Z I tr1 CSL.JR Ovs \ £ F ; 7'31 • _::= C7x ro111Ca no. oe Nuevo Mexico ~ Published since 1976 - The Official Publication of the Historical Society ofNew Mexico C!8" April2008 Issue Nurrrber' 75 Camp Capitan: A Depression Era Educational Camp for Unemployed Young Women By Lynn Adkins the camp program for young women. were in such short supply that not more stating. than 90 people could be cooked for and "Eight camps...are now 'in operation. served at one time. This meant that. for seven more will be started shortly... every meal. food had to be prepared and Applications have been received from 20 dishes washed three times. After the first or more states for additional camps. The session. the number of enrollees for any camps now established are located at one session was red uced to the more Kinqtree and Orangeburg. South manageable number of 125. The state Carolina. Tampa and S1. Augustine. Transient Department loaned beds. Florida. Zarah. Kansas. Wolfe Laze. mattresses and blankets. Sheets. pillow IIIinois. S1. Paul. Minnesota. Weiser. cases. and pajamas were made for the Idaho. and Capitan. New Mexico. Other camp by WPA sewing programs. camps have been authorized for Rhode Theoretically each girl spent one three­ Island. Arlzansas. Ok lahoma. Missouri. month session at the camp. but in

South Dakota and Tennessee." I practice some enrolled more than once. In Baca Canyon. between Capitan Ramoncita Gurule. enrolled at least and Lincoln . New Mexico. on Forest three times in 1938. receiving a Service Road 57. at the foot of the certificate at the end of each session. Capitan Mountains. is the site of former Her daughter. Polly Chavez. of Carrizozo. Camp Capitan. Although remote. with a still has Ramoncita's certificates. which rough. dirt road access. it was a good were signed by Lucy Shaw and New

Camp Capitan residents and staff. 1938 location for the camp. with wide open Mexico NYA Director. Tom Popejoy. Ramoncit a Gurule. the m othe r of Polly Chavez. second fro m right in the itont rO\\7 vistas and a permanent spring of water. Sessions didn't strictly adhere to the 3 (copyright. Colorado Historical Society. CCC album #1. scan # 100.35833) which stilI flows today. Before Camp months rule either. Sometimes they ran In 1933. in the depths of our nation's closely with Hilda Worthington Smith. Capitan there were CCC camps in this longer: occasionally they were shorter. 2 depression the unemployment rate hit chair of the New Deal worker education location. first a tent camp. and then a Girls and young women. ages sixteen 29 percent. Tens of thousands of project that was part of FERA's permanent camp with a large log dining to twenty-five . who were either on relief Ameri ca n yo uth under the age of Emergency Education Program. In April ha ll. Ritche n and store room. six typical the mselves or from families on relief. twenty-five were unemployed. but 1934. Mrs. Roosevelt called a White military type barracks. an infirmary and were recruited by Mrs. Shaw from all neither were they in school. Many could House Conference on Camps for a small cottage for the officer in charge. over the state. Many were Hispanic . and not afford to go to school due to a Iacf Unemployed Women. which resulted in In September. 1935. after the CCC had came from rural areas in northern and of money for proper clothing an d a plan of action for what some of the abandoned the site. the NYA-funded central New Mexico. such as San Miguel supplies. Serious concerns were felt media derisively dubbed the "She She educational camp for unemployed and Lincoln counties. but others were among educators and government She" camps. young women opened there. from towns Iilee Portales. Roswell. Las offi cials alike. fearing that this large. idle In 1935 a new federal agency. the Camp Capitan was the brainchild of Cruces . Silver City. and Socorro. Some segment of the population would National Youth Administration (NYA). Lucy Lepper Shaw. who developed it enrollees were also accepted from become disenfranchised and attracted to was created to help address the needs of and served as its director du ring the five Arizona . since Arizona had no residential the political doctrines of the communists America's youth. Numerous types of years of its existence. Lucy Shaw. who camp for young women. Some families or socialists. Und er the New Deal projects and programs were developed. was born Janu ary 13. 1886. in Marshall. may have en ha nced the age of their program President Roosevelt partially One program gave financial assistance Michigan . studied at the Art Institute of young daughters in order to get them addressed this problem when on March to needy college students. who would Chicago and at Columbia University. into the program. Dolores Esquibel of

31SI of that year he signed the bill creating otherwise dro p out of school for lack of She became the first wo man investment Santa Cruz. New Mexico . said that her the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). funds . Young men. who were generally counselor for Bankers Trust Company in mother. Geneva Montoya. who was born The concept offered employment to not in school. were put to work on New YorR. and was named treasurer of in 1925. could not have been more than jobless young men. both rural and manual labor projects. for which they the Presbyterian Board of Foreign about thirteen. when she attended the urban. They wo uld earn a minimal were paid a stipend. Among other Missions. before coming to New Mexico ca mp in the mid-1930s.3 salary for performing manual labor on projects. they built piers for a in the 1930s for the health of her While the curriculum at the camp conservation projects and other useful recreational lake in Redfield. South husband. Arthur Knight Shaw. changed and evolved over the course of community endeavors. while being Dakota. renovated a boy's club in A very informative. but unsigned. its existence. some aspects remained housed in group camps at government Pawtucket. Rhode Island. constructed article appeared in the May 16. 1947 constant. Good health for the girls was a expense. However. young women were tuberculosis isolation huts in Arizona. edition of the Ruidoso News. which must priority. At the beginning of each session not included in the program. and refurbished school buildings in have been written by someone every girl was given a thorough physical Eleanor Roosevelt. a stro ng and numerous locations. Young women. in intimately familiar with the ca mp. exam by a medical doctor. Girls who influential pe rson in her own right, addition to worRing on domestic based perhaps even Lucy Shaw herself. It became iII were treated at Fort Stanton. supported the CCc. but chaffed at the projects. assisted in schools. nurseries. sheds much light on the personnel. daily More than 2000 girls went through the notion that young wo men in need were libraries and other institutions. At this life. and recreational activities of Camp camp program in five years without a being denied access to such a program. time most of the participants in the NYA Capitan. The article relates that as the single fatality. Instruction in good She campaigned for a women's camp programs lived at home. A special camp was preparing to open equipment personal hygiene was emphasized. As in program that would combine education. division of the agency. headed by and furnishings were in short supply. other NYA residential camp programs. recreation. and work in a healthful respected ed ucator. Mary McLeod except for two large barracks wood the girls were encouraged to be environment. Her idea was scorned by Bethune. was created to specifically heaters and two good kitchen ranges physically active. They had gymnastic ma ny. even in New Deal circles. focus on the needs of black youth. that had been left behind by the previous classes. baseball teams. and even dug However. she prevailed and the first Shortly after the NYA was created. the occupants. Two days before the first their own swimming hole. They also women's camp. Camp Tera. residential camps program for group of residents. 185 girls and 23 staff played croquet and volleyball. practiced opened on June 10. 1933. in Bear unemployed women was transferred members. was due to arrive. the army ballroom and folk dancing. and went Mountain State ParR. New YorR. It from the FERA to the NYA domain. The came to claim and remove the two hiRing. In one of the barracas. turned received funding from th e Fede ral camp types varied by location. and kitchen ranges. Arthu r Shaw. with help into a recreational building. and called Emergency Relief Administration reflected regional cul tural differences. from staff at Fort Stanton. saved the day the "Baca Canyon Opera House". they (FERA). funneled through New York They were housed in a variety of by going through the fort's discarded put on plays and light operas. State's Temporary Emergency Relief structures. and while the programs equipment and resurrecting enough However. it was not all play and Administration. for which the camp was included ac tivities such as sports and parts to create two stoves. which with recreation at the camp. Enrollees were named. Camp Tera. later renamed hiRing. the training program leaned new parts added later. served as the expected to work on assigned projects Camp Jane Addams. became a pet heavily towards domestic and secretarial cooking facilities for the duration of the several hours a day in order to earn the project for Mrs. Roosevelt. StilI. she was skills. The December 5. 1936. issue of camp. Furniture was minimal except for $5.00 per month each girl was paid by not satisfied. and wanted more camps Happy Days. the official newspaper of the buil t-in dining hall tables and the NYA for discretionary spending. All for women. On this issue she worked the CCC camps. ran an article regarding benches. Kitchen and dining utensils of the enrollees' expenses at the camp.

New Mexico History Conference, Deming, April 24-26, 2008 dyed in pure Spanish colors, appears like buried' side by side in the Sandia rich velvet under the floodlights. Meta­ Memory Gardens in Albuquerque's mesh pot-cleaners, from the dime store, Northeast Heiqhts. emerge as scintillating. SJold-cloth Up in Baca Canyon a primitive forest turbans from the chorus of nobles. They Service campground inhabits Camp have sewn disk cutouts from tin cans on Capitan's former location. Little remains muslin for elaborate decorative in this secluded place today, except for a

headdresses to reflect liSJht." 4 Iarqe concrete slab and a rock fireplace, The article also stated that the play to indicate where a lively camp for will "be SJiven in Enqlish. but the unemployed young women once interpretation of sonos. dances. speech flourished. and movement [will be] in traditional Spanish rhythm and feeling-..." One performance of the production was SJiven out-of-doors at the camp on Sunday, June lfi". at 7:30 in the evenlnq. blandinq Sloan. former director of the Cavalcade of Texas. assisted in staSJinSJ and liSJhtinSJ. Clinton R Anderson, who was mana~inSJ director of the Coronado celebration, loaned platforms. liSJhtinSJ Typing classet Camp Cepit en and sound equipment. as well as a staSJe (copyrighf Colorado Histort cel Society. CCCalbum #1 . scan #1 0035837) electrician. It was reported that over . food. lod~in~. basic supplies, etc., were woven at the camp; custom made 2500 people came to see the play. The covered by funds provided by the NYA in woven belts; metal tin craft smolamc SJirls SJave another performance of their the camp budget. Some equipment and stands. picture frames, and boxes in production the Iollowlnq Friday in supplies were donated to the camp. Old various designs and sizes . Many other Lincoln. as part of a "Three Days in Old furniture, no Ionqer in use at Fort Bayard items are illustrated in the catalog. Lincoln" celebration. was procured, and under the direction of includlnq tin craft lamps, candle holders, The same week that the \6irls were Mr. Shaw. repaired and refurbished by and a fire screen. performing their well-received "EI the ~irIs, providing them with much One Interesting project that the Camp Mayordomo" production. an article in needed tables, chairs and dressers for Capitan SJirIs were commissioned to the Albuquerque Journal reported that their barracks. Used sewlnq machines produce occurred in 1938. Lucy Shaw the current camp session would be Remains ofCamp Capitan and typewriters were donated for met with Lyle Bennett of the National corning to a close and. "more than one stone fireplace. 2006 (photograph cou r tesy ofLynn Adki ns) instructional classes. Lucy Shaw Park Service in the sprlnq of that year to hundred SJirls representing twenty-one procured a lar~e quantity of tickin~ discuss the possibility of the SJirls makin~ New Mexico counties and Arizona will material from a defunct mattress makinq li~ht fixtures and other items for the new start for home next week when Capitan Notes project. from which the ~irls made their visitors' center at White Sands National Camp. the NYA SJirls' resident project in 1"Camps to Be Opened For 5000 Girls own slacks. They also sewed and Monument. They aSJreed that the ~irls Lincoln County, closes its present 6­ WiII Be Similar to CCc." NACCA Journal, decorated other practical items for their would produce fifty-three tin liSJht months period." The article also Vol. 2 (February 2000). p . 12. Article own use or to SJive to family members, fixtures for the building's interior. created comments. "Offerinq employment and reprinted from December 5. 1936 issue of such as a cross stitched apron that from plans desiqned by Mr. Bennett. homemakinq experience. the camp has Happy Days. Aurora Garcia made for her aunt. and Some of these fixtures are still in use at drawn national attention as an NYA 2 Personal interview with Polly Chavez.

which is now owned by Aurora's son. the visitors' center today. achievement." 5 It turned out to be the February 20. 2006. Francisco Sisneros. In addition to last session for Camp Capitan. 3 Telephone interview with Dolores sewinSJ their own SJarments. the SJirls Despite the attention and recocninon Esquibel. April 4. 2006. made items for other orqaruzations. the successful camp SJarnered for its 4 "Capitan Camp Gives Spanish Mikado Projects varied during the course of the unique achievements, its funding was As Part of Coronado Celebration." camp's existence. In 1938 the SJirls were terminated and the camp closed in July. Undated article from an unidentified rnaktnq state flaSJs for New Mexico Even at that. Camp Capitan had outlived newspaper. in a scrapbook owned by schools, and ~arments and furnishings other NYA women's residential camp Polly Chavez. for the Crippled Children's Hospital in programs. Many of the camps had been 5 "NYA Capitan Girls Camp to End Hot Springs. discontinued by 1937. determined to be Present Session Next Week." economically unfeasible. Unlike Camp Albuquerque Journal. 19 June 1940. p. 6. Capitan, which ran year round, and Bibliography under Lucy Shaw's able direction stayed Cook. Blanche Weisen. Eleanor within budget. many camps overran Roosevelt, vol. two , 1933-1938. New their budqets. Many other camps were York: VikinSJ Penguin. 1999. seasonal or ran for shorter terms. closing Forrest. Suzanne. The Preservation of down between each term and the ViIIage: New Mexico's Hispanics consequently entailing extra expenses and the New Deaf. Albuquerque: Ltotu fix ture in Visitors Center et each time they reopened. Also. addin\6 University of New Mexico Press, 1998. White Sands Netionel Monument 2006 (ph otograph courtesy ofLynn Adkins) to the demise of the camps was a new Lindley, Ernest K., and Betty Lindley. A type of NYA youth program, developed New Deal for Youth: The Story of the In 1940, New Mexico celebrated the in 1937. called the resident center National Youth Administration. New Cuarto Centennial of the Coronado proqram. These resident centers were York: Vil

2 The Isleta Bus Crash Tragedy of 1930 By Richard Melzer over as its driver in Gallup. Due in passenger who anticipated what was but died before Hubbell could bring it to Albuquerque at 10:00 a.m.. Williams had about to happen. The passenger fumbled her. Nearby a man lying on the ground carefully stopped at every railroad with his window in a desperate effort to asked if someone could place something crossing along the way while doing all he escape. The man's face was frozen in under his head. Hubbell rolled up some could to make up time and arrive at his terror. Then the crash came. and the rags and put it under the man's head. but destination as close to schedule as man's face disappeared. "in a moment he was dead." possible. Survivors and witnesses recalled the Hearing the crash from his home. On any other Friday. the engineer on incredible sound as the mail train plowed pueblo police officer Esquipula Jojola Train NO.7 and the driver of the Pickwick into the smaller vehicle in its path. The rushed to the local schoolhouse and bus would have never seen each other. train pushed the bus down the track for retrieved five fire extinquishers. At the no less crossed paths. But this was no hundreds of yards. causing multiple crash scene. he used the exttnqutshers to ordinary friday. explosions and splitting the bus in two. put out as many fires as he could. The twenty-six passengers on board Baggage and human bodies were hurled Arriving about the same time. the Pickwick bus had been comfortable through the air as if weightless. Marcelino Zuni bandaged the head of a and relaxed during most of their trip east. Davis. his train crew. Indians from bleeding passenger. Sam Jojola arid Joe Many talked or joked with their traveling Isleta . and passing motorists rushed to Abeita ran from their field with buckets companions. most of whom they had lend assistance. No one could have full of water that they used to give drinks. first met after boarding the bus. Other anticipated the gruesome scene they wash blackened faces. and put out more passengers gazed out their windows. . found. Small fires were everywhere. fires. Cruz Abeita helped in every way he admiring New Mexico's passing Bodies. luggage. and debris were strewn could. Pueblo children ran home in landscape. At least one man played up and down the tracks. Some fright. Recalling the damage and Bus crash site of 1930 with solitaire. Another slept. Passenger Frank passengers were pinned below the bus's carnage. one eyewitness later declared. railroad crossing gates L. Meyers later recalled that he and his crushed chassis. All were black and "It was a miracle that any passengers (photograph by Richard Melzer) fellow travelers thought driver Williams charred. escaped alive ." Friday. April 11. 1930. started as an "was a fine fellow. We all liked him." Most victims were beyond help. News of the disaster spread quickly. exceptionally clear spring day in Isleta . Like most bus loads of passengers. this Others cried out in anguish and pain. Within minutes more help and six Pueblo Indians greeted the day in prayer. was a mixed group. with backgrounds as Ellis Huff staggered about in shock. ambulances (provided by local just as their ancestors had done for varied as their destinations. Ellis Huff. a searching for his wife and young son. He mortuaries) arrived from Albuquerque. hundreds of years. furniture salesman from Los Angeles. threw himself on the ground in grief Mayor Clyde Tinqleyand his wife . Carrie. By 9:00 a.m. local residents were hard traveled with his wife and eight-year-old when he discovered that his wife was were among those who did all they could at work. Two seventeen-year-olds. Joe son. Kenneth. to Oklahoma City. Two dead and his son was fatally injured. to assist. Olguin and Sam Jojola. were busy in young California mothers. Katherine Deputy Sheriff Harold Hubbell sped Other arrivals were far less helpful. In fields not far from where the Santa fe Dufner and Mona Utter. had boarded at from his home to the crash scene at sixty­ fact, the road from Albuquerque was Railway crossed a major new highway Los Angeles with their infant children. five miles per hour. arriving in about ten soon so crowded with curiosity seekers called Route 66. Route 66 connected Little Betty Dufner was said to have "won minutes. Hubbell later described his that rescue and clean-up operations were Chicago in the distant east to Los Angeles the hearts of all on board." Thelma Luft mostly futile efforts to help the injured. hampered and delayed. in the distant west. Opened in 1926. was en route to a new teaching job in Kneeling by one passenger. Hubbell had Rescuers discovered that driver Route 66 was destined to become one of Steamboat Springs. Colorado. barely asked the victim his name when Williams and eighteen of his passengers the most traveled. storied highways in Corporal Roland Anderson. recently the man suddenly "slumped down and were dead at the scene. Three more American history. returned from duty in the Philippines. died." Ten feet away a girl cried for water. passengers would die in the coming was heading home to Iowa on furlough. In New Mexico. Route 66 oriqlnally contin ued on page 4 f(?f' ran through Valencia County. coming Perhaps on impulse. he had purchased a south from Albuquerque. running $5.000 travel insurance policy shortly • •• through Isleta . then Peralta. and finally before departing from Los Angeles. An Los Lunas before heading northwest to older veteran. Richard C. Childers. had Grants along today's State Road 6. As caught the bus in California. but had Albuquerque Tribune Route 66 meandered throuqh Valencia nearly missed reloading at two stops County. it crossed the Santa Fe's tracks along the way. In each instance. fellow twice: once in Isleta and again in Los passengers had called out for the bus Closes Its Doors driver to stop so Childers could climb on Lunas . Neither crossing was considered By Carleen Lazzell particularly dangerous. especially board and continue his trip. The old compared to several other hazardous Indian scout's family had tried in vain to Saturday. February 23.2008. was a sad September 24. 1923 - The paper was crossings identified by New Mexico state convince him to stay home that day for Albuquerque residents when they purchased by the Scripps Howard highway department officials. morning. but he had been determined to lost their evening newspaper. Who newspaper chain. retaining Magee as Traffic on Route 66 was regular. but make the journey. would have believed that after 86 years editor and adopting his "Give Light" not heavy in 1930. Cars. trucks. and buses Patacio "Pete" Tortelato and his friend the Tribune would cease publication. slogan for all of the Scripps Howard traversed the major artery. competing Tom Nieto of Santo Domingo pueblo The final run was 16.928 copies of the newspapers and later adding the with the Santa Fe for the business of were returning from the Navajo paper. In August 2007. its owner. lighthouse logo. transporting passengers and goods reservation. having traded their Cincinnati-based E.W Scripps Company February 20. 1933 - Paper renamed through the Southwest. turquoise jewelry for Navajo blankets. as made the decision to stop publication again to Albuquerque Tribune. Two vehicles from these competinq they did most every year. Pete Tortelato unless a buyer was found. The loyal 1933- The Tribune and the morning forms of transportation were headed for was considered one of the best readers of the Tribune were emotionally Albuquerque Journal. in an attempt to Isleta from different directions on friday. silversmiths in Santo Domingo. devastated by the prospect of losing the outlast the Great Depression. signed the April 11. from the north. Train No. 7 had Unbeknownst to his fellow passengers. newspaper and for the last 6 or 7 months ' first joint operating agreement between left Albuquerque at 9:10 a.m. with its C.E. Mallory was a convicted felon who had been hopeful that something could two newspapers in the nation. The two regular mail delivery to points south. c.c. had recently been released from . be worked out. papers would be housed under the same Davis was at the throttle. A veteran California's folsom state prison. Free just Unfortunately the Tribune's roof but retain separate ownership and engineer. Davis was described in the press two days. Mallory was en route to his circulation had dropped from editorial staff. They would share the cost as "one of the crack railroaders of the hometown in Seneca. Missouri. approximately 42.000 in 1988 to about of printing. distribution and other Santa Fe system." Train No . 7 was experiencing an 9.600. This is a nationwide trend for business operations through the A Pickwick Company bus en route equally uneventful trip from many cities in the United States which Albuquerque Publtshing Company. from Los Angeles to Denver traveled Albuquerque as it approached Isleta. have had two newspapers and now it is 1994 - Tribune wins a Pulitzer Prize for through Isleta . havinq just gone through Engineer Davis remembered nothing uncommon for major cities to have two a series by reporter Eileen Welsome Los Lunas and Peralta. Twenty-four-year­ unusual about the trip until he publications. profiling Americans unwittingly injected old Forrest D. Williams was behind the approached the road crossing near the On a personal note. our family had with plutonium by government wheel. Williams was rated an excellent north end of the pueblo. home delivery of the Albuquerque scientists. driver. with an unblemished accident Then everything changed in .an Tribune since 1964 for a total of 44 years. August 28. 2007 - E.W Scripps record in his five-year career as a instant. There was something wrong-very And. the delivery of the paper each Company announces its intention to Pickwick Company employee. He had a wrong-at the crossing. A Pickwick bus afternoon was always a bright spot in our cease publication of the Tribune unless a well-earned reputation as a careful driver was attempting to cross the tracks in day. buyer can be found. who never drove a bus unless he was sure front of Davis's oncominq train. A Timeline of Tribune History February 1. 2008 - A group of New that all of its equipment was in perfect crewmember shouted. "The big hole! The 1922 - The Tribune began as Magee's Mexico investors trying to put together a working order. Williams was said to have big hole." railroad slang meaning that Independent. a weekly newspaper package to purchase the newspaper been well rested and alert when he took Davis should throw his brakes as quickly published by Carl Magee. identified in announces it will no longer pursue the the wheel that Friday morning. It had and as hard as possible. stories as a successful lawyer formerly of purchase. been over twelve hours since his last Blasting his train whistle. Davis applied Oklahoma City or a rich oilman. Magee February 20. 2008 - Tribune editor Phil driving assignment. his brakes. but knew that it was already used the paper to break the Teapot Dome Casaus announces to his staff that the Both Davis's train and Williams's bus too late to stop in time to avert a scandal. which uncovered corruption in paper's final edition will be Saturday. were running behind schedule on April collision. He could only hope to reduce the administration of President Warren G. february 23. 11. For an unexplained reason. Train No. his speed by thirty-five to forty-five miles Harding and sent his secretary of the (The above timeline is reprinted from 7 had been twenty minutes late leavlnq per hour before the inevitable crash interior. former New Mexico Senator the Albuquerque Sunday Journal. Albuquerque. Meanwhile. muddy roads occurred. Albert B. fall to prison. February 24. 2008 . Information is from outside Flagstaff had delayed the As Davis sped toward the crossing bus . March 23. 1923 - Magee's Independent the Albuquerque Tribune archives.) Pickwick bus before Williams had taken he saw the panicked expression of a bus renamed the New Mexico State Tribune. -CCL

3 Clayton WPA Library The New Deal not only employed the and further devastated by the 1932-1937 room on the lower floors could lead the town were able to co-sponsor needy during the Great Depression. but drought. depreciated land values. directly to the top floor. successfully the WPA construction also started a process of building chronic grasshopper infestations and These design changes are indicative of appropriation. The success of these government institutions where none substantial population loss. the longstanding commitment that had efforts encouraged the Independent existed. This couldn't be truer than in Clayton's library was the largest and been made by several civic groups in Order of Odd Fellows and the Rebekahs New Mexico. which established many of most expensive of the 11 WPA library Clayton. to ensure the town would have Lodge to establish headquarters in the its first public schools. county projects carried out in New Mexico an appropriate building for its library new building. thus necessitating the courthouses. city halls. fire stations. between 1935 and 1941. Planned to collection. which was first housed on addition of the second story to Kruger's water systems and sidewalks as a result of serve the community as a civic center shelves at the Clayton Produce original design. the New Deal. From 1933 until the and fraternal organization hall as well as Company. and ultimately in the Once finalized. the erection of the beginnin~ of World War II. the New Deal a library. the buildinq is an excellent basement of the Methodist Church library proceeded at a fair pace in pumped millions of dollars of direct example of the way in which the New (which is now the Herzstein Memorial tandem with the other WPA projects federal aid into New Mexico . ushering Deal's public works projects. in Museum). In particular. the Twentieth under construction in the town. The the state into the modern era. partnership with local government and Century Club (now the Clayton Union County Leader reported that the civic groups. sustained small-town life in Federated Women's Club). which was land for the library had been cleared and rural New Mexico. originally established as a women's home excavation for the foundations was well The WPA appropriated $11.608 for economic association. struggled to staff underway in early February 1938. By construction of a library in Clayton. on and maintain a regular schedule of hours August. 1939. exterior painting and September 7. 1937. An initial set of plans for the fled!Jling public resource. stuccoworz was near completion. and in conceived by Willard C. Kruger. head of Through the club's efforts. both the October the library collection was the New Mexico WPA Architectural WPA and the NYA were successfully moved into the new building. Department and drawn by John Windsor lobbied for funding to provide salaries More than 200 citizens attended the were prepared in January of 1938. The respectively for a librarian and an official opening of the library and plans featured a one-story building on a assistant while the library was located in­ community center on February 18. 1940. partially raised basement. A library the Methodist Church. Assoon as a local by which time WPA programs .had also space capable of housing 11.000volumes citizen. Alice Isaacs . donated land for the provided Clayton with an up-to-date was indicated for the upper floor. while a library. the Twentieth Century Club and secondary education complex. a system Old Library in Clayton. New Mexico (Phocgraph courtesy of NMffPD) community or assembly room with a of water mains. a shallow well. and stage and kitchen facilities would occupy sidewalks. curbs and !Jutters. A list of Works Progress Administration the basement. The Pueblo Revival style. Throuqh its labor intensive design CWPA) projects in Union County. New which had been used by Kruger for the involving the dressinq and construction Mexico. includes 145 items. many of other WPAprojects under his direction in of structural stone masonry. stuccowork, which were school construction or repair Clayton. was also selected for the library. Pueblo Revival detailing and locally projects. Other items included road When the architect's drawings were crafted interior furnishings (see photo of improvements. ditches. dams. sewers displayed to the townspeople in the chair). the Clayton Public Library and dralnaqe. window of Smithson's Drug Store in exemplifies the hiqh level of One of the main WPAprojects was the February. the Union Coun ty Leader workmanship and use of regional construction of the historic Clayton commented that the entrance had been materials that typified New Deal Public Library. now known as the D.D. "charminqly designed to give the construction projects in New Mexico. Monroe Civic Iuilldinq. The building on building a home-like atmosphere." By In 2008. New Mexico. along with the Walnut Street was one of five major August. however. the plan had been nation. will celebrate the 75th construction projects carried out in extensively revised under the direction of anniversary of the New Deal. New Clayton between 1935 and 1940 throuqh J.M. Frame. who replaced Kruger as head Mexico. was one of the largest recipients the federal ~overnment's WPA program. of the WPA Architectural Department. per capita of New Deal aid. which was designed to stimulate the The design was expanded to depressed American economy. The accommodate a second floor and the (Above article was published in the Clayton Public Library and the town's entrance to the building reconfigured so Union County Leader. Clayton NM. The Library was furnished with other WPA projects bolstered a local that an internal staircase independent handmade chairs and tables February 13. 2008. Author unknown) economy weakened by the Depression from the library and the community (pliotoqrepli courtesy of NMHPD) ••• Bus Crash continued...

week. making this the worst Albuquerque testified that the bus had Coffin and their son had been onboard Tribune deemed the cost of such transportation disaster in New Mexico slowed down. but had not stopped before the ill-fated Pickwick bus. but had !Jotten construction to be necessary "to protect history. Victims included all three ~oin!J over the tracks. Mrs. PR. Olquin, an off at a stop in Needles. Arizona. and had motorists from their own folly [and] from children and their mothers. school Isleta jeweler who had been working in missed the bus when it departed. Only the imperfections of powerful [railroad] teacher Thelma Luft, Corporal Roland her garden and had watched the bus ~o their IU!J~a!Je. already on the bus. was lost machinery." Anderson. Patacio Tortelato. Tom Nieto. by. was sure that Williams had. in fact. in the wreckage. Today. those who pass the disaster former Indian scout Richard Childers. stopped. however briefly. Given this Mrs. WR. Smith was equally fortunate. scene at the intersection of routes 147 and ex-convict C.E. Malloy. mixed testimony and inconclusive Actinq on what she called a hunch. Mrs. and 314 will notice that a crossing gate Many bodies were so damaged in the ecidence. the official inquest closed Smith had left the bus in fla!Jstaff. optinq has been installed. Traffic is still regular. if crash that it would take days before they without fixin!J specific blame for the to complete her journey to Kansas City not heavy. but the crossing is now safer were identified. With no passenger list to traqedy by train. She later read of the disaster than it had been in April 1930. assist them. authorities had to rely on Several families. left destitute by the from the safety of her home. However. there are many other evidence found at the scene or provided loss of their loved ones. contacted the Banner headlines had first announced railroad crossings in New Mexico that still by anxious friends and relatives in distant Pickwick Bus Company in hope of the crash in a rare extra edition of lack crossinq gates. And there are still states. R.C. Stevens of Illinois was receiving financial assistance in paying Albuquerque's Morning Journaf. Press motorists who try to avoid Ionq waits by identified by the business cards found in funeral expenses or transporting bodies coverage in Albuquerque. Santa Fe. and racing across tracks as trains approach a card case on his remains. home for burial. Company officials throughout the region continued for and crossing !Jates come down. The Schoolteacher Thelma Luft was responded by callinq the accident a many days. Outraqed by the disaster. consequences are sadly predictable. identified by her unique gold wedding "lamentable tragedy" but offered no several editorials offered sU!J~estions to In short. despite much progress. tragic ring. Katherine Dofner was identified by monetary compensation. The company prevent similar crises in the future. The accidents still occur and needless deaths an abdominal scar from a recent even refused to pay refunds for the Albuquerque Journal asserted that bus still follow. Drivers must be continually operation. Six Santo Domingo friends tickets of those who survived. At least drivers should be reminded of the law vigilant. History only repeats itself when identified Patracio Tortelato by his one newspaper declared these refusals that required them to make complete we refuse to heed its clearest warnings. clothing. "cold-blooded." "baffling." and stops before proceeding over tracks. The -RM A fortunate few survivors required "disqraceful." Journal also suggested that "stop. look. Richard Melzer currently serves as only minimal treatment and were But there was some ~ood news among listen" signs be placed at every railroad President of the Historical Society of New crossing in the state. released after several hours or a few days. all the bad. One small miracle involved Mexico. He is the author of numerous Somehow. M.R. Perkins. the man driver Williams's wife. When the twenty­ Other newspapers called for more bOORS . including. Buried Treasures: engineer Davis had seen frozen in terror two-year-old widow was unable to pay radical measures. On April 12. the New Famous and Unusual Gtevesites in New in a bus window. was among the liVing. the $15.50 she owed in rent for her Mexico State Tribune (later the Mexico History; When We Were Young in An inquest. heard before Justice of the Albuquerque apartment. her landlady Albuquerque Tribune) urged that every the West: True Histories of Childhood and Peace CL. Ritt. was held at 10:00a.m. the confiscated her few belongings. A bus be staffed with two employees. one Coming ofAge in the Great Depression: the followlnq Monday. The courtroom was benevolent local attorney saved the day to drive and the other to disembark and Civilian Conservation Corps in New packed throughout the daylonq session. by payinq the widow's debt. allowing Mrs. check up and down the tracks at each Mexico. 1933-1942. Melzer is a frequent contributor to La Cronies de Nuevo Testimony by at least two passengers Williams to retrieve her property and railroad crossinq. "That's a lot slower." Mexico. revealed that bus driver Williams had leave for Nebraska with her eight-month­ admitted the Tribune. "but it's [much] looked to the south but not to the north old baby and her husband's remains. safer." By May 1 the Tribune went further. before proceeding onto the tracks. An News of a far greater miracle soon arguing for the construction of Indian youth who had been waiting near appeared in the press. According to overpasses or tunnels over or under the crossing to catch a bus ride to newspaper reports. Mr. and Mrs. H.W every major railroad crossing. The 4 Historic Marker Commemorates one of the Great Indy Studios Buddy Holly, Fireballs, Waylon Jennings Recorded at Norman Petty Studios by Tom Drake

Much of the drtvinq force of early si~n in time for the festival. Many of the Rock 'N' Roll was shaped at small. original artists and Travis Holly. Buddy's independent recording studios. and one older brother attended. of the most respected - the Norman Petty Lubbock . Texas. boy Buddy Holly cut RecordinSJ Studios in Clovis - has been songs for Decca records in Nashville that officially recognized by the state of New went nowhere. but he eventually landed Mexico with an Official Scenic Historic in Clovis where Norman Petty. who ~rew Marker for its contributions to the history up in the town and remained a Iifelonq and culture of the state and nation. resident. saw a lot of determination and The Cultural Properties Review raw talent in the skinny kid with the Committee at its Auqust 10. 2007. Iarqe, horn-rimmed ~Iasses. Petty had meeting officially approved language for been cutting records since the a~e of 13. the new marker to be added to the state's first in the family's ~as station on Seventh network of 550 historic markers found Street. Usinq money made from his along New Mexico roads and hi~hways Norman Petty Trio's successful 1954 beqlnntnq in 1935. Proposed for Seventh recording of Duke Ellinqton's "Mood Street in Clovis. the New Mexico Historic Indiqo." he converted the family ~rocery Preservation Division and the New store next door into a modern recordlnq Mexico Department of Transportation studio. The year before Holly came to unveiled the new si~n on September 6. him. Petty had recorded the number one at the studio where Petty's success hit "Party Doll' with Buddy Knox in 1956. recordinq Buddy Holly and Crickets' and had bequn to make a name for "That'll Be The Day." has had Iastinq himself by expcrlmenrinq with echo influence on several ~enres of rock effects and microphone settings. music. Because he felt Holly's voice was thin. "To have a state orqantzatlon sayin~. Petty moved him closer to the mike. In cluded in the photo are l-t, from: George Tomsco and Steri Lark . ori ginal m embers of [he Fireballs who recorded et the studio. Behind them are fWO members of [he Tolle ttes, cem er is Shirley and Kenneth Broad. who manage the hey. this is a SJreat place - not just the Since the younv singer's SJroup was studio and open it for touts. to Ken 's left is Sonny Wesr and on the end is [he sister of '7io ler Pe((y who was married to town. but an orqanizatton like that sayinSJ named The Crick ets. he left the sound of Norm an Petty. ttet name is Ramona (maiden name Brady. bur do nor have a testname for her) this is sornethtnq to be noticed - will ~ive chirping crickets accidentally picked up (photograph co urtesy of Tom Drake NMHPD) it (the studio) a lot more credibility and on mike during a late-night recording Petty died in 1984.and upon his wife's 1961 with "Take Good Care of My Baby" recognition." said Geor~e Tomsco. who session of "I'm Gonna Love You Too." death in 1992. the Broads beqan openinq and replaced The Crickets on the Winter with the Fireballs recorded "Sugar Shack Petty also encouraged the hiccup sound the studio to tours. largely by Holly Dance Party Tour Holly was on when he at the studio in 1963. It is the first Holly made famous in "Pe~~y Sue." devotees. many of whom travel from died. completed marker in the program's 71­ which went qold in 1958. A year later Europe and especially Germany and "The festival beqan in 1987 to year history to recognize a musician and Holly would traqically die shortly after England where his music never lost recognize the artists who contributed to the only one to commemorate a cultural takinSJ off in a small plane from Cedar popularity. The Broads say people have the world of music." Tomsco said of the contribution by the ~enerations that Lake. Iowa. durinq a winter storm. fainted when they see the original event, which Vi Petty originated. followed World War II. Petty's roster of artists included the acetates Holly laid down at the studio. or Persons wantlnq to see where the The Buddy Holly International Fan Fireballs. from Raton. who recorded the the couch in the studio apartment where recordings were made can take a studio Club based in Doncaster. Enqland. bi~~est sellinq record of 1963. "Sugar he slept between the many takes Petty tour by contacting the Broads. congratulated HPD on what it called a Shack" at the studio: Waylon Jennings, was famous for requiring of his artists. HPD is part of the Department of "most fittin~ marker," acknowledqinq the Roy Orbison. Glen Campbell. Trini Lopez Unlike many of the studios belon~in~ to Cultural Affairs and is the official State collaboration between Petty and Holly. and Bobby Vee. As a youn~ man in 1949. the major labels of the day. Petty did not Historic Preservation Office for New "Together their music enriched and he and his wife Vi formed the Norman charge artists by the hour. SJivinSJ them Mexico. as charged by the U.S. inspired the lives of so many people Petty Trio with ~uitarist Jack Vauqhn and the freedom to explore their creativity Department of the Interior to survey. throughout the world." said Jim Carr. toured extensively. "Moon Indigo" sold a without time constraints. "The bi~ platter protec t and preserve the cultural president of the fan club . half-million copies and "Almost Paradise" houses are substitutinq efficiency for heritaSJe of the state. ~ TD The unvetling helped launch the was a Top 20 hit. but the trio stopped creativity." Petty was quoted as sayin~ in Tom Drake is the Public Relations Clovis Music Festival. which was recordinq when Petty sensed the nation's a 1960 edition of New Mexico Magazine. Specialist for the New Mexico Historic attended by an international audience chan~inq musical tastes and opted for a Tomsco and Stan Lark. both original Preservation Division. and featured many of the stars who role behind the controls instead. Fireballs members. performed at the www.nmhistoricpreservation.orq recorded at Petty's studio. NMDOT and "Norman Petty could have lived festival as did Tommy Allsup. Holly's HPD manage the marker program in anywhere in the world. but chose to stay ~uitarist on his fateful last tour; Sonny partnership with the transportation in Clovis." said Kenneth Broad who with West,who wrote "Oh Boy"and "Rave On" department building the si16ns and HPD his wife Shirley won a Heritaqe for Holly and whose recording "Rock Ola researcfunq and writinSJ the lan~uaSJe . Preservation Award from the CPRC in Ruby" is a collector's item produced by NMDOT expedited the creation of the May for preserving the iconic studio. . Petty; and Bobby Vee who hit NO.1 in ••• Historic Buildings in Deming, New Mexico

Luna County Courthouse. Deming. NM Railroad Depot. Deming NM (pti otoqrept: by William Bayn e Anderson) (phorograph by \'7iIIiam Bayn e Anderson) The Luna County Courthouse. built in 1910. is a 100' x 50' red brick buildinq in its original The depot with a Harvey House were built in 1881 at the time of the joining of the rails and the structure. The courthouse was designed by architect WB Corwin. The attached jail building establishment of Deming as a town. The depot and Harvey House were for many years a social was co nstructed in 19I 8. The building reflects a typical late 19th century archit ectural style center for the community. The restaurant was the site for many important community featuring a Greek portico and tall clock tower. The two buildings were joined togeth er with a meetings and during World War I was used by the Camp Cody military personnel to meet on fJlass hallway in 1965. The interior was remodeled during 2006-07. The clock which had not a frequ ent schedule with town leaders. The Harvey House burnt and was removed several worked for many years now chimes the hours in Deming. In addition. attractive outdoor years later. Most recent. with community fear of the depot building to be demolished by the lifJhting was added - the building is worth viewin g after dark. The Luna County Courthous e railroad company. the community came together and bou ght the building and moved it from was the site of the trials for 30 'ViIIistas of the 1916 Columbus Raid. Four of them were hanged the railroad property. The depot has been fully remodeled and now is located two blocks in the yard of the county jail. This building is on the historical landmark registr y. - WBA north of the Convention Cent er. The move. howev er. prev ented the building from being identified on the histori cal registry. - WBA 5 • • This Newspaper is published by Non-Profit Organization HISTORICAL SOCIETYOF NEWMEXICO U.S. POSTAGE PAID PO. Box 1912 Santa Fe, New Mexico Santa Fe. New Mexico 87504 La Cronica . 87501 EDITOR oe Nuevo MeXlco Permit No. 95 Carleen C. LazzeII ASSOCIATE EDITOR Number 75 Ronald R. Hadad HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF NEW MEXICO OFFICERS Richard Melzer - President Post Office Box 1912 Michael Stevenson - is t Vice President Jim Harr is - snd Vice President Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504 John Ramsay - Treasurer Henri etta M. Christmas - Secretary DIRECTORS Cecilia Jensen Bell TO: Don Bullis David L. Caffey William W. Dunmire Ken Earle Kathryn Flynn Ren e Harr is Andy Hernand ez Jo Anne Jager Enrique Lamadrid Carleen Lazzell Margaret Espin osa McDona ld Abe Pefia Bstevan Rael-Galvez RicR Hendr icks - Past President The opi nions expressed in sis~ned articles are no t necessarily those of the Historical Society of New Mexico. Mention of a product. service or professional in these columns is not to be co nsidered a n endo rseme nt of tha t produ ct. service or profession by the Historical Soc iety of New Mexico . Printed by Tri-State Printing. • •

"The Bell Keepers" Sculpture in Albuquerque's North Valley

The corner of Rio Grande Boulevard depicts a padre and a citizen carryinq a and Alameda is the location of a bronze bell to a safe location after rescuinq it sculpture which portrays an imaginary from the washed away adobe church. scene from one of the horrendous Papitto told the reporter that he based floods which inundated Albuquerque's the sculpture on the story of La North Valley during the early 20th Natividad de Maria Santisima's century. Accounts of the floods are destruction in a 1903 flood . but that he documented in history books and are imaqined the scene of the priest and also handed down as oral history the parishioner savinq the bell. through the descendents of the area's The two fi~ures are headed in the early settlers. In an article published in direction of the Nativity of the Blessed the Albuquerque West Side Ioutnel. VirQin Mary. the church which replaced February 13, 2008. Juan-Carlos the one washed away in the 1903flood. RodriQuez said that "the cataclysmic Local lore says the bell. in fact, was lost floods transformed farms into swamp after the flood and has not been fou nd lands. adobes homes became mud, since. and people and animals lost their At a cost of $150,000. "The Bell lives." Keepers" was funded by 1% for Public This piece of public art was created Art. ~CCL by Las Cruces-based artist Bruce Papitto. The theme of the sculpture The "BeII Keepers" by Bruce Papitto Placed on a Chaco-style stone base Books (photograph taken February 26. 2008 by Lynn Adkins)

Lovington: Survivor on the High county seat and courthouse from Plains by Gil Hinshaw. Lovington in the 1930s. NEW BOOKS ABOUT NEW MEXICO mSTORY 'VinJinia Beach: Donner Publishlng, 2007. This is mostly a business history. but 176paqes. Hinshaw is at his best when he provides Alexander. Bob. Lawmen. Moore. Paula. Cricket in the Review by Richard Melzer small anecdotes about early life in Outlaws. and S.O.8.s, vol. 2 Web : The 1949 Unsolved Lovineton. Car travel to this isolated Silver City: HiSJh-Lonesome Murder that Unraveled Gil Hinshaw has chosen the perfect community was especially troublesome. Books . 2007 . Politics in New Mexico. title for his new history of Lovinqton, When traveling on the open road . men Albuquerque: University of New New Mexico. As Lovington celebrates its had to help shovel sand off the route Chamberlain, Kathleen P Mexico Press . 2008. 100th anniversary. Hinshaw considers every mile or so or face ~ettin~ stuck. how this proud town was able to survive Awed residents talked for days when Victorio: Apache Warrior and on the eastern plains of New Mexico drivers made car trips of any distance Chief. Norman: University of Sa nchez. Linda A. Eve 8all: when so many other communities have without a sinqle fIat or mechanical Okl ahoma Press. 2007 . Woman Among Men. Lincoln: failed. breakdown. Lincoln County Historical founded in 1908 and destqnared as Readers interested in how Lovington's 2007 . Lea County's first county seat by 1917. history relates to state or national history Gonzales, Phillip B. Expressing Society. Lovington survived despite extreme (from the Great Depression to WorldWars New Mexico: Nuevomexicano isolation and some formidable I and II) will need to look elsewhere. But Creativity. Ritual, and Torrez. Robert J. The Myth of competition. In the 1920s. when oil was for good local history. fine photos of Memory. Tucson: University of the Hanging Tree: Stories of 30-pa~e discovered in southern Lea County, the mostly local businesses. and a Arizona Press. 2007. Crime and Punishment in ~rowth of Hobbs from a tiny hamlet to a end section with brief bioqraphies of 43 booming oil town threatened Lovinqton early Lovington leaders Gil Hinshaw's Territorial New Mexico. in political and economic ways. Only a bOOR is a valuable. well-produced new Lux. Annie. Historic New Albuquerque: University of New clever last-minute real estate deal source of information. -RM Mexico Churches. Layton. Mexico Press. 2008. prevented Hobbs from capturing the Utah: Gibbs Smith. 2007. List compiled by Richard Melzer Marriott. Barbara. Outlaw Tales Please visit the Historical Society of New Mexico. Guilford. Connecticut: Globe Pequot Press. of New Mexico web site! 200 7. ~hsnm.ot1