In December of 1882 the first route of the El Paso streetcar system began. It is said that it was the only international car line in operation in the world at the time. (May 11, 1986, pg. 107, El Paso Times)

In about 1890 the street car service of El Paso consisted of one car, one driver, and one mule, Mandy. Mandy was the mule who pulled a trolley car across an international bridge into Juárez. As time went on, the name Mandy extended to all the trolley mules. By 1899 the El Paso street car system had four or five mules and carts.

Mandy was a veteran of the San Antonio street car system and was known more for her stubborn streak than her timeliness, "Mandy had a reputation of being able to walk slower than retributive justice after a wealthy criminal, and could trot slower than any other mule could walk." (February 18, 1905, pg. 14, El Paso Herald)

She was the town pet and loved by all.

When electric trolley cars were installed, Mandy was retired. On Jan 11, 1902 the first El Paso-Juárez electric car rode out of Pioneer Plaza and over the Stanton International Bridge. This also marks El Paso as one of the first cites in the world to operate electric trolleys between two countries. There was a large celebration and Mandy was placed on a flat car at the front of the electric trolley covered in adornments. She was much more the object of interest than the street cars.

There is a story that, after the procession, Mandy was escorted from the car and put into position alongside one of the new street cars and she, ". . . turned so as to present her heels to the enemy, and proceeded to do her best to kick that modern improvement into smithereens." It was the first time that Mandy was known to kick in all of her El Paso life.

The day after the streetcar celebration Mandy was sent to an irrigated pasture, with grass and alfalfa that was knee high, to end her days in peace. She died a few days later, it is said she died of grief and a broken heart from no longer being surrounded by her loved people of El Paso. She was not more than 50 or 60 years old.

According to an El Paso Herald article (February 18, 1905, pg. 14, El Paso Herald):

"There is a road leading out of El Paso to the southward. It is a good road and a much traveled road. It is the favorite road with El Pasoans when they go pleasure driving. One mile from town, beside this road, there is a grave, and at the head of this grave there is a stone, not a board, but a sizeable well squared block of granite, and on the face of that stone is deeply carved one word, and that word is, 'Mandy.'"

January 11, 1902, pg. 1, El Paso Herald

February 18, 1905, pg. 14, El Paso Herald

In 1955 a cast iron replica of Mandy, by Howard Hoffman (a former Irvin High School teacher) and James Goodman, with a repaired and repainted No. 1 trolley car with a plastic figure driver (Pedro) were put on display.

Border Heritage Center Vertical Files

September 11, 1955, pg. 15, El Paso Times

In 2006, Howard Hoffman, was honored for his 2100 pound cast iron Mandy. City Council proclaimed April 11 as "Mr. Howard Hoffman Day." He was a former art major at Texas Western College when he was commissioned by the Odd Fellows Association in 1952 to build a statue to serve as a reminder of when El Paso relied on mule-drawn trolleys.

Hoffman was in Arkansas and unable to travel to be at the council meeting but he told of how it took them about two months to build the plastic model of Mandy for the Grubbs Foundry. The work was done in the front of their home on campus on Shuster Ave. They were paid $100 each.

What Hoffman had to sat about Mandy:

"Where is it? Is it in good shape? Where are they going to put it? I wish I could get to (El Paso) to see it, but I don't think I'll be able to. I don't remember much, but I remember that mule. Is it being taken care of?"

What Prince McKenzie, vice president (in 2006) of Exhibits and Programs at the El Paso Railroad & Transportation Museum had to say about Mandy:

"The mule represents the end of the animal-drawn transportation era in El Paso to mechanical power. . . they could only work for two hours, so there were several, but Mandy became the town pet."

(April 8, 2006, pg. 15, El Paso Times)

1952-1969

San Jacinto Plaza

1969

Cleveland Square, behind downtown library

Border Heritage Center Vertical Files

1976

Sun Carnival Parade

Mandy left her glass enclosure at Cleveland Square to ride in the Sun Carnival parade. Mandy and El Paso's first international trolley car made up part of a float entitled 'Transition,' which was sponsored by the Airport and Mass Transit Board.

1981

Union Depot

Mandy and her cart were being refurbished.

1986

Back at Cleveland Square

1994

Mandy and her cart were being repaired.

2005

Sun Metro

The Main Library was being renovated so there were plans to display her at Union Depot by end of 2006, but she didn't fit through the door, so Mandy and her cart were moved to various Sun Metro storage locations until arriving at the Sun Metro Union Depot storage after the Sun Metro Explosion. She has stayed in storage for over 20 years.

2006

Mr. Howard Hoffman is officially recognized for building Mandy.

Mandy at Border Heritage

At the Border Heritage Center we have small Mandy Replica that was an animatronic at the El Paso History Museum. At one point there was a fence that surrounded the El Paso History Museum that had Mandy's face embedded into it but that is no longer there.

From when Border Heritage was at Sergio Troncoso for the latest Main remodel.

2025

Mandy at Sun Metro, Union Station Storage

Thankfully, we were able to track Mandy down with the help from Sun Metro staff. Thanks to Carlos and Paul from Sun Metro for allowing us to come and take some photos of her for our collection. 🙌

Carlos & Paul from Sun Metro 💖

Mandy and her cart have been in storage for around 20 years. Her harness and driver, Pedro, have been lost to time but other than that Mandy and her cart look really good. The doors and flaps of the trolley cart function with minimal resistance. Some photos are down below

"El Paso's original traction company was formed by two pioneer El Pasoans in 1882. They were Joseph Magoffin and Zack T. White. This car was their first piece of equipment. It ran between El Paso and Juarez, Mexico. The Mule's name was 'Mandy.' - El Paso Historical Society"

"This mule car, the first transportation between El Paso and Juarez, was presented to the Historical Society September 15, 1955 by Jesse B. Binkley, it's construction in 1901, to be placed in San Jacinto Plaza for permanent care. - El Paso Historical Society"

Claudia & Ashley from Border Heritage Center

"John Stephenson Company, Limited, New York"

"Mandy"
by
El Paso
Odd Fellows Lodge 284
2505 Montana St.

There are no current plans to display Mandy, or her cart, but she represents an important part of El Paso's Transportation History.
💖⭐💖

It would be nice to have Mandy and her cart displayed once again, whether it be at Union Depot, the Main Library, or another downtown location. Mandy was so loved by the people of El Paso and, it is the belief of the person writing this post, that Mandy loved the people of El Paso.

Glad we found you Mandy.