QR AI: A New Mexico Miscellany

Railroad underwent turmoil during early 1920s

'On Oct. 30, 1921, some of the workers in the railroad yard of the Santa Fe Railroad went on strike.

Back in May of 1921 the railroad had ordered a 20 percent wage cut. Dr. I. D. Johnson, a retired Clovis dentist, in 1982 said he went to work for the Hammond Supply Co., a dispenser of food and drinks at the railroad, about then.

“The railroad hired some cowboys from down in the sand hills to ride around a high wooden fence topped with barbed-wire, to protect railroad property,” said Johnson.' Read on.

Movie: "TR in New Mexico"

On Oct. 23, 1916, Theodore Roosevelt campaigns for Republican presidential nominee Charles Evans Hughes and assails the Wilson administration in Albuquerque, N.M. A young woman rides on horseback carrying a bouquet of flowers. There is an auto parade. Roosevelt passes by in an open touring car. Seated next to him is a man who appears to be Albert B. Fall, one of New Mexico's first U.S. Senators (1912-1921) and later secretary of the interior until exposure of his involvement in the Teapot Dome scandal.
There are long and close-up shots of Roosevelt seated on a stone pillar in front of the Alvarado Hotel in downtown Albuquerque, as he amiably talks with men gathered around him, including Sen. Fall, with cigar in hand, and George Curry, the tall man in a light hat, former territorial governor of New Mexico (1907-1911) and U.S. Representative (1912-1913). There is a long shot of Roosevelt speaking to a large crowd from a narrow platform in front of the Alvarado Hotel. Two young women on horseback bring flowers to Roosevelt. Download here, for free, from the Library of Congress.

Governor plans state monument to preserve Fort Stanton

FORT STANTON, N.M. - Governor Richardson says a state monument will be established to protect and interpret the parade grounds, stables and other historic portions of Fort Stanton.
... Established in 1855, Fort Stanton played a prominent role in opening southeastern New Mexico to settlement. The fort also had roles during the Civil War and during the Lincoln County war and the life of famed outlaw Billy the Kid.

Mescalero Apaches at Fort Stanton

Some Dawson scenes

Photos courtesy of the Library of Congress

Mesas

"La Marranita" railcar returns home to New Mexico

SANTA FE - A railcar dubbed the Doodlebug, which once carried commuters between Clovis and Carlsbad, has been returned to New Mexico from California.The No. M-190 railcar from the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway had been stored for 20 years in the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.It has been returned to New Mexico as a gift to the state history museum at the Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe and to the people of New Mexico.
... The self-propelled M-190s, also known as La Marranita or the Little Pig, had 22 seats and carried up to 44 passengers as well as the mail. A second passenger car was sometimes attached to the lead car. Read on.

Rodeo at the Pie Town, New Mexico Fair

Russell Lee: Farm Security Administration (FSA) 194o

Laguna 1943

Laguna Pueblo, Jack Delano: Farm Security Administration (FSA) 1943

Brindle

Caption: "Spring 1916, Florence Mabel and their cow "Brindle" near Tucumcari, New Mexico

$400,000 grant for Tucumcari train station in works

The centerpiece of Tucumcari's downtown redevelopment will be its railroad station, which next month, will have $400,000 for improvements. The improvements of the Tucumcari Train Station will be working in tandem with the MainStreet project, said Pete Kampfer, director of the Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Corp. Read On.

Thanx to MDRails for the photo.

The biggest killer in the Southwest SMALLPOX

Sheriff Holm Bursum and Socorro Mayor Elfego Baca (yes, THAT Elfego Baca) finally decided to quarantine Socorro, with the proclamation printed in the Dec. 24, 1897, Socorro Chieftain. It read as follows:
"QUARANTINE PROCLAMATION — To protect the citizens of Socorro against the spread of smallpox. All persons are prohibited from coming into, locating or staying anywhere within Socorro from San Marcial, Old San Marcial, Valverde, San Antonio and Sabinal. AT&SF Railroad directed not to sell tickets between any aforementioned points to or from Socorro. The City Marshal, Jose de La Luz Gonzales, Rozendo Gomes and Alfredo Gallegos are hereby appointed special officers with power and authority to prevent any person or persons from entering said town of Socorro. Signed: Elfego Baca, Mayor." Read on.

We Do Emu Right!

Christmas card

Reads, "A happy Christmas greeting to you from the land of sunny winters and skies of summer blue" Created by J. R. Willis ca. 1930's

Almost gone

On the road to Clovis, from Tucumcari.

Canon 20D

Dressed for?

I don't know what they're dressed for. Maybe a WW1 aid society, or fraternal organization? If you know, please leave a comment.

Blue Swallow at night

BTW, the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari isn't just a pretty place; it's a pretty nice place to stay. It's clean, the owners are friendly, and there's a genuine 1939 Bell Telephone in each room.

1906

Runnin' on faith

©QR AI 2006

Salinas Pueblo Missions

1936

First/Last Motel In Texas

Glen Rio Texas/New Mexico on old Route 66.

©QR AI 2006

Matador Cattle

"One of the Matadours thoroughbreds." Perhaps a reference to The Matador Land and Cattle Company in Texas?

Lonesome

Along I-40 between Tucumcari and the Texas Line.

Old House #2

Another mystery house. It looks fairly unusual for New Mexico and I'm guessing it dates from around the turn of the 20th century or so. Does anybody recognize it? Is it still standing?

An old oasis

A bit west of Glen Rio, I think.

Pueblo: A thriving city with a lasting prosperity

"Pueblo: A thriving city with a lasting prosperity," says the card, and I don't doubt it one bit. The building is the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company's YMCA building. The CF&I had an interesting, some would say checkered, history that both reflected and sometimes shaped America during the 20th century. The Wikipedia has a short introduction to the CF&I here.