(Oct. 1990) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service nr> _ i NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM 1. NAME OF PROPERTY HISTORIC NAME: The Hot Springs Bathhouse and Commercial Historic District in Truth or Consequences OTHER NAME/SITE NUMBER; Hot Springs 2. LOCATION STREET & NUMBER: Roughly bounded by Post, Van Patten, Pershing and Main Streets NOT FOR PUBLICATION: N/A CITY OR TOWN: Truth or Consequences VICINITY: N/A STATE: New Mexico CODE: 051 COUNTY: Sierra ZIP CODE: 87901 3. STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this _x_nomination __ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property _x_meets __ does not meet the National Register criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant __ nationally __ statewide,_x_locally. ( __ See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of certifying official Date State Historic Preservation Officer _________ ______ State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property meets __ does not meet the National Register criteria. ( __ See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that this property is: y entered in the National Register __ See continuation sheet. __ determined eligible for the National Register __ See continuation sheet. __ determined not eligible for the National Register __ removed from the National Register __ other (explain): ___________________ USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form The Hot Springs Bathhouse and Commercial Historic District in Truth or Consequences, Truth or Consequences, Sierra County, New Mexico_________________________________Page 2 5. CLASSIFICATION ____________________________________________________________ OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY: private; public-local; public-Federal CATEGORY OF PROPERTY: district NUMBER OF RESOURCES WITHIN PROPERTY: CONTRIBUTING NONCONTRIBUTING 125 87 BUILDINGS 0 0 SITES 0 0 STRUCTURES 0 0 OBJECTS 125 87 TOTAL NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTING RESOURCES PREVIOUSLY LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER: (1), U.S. Post Office - Truth or Consequences, Main (U.S. Post Offices in New Mexico MPS) NAME OF RELATED MULTIPLE PROPERTY LISTING: U.S. Post Offices in New Mexico MPS 6. FUNCTION OR USE______________________________________________________________ HISTORIC FUNCTIONS: DOMESTIC: multiple dwelling, hotel COMMERCE/TRADE: specialty store, restaurant RECREATION AND CULTURE: auditorium HEALTH CARE: baths (bath house) CURRENT FUNCTIONS: DOMESTIC: multiple dwelling, hotel COMMERCE/TRADE: specialty store, restaurant RECREATION AND CULTURE: auditorium HEALTH CARE: baths (bath house) 7. DESCRIPTION______________________________________________ ARCHITECTURAL CLASSIFICATION: LATE 19th AND 20th CENTURY REVIVALS: Pueblo (Revival) LATE 19TH CENTURY AND EARLY 20™ CENTURY AMERICAN MOVEMENTS: Bungalow/Craftsman MODERN MOVEMENT: Moderne; Streamlined Moderne OTHER: Southwest Vernacular; Commercial MATERIALS: FOUNDATION: CONCRETE WALLS: STUCCO, BRICK, WOOD ROOF: ASPHALT OTHER: GLASS NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION (see continuation sheets 7-5 through 7-21). USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form The Hot Springs Bathhouse and Commercial Historic District in Truth or Consequences, Truth or Consequences, Sierra County, New Mexico_________________________________Page 3 8. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE____________________________________ APPLICABLE NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA _x_ A PROPERTY is ASSOCIATED WITH EVENTS THAT HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE BROAD PATTERNS OF OUR HISTORY. B PROPERTY is ASSOCIATED WITH THE LIVES OF PERSONS SIGNIFICANT IN OUR PAST. _x_ C PROPERTY EMBODIES THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF A TYPE, PERIOD, OR METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION OR REPRESENTS THE WORK OF A MASTER, OR POSSESSES HIGH ARTISTIC VALUE, OR REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT AND DISTINGUISHABLE ENTITY WHOSE COMPONENTS LACK INDIVIDUAL DISTINCTION. _ D PROPERTY HAS YIELDED, OR is LIKELY TO YIELD, INFORMATION IMPORTANT IN PREHISTORY OR HISTORY. CRITERIA CONSIDERATIONS: N/A AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE: Community Planning and Development; Health/Medicine; Architecture PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE: 1916-1950 SIGNIFICANT DATES: 1916,1950 SIGNIFICANT PERSON: N/A CULTURAL AFFILIATION: N/A ARCHITECT/BUILDER: unknown NARRATIVE STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE (see continuation sheets 8-22 through 8-38). 9. MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES_______________________________________________ BIBLIOGRAPHY (see continuation sheet 9-39 through 9-41). PREVIOUS DOCUMENTATION ON FILE (NFS): N/A _ preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested. _ previously listed in the National Register _ previously determined eligible by the National Register _ designated a National Historic Landmark _ recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey # _ recorded by Historic American Engineering Record # PRIMARY LOCATION OF ADDITIONAL DATA: x_State historic preservation office (Historic Preservation Division, Office of Cultural Affairs) _ Other state agency _ Federal agency _ Local government _ University Other - _ Specify Repository: Geronimo Springs Museum, Truth or Consequences USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form The Hot Springs Bathhouse and Commercial Historic District in Truth or Consequences, Truth or Consequences, Sierra County, New Mexico ___ __________ Page 4 10. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF PROPERTY: 56 acres UTM REFERENCES Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing 1 13 289495 3667775 3 13 290080 3667600 2 13 289710 3667860 4 13 289880 3667280 (see continuation sheet 10-42) VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION (see continuation sheet 10-42 through 10-44) BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION (see continuation sheet 10-42 through 10-44) 11. FORM PREPARED BY NAME/TITLE: David Kammer, Ph.D. ORGANIZATION: consulting historian DATE: October 2004 STREET & NUMBER: 521 Aliso Dr. NE TELEPHONE: (505) 266-0586 CITY OR TOWN: Albuquerque STATE: New Mexico ZIP CODE: 87108 ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION CONTINUATION SHEETS MAPS (see attached Cuchillo, N. Mex. U.S.G.S quadrangle map) PHOTOGRAPHS (see continuation sheet Photo-45 through Photo 47) ADDITIONAL ITEMS N/A PROPERTY OWNER NAME: List of property owners kept on file with the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division and the City of Truth or Consequences STREET & NUMBER: 228 East Palace Avenue, Room 328 TELEPHONE: 505-827-6320 CITY OR TOWN: Santa Fe STATE: NM ZIP CODE: 87501 NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet The Hot Springs Bathhouse and Commercial Historic District in Truth or Consequences Section 7 Page 5 Truth or Consequences, Sierra County, New Mexico Description The Hot Springs Bathhouse and Commercial Historic District in Truth or Consequences consists of approximately 56 acres encompassing much of the city's historic downtown and nearby mineral baths and apartments that served visitors who came to the health resort community between 1916 and 1950 when it was known as Hot Springs. The district also encompasses the locations of the approximately 35 artesian wells, springs and sumps identified in a 1940 geological study of the thermal waters of the Hot Springs Artesian Basin. Included within the district are 125 contributing properties and 87 noncontributing properties. All of the former were constructed during the period of significance or moved to the district during that period. Approximately one third of the contributing properties functioned historically as commercial buildings; two were constructed and continue to function as public buildings. The remainder functioned as mineral bathhouses or apartments or other facilities associated with the health resort industry. Reflecting the design sensibilities of many of the newcomers to New Mexico who settled in Hot Springs, several of the buildings exhibit modest bungalow details. Many of the buildings dating to the latter decades of the period of significance exhibit details associated with the Southwest Vernacular and Commercial styles while others embody elements associated with the Spanish-Pueblo Revival idiom. Since some commercial buildings, bathhouses and apartments dating to the period of significance have been razed or substantially altered, the district boundaries have been drawn to include those properties that retain a high degree of integrity as to setting and location as well as to design, materials and feeling and association. Geographical Setting The district is located in the southern part of the city of Truth or Consequences, or T or C as it is locally known, along the flood plain of the Rio Grande, approximately five miles southwest of Elephant Butte Dam, Sierra County. Suggestive of the Mexican Highland section of the Basin and Range Province in which it lies, the city extends over a varied topography. The city is more or less divided by a prominent Magdalena limestone ridge, or hogback, on which one of the city's water tanks is located. North and west of the hogback, locally known as Water Tank Hill, a series of arroyo-creased foothills extend toward the nearby low-lying Mud Springs Mountains. Atop the hogback at an elevation of 4,400 feet, the site offers an unobstructed view southeastward across