As a person living outside of San Antonio, I never really paid much attention to the missions in San Antonio. I never thought that these little run down buildings had so much history to their past. Getting older I can remember the very few times that I ever attended a mission. Our class trip to Mission San Francisco de la Espada was a very cold but truly an educational experience. Being taken along by a friend, I have recently gone to Mission Espada within this last year. But, we didn’t have the privilege of having a guided tour.
Weches, Texas is the hometown of what is known in that location as San Francisco de los Tejas. This San Francisco de los Tejas would soon be renamed to San Francisco de la Espada.
Once located in East Texas, Mission Espada was eventually moved to the southern most point of all the missions located on the San Antonio River. This particular mission was made for about two hundred people to live in. While Mission Espada was located on the San Antonio River, the inhabitants relied heavily on it for irrigation purposes. On our tour throughout the mission we were able to see the acequia that was used for water carriage up to the mission. I find it fascinating that after roads were put in and the years have changed the location that were once fields the acequia is still visible. Due to having the river resource, the mission was considered an agricultural mission.
While walking through Mission Espada, it was easy to see that the bricks that no longer stand were once buildings that sheltered many. Out of all theses building that once stood, the only buildings that are still whole pieces are the church and school. In this church individuals were taught Christianity. Today the church serves as the focal point for tourist. As the years have progressed all the buildings have either fallen or have been restored. Today, all we can see are signs showing and explaining to us the purpose of the building that once stood. To people today we will never be able to see the true life of how this system really worked.
