Lillian and George K. Aziz Essey House

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.

From the record

One of 34 National Register listings published here for Cameron County · listed in 2021 · category: Building.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
Listed as. Essey, Lillian and George K. Aziz, House - the National Register files a house under its owner's surname.
Address. 1205 West Elizabeth St., Brownsville, 78520
When was it listed? September 2021
Category. building
Census division. Brownsville
National Register reference number. 100006889 - assigned by the National Park Service when the property was listed.

Fires near this property

98 since 1994

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 98 fires within 5 miles of Lillian and George K. Aziz Essey House between 1994 and 2020, burning about 1,113 acres in total. None started naturally. 23 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	37
Debris and open burning	29
Arson/incendiarism	23
Railroad operations and maintenance	3
Power generation/transmission/distribution	2
Recreation and ceremony	2
Smoking	1
Fireworks	1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
13 September 2017	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	1.0 acres	Texas A & M Forest Service	GRASS FIRE
4 August 1996	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	10 acres	Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge	PHILLIPS
27 August 1998	Debris and open burning	10 acres	Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge	JERONIMO 2
21 August 2017	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge	FISH HATCHERY
21 August 2004	Arson/incendiarism	2.0 acres	Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge	WOOD
17 August 2017	Debris and open burning	1.0 acres	Texas A & M Forest Service	GRASS FIRE
7 July 2005	Debris and open burning	21 acres	Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge	PHILLIPS BANCO
6 July 2005	Arson/incendiarism	under an acre	Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge	VILLA 2

Every fire recorded in Cameron County

Mines and quarries near this property

6 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 6 workings within 5 miles of Lillian and George K. Aziz Essey House: 5 producers, 1 past producer. 5 still produce. What was taken out: Fluorine-Fluorite, Chromium, Manganese, Strontium, Fluorine-Fluorite, Barium-Barite. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status
Brownsville Minerals Plant	Barium-Barite	Producer
Brownsville Plant	Manganese	Producer
C E Minerals Chrome Plant	Chromium, Manganese, Strontium, Fluorine-Fluorite, Barium-Barite	Past Producer
Brownsville Mill	Fluorine-Fluorite	Producer
Brownsville Mill	Fluorine-Fluorite	Producer
Oglebay Norton Fluorspar Plant	Fluorine-Fluorite	Producer

Every working recorded in Cameron County

Storms near this property

55 since 1993

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Brownsville, the town this property stands in, in 55 storm reports between 1993 and 2024: 23 flash flood, 12 thunderstorm wind, 11 hail, 5 flood. The reports record 5 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
April 2003	Hail	Brownsville	5 hurt, $50,000,000	no account filed
June 2018	Flash Flood	Brownsville	$20,000,000	One day after 3 to more than 5 inches fell between Brownsville and Los Fresnos during the afternoon and early evening hours, a repeat event occurred, fed by deep tropical moisture and multiple boundaries left behind from devastating morning flooding across western Cameron and eastern Hidalgo County. A persistent line of torrential rainfall dominated through the early evening commute, with another 3 to 6 inches having fallen for a two-day total of 6 to 11+ inches. The second day rainfall produced more widespread flooding across locations in and east of Brownsville and Los Fresnos, with farm and subdivisions under 2 to 3+ feet of water when all was said and done. \|\|The additional flooding on saturated soils (pump priming from June 19) likely produced more damage this second go-round, including more erosion to drainage canals/ditches and mainly rural roads. Doubling of the damage left a total of around $20 million.
November 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Brownsville	$76,000	no account filed
April 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Brownsville	$50,000	Estimated gusts were reported by a National Weather Service employee. Widespread minor wind damage was reported in Brownsville, Harlingen and Los Fresnos due to strong outflow winds produced by thunderstorms in the area.
March 1993	Thunderstorm Wind	Brownsville	$50,000	Thunderstorm winds knocked down a few utility poles and uprooted a few trees. Quarter-size hail was reported in the Lakeway subdivision north of Brownsville.
March 2004	Flash Flood	Brownsville	$25,000	Heavy rains over Cameron county produced flash flooding. Flash flooding of roads and small streams was reported over western sections of the city of Brownsville and also in the Paseo de la Resaca area.
September 2003	Flash Flood	Brownsville	$25,000	The general public reported water entering the school buildings at Hanna High School.
October 2023	Flash Flood	Brownsville	$15,000	Torrential rains of nearly 4 inches in an hour (2 to 3 PM CST; 3 to 4 PM CDT) fell across west Brownsville as a strong cluster of thunderstorms eased through the city. More than 3 feet of water piled up near the B&M Bridge along Mexico Blvd. near the bridge (and in the C and D street vicinity. Several cars were submerged up to the hoods. A CoCoRaHS observer in the Los Ebanos community, 2 miles northeast of the worst flooding, recorded 3.7 inches of rain.
October 2021	Flash Flood	Brownsville	$10,000	Brownsville Police Dept reported road closures due to flooding on East Washington St in downtown Brownsville.
November 2013	Flash Flood	Brownsville	$10,000	Between 4.23 to 4.96 inches of rainfall fell in less than 90 minutes across western Brownsville, leading to flash flooding across that portion of the city. The Brownsville Emergency Operations Center reported several businesses with some water in them, numerous thoroughfares with several inches to nearly 2 feet of water on them acorss the area limiting travel. During the peak of the rains, 42 streets had flooding that reduced travel to one lane or less. Some resacas were also reported to have reached bankful or flooded low lying grassy areas.
May 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Brownsville	$10,000	A 20 year old cottonwood tree, renowned and visited often for having a purported image of the Virgin Mary on its bark, was blown down by strong thunderstorm winds estimated to have occurred between 905 and 910 AM CST at the intersection of East Levee and 10th Streets in downtown Brownsville. Numerous, varying sized limbs were blown down in Greater Brownsville, with peak gusts recorded at the Brownsville/South Padre Island Airport reaching 54 mph at 928 AM CST, 5 miles east of downtown.
December 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Brownsville	$10,000	Off-duty NWS employee reported that a light pole was blown down on top of a car by thunderstorm winds near the intersection of FM Road 802 and Paredes Line Road.
June 2023	Flood	Brownsville	$5,000	Members of the public shared videos of Mexico Blvd, just north of the intersection with Sam Perl Blvd, under the railroad tracks with an estimated 2 feet of water. One car was stranded and flooded in the video. The car and flooding was still there an hour later showing the car still stranded.
April 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Brownsville	$5,000	Brownsville Police Department reported three electrical poles down along U.S. Highway 281.
May 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Brownsville	$2,000	Off-duty NWS Employee reported several tree limbs up to 5 inches in diameter snapped off of trees nearby. Time and duration was estimated via radar.
September 2024	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	There were several reports of flash flooding in the city of Brownsville, mainly bracketed by Price Road and Expressway IH-69E on the west, Price Road and State Highway 48 on the east, extending to the Southmost neighborhood on the south side of the city. Reports included: Multiple intersections along Boca Chica Blvd impassable due to flooded roadways between McDavitt Blvd and Kings Hwy and Boca Chica was nearly impassable, as well as the intersection known as Four Corners at State Highway 4; flooding extending along State Highway 4 to Southmost Blvd., and flooding along and near the frontage road at Price Road and IH-69E, extending to Barnard Road, and to nearby apartment complexes and shopping centers in this area.\|\|While all locations inside the ascribed polygon may not have reached flash flood levels - 3 feet or higher of ponded water - the reports of impassible roads and photographic evidence suggesting pockets of this level of water depth made the case for a flash flood event in these areas.\|\|Damage to any property was unknown as of this writing.
April 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Brownsville	-	Member of the public shared two large trees either uprooted or snapped near the base of the tree near the intersection of Del Mar and Russell Avenue. Timing based on radar.
July 2021	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	Brownsville Police reported that about 30 streets in the city were experiencing flooding. Floodwaters were deep enough to prevent cars from traveling through.
July 2021	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	Pictures received via social media of flooding estimated at 2 to 3 feet of water depth at Old Alice Road and Price Road in Brownsville, with water nearing gas pumps and buildings. This location is a flood-prone area which has seen several similar events since 2010.
May 2020	Flood	Brownsville	-	Picture showing minor flooding at the intersection of Villa Maria Blvd and W. Washington St.
October 2014	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	Emergency management, local law enforcement, and members of the public reported flash flooding across portions of Brownsville, especially the western and downtown areas. There were several reports of 3 feet or more of water into properties.
May 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Brownsville	-	NWS employee reported several one to two foot diameter trees snapped with estimated 60 mph wind gusts.
May 2014	Heavy Rain	Brownsville	-	Almost an hour of heavy rain fell across Brownsville during the late afternoon hours of May 28th. CoCoRaHS observers reported between 2 and a little over 2.5 inches of rain across western Brownsville. The downpours resulted in streets in downtown Brownsville being covered in as much 18 inches of water, especially near Palm Boulevard, where trash cans were reported floating along the roadway.
December 2009	Heavy Rain	Brownsville	-	Rain, heavy at times during the daylight hours of the 16th, accumulated between 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 inches between 6 AM and 6 PM in a pocket of central Cameron County along and near Highway 77, between Brownsville and Harlingen. The rainfall caused areas of nuisance (minor) flooding of poor drainage roadways in the area during the daylight hours of the 16th, slowing traffic. Event totals in Cameron County included 4.52 inches in Rancho Viejo, 3.82 inches near Brownsville, and 3.79 inches just west of Harlingen.
September 2009	Heavy Rain	Brownsville	-	Locally heavy rains fell across portions of Deep South Texas during the day September 10th. An upper level disturbance which moved through the County Warning Area during the day triggering showers and thunderstorms which produced locally heavy rains through the day. One observer reported 3.92 inches of rainfall during the afternoon in Cameron County two miles west of Brownsville which caused a lot of street flooding in the area. Several other observers in Cameron County reported rainfall ranging from 2.22 inches northeast of Los Fresnos to 2.78 inches three miles north of Brownsville.
September 2009	Hail	Brownsville	-	The public reported hail up to three quarters of an inch in size fell during a thunderstorm. The hail was observed near the intersection of Elizabeth Street and Central Boulevard.
March 2007	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	Morrison Road exit at U.S. Highway 77 under three feet of standing water.
March 2007	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	Forty to fifty cars stalled along Boca Chica Boulevard with water over the wheel wells in some places.
March 2007	Heavy Rain	Brownsville	-	Two inches of rain observed in an hour.
March 2007	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	Standing water three to four feet deep was reported on Palm Boulevard.
March 2007	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	Numerous streets and roads under standing water 2 feet deep.
July 2006	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	Extensive flash flooding of streets was reported in Brownsville by law enforcement and emergency management officials.
July 2005	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	Heavy rains from the outer rainbands of Hurricane Emily produced flash flooding that resulted in the closing of Highway 4 seven miles north of F.M. Road 511.
October 2003	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	Heavy rains in Cameron county resulted in the flash flooding of the Resaca Calmada over its banks in the Paseo de la Resaca development.
September 2003	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	An off-duty NWS employee reported flash flooding of city streets near downtown Brownsville due to heavy rains.
September 2003	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	Flash flooding of access roads was reported in eastern Brownsville. No flooding of businesses or homes was reported.
September 2003	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	The resacas in the Paseo de la Resaca development overflowed their banks due to heavy rains, threatening several homes.
September 2003	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	Flash flooding of Paredes Line road in Brownsville stranded numerous automobiles north of the Paseo de la Resaca development near Cameron Park.
November 2002	Flood	Brownsville	-	Heavy morning rainfall caused some small streams or resacas in Brownsville to overflow their banks.
September 2002	Flood	Brownsville	-	Day-long moderate to heavy rains produced extensive urban flooding as well as flooding of low spots in Brownsville.
October 2002	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	Intense thunderstorms produced very heavy rains and flash flooding throughout eastern portions of Cameron county. Water entered several homes and businesses in both Brownsville and Laguna Vista.
October 2002	Flood	Brownsville	-	Prolonged rains produced street flooding in Brownsville.
October 2002	Flash Flood	Brownsville	-	Strong thunderstorms produced flash flooding that entered homes in Brownsville.
January 1993	Hail	Brownsville	-	,Pea to quarter-size hail was reported in Brownsville near the Airport.
March 1993	Hail	Brownsville	-	Thunderstorm winds knocked down a few utility poles and uprooted a few trees. Quarter-size hail was reported in the Lakeway subdivision north of Brownsville.
May 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Brownsville	-	no account filed
April 2003	Hail	Brownsville	-	no account filed
April 2003	Hail	Brownsville	-	no account filed
April 2003	Hail	Brownsville	-	no account filed
April 2003	Hail	Brownsville	-	no account filed
April 2003	Hail	Brownsville	-	no account filed
August 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Brownsville	-	no account filed
April 1999	Hail	Brownsville	-	no account filed
April 1999	Hail	Brownsville	-	no account filed
August 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Brownsville	-	no account filed

Every storm recorded in Cameron County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Property	Distance	Listed
Hicks-Gregg House	under 500 feet	2009
Rio Grande Valley Gas Company Building	0.5 miles	2022
M.E. and Estela Cueto Garcia House	0.8 miles	2017
Manautou House	0.8 miles	1983
Browne-Wagner House	0.9 miles	1977
Morris-Browne House	1.0 miles	2006

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 100006889 in Record Group 79.
Cameron County	All 34 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.