Presidents Message Dear Members,
As we move into another year, I’d like to first thank our entire board, Museum staff, and Volunteers for their work this past year. The extra duties and additional work, from the new scholarship program to the new self-guided tour signage project and the unexpected floods of the summer were handled impetu- ously. That is the spirit of this organization, that I am so proud to serve. We have moved into a new time, with the establishment of the City of San Elizario. Our purpose however, will continue to be the promotion and preservation of our heritage and history. We look forward to working with the City of San Elizario on this common mission.
November brought the largest Veterans Parade attendance I’ve yet to see! Great job, Veterans, Com- mittee and volunteers! December brought some new and exciting traditions for San Elizario and we continued our excellent presentation of Las Posadas and Luminaria lighting in the Historic District. members, volunteers and paid workers ventured to the Sacramento mountains of New Mexico,to chop down a 35 foot Christmas tree that will become an annual tree lighting event to open the ChristKindle- Market the first weekend in December, complete with the arrival of Santa Claus. A special thanks to Silvie Trujillo and Harvey Johnson for your help in making this possible.
Our Annual Posadas and Luminaria Lighting presentation, went on with a fresh supply of rain, wind and freezing cold. Needless to say, the luminarias did not cooperate, but the Posada presentation went on with hundreds present. Thank you to Mr. Gerardo and his son, Pat Duran Ortiz, Lillian Trujillo, Pilar Munoz, the volunteer actors and others.
The event also brought back the ceremonial Piñata, which the children loved. The third annual bicycle giveaway has be- come a staple of the event. Thanks to Harvey Johnson for do- nating the fifty bicycles this year. After the evening mass, the giveaway commenced and once again fifty children walked away with a new bicycle. Thanks again to all the volunteers that made it happen. The San Elizario High School ROTC, students from Garcia Enriguez Middle School, Camino Real Middle School Honor Society and so many others. Thank you to the residents of San Elizario that came to help rake up leaves,get the placita pumped out when the rain started and all the others that helped gather up the luminarias after the fact including Joe Lopez and Pepe Jurado. Volunteers mak- ing thing happen!!
~ Al Borrego, President
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The Old El Paso County Jail (San Elizario, Texas)
On January 3, 1850 El Paso County was created from Bexar County. San Elizario, one of the larg- est and most thriving towns in the area, became the first county seat. With responsibility of county business being conducted in San Elizario there came the need for a jail to incarcerate short-term prisoners. A flat roof adobe building that may have been a residence during the Mexican period from 1821 – 1848, became the county’s first “Jurado”. Commissioners Court approved the purchase of a pre-fabricated iron cell with two compartments able to hold six prisoners. It was manufactured in Chicago and the cell designed in the penitentiary style, was into the room adjacent to the Court House Building.
The San Elizario jail is best known as the jail that Billy the Kid broke into. W. H. Timmons, a profes- sor emeritus of history at UTEP states that “according to a manuscript written in 1880 by Charles Frederick Rudolph, a member of Pat Garrett’s Posse that captured Billy the Kid in December, 1880. “ Billy the Kid in Las Cruces learned that his friend Melquiades Segura had been arrested in San Elizario. He then set out on horseback and arrived in San Elizario about three o’ clock in the morn- ing. He knocked on the door of the jail, waking up one of the Mexican guards, who asked, “Who is it?” “Texas Rangers,” Billy answered in Spanish, “We have two American prisoners.” The guard opened the door, peered out, and found himself face to face with Billy’s .44 revolvers. He then re- lieved the other guard of his gun, found the key to the cell, released Segura, locked the two jailers in the cell and threw away the keys. They then crossed the river into Mexico.
In 1877 there broke out the bloodiest civil disorder in the county’s history. The Salt War, featuring mob violence, rape, looting, and murder, most of which took place in and around San Elizario. No doubt the old jail got plenty of use during that bloody and violent period until peace, law and order was finally restored. It continued in use as a facility to confine thieves and drunks until the 1940’s. Now it serves as a tourist attraction. The canal behind the old jail is the San Elizario lateral. It has served the San Elizario community for more than 100 years.
______SEGHS January Newsletter Page 2 From Around The State
Austin: News from Tejano Genealogy Society of Austin Corpus Christi: News from Spanish American Genealogical Association (SAGA) Harlingen: News from Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Genealogical Society Houston: News from Hispanic Genealogy Society of Houston Laredo: News from Villa De San Agustin - Laredo Genealogy Society San Antonio: News from Los Bexareños Genealogical And Historical Society Victoria: News from Victoria Hispanic Genealogical & Historical Society of Texas
This Section is dedicated to our sister Hispanic Genealogy Societies throughout the state. Thank You, LBGHS for providing the information
Other Genealogy News
Albuquerque: News From Hispanic Genealogical Research Center of New Mexico Albuquerque: News From New Mexico Genealogical Society Pueblo: News From Genealogical Society of Hispanic America St. Louis News From Center for French Colonial Studies
______SEGHS January Newsletter Page 3 Veterans Talk
2013 Annual Veterans Parade and Celebration
This years Celebration was a two-day event. The new tradition will become the largest fundraiser for the Veterans Committee in the future and continue to be a major event in San Elizario. The volunteers did a wonderful job with the support of the Woodman of the World organization, Sam’s Inc and private support. Here are some memorable photos of the event. Former County Commissioner Miguel Teran was this years Grand Marshal. Thank you to everyone involved in the event and the special guests.
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Edwardo M. Pedregon Veterans Museum: 1501 Main Street, San Elizario Some new memorabilia has been added and new displays.
Veterans Memorial Walk: 1501 Main Street, San Elizario We have 420 bricks on the ground and counting. Anyone wishing to purchase a brick, please contact Ray Borrego at 383 8529.
Annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony: Our Veterans Parade and ceremony that was held Nov. 9 & 10, 2013, Turned up to be the best and the most attended ever. Thanks to everyone that attended, partici- pated in and helped with the making it a success.
San Elizario Veterans Committee: 1501 Main Street, San Elizario We hold our meetings on the first Tuesday of each month, at 6:30pm, at the Veterans Museum. We welcome everyone, veterans and non-veterans, who want to continue the tradition of remem- bering and honoring our veterans and those currently serving. We do not have meetings during the months of December, January or February. Our next meeting will be in March 4, 2014.
Volunteering: No requirements, only the willingness to want to help the veterans and the commu- nity with the museum, memorial walk, annual parade, and other projects. We welcome high school and college students who need to do community service for school credit.
Ray Borrego, Chair San Elizario Veterans Committee of the SEGHS 915 383-8529 E-mail: [email protected]
Veterans Memorial Walk
You can purchase a brick on the walk for all that have served or are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. You can also get a personal brick of “Thanks to All Veterans” to support the ef- forts of the San Elizario Veterans Committee.
Visit the Veterans Page on our website for more information.
www.SanElizarioGenealogy.com
______SEGHS January Newsletter Page 5 NEW MEMBERS
We would like to welcome our Newest Members:
Manuel Alvarado Edward Franco Elizabeth Carmen Lujan Sandy McDonald Juana Romo
Prayers For The Ill
Richard and Grace Sambrano Our Condolences Tony Alarcon Kila Sanchez Our deepest and sincere condolences to the families of the deceased.
Rodolfo Alarcon passed away in January. Rodolfo was the first SEGHS president since the beginning of the SEGHS and a San Elizario Veteran.
Juanita Esparza passed away in January. She was a descendent of the Garcia family and member of the SEGHS.
Felix Hernandez, long-time member of SEGHS, departed from this world on January 9, 2014. Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, and raised in Fort Hancock, Texas, Felix graduated from Fort Hancock High School. Having a keen sense of humor, he liked to brag that he was among the top ten in his class – before he told you there were only ten students in the whole class. His wife Olga Trujillo, is a native of San Elizario, and although he was not a native, Felix joined her in all her activities of the SEGHS. In the early days of Los Portales, Olga’s volunteer day at the Museum was on Tuesdays which is typically cleaning day. On these days Felix could be seen using a broom or mop as well as helping Jose Maria Sambrano repair windows that had been broken by mischief –making individuals. Having listened to Olga as she gave tours of the Museum, Felix was soon able to give out bits of historical information himself. He enjoyed being a member of SEGHS and was well-liked by all the members. An especially touching memory of Felix was when he and Olga were chosen Valentine Day King & Queen by the SEGHS members and everyone could see how proud he was when he danced with his Queen. Felix is also survived by his two daughters and grandchildren.
Jacob Apodaca -Veteran Manuel Lara, Sr. - Veteran
______SEGHS January Newsletter Page 6 2013 Las Posadas Celebration and Luminarias Festival
George Sanchez, Arturo Avalos and Manny Alvarado
Thank You Lillian Trujillo for the Photographs
MUSEUM GIFT SHOP
The Museum Gift Store has cups, coins depicting three churches: San Elceario Chapel, Ysleta Mission and Socorro Mission. A variety of history based books and the Census of 1841, 1692 and 1687 and also prints of the San Elceario Chapel, Ysleta and Socorro Missions.
The Gift Store is open during regular Museum hours. All items can be shipped to your location for a small fee + tax and shipping charges.
We only accept cash or checks.
______SEGHS January Newsletter Page 7 The Nuns of San Elizario
By Sam Sanchez, Sr.
They came in 1852, to establish learning institutions for the children of the Southwest. Sum- moned by Bishop J.B. Lamy of Santa Fe, the Sisters of Loretto traveled through treacherous terri- tory guided only by Divine providence and their determination to arrive at their destination.
Their trip had begun in Loretto, Kentucky where their order was formed in 1812, and where the convent was located. They boarded a steamboat which took them up the Mississippi to St Louis, Missouri, from there to Independence. There, they arranged to join a group of pioneer travelers in a caravan of covered wagons traveling to New Mexico territory. Their journey West on the Santa Fe trail was not easy.
After weeks of struggles and fears, broken axles and wheels, sights of dried-to-chalk bones and schorching days, the group finally arrived in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It became quite evident that if the Sisters were to fulfill the intentions of Bishop Lamy, they would need a convent and a school. Mexican carpenters began to build for the Sisters. After the school was finished, it was called "Loretto Academy."
As settlements grew in population and became towns, the need for other schools in other places became clear. More nuns were needed and so, the Santa Fe trail was the choice route of travelers. The Santa Fe trail was formed by migrating buffalo herds and the plains Indians hunting after the buffalo. Later the prospectors, known as the 49ers, used the trail on their way to the gd fields in California.
San Elizario, already enjoying a public school, like other large towns, was in need of a school for girls. In 1879 the parish priest in San Elizario, the Reverend Peter Bourgade, requested a colony of Sisters of Loretto for his school. He obtained five Sisters. They arrived the latter part of 1879. Trav- eling from Santa Fe to Las Cruces and on to San Elizario was a bit risky. The Apache Victorio, on his rampage of destruction and vengeance just happened to be in the area.
When the Sisters arrived, the dust of the Salt War controversy was still settling around San Elizario. Furthermore, Telesforo Montes' Rangers were busy out in the field following Apaches to recover stolen livestock. The daring breakout of the notorious Melquiades Segura from the jail was still fresh on people's minds. The County Seat had recently been lost to the growing city of El Paso. The floods ruined most of the adobe houses. Even the old church building had crumbled. The Sisters if Loretto had their work cut out for them.
The Sisters of Loretto were determined to succeed in their endeavors. They managed to estab- lish their school in an old house provided for them. With a lot of hard work and help of the commu- nity, they opened St. Joseph's College and Academy. The Academy flourished until 1892, when it was transferred to the City of El Paso. It is now known as Loretto Academy School for Girls.
[Photos Next Page]
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San Elizario Genealogy & Historical Society
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1090 San Elizario, Texas 79849 Physical Address: 1521 San Elizario Rd. San Elizario, Texas Phone #: 915-851-1682 Fax #: 915-851-0045 Email: [email protected] www.SanElizarioGenealogy.com Meetings: 1st Sunday of the month at Alarcon Elementary School
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