold, proud
composition. The Classical Revival elements such as the fluted column
shafts topped by Corinthian capitals provide a bold, imposing appearance.
The house also contains elements which are best described as whimsical:
the brick detailing on the chimney which employs a red brick course which
curves to provide a focal point, is such an example. The house is a hybrid.
It combines stylistic elements from several sources, so it is best to term
its style as a mixture of Spanish Eclectic and Classical Revival design.

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