Roswell, NM Centennial Magazine 2012

1 Roswell: 100 Years of History

ROSWELL CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND AFFILIATIONS Kenna Arganbright, Roswell Museum and Art Center Anne Baker, Music Roswell Rey Berrones, Roswell Daily Record Caroline Brooks, Roswell Museum and Art Center Roger Burnett, Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico Kathleen Curtis, Roswell Chamber of Commerce Lynn Ditto, Office of Senator Bingaman Dorrie Faubus, Roswell Chamber of Commerce Nancy Fleming, Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program Juliana Halvorson, Graphmaster Media & Design, Walker Aviation Museum, Chaves County Tourism Council and MainStreet Roswell Dusty Huckabee, MainStreet Roswell Rita Kane-Doerhoefer, MainStreet Roswell Mona Kirk, Arts Connect!

John LeMay, Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico Betty Long, Roswell Public Library Bonnie Montgomery, Historical Foundation for Southeast New Mexico and Chaves County Tourism Council Renee Roach, City of Roswell Laurie Rufe, Roswell Museum and Art Center Peggy Seskey, MainStreet Roswell Edie Stevens, Roswell Community Little Theatre and Chaves County Tourism Council Joe Vargas, City of Roswell Parks and Recreation Dept.

J. Phelps White III, historian, retired rancher and businessman Susan Wink, artist and Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art Shannon Wooten, Chaves County Extension Office

FINANCIAL AND IN-KIND SUPPORT Roswell Lodger’s Tax Fund Graphmaster Media & Design, LLC Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico

MANY THANKS ARE EXTENDED TO OUR ADVERTISERS

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rev. Landjur Abukusumo Caroline Brooks Elvis Fleming Nancy Fleming R. Del Jurney John LeMay Linda S. Weiler J. Phelps White III Ernestine Chesser Williams, posthumous Susan Wink Did You Know texts were courtesy of MainStreet Roswell and the Roswell Centennial Committee unless credited otherwise.

Designed by Graphmaster Media & Design, LLC P.O. Box 816 Roswell, New Mexico, USA 88202 575-317-1568 www.graphmaster.com

Printed by Southwest Printers, LLC

PUBLICATION SUBCOMMITTEE Caroline Brooks Nancy Fleming Juliana Halvorson John LeMay Betty Long Cover Photo by Juliana Halvorson of the Chaves County Courthouse Completed in 1912

Table of Contents

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Introduction and Acknowledgements

5

Welcome to Roswell by the Mayor

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Fall Calendar of Events

Discover centennial-related events and other Roswell happenings

13

Map of Historic & Cultural Attractions Explore Roswell’s history through exhibits,

markers, and other points of interest.

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Ranches Past & Present in the Roswell Area

Tuberculosis & the Early Development of Roswell’s Healthcare

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Agriculture in the Pecos Valley

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Early Historic Buildings in Roswell

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Outhouses – Part of the Roswell Scene

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Water in the Pecos Valley & Greater New Mexico

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Chihuahuita

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Blackdom’s Legacy

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German POWs in Roswell

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The Roswell Victory

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History of the UFO Festival

43

Legends & Lore of Bottomless Lakes

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Remembering Roswell

47

Early Aviation Highlights

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Dr. Robert H. Goddard – Rocket Pioneer

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Photo Album

A Community-Based Legacy Project

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Introduction John LeMay and Caroline Brooks Roswell Centennial Committee

&Acknowledgements

Introduction & Acknowledgements

Around 1868 cattle dealer James Patterson built a small 15’ x 15’ trading post along the GoodnightLoving Cattle Trail near a small Hispanic settlement known as Rio Hondo. Referred to as “one of the most important outfitting depots” between Texas and Colorado, the site was ideal, with plenty of tall grass for grazing and a steady source of water from the Hondo and Pecos Rivers. In 1870, the trading post was purchased by entrepreneur Van C. Smith who—with hopes of developing the gateway to the Southwest—expanded the building into a hotel, casino, and restaurant, and added a general store and post office next door. Still identified as Rio Hondo, in 1872 Smith changed the name to Roswell in honor of his father, Roswell Smith of Nebraska.

Smith soon moved on to other ventures, however Roswell continued to grow under the influence of several notable figures including cattle baron John Chisum, industrialist J.J. Hagerman, and Civil War veteran and “Father of Roswell” Captain Joseph C.

3 Roswell: 100 Years of History

Lea, among others. Lea himself would eventually become a wealthy cattleman like John Chisum and helped to start the New Mexico Military Institute in the process of making Roswell a suitable community for families. Still others continued to arrive, benefiting from Roswell’s unique qualities.

With the discovery of artesian wells in 1890, agriculture boomed. Apples were exported by the trainloads, and there were attempts made at growing other forms of produce including melons, celery, and strawberries. Blackdom, an all-African American farming community founded by former Southerners, was established 18 miles outside of Roswell at the end of the 19th century and produced cotton, cantaloupe, onions, alfalfa, and sugar beets until its demise in the 1920s. At the turn of the century, Roswell also attracted healthseekers, many suffering from tuberculosis, who sought a sunny, arid environment to cure their ailments.

Robert H. Goddard, known as the “Father of Modern Rocketry,” relocated here in 1930 upon the

Photo courtesy of HSSNM

Introduction & Acknowledgements

advice of Charles Lindbergh in order to conduct his experiments in greater seclusion. The Works Progress Administration was active in Roswell during the Great Depression, constructing several significant buildings and structures including City Hall and a Federal art center, now known as the Roswell Museum and Art Center.

The Walker Air Force Base—which opened as the Roswell Army Flying School in 1941—was a significant base of operations during WWII through the early years of the Cold War era, and was also known for its infamous involvement in the 1947 Roswell UFO Incident. When the Base closed in 1967, Roswell’s economy plummeted and eventually rebounded, becoming home to several industries, including dairy, pecans, and cheese, as well as a branch of Eastern New Mexico University.

Today, nearly 145 years after the small trading post was built, Roswell has indeed experienced many changes and its population has grown to over 65,000 people in the Chaves County area. In honor of Roswell’s many achievements, the Roswell Centennial Committee—made up of representatives from throughout the community—has produced this publication through the generous support of the City of Roswell Lodger’s Tax Fund, local businesses, as well as contributions by the Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico, local historians, and other community members. We hope, whether a visitor or resident, you enjoy the following pages as you learn about some of the perhaps lesserknown aspects of this historic “All-America City.”

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John S. Chisum Sculpture by Robert Summers.

John Simpson Chisum (1824-1884) was called the “Cattle King of the Pecos.� During his heyday, he had 80,000 head of cattle and was believed to be the largest cattle producer in the US. He trailed longhorns from Texas with Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving in 1867

Juliana Halvorson

on the trail they blazed into the Pecos Valley.

Chisum subsequently formed a partnership with Goodnight to drive cattle to the Bosque Grande and northward. In 1876, Chisum was a target for rustling that led him to form alliances with the Regulators during the Lincoln County War.

When Will Rogers referred to Roswell as “The prettiest little town west of the Pecos”, the secret was out. Since that time, millions have come from around the world and beyond to experience for themselves the culture and beauty of one of New Mexico’s finest.

From the original settlers along the Hondo River, to the cattle drives down Main Street, to the discovery of deep artesian water reserves and the growth of agricultural commerce, the history of Roswell is one of tremendous effort and shared success. We are blessed with beautiful skies, warm weather, fertile ground, and a strong desire to grow and prosper as a community.

Roswell is rich in its unique history and accomplishments: Robert H. Goddard and the discovery of modern day rocketry; New Mexico Military Institute with 120 years of military and civilian contributions to our nation; Walker Air Force Base and its pivotal role during WWII; as

well as the 1947 crash of a UFO and the beginning of a worldwide phenomenon.

We pay tribute to our history by continuing its legacy, by honoring the people and events that have made us who we are today, and by enriching our quality of life. I encourage you to see for yourself—to tour the Roswell Museum and Art Center as well as our four other world-class museums, to enjoy the serenity of our parks and zoo, the challenge of our first-class golf courses, and the welcome of our citizens. I’m convinced that you will agree—Roswell is a great place to be.

As we celebrate the Centennial of the State of New Mexico, I want to thank you for including Roswell as a point of destination. Enjoy your stay, grab a souvenir or two, and come back soon.

Sincerely,

Welcome

Welcome to Roswell

R. Del Jurney, Mayor City of Roswell, New Mexico

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Chile Cheese Festival

Fall Calendar of Events

Eastern New Mexico State Fair Parade Photos by Juliana Halvorson

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in this calendar. Because of the extensive number of sources and the unpredictable nature of events, however, the Roswell Centennial Committee assumes no responsibility for errors, changes, or omissions.

7 Roswell: 100 Years of History

Potter’s Guild Show

Special Centennial-related events are denoted with a logo.

SEPTEMBER Roswell Victory Model Exhibit

A detailed model of the WWII ship “Roswell Victory” will be on view at various venues this year as part of a statewide Centennial project to recognize military ships whose names were inspired by places and people of New Mexico. A public reception and venues to be announced. 575-622-0586

SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER Sunday Fun Day Lecture Series

Ongoing program and lecture series on statehood and the history of Roswell presented by local historians on the first Sunday of the month. Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico 200 N. Lea Ave. 575-622-8333 www.hssnm.net

SEPTEMBER 1-3 Bubblefest

Bottomless Lakes State Park, 545 A Bottomless Lakes Road 575-624-6058 www.emnrd.state. nm.us/prd/bottomless.htm

SEPTEMBER 3 Turtle Marathon

Cahoon Park, 1101 West 4th St. 575-624-6702 roswellrunnersclub@yahoo.com

SEPTEMBER 7-9

11th Annual Dragonfly Festival

In honor of the refuge’s 75th birthday and New Mexico’s state Centennial this annual event will be even larger and includes dragonfly tours, wildlife exhibits, crafts for kids, and art vendors. Free. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge,

Jerry Holm

Courtesy Photo

4200 E. Pine Lodge Rd. 575-625-4011 www.friendsofbitterlake.com

SEPTEMBER 7-18

“Fiddler on the Roof”

Roswell Community Little Theatre, 1717 South Union, 575-622-1982 www.roswelllittletheatre.com

SEPTEMBER 14

Hank the Cowdog’s John Erickson

Come listen to John Erickson, author of the popular series Hank the Cowdog, as he gives you a glimpse of ranch life in the West Texas Panhandle through the eyes of his smart-aleck, furry friend.

Presented by the Roswell Public Library and Friends of the Public Library. Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau, 912 N. Main Street., 575-622-7101 www.roswellpubliclibrary.org

SEPTEMBER 14-16 Piñata Fest

Chaves County Courthouse Lawn, 401 N. Main St. 575-624-0089 www.roswellhcc.org

SEPTEMBER 21-22 Pecos Valley Quilt Show

Roswell Convention and Civic Center, 912 N. Main St. www.pecosvalleyquilters.com

SEPTEMBER 21 Exhibit Reception: Eddie Dominguez

Roswell Museum and Art Center, 100 W. 11th St., 575-624-6744 www.roswellmuseum.org

SEPTEMBER 28 Exhibit Reception & Lecture: Rodney Carswell Roswell Museum and Art Center,

FUMC Salute to Veterans

100 W. 11th St., 575-624-6744 www.roswellmuseum.org

SEPTEMBER 28-29 21st Annual Chili and Cheese Festival

Follow the aroma of fresh roasting chili to Roswell’s 20th annual Chili and Cheese Festival. Event highlights area’s farming industry and will include live music, vendor booths, a farmers market, and historic bus tours to the Leprino Cheese Plant. Presented by MainStreet Roswell.

Festival is free. Leprino Cheese Plant Tour is $6, tickets required and available at the Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau, 912 N. Main Street.

575-420-5718 www.mainstreetroswell.org

Fall Calendar of Events

Roswell Public Library

SEPTEMBER 29

New Mexico Centennial Air Tour

Historic and modern planes will touch down in Roswell during a statewide air tour celebrating 100 years of rich aviation heritage. View demonstrations and displays, and meet the pilots. Presented by the Walker Aviation Museum, Roswell Industrial Air Center, and the New Mexico Pilots Association.

Roswell International Air Center, 1 Jerry Smith Circle., 575-347-2464, www.wafbmuseum.org

OCTOBER 1 - 6

Eastern New Mexico State Fair

Fair week kicks off with New Mexico’s largest parade along Main Street at 10 am on Monday and continues throughout the week. This historic fair charts back to 1892 and features farming and ranching displays and competitions, community booths, an arts and crafts show, entertainment,

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Fall Calendar of Events

and carnival rides and games.

The 2012 fair theme is “100 Years of Statehood.” Presented by the Eastern New Mexico State Fair Board and the City of Roswell. $2-$6. Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds., 575-624-9411 www.enmsf.com

OCTOBER 6

Art Block Party and Chalk Art Festival

Celebrate New Mexico’s Centennial with historical displays and demonstrations, arts and crafts vendors, children’s activities, and a sidewalk chalk drawing competition.

Entertainment includes the Watermelon Mountain Jug Band, jazz music, and Puppet’s Revenge.

The Museum’s 75th anniversary will be commemorated with the unveiling of a new Kim Wiggins painting and birthday cake. Presented by the City of Roswell, RMAC Foundation, Bank of the Southwest, Todd memorial Trust, Roswell Centennial Committee, and Roswell Lodger’s Tax Fund.

Free.

Roswell Museum and Art Center, 100 West 11th Street.

575-624-6744 x10 www.roswellmuseum.org www.roswellcentennial.org

OCTOBER 6-7

Chaparral Rockhounds Gem and Mineral Show

OCTOBER 12-14

NOVEMBER 3

7th Annual Roswell Jazz Festival

Pecos Valley Roundup and Bruce Ritter Memorial Race

Nine venues, see website for details.

575-626-8023 www.roswelljazzfestival.org

OCTOBER 20 Beyond the Grave: Historical Cemetery Tours

Stroll through the past as actors in period costumes bring early citizens to life during this entertaining, all ages cemetery tour. Presented by the Roswell Centennial Committee, the Roswell Community Little Theatre, the City of Roswell, and South Park Cemetery. Free, tickets required and available from Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau.

South Park Cemetery, Shuttles from Chaves County Administrative Center, #1 St. Mary’s Place. 575624-6744 x10 www.roswellcentennial.org

OCTOBER 27 2nd Annual Thrill the World Roswell and Zombie Walk Pioneer Plaza 575-316-1568 www.mainstreetroswell.org

NOVEMBER 2-11 “Noises Off”

Roswell Community Little Theatre, 1717 South Union 575-622-1982 www.roswelllittletheatre.com

Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau, 912 N. Main St. 575-622-5679

Benefit for New Mexico Youth Challenge, Cahoon Park 1101 W. 4th 575-317-6836

NOVEMBER 3 Christmas Gift Fair

Roswell Adult and Senior Center, 807 N. Missouri Ave. 575-624-6718

NOVEMBER 9-11 31st Annual Pecos Valley Potters’ Guild Art Show and Sale

Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau, 912 N. Main St. 575-627-547 www.roswellpottersartsale.org

NOVEMBER 10 Veteran’s Parade

Honor New Mexico’s veterans during this annual event. Presented by the Veterans Parade Committee and MainStreet Roswell. Free.

Along Main St., Chaves County Courthouse north to College Ave. 575-420-5718 www.mainstreetroswell.org

NOVEMBER 11

FUMC Chancel Choir: Salute to Veterans

A choral salute to New Mexico veterans and military activities.

Free. First United Methodist Church, 200 N. Pennsylvania 575-622-1881

Dragonfly Festival

Pecos Valley Quilt Show

Thrill the World and Zombie Walk

NOVEMBER 16-17

NOVEMBER 17 – JANUARY 6

32nd Annual Holly-Day Magic Arts and Crafts Show

RAiR Centennial Artist: Jerry West

Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau, 912 N. Main St. 575-622-4985

The Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program celebrates the Centennial with an exhibition of paintings by Santa Fe artist Jerry West whose work explores the unique culture and

Jerry Holm

beauty of New Mexico. An opening reception and lecture will be held on November 16, 5:30 – 7 pm. And be sure to visit Mi Casita restaurant on Main Street to view a mural completed by West that honors past and present Roswell citizens, as well as Mexican writers and historical figures. Free. Roswell Museum and

Fall Calendar of Events

Farmers’ and Gardeners’ Market

dpc David Petroleum Corp.

RIAC & Parks/ Recreation Dept.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ROSWELL INTERNATIONAL AIR CENTER WWW.WAFBMUSEUM.ORG

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Fall Calendar of Events Art Block Party and Chalk Art Festival

Art Center, 100 West 11th St. 575-624-6744 x10 www.roswellmuseum.org www.rair.org

DECEMBER 1 Reindeer Run

Roswell Racquet Club and Spa, 200 E. Mescalero 575-624-6702 roswellrunnersclub@yahoo.com

DECEMBER 1 Electric Light Parade

Main St., College Blvd. to Alameda St. 575-420-5718 www.mainstreetroswell.org

DECEMBER 1 Holiday Open House

Further information on community classes and activities visit: City of Roswell www.seeroswell.com

Roswell Adult and Senior Center 807 N. Missouri Ave. 575-624-6718 Roswell Museum and Art Center 100 W. 11th St. www.roswellmuseum.org 575-624-6744

Roswell Parks and Recreation Cahoon Park, 101 W. 4th St. 575-624-6720

Yucca Recreation Center 500 S. Richardson Ave. 575-624-6719

Roswell Community Little Theatre

Roswell Museum and Art Center, 100 W. 11th St. 575-624-6744 x10, www.roswellmuseum.org Veteran’s Parade

11 Roswell: 100 Years of History

Here when you need us.

407 W. Country Club Rd. 575-627-9110 Cancer Care • Primary Care • Urgent Care

w ww.K ym eraM edical.co m

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Walker Aviation Museum

Historic &Cultural Attractions 1

WALKER AVIATION MUSEUM

Located in the Roswell Airport Terminal, the Walker Aviation Museum preserves a significant chapter in the history of American military and civil aviation. Hundreds of artifacts, including equipment from historical airplanes, vintage uniforms, medals, models, photos, patches, and memorabilia from veterans, are on display. Roswell International Air Center, 1 Jerry Smith Circle, 575-347-2464 www.wafbmuseum.org.

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SOUTH PARK CEMETERY

The South Park Cemetery was established at the turn of the century to meet the needs of a growing community. Initially the cemetery design was in a floral pattern, which was later abandoned due to space concerns. A self-guided historical walking tour brochure is available at the cemetery office.

3101 S. Main St., 575-624-6748

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MI CASITA

The interior of this local Mexican restaurant includes a mural painted in 2011 by Santa Febased artist Jerry West that features notable figures in Roswell’s history. 1718 S. Main Street, 575-396-1011

13 Roswell: 100 Years of History

4

SAN JUAN DE BAUTISTA CATHOLIC CHURCH (ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH)

Built in 1903, the church was the lone source for health care and education for many area Hispanics until the 1960s and continues to serve as a religious and community center in the Chihuahuita neighborhood. Nearby, the Ave Maria Center features a mural painted by community members and facilitated by Pennsylvania-based artist Theresa Pfarr in 2007 that depicts significant people and events. 506. S. Lincoln Avenue, 575-622-3531.

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INTERNATIONAL UFO MUSEUM AND RESEARCH CENTER

Opened in 1992, the Museum presents information concerning UFO phenomena with a primary focus on the 1947 Roswell Incident in which a UFO reportedly crashed on a ranch outside Roswell.

114 N. Main St., 575-625-9495 www.roswellufomuseum.com

To view more

Roswell Centennial Information

Scan this code

or visit www.roswellcentennial.org

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Map is not to scale and is only intended to be used for reference.

Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art

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Historical Center for Southeast New Mexico

20 Included on this map are museums and places of interest that provide a historic overview of the Roswell area. For further resources on local history, please visit the Historical Center for Southeast New Mexico.

McBride Museum

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Pat Garrett Sculpture by Robert Summers

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Roswell Museum & Art Center

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HISTORICAL CENTER FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND MUSEUM ARCHIVES

The stately home of Mr. and Mrs. James Phelps White, a Roswell landmark since its completion in 1912, now stands amidst towering trees as the Historical Center for Southeast New Mexico Museum and Museum Archives—preserving area history through antiques, memorabilia, and early photography. 200 N. Lea Ave., 575-622-8333 www.hssnm.net

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PIONEER PLAZA AND CHISUM SCULPTURE

The Plaza was the site of Roswell’s first trading post which served as a stop for early travelers along the Goodnight-Loving Cattle Trail including “Cattle King” John S. Chisum. The Plaza also features a historic 1920s Conoco Station which currently houses the Neighborhood Watch offices. Across from Courthouse at 400 W. Main St.

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BOTTOMLESS LAKES STATE PARK

Established in 1933, Bottomless Lakes was the first state park in New Mexico and takes its name from nine small, deep sinkholes fed by underground water. In addition to camping and hiking, the park features swimming and paddle boat rentals in a recreational area built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The park is located about 15 miles southeast of Roswell. 575-624-6058 www.emnrd.state.nm.us/prd/bottomless.htm

15 Roswell: 100 Years of History

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PAT GARRETT SCULPTURE

Behind the Courthouse stands the recently erected sculpture of lawman Pat Garrett who lived in Roswell from 1880-1888. Notably, while serving as sheriff, Garrett shot and killed frontier outlaw Billy the Kid in 1881. Behind Courthouse at 400 N. Virginia.

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CHAVES COUNTY COURTHOUSE

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HISTORIC PLAQUES

The original courthouse was built in 1890 and used until 1910 when a new, larger courthouse was built in preparation for New Mexico’s statehood in 1912. The foyer includes a small free museum with old photographs and a mock jail cell and courtroom.

Visitors must enter through a security check at the main entrance at 400 N. Virginia Ave. Installed in honor of the State Centennial, five interpretive plaques designate the sites of past and currently standing historic buildings in the downtown area. The project was funded by the New Mexico Humanities Council and Lawrence Harris and organized by the Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico and the Roswell Museum and Art Center.

• Site of Roswell’s First Building, c. 1870 • Chaves County Courthouse, 1890 & 1911 • Roswell City Hall, 1938 • Site of Goss Military Institute, 1891 • Site of First General Store and Post Office,

1870

HISTORIC DISTRICT

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Historic District is located west of downtown’s business district. It includes homes and buildings of various architectural styles that reflect the melding of the indigenous, Hispanic, and Anglo cultures who settled here during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Brochures and books with further details are available through the Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico at 200 N. Lea Avenue or visit the Roswell Public Library at 301 N. Pennsylvania Avenue.

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CAHOON PARK AND SWIMMING POOL

The site known as Cahoon Park was established about 1902 as Haynes Dream and later renamed in honor of pioneering banker E.A. Cahoon. Adjacent to the Spring River Golf Course, the park features picnic areas, trails, a recently renovated sunken garden, and swimming pool. The pool, stone walls, and other structures were constructed by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. West 5th St. and Union Ave., 575-624-6764.

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SPRING RIVER GOLF COURSE

The golf course traces its roots back to the mid1920s when local golfers played in an open prairie near the present day site. Improvements were made in the 1930s with help from the Works Progress Administration, and the course was expanded to eighteen holes in the early 1970s.

1612 W. 8th St., 575-622-9506.

In late 1964 when Time magazine named President Lynden B. Johnson its Man of the Year, the magazine called on Roswell-born artist Peter Hurd to paint Johnson’s portrait for the cover. Johnson liked the resulting image so much that he decided Hurd should paint his official White House portrait.

Due to the President’s busy schedule, Hurd had difficulty scheduling sittings and was forced to

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DEBREMOND STADIUM

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ROSWELL MUSEUM AND ART CENTER

Located on the north side of the Spring River Hike and Bike Trail, between Pennsylvania and Kentucky Avenues, is an Iron Cross made by German Prisoners of War while working on a floodcontrol project laying rocks along the banks of the Spring River in the 1940s.

This Stadium, named for military leader Col. Charles DeBremond, was built by the Works Progress Administration in 1936 and was home to area football games and other school activities until the Wool Bowl was completed in 1962. It continues to be used for youth sporting events and is operated by the Roswell Independent School District. 209 W. 10th St.

Opened in 1937 as a WPA Federal art center, the Roswell Museum and Art Center houses significant collections covering over 500 years of art and history in the Southwest and beyond. Year-round programming includes film series, lectures, studio classes, and an annual community art festival. The Robert H. Goddard Planetarium serves the local schools and offers limited public programs. 100 W. 11th St., 575-624-6744 www.roswellmuseum.org

paint from photographs. Although considered by many to be a great likeness, when Hurd brought the finished portrait to the Johnson ranch for a private showing, Johnson declared it was the “ugliest thing I ever saw.” It was shipped back to Hurd, who later donated it to the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. Meanwhile, the joke making the rounds in Washington noted that artists should be seen in the White House, but not “Hurd.”

ART SHOW MAY THRU DECEMBER:

2304 N. Main St. 575-625-6767 Open 24 Hours

“THE NEW MEXICO CENTENNIAL & HISTORY OF ROSWELL”

Historic & Cultural Attractions

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IRON CROSS

Join us at The Gallery for the best in original art & fine crafts by local artisans

Photo courtesy of Bobby Goode

The Gallery

Monday through Saturday 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM 107 East 5th Street Roswell, NM 88201 575.625.5263 www.rfal.org

www.roswellcentennial.org 16

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Chaves County Courthouse, early 1900’s

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Photo courtesy of HSSNM

ANDERSON MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

The Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program was conceived in 1967 by businessman and artist Donald B. Anderson to enhance the cultural environment of Roswell and southeastern New Mexico by bringing artists of national and international importance to live and work in the tranquility of the high plains.

AMoCA presents an important span of artwork by artist-in-residence fellows covering contemporary currents over the past 45 years.

409 E. College Blvd., 575-623-5600 www.roswellamoca.org

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SPRING RIVER PARK AND ZOO

The Spring River Park and Zoo opened in 1966, but traces its origins to an earlier city zoo that was in Cahoon Park. It presents a variety of animals including monkeys, bear, bison, coyotes, and birds, and is New Mexico’s only free zoo. The park includes a picnic area, play equipment, a children’s fishing lake, a 1927 antique carousel, and miniature train. 1306 E. College Blvd., 575-624-6760

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MCBRIDE MUSEUM

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BITTER LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Located on the second floor of Luna Hall, the McBride Museum presents the history of New Mexico Military Institute tracing back to its founding in 1891. The Institute is a state-supported military high school and junior college.

101 West College Blvd., 1-800-421-5376 www.nmmi.edu/museum

Located about nine miles northeast of Roswell, the Refuge was established in 1937 by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to provide wintering habitat for migratory birds. The Refuge continues to play a crucial role in the conservation of wetlands in the desert Southwest and offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. 575-625-4011, www.fws. gov/southwest/refuges/newmex/bitterlake

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Historic District

St. John’s Catholic Church

17 Roswell: 100 Years of History

Photo courtesy of HSSNM

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Iron Cross

k o o B w! no

actor Roy Rogers visited Roswell, singing with his group for their keep. W.E. Whitmore, the manager of the only radio station in Roswell, paid for their housing in return for a radio program. Arlene Wilkins, a singer herself, attended the program and was so impressed, not only with their talent, but with

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Spring River Park & Zoo

their pleas for money, that she baked them pies. Even though Rogers left for Hollywood, he could not forget Arlene, and the two were married in 1936. Sadly, in 1946, Arlene died due to complications during childbirth. For the rest of his life Rogers credited Roswell with giving him his start.

Roswell Dallas/Fort Worth and the world beyond!

www.aa.com

or with your local travel agent.

JE NO T N-S SE T RV OP IC E

In 1935, on his way to fame and fortune, the country singer and

Historic Plaques

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www.roswellcentennial.org 18

Photos Courtesy of HSSNM

The Chisum Ranch at South Springs (currently still operating as the Jinglebob).

Ranches Past &Present in the Roswell Area

Throughout the history of Roswell and the surrounding area, many prominent and famous ranches and ranch families have been a part of its development.

In 1874, John S. Chisum, known as the “Pecos Valley Cattle King,” moved his headquarters thirty-five miles south from Bosque Grande to what is now known as South Spring Ranch about 3 miles from present day Roswell. George W. Littlefield and his nephews Phelps and Tom White then established the LFD Ranch on Chisum’s old Bosque Grande site. Together these two operations controlled an open range stretching from Ft. Sumner on the north to Seven

19 Roswell: 100 Years of History

Rivers to the south, and east to the New Mexico-Texas line. In the early 20th century the LFD Ranch was legendary in eastern New Mexico. Although the ranch properties are long since disposed of, the LFD area east of Roswell, and the old LFD School still bear the name of the original Ranch.

The Diamond A Ranch was homesteaded in 1882 on the north side of the Hondo River, resulting eventually in the control of a vast property of some 300 square miles of open range. This ranch finds its beginnings with the Bloom and Thatcher families of Pueblo and Trinidad in southern Colorado.

Those two families, related by

by J. Phelps White III

marriage and connected by extensive banking and other business enterprises, began cattle ranching as a family operation in the late nineteenth century in their home state of Colorado. The cold winters and adverse weather conditions forced them to look south. In the 1880s, southeastern New Mexico was attractive. Today much of the original Diamond A Ranch is owned by Mr. Gerald J. Ford of Dallas, Texas. In addition, he owns several other historical ranches in the Hondo Valley, making him one of the major land owners in New Mexico.

Locally, two of the more prominent pioneer families were

Yoder Ranch

the McKnights and Corns. Even today, members of both of these families play important roles in the life of Roswell. Their legacies go back well into the late nineteenth century. Their contributions in pioneering sheep ranching in this area was a major contribution to our heritage.

The LE Ranch, east of Roswell,

was originally a J.J. Hagerman property. Hagerman brought the railroad to Roswell in the 1890s and pioneered irrigation in the area. The LE Ranch was acquired

by J.P. White in the late 1920s and later sold to Texas buyers.

Today the LE Ranch is owned by Mr. D.K. Boyd of Midland, Texas.

Such names as Lea, Mossman,

Anderson, Malone, Armstrong, Urton, Whitney, Marley, and Lewis are just a few of the historical ranch family names found in and around our city of Roswell. They all played important roles in the development of Roswell and the ranching community.

Ranches Past & Present in Roswell

A ranch in Elk. Although this is not the CA Bar Ranch, the CA Bar Ranch is in lower Chaves County in the “bootheel” in Elk, which most folks aren’t even aware is part of Chaves County. The Ranch was managed by James Hinkle a mayor of Roswell and Governor of New Mexico in the 1920s.

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Photos Courtesy of HSSNM

St. Mary’s Hospital, circa early 1900s

Tuberculosis & the

Early Development of Roswell’s Healthcare

by Caroline Brooks

Eastern

xic

New Me

a 1968

ter, circ

al Cen o Medic

In the 1800s, tuberculosis, or the white plague, was on the rise. Since this highly contagious and often fatal disease primarily affected the lungs, patients were advised to move to sunny, arid climates out West. As such, New Mexico was a popular destination for patients and was coined “nature’s sanitarium for consumptives.” By 1900, ten percent of New Mexico’s population was comprised of healthseekers with tuberculosis, also known as “lungers.” At this time, Roswell

L.K. McGaffey, and, along with donations from the Sisters, townspeople raised the needed funds for constructing the three-story brick building.

St. Mary’s Hospital was completed on June 1, 1906 and accommodated twenty-six beds which were distributed among private rooms and wards.

After the opening, nine Sisters remained to care for the hospital along with Priests, twelve physicians, and an anesthesiologist. There were 105 admissions before the end of the year.

In August 1906, an entry in the hospital chronicle reported, “Many of the people remain distant and even hostile to the hospital. They believe the hospital is a place to come only when you are dying, and if you are not when you come, you surely will anyway. Part of their fear is based upon the fact that we take care of t.b. patients. They know that t.b. is very contagious, and that many patients, even young ones, are dying from it….” To address the concerns about the spread of tuberculosis, in 1907 a special wing was constructed to further isolate the patients. Beyond tuberculosis, early patients were also treated for typhoid fever, accidents, and other ailments.

Gardens and dairy cows on the grounds were tended to by the Sisters and Priests to supplement the patients’ meals.

A grotto, added in 1924 outside the hospital, was a popular meditation spot visited by townspeople, patients, and staff.

By the early 1930s, sanitariums had been established throughout

the country and with less patients to serve, coupled with the difficulties of containing the disease, St. Mary’s discontinued taking tuberculosis patients. A cure was finally discovered in 1952.

A second hospital, Eastern New Mexico Medical Center, opened in 1955 to supplement St. Mary’s facilities. In 1989 Eastern purchased St. Mary’s and maintained two campuses, North and South. In 1995, hospital services were all consolidated to the North facility and the historic hospital closed its doors.

Early Development of Healthcare in Roswell

was quickly developing, and advertising campaigns were undertaken to attract both patients and doctors. The afflicted who journeyed here were often educated, young men who could afford to travel and physically withstand the long journey— some of which survived the disease to become contributing members of the community.

Sanitariums were established throughout Roswell including designated floors of large homes and in small backyard convalescent cottages. One such example was advertised in 1908 in the Roswell Daily Record as “…a place where there is the best possible opportunity for a complete restoration to health— for those who are breaking down under the Great White Plague, we are glad to recommend The Roswell Tent City and Sanitarium.” The tent city offered fresh air, sunshine, rest, good food, and wood-framed cottages with clapboard and canvas walls and an elevated plank floor at a rate of $10 per week. Additional medical care was $5.

On the advice of a local Franciscan priest in 1902, Roswell contacted the Catholic Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother—a religious order known worldwide for its healthcare work. In 1904, Mother M. Bonifatia (Boniface) Goetz and Sister M. Regina Huemmer visited Roswell and reported their positive findings of the availability of modern amenities such as electricity and phone service back to the motherhouse in Wichita.

The following year, the motherhouse approved of opening a hospital in Roswell to care for the residents of Chaves County as well as sisters with lung ailments. Ten acres of ranch land south of town were donated by James F. Hinkle and

References: “St. Mary’s Hospital” in Treasures of History III by Elvis Fleming and Ernestine Chesser Williams and The Service of Curing, The Art of Caring—A History of Expanding Healthcare in the Pecos Valley by Charles Sanford.

www.roswellcentennial.org 22

Photos Courtesy of HSSNM

Agriculture in the Pecos Valley

by John LeMay

Picking apples

23 Roswell: 100 Years of History

Train full of apples

and sold as smaller individual orchards. Roswell’s booming apple market came to an end in the 1930s during a bitter freeze which killed all of the trees. It would take seven years for new trees to be planted, mature, and produce fruit, so no one tried to replenish the depleted orchards.

In addition to apples, in the old days Roswell was also a large producer of celery. During the time of the abundant artesian wells (which would be nearly dried up by the 1920s save a few), many other crops were grown including strawberries and even several types of melons. In the decade preceding the 1920s, when the wells would begin to dry, there was a Fruit Growers Association in Chaves County with a total membership of 40 fruit growers. Around the same time the idea of growing beets and constructing a Sugar Beet

Factory was discussed, but it never came to fruition. Likewise, Roswell also toyed with the idea of opening its own fruit cannery, although the city never did.

Although undocumented, it’s possible there was a cannery in Roswell for a brief time in 1900 under the operation of Frank Rheinbolt.

As for the melons and cantaloupes, they, for the most part, failed. While they grew in abundance, they did not transport well to other markets. A newspaper article exists detailing the shipment via train car of 1,000 baskets of cantaloupes to Chicago. The car was iced by the Diamond Ice Factory. As it turned out, icing the train car, along with shipping and other expenses, was too costly for the project to be successful. From that time on melons were only grown in small amounts to be sold locally.

Agriculture in the Pecos Valley

Today Roswell is famous for its vast pecan orchards, but it wasn’t always this way. Historically, the pecans are a relatively new addition to Roswell, much like the dairy industry. In the old days, Roswell was known for its apple orchards with the first apple trees being planted by the Chisum brothers at South Spring Ranch in the late 1870s. After the discovery of artesian water in the 1890s more orchards were planted across Roswell, particularly at South Spring—by then owned by J.J. Hagerman.

At 500 acres, some townspeople speculated it was the biggest apple orchard in the world. It is no wonder residents believed this, since with the introduction of the train in 1894, apples were exported from Roswell to other markets by the millions.

Sometime after 1910, the gigantic Hagerman orchard was split up

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Photos Courtesy of HSSNM

Roswell Main St., south from 4th Street, circa 1895

Early Historic Buildings in Roswell

by Linda Weiler

Roswell Club, 1912

Central School

The original building has been used by a number of businesses since it was vacated as a library.

The interior no longer resembles the way it was years ago but the old hardwood floors bring to mind all the years of service this historic building brought to our city.

The J.C. Penny Company was located at 313-315 North Main Street. The store eventually moved elsewhere in town, but the historical building has survived many years. The first time it appeared in the city directory was in 1916. The original architectural style has been partially maintained and was recently painted.

The former Woman’s Club building located at 501 North Kentucky is a wonderful example of Mission Revival style and was built in 1930 and designed by C. R. Carr.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at Fifth and Pennsylvania was

built in 1899 of Gothic Revival style. Although it has been added onto over the years, we can still see some of the original historic construction.

In writing about the historic buildings in Roswell, we cannot leave out the Chaves County Courthouse that was constructed in 1910-1911 and is an excellent example of Neo-Classical Revival style.

The Conoco Service Station at 426 North Main now houses the offices of the Roswell Safety Coalition and Neighborhood Watch. The original station was built in the 1920s and is a residential Tudor Revival style popular in the first half of the 20th century.

A favorite landmark in Roswell is the old senior high school that was built between 1910-1911.

This outstanding building served as the Roswell High School until

Early HIstoric Buildings in Roswell

During the early years in Roswell’s history, there were many architecturally unique and interesting buildings that graced our city. Sadly, as the city developed, some of these buildings were demolished, while others were altered—some to the point that they are nearly unrecognizable as the distinctive structures they once were. The following is a little information about some of the historical buildings that remain in our city.

With the assistance of the Roswell Woman’s Club and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the Carnegie Library was built in 1906 at the corner of Third Street and Richardson Avenue. For seventytwo years it served the residents of Roswell. The treasured old pendulum clock that once hung in the library was saved and now hangs on the wall in the new library which was completed in 1978.

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1954. Still functioning, it became South Junior High and eventually was renamed Yucca Junior High before it was vacated. Today it is known as the Yucca Recreation Center. Most of the outside of the original design that made the building so special has been altered and large portions demolished, but some of the original structure can still be seen.

I believe that one of the saddest demolitions in our city was the destruction of the U.S. Post Office, which was located on the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Richardson Avenue.

The ground-breaking for this four story brick and stucco structure began in October 1911 and was completed in May 1913. The workmanship on this landmark building was without a doubt unequaled by present day construction methods.

After forty-eight years of service to our community, the post office was retired in March 1961 when the new Post Office moved to its present location at 415 North Pennsylvania Avenue. The old building was used as the Roswell Community College from 1963 to 1967. The building was finally torn down on a cold, snowy day

Gilkenson Hotel, circa 1915

318 Gaullieur Block 100 N Main, circa 1890

27 Roswell: 100 Years of History

on December 2, 1971.

The railroad first came to Roswell in 1894. The original woodframed depot was destroyed by fire in 1898 and a new brick structure was constructed in 1904. The depot was remodeled in the 1940s and after having the hipped roof and dormers removed, it did not look at all like the original turn-of-the-century building. In December 2001, the depot was destroyed by fire and nothing remains today except bits of the cement foundation.

The magnificent Gilkeson Hotel was located on the southwest corner of Third Street and

Carnegie Library, circa early 1900s

JP White Building

Richardson Avenue and was opened in November 1906. This was the largest and most elegant hotel in Roswell at the time of construction. Nothing remains today of this stalwart landmark where this bit of our history once graced our city. The final demolition of this charming hotel was in 1966.

In 1908, the beautiful Gilder Hotel was erected on the northwest corner of Fifth Street and Virginia Avenue. Mr. Guy Nickson, formerly the manager of the Gilkeson Hotel, purchased

the Gilder and changed the name to the Nickson Hotel around 1928. By 1966 this significant and historic landmark was gone from our city.

In 1894 Henry Gaullieur came to Roswell looking for investments. At that time most of the buildings around Roswell were of adobe and small frame construction. He asked Charles R. Carr, a well-known architect, to make the plans for his new business building which was to be constructed out of locally made bricks and located on

the northwest corner of First Street and North Main Street.

The new business space was quickly rented out and remained a successful business venture for many years. In 1984 this solidly built landmark with its ornate trimmings was torn down and today is a parking lot.

Roswell continues to grow and change with time and progress.

Hopefully we can continue in years ahead to appreciate and remember the historical value of the remaining buildings that are still a part of this great city.

Roswell, New Mexico, USA

We promise we are not ‘alien’ to successful business development; strong industrial clusters: Renewable Energy; Aviation; Agriculture; and security/defense training.

Early HIstoric Buildings in Roswell

Pioneer Block - Roswell Chamber of Commerce and Roswell Daily Record - 400 block North Main

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Visit our website at www.chavescounty.net , where we can guide you to a successful landing!

VISIT US ONLINE!

P.O. Box 849 | 131 W. Second St. | Roswell, NM 88202 | 575.622.1975

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www.roswellcentennial.org 28

Outhouses

Part of the Roswell Scene

by Elvis E. Fleming, City HIstorian

It is the job of historians to make sure that younger generations have a proper appreciation of their heritage, what previous generations had to overcome to deliver the world to them in a livable state, and how things have changed in such a brief span of time.

One area that historians have tended to neglect is the delicate issue of bodily functions and hygiene. Most people who grew up on New Mexico farms or ranches before World War II, and even some afterward, can identify with the subject of privies. Young folks may not have had the “pleasure” of visiting a privy, although a Porta-Potty comes close. This may be a subject to which modern, urban youngsters can’t relate; and perhaps they can’t appreciate the “indoor plumbing” that they enjoy

29 Roswell: 100 Years of History

every day.

It was called an “outhouse” or simply a “toilet.” Whether a particular facility was a “one-holer” or a “two-holer” (or more) may have been an indication of the economic status of a family or the number of people the outhouse had to serve. Even schools and churches, in addition to homes, had privies in the “olden days.”

Most country people received large catalogs twice a year from both Montgomery Ward and Sears Roebuck.

Besides providing reading matter for moments of contemplation in the outhouse, the torn-out pages also served a more utilitarian function.

It should be noted that there were some indoor fixtures. In their bedchambers, wealthier folks had beautifully decorated ceramic “chamber pots” under their

beds which were emptied every morning. Those less affluent used a flared-top pot usually made of enameled metal and about the size of a two-gallon bucket, with a bail for carrying it. This version of a chamber pot was commonly called a “slop jar.” Both types had covers or lids. Now, if one were really poor, a nondescript one-gallon can might have to suffice. Perhaps, that is where the expression “going to the can” came from.

A long-time Roswell photographer, the late Paul Larkam, stated that South Sunset Avenue south of West Second Street in Roswell “... at one time had a lot of these” privies and he photographed many of them.

Today, we should be quite thankful for our modern amenities.

This composite depicts almost all of Roswell’s most famous buildings and pieces of architecture in the early twentieth century, among them the First Presyterian Church, First Baptist Church, St. Mary’s

Hospital, Central School, Elk’s Home, Allison Block, Federal Building, Grand Central Hotel., Gilkeson Hotel, Roswell Hotel, Citizens National Bank, Carnegie Library, Masonic Temple, New Mexico

Military Institute Barracks, Lea Hall, New Mexico Military Intitute Armory, Christian Church, Roswell High School, Commercial Club, First National Bank and Chaves County Courthouse.

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Photos Courtesy of HSSNM

Artesian Well

Water

Hondo Reservoir

in the

Pecos Valley

& Greater New Mexico

by J. Phelps White III

In this centennial year it is important to look back and recognize the importance of our water, where it comes from, how we manage this vital resource, and how we look to the future with a dramatically expanding population.

Customs and laws known as The Doctrine of Prior Appropriation, or simply “first in time, first in right,” govern the use of water in New Mexico. This age old system of water management came to the desert Southwest with the early Spanish explorers and settlers.

This doctrine not only recognizes water as a necessary human resource, but dictates that a right to use this public resource requires that any water used must be put to “beneficial use.”

Going further, beneficial use is neither defined nor prioritized.

31 Roswell: 100 Years of History

The Constitution of New Mexico, adopted not long after statehood in 1912, recognizes that the waters of New Mexico belong to the people of New Mexico. Statutes and common law customs govern the use of New Mexico’s water and are administered by the State Engineer, who is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the New Mexico Senate.

The early Spanish immigrants brought The Doctrine of Prior Appropriation with them. Spain, being a rather arid place, recognized the importance of water as a vital resource which required public management. It is said that the longest running court of law in the modern world is in Valencia, Spain—a court held regularly for over 400 years dealing with water issues. Going back further, those Spanish customs and laws can

be traced to the Moors of North Africa who occupied the Iberian Peninsula around the 8th century.

The Moors also recognized the importance of water management.

Historians have even drawn a link to Justinian law of ancient Rome to our use of water.

New Mexico’s water is found in two forms: surface water and ground water. Locally, ground water is the principle source of our local water supply. Roswell and Chaves County fortunately sit on top of one of the most prolific groundwater basins in all the western states. Our artesian wells draw water from an underground aquifer that is annually recharged by rainfall in the limestone hills to the west of Roswell. With responsible management, and limitation of additional annual withdrawals, our water supply

Taos community, this region is using both ground water and surface water from the Rio Grande.

Recently, the water supplies of Albuquerque and Santa Fe were augmented by surface water from the Colorado River system.

Another pipeline system is just getting started which will deliver water from Ute Lake on the Canadian River to the cities and towns of the eastern plains who are gradually depleting their ground water supply. This essential shift of supply is the result of longrange planning going back some fifty years.

The Roswell Basin is part of a Settlement Agreement dealing with compliance to a U. S. Supreme Court ruling on a lawsuit filed against New Mexico by Texas several years ago. This agreement will resolve long-standing issues on the Pecos River for the ground water users of the Roswell Basin and the surface water users in the Carlsbad area and New Mexico’s delivery of water to Texas at the state line.

In the lower Rio Grande Basin waters of the river are divided between users in New Mexico, Texas, and the country of Mexico.

The present drought has created a serious shortage of water for the farmers of the region, and for the recreation activities at Elephant Butte Lake.

The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, an associated agency with the Office of the State Engineer is actively engaged in water planning for the future. One of the principle thrusts of planning is the matter of adjudication, making sure that water users have a valid water right to that diversion. For the most part, New Mexico’s water is fully appropriated. In fact, some areas of the state are over appropriated.

Certainly, water planning must play a major role in New Mexico’s future. While there is always plenty of room for improvement, the state enjoys a really good set of water laws and regulations. As such, New Mexico is the envy of other western states, and even some foreign countries.

Water in the Pecos Valley

should be with us for years to come.

In the beginning, Roswell was developed because of the three or four live rivers found in the proximity of present day Roswell, principally the Hondo and Pecos. The artesian basin was not discovered until late in the nineteenth century. Today, with its growing population, New Mexico faces many challenges dealing with its water resources.

Virtually every region of the state has its own unique issues.

In northwestern New Mexico a billion dollar pipeline and water delivery system is just getting underway to provide running water for the first time to thousands of Navajo Indians. It will utilize water from the San Juan River that was allocated to New Mexico in the final allocation of waters from the huge Colorado River system.

Interestingly, New Mexico gets more water from the Colorado River system than it actually supplies.

Central New Mexico, principally the middle Rio Grande Valley, is the most densely populated area of the state. Along with the northern Pueblo Indians and the

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Roswell

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www.roswellcentennial.org 32

Photos Courtesy of HSSNM

Chihuahuita

Chihuahuita, early 1900s

by Caroline Brooks

left and right: Chihuahuita Community Center, circa 1940s Photos Courtesy of Paul Fresquez

33 Roswell: 100 Years of History

In 1866, Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving began driving herds of cattle from Texas, up through New Mexico and along the Pecos River to supply beef to Navajos and Mescalero Apaches at the Bosque Redondo reservation near Fort Sumner, as well as to settlers and military outposts. The small Hispanic community known as Rio Hondo, already in use by Hispanic farmers and sheep ranchers for its tall grasses and nearby rivers, had begun in the 1850s and was an ideal location to camp and rest along the cattle trail. By about 1868, when James Patterson built a 15’ x 15’ trading post at the confluence of the Pecos and Hondo Rivers, Rio Hondo already consisted of several “crude adobe shacks,” as reported in a 1867 survey.

Although records are sparse, it is said that after the 16th century colonizing expeditions of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, Antonio de Espejo, and Gaspar Castaño de Sosa, small populations of Spanish immigrants settled in the area that is now present-day Roswell and Lincoln.

Subsequently, bands of Mexican immigrants and Native Americans developed encampments and began cultivating the land. Later, between 1840 to 1865, Hispanic farmers and sheepherders arrived from Mexico, Texas, and northern New Mexico, and sometime in the 1850s, Rio Hondo was established as one of the earliest Hispanic settlements in eastern

New Mexico after New Mexico became a US territory. In the years following the Civil War, the arrival of the railroad and the discovery of artesian waters helped to encourage Anglo farmers and ranchers to acquire land in and around Roswell through the Homestead Act, displacing nearby Hispanic populations. However, while other Hispanic settlements were abandoned—like La Plaza de Missouri to the west and El Berrendo to the north—Rio Hondo continued.

Excluded from many of Roswell’s services, in 1902, twenty-four charter members organized La Sociedad de Unión Fraternidad Mexicana de Roswell—a mutual aid society for social and financial support for the Hispanic community. The district maintained its independence and had its own grocery stores, bars and restaurants, clinic, community center, school, and churches including St. John the Baptist Catholic Church which had a congregation of 130 families by 1904. Many of the men raised livestock, while the women tended gardens, sewed blankets and clothes, and made goods for resale as a means to lessen their dependency on the city. By 1912, street names were changed to reflect a more Anglo sensibility (Calla Alamosa became Mulberry Street, for instance) and the area was designated the Acequia Subdivision of Roswell.

Later, the district came to be

known as Chihuahua, followed

by Chihuahuita—named after residents from Chihuahua, Mexico.

Today, the historic Chihuahuita neighborhood is generally located in an area east of Main Street, between 2nd and Bland Streets.

Many of the oldest houses in this section were built in the New Mexico Vernacular style with adobe walls, maintained and added on through generations of families, and metal pitched roofs. Several yards are brightly decorated with grottoes and other religious and decorative articles, including the home known affectionately as the “toilet house” due to its commode planters. In recent years, there has been an interest in revitalizing Chihuahuita, which has suffered from an undercurrent of poverty, deterioration, and crime. In 1987, the Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce formed to enhance support of Hispanic-owned businesses and community growth, and community leaders have requested enhancements to streets and parks, as well as the restoration of the original street names.

Chihuahuita is listed on the State Register of Cultural Properties and has been nominated for federal designation as a historic district.

Chihuahuita

Chihuahuita today

Article compiled with assistance from the Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce and MainStreet Roswell with additional information provided by articles and text by Deanna Cheney and Elvis Fleming.

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Photos Courtesy of HSSNM and Rev. Landjur Abukusumo

Blackdom’s Legacy

by Rev. Landjur Abukusumo

Loney K. Wagoner, the three daughters of Joseph and Harriet Smith, and an unknown man, circa 1920s

Max Odell Wagoner, circa 1920s

The town of Blackdom was the first all-African American settlement in the New Mexico territory and was begun by Frank Boyer in the early 1900s about 18 miles southwest of Roswell.

The notion of Blackdom was nurtured over two generations, from father to son, as a solution to slavery’s legacy of freedom without equal protection under the law. After the Civil War, during the Reconstruction Era, African Americans were becoming teachers, politicians, and businessmen. However it was a dangerous time filled with prejudice, and despite the freedoms guaranteed through the 14th Constitutional Amendment, African Americans were not permitted to vote and were largely unable to own land.

Frank Boyer’s father, Henry Boyer, a freedman, had served as a wagoner with the U.S. Army during the United States-Mexican War. When Henry returned home to Georgia, he shared his vision for the promise of a fresh start in the West. His inspirational description led his son Francis

(Frank) and Dan Keyes to walk from Pellum, Georgia to the Pecos Valley in c. 1896-1897, arriving approximately one year later.

After working for farms in Dexter, New Mexico, and surrounding areas, Boyer and Keyes sent for their families in 1901. Boyer also began advertising in Georgia and other areas including Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, and Ohio encouraging other African Americans to take advantage of the Homestead Act of 1862 by joining the community they were building. The area consisted of about 15,000 acres and supported around 300 people.

The town was incorporated in 1911 and operated a post office from 1913-1920.

On May 28, 1920 Frank and Ella Boyer filed a town site plat in the Chaves County Clerk’s Office. However, the residents’ pioneering spirit and hardwork could not overcome the drop in the water table or the refusal of banks to provide loans for drilling wells deep enough to adequately supply needed irrigation. By

the mid-1920s, once it became apparent that Blackdom had become an impossibility, families began to leave. The migration from Blackdom extended as near as Dexter, Hagerman, and Roswell, and as far as Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Vado, Denver, and Los Angeles.

Descendants of Blackdom are still living in these areas.

A historical scenic marker commemorating the Blackdom settlement was erected in 2002 at a rest stop on Highway 285 between Roswell and Artesia.

In addition, efforts are currently underway to establish the Blackdom Memorial Garden and Museum in Roswell as a place for cultural exchange. The New Mexico State Legislature has allocated $75,000 towards the project and further funds are being sought. Upcoming fundraising and community outreach activities include a Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative breakfast, gospel performances, lectures, and website development.

Blackdom’s Legacy

Loney K. Wagoner with students

www.roswellcentennial.org 36

Photos Courtesy of HSSNM

German Prisoners of War building the Spring River wall in the 1940s.

German POWs in Roswell

Sgt. Johnson, 1/Sgt. Oakes, and Sgt. Brosius displaying Guide On 340th Flag MPG Co. made by Mrs. Brosius. Corner of 340th Office and Mess Hall.

Adapted from an article by Ernestine Chesser Williams in Treasures of History II

Croquet court within the compound at the Roswell Internment Camp on March 26, 1943.

screened porches on the main buildings and the 250-bed hospital was equipped with operating and x-ray rooms, and every modern facility for patient care. Since the POWs were treated so well, there were relatively few escape attempts. In 1943, a visitor noted Orchard Park did not seem to fit into a picture of an enemy prison camp as we have come to think of them.

Some of the projects undertaken by the prisoners were a library, gardens, and newspaper, but the biggest and most lasting project was the shoring up of the North Spring River in Roswell as a means of erosion control. A fiftyman detail of German POWs worked on the project by riprapping, or laying rocks, along the Spring River banks. On the north bank between Pennsylvania and Kentucky Avenues, the POWs used different sized rocks to make an iron cross in the bank.

Some townspeople were so incensed that they promptly poured five yards of concrete over the POW’s handiwork. The concrete has long since washed away, and today the iron cross is clearly visible.

At the time, New Mexico farmers were in desperate need of field hands, thus the POWs from Orchard Park were also sent to work at various farms in the area, mostly picking cotton. The prisoners disliked the bending and stooping and did not learn to be pick cotton well. A local farmer

remarked, “They were big, husky young men, but they realized working was helping the enemy, and were willing only to do what they had to do.”

At one point during the war when rations for POWs were cut to only 800 calories per day, local farmers had sympathy for the men and fed them additional food. The farmers’ kindness had a lasting impact on some of the men. One of them later remarked, “The people have been very warm-hearted here.

I’d like to say this changed the attitude of many Germans towards American people. The people over here have shown compassion, understanding, and that they cared and showed a certain amount of patience….[I]t was the attitude of the American people—men and women— that showed interest in the human being that impressed us tremendously.”

When the war ended, many former POWs returned to Roswell, some to visit and some to remain in the town that had been their home for the duration of World War II. As for the open prairie at Orchard Park, the wind still blows and the dust devils swirl, but the barbed wire fences, barracks, guard towers, armed guards, sawed-off shot guns, and the marching of thousands of prisoners of war are seen only in the memories of those who were there, 1942-1946.

German POWs in Roswell

On a windswept prairie fourteen miles southwest of Roswell, some concrete foundations and a few scattered and bedraggled elm trees are all that remain of the Prisoner of War Camp at Orchard Park where thousands of German soldiers were interned from 1942 to 1946. In selecting a camp site the War Department gave first consideration to maximum security, then to a location far enough away from population centers and sensitive military and industrial installations. Orchard Park qualified.

The townspeople of Roswell felt some uneasiness when they first heard rumors that a POW camp would be located at Orchard Park. But by the time the first prisoners arrived, the over-reaction had cooled and the people of Chaves County were confident the Army could handle the situation. On January 1, 1943, the first prisoners arrived from Germany, an elite unit of Erwin Rommel’s 8th Army Afrika Korps. They were transported in iron cars on the Santa Fe Railroad and unloaded 1½ miles from camp. A thirty-five man detail with sawed-off shotguns marched them down the middle of the unpaved road to Orchard Park Camp. In all, over 4,000 German prisoners were housed there.

The camp covered an area of 120 acres. The buildings were wooden barracks, solidly built and comfortable. There were

www.roswellcentennial.org 38

The Victory Ship Roswell was exactly like the ship pictured here.

the Roswell

Victory

by J. Phelps White III and Elvis Fleming The state centennial committee surrender documents aboard the is recognizing military ships USS Missouri. Other World War that were named after people II examples include the landing and places in New Mexico craft USS Eddy, the liberty ship including the liberty ship Roswell Hobbs Victory which was sunk by Victory—a World War II cargo the Japanese during the War, and ship built toward the close of the navy cruisers USS Santa Fe and war in 1945. There have been USS Albuquerque. Recently a approximately fifty ships of all new USS New Mexico, a Virginia sizes and shapes built throughout class attack nuclear submarine, history named after something in has joined the fleet.

New Mexico. The most prominent In summer 2012, Roswell was example was the battleship USS presented with a commemorative New Mexico. She was present in model of the SS Roswell Victory, Tokyo Bay for the signing of the encased in a glass vitrine, along “Your Merchant Marine Has Grown.”

American Victory Ship

A line of Victory Ships during the height of production..

with information about the ship and the role it played in and after the war. The model will be displayed at various locations around Roswell and will become the property of the community of Roswell.

Included here is an excerpt of an article from the Roswell Daily Record written by historian Elvis Fleming regarding the naming and launching of the Roswell Victory.

Roswell Honored in Naming Victory Ship In the last stages of World War II, the City of Roswell was honored by having a ship of the “Victory” series named after it. The vessel, which was 455 ft. long, 62 ft. wide, 10,500 tons, and 6,000 horsepower from steam-turbinegear propulsion, was launched at Wilmington, California on July 17, 1945. It was christened the “SS Roswell Victory.” Typically the ships were armed with a 5-inch stern gun, a 3-inch bow gun, and 8 20-mm machine guns. The ship traveled at 16 knots fully loaded.

The first of 534 Victory ships was launched in February 1942. They were named for Allied nations, American cities, and educational institutions. They were mainly cargo ships that carried troops and heavy equipment to the war zones.

Presently, only three remain; two in California and one in Florida, all in maritime museums.

Roswell’s Mayor Thomas J. Hall was invited to go to California and say a few words at the launching of the Roswell Victory. The following speech gives an image of Roswell as it was in 1945: “In the history of a community, as in life, certain incidents stand out.

This occasion is a highlight in the existence of the fine little city of Roswell, New Mexico. Located in the southeastern part in the fertile Pecos Valley—a city of 21,000 people who have learned the great lesson of getting along congenially with each other.

“It is sustained by profitable farming and livestock industry.

Irrigation guarantees crop returns and scientific breeding has

developed a profitable beef cattle production.

“Roswell is the home of New Mexico Military Institute, one of the nation’s foremost military schools.

Thousands of its graduates are now serving in the Armed Forces.

It is also the site of the Roswell Army Air Field, the largest B-29 training center of the Air Corps. It covers an area of 4,800 acres. The percentage of flyable weather has made possible the high efficiency of the field.

“Roswell’s greatest asset, however, is its people. Its schools, churches, park system, air facilities, and general community spirit has developed progressive and happy people. Its patriotism cannot be questioned—some 3,500 boys and girls are in the Armed Services. Its oversubscriptions of War Bonds in all drives certifies its support of the war effort. Its post-war planning gives each veteran employment ‘till he finds his preferred vocation.

“We thank the Maritime Commission for this signal honor, the naming of this ship. It will be an inspiration for us to carry on with greater determination. And we extend our appreciation to California Shipbuilding Corp. for the courtesies incident to this occasion today.

“Good luck and fine sailing, Good Ship Roswell Victory”

The Roswell Victory set sail west from Los Angeles on a voyage around the world—across the Pacific to the Philippines and then to ports in India. In Calcutta, the ship picked up a load of ammunition, along with some twenty Canadian flyers who boarded the ship for a ride home. The Roswell Victory went across the Indian Ocean, through the Suez Canal, and across the Atlantic to Searsport, Maine.

They unloaded the ammunition and the flyers in Searsport and continued to New York, according to B.M. Legler, who was a radio operator on the Roswell Victory.

Unfortunately, nothing further has been learned about the service of the SS Roswell Victory.

In a letter to Mayor Hall, the ship’s Master, W.B. Voortemeyer, described the round-the-world trip and expressed how the ship’s entire personnel appreciated the sentiments expressed to them and promised to live up to the highest traditions of the seas and do honor to the fair name of the City which it represented.

Roswell Victory

by Elvis E. Fleming, City HIstorian

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Men (& Ladies ) in Black pose with Nezbit the Alien in front of a UFO display in the International UFO Museum & Research Center.

History of the UFO Festival

by John LeMay

2009 Festival

2010 Festival 2008 Festival

2012 Festival

Courtesy of Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, Special Collections, the University of Texas at Arlington

2011 Festival

A protoUFO festival was held when Mayor Bill Brainard proclaimed “July UFO Day” in 1992. The origins of the actual UFO Festival began inauspiciously. Organized by a grassroots community group, the first UFO Festival was staged in July 1995 and showcased the UFO Museum, then located in

what is now the Bank of America building, and various events including the Alien Chase, Alien Costume Contest, ufology lectures, and Planetarium laser shows—all of which are still integral elements of the festival.

By 1997, the festival had received national attention in Time magazine and drew an estimated 40,000 people to Roswell from all parts of the world for this sixday event. The town was thick with national and international media and the event was deemed a success, forever changing the face of our community.

People may also be surprised to know Roswell once had two UFO Museums. The first was opened by John Price on the old Walker Air Force Base and was called the UFO Enigma Museum.

The International UFO Museum

Unique gifts and fine art.

316 N.Main • 622-0528

and Research Center we know today came about in 1991 and was founded by Glenn Dennis, Walter Haut, and Max Littell on the seventh floor of the Bank of America building. It eventually moved to Main Street, and by 1997 was relocated to what used to be the Plains Theater where it has since welcomed millions of visitors.

The impact the festival has had on the rest of America is also notable. It wasn’t long after Roswell’s UFO Festival success that other towns began festivals and museums promoting their own strange events. A noteworthy example is Point Pleasant, West Virginia—home of the Mothman Festival and Mothman Museum— which celebrates sightings of the strange Mothman creature from the 1960s.

History of the UFO Festival

Major Jesse Marcel holding fragments of the alleged Roswell crash UFO debris on July 8, 1947.

575-627-1112 217A N. Main St. Roswell www.roswellcentennial.org 42

Early linen postcard of Lea Lake at Bottomless Lakes State Park.

Legends & Lore of

Bottomless Lakes

by John LeMay

Every town has that special spooky place where people claim to see strange things. In Roswell this place is Bottomless Lakes, New Mexico’s very first state park. The park was established in 1933, but the Lakes’ mysterious history spans back much further.

The Lakes are actually one of the few places in southeastern New Mexico to show evidence of the Spanish Conquistadors who first searched New Mexico for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold. Two

43 Roswell: 100 Years of History

Spanish explorers to traverse this part of New Mexico were Antonio de Espejo in 1582 and Gaspar Castaño de Sosa in 1590. Oddly they recorded little of the area, but the American Indians created petroglyphs of a man riding a horse on a small overhang in the Bottomless Lakes area.

Legend has it Billy the Kid and his gang hid out at the Lakes and dipped their lariats into the water one after the other. Unbeknownst to them, an underwater current

prevented their ropes from reaching the bottom, and as such they were dubbed “Bottomless Lakes.” Since their christening, the Lakes have been the setting of many a tall tale. It’s hard to say what the earliest Bottomless Lakes legend is, but some claim the Mescalero Apaches believed them to be “haunted.”

An early recorded tale of the Lakes written by El Paso Times correspondent Georgia Redfield tells of an old Mexican sheep

Lea Lake today

herder who fell into one of the lakes. As the story goes, his thirsty sheep had smelled water.

So after the first sheep stumbled over the edge of the lake bluffs, the rest followed including the nearly-blind herder. All of them sank into the muddy depths never to be seen again. Another old story says a horse drowned in one half of Figure Eight Lake (two adjoining sinkholes that together make a figure eight) only to resurface dead in the other.

As civilization progressed so did the stories. Instead of horses and sheep sinking into the Lakes it was now tales of cars driving off a cliff into Lea Lake to sink into the muddy depths of the bottom. There are many variations of the car tale as many locals will demonstrate.

Another popular story posits that a person who drowns in the Lakes will resurface in a labyrinth of underground streams leading to Carlsbad Caverns. There even exists a reverse tale of someone drowning in Carlsbad Caverns and resurfacing in Bottomless Lakes.

And of course, like other popular lakes around the world, people claim Bottomless Lakes has monsters. There are the giant turtles that live in the mud at the Lakes’ bottoms. There was the mysterious Nessie-like brown hump glimpsed by a boater in the 1980s. And, perhaps somewhat plausibly, the giant catfish said to skim the Lakes’ bottoms. A scuba diver once claimed to see one as big as a van in Lea Lake. Let us also not forget the white ghost

horse, octopus-man, the dragon, and many other monsters of the Lakes.

Like any good monster sightings or tall tales, no firsthand witnesses exist to corroborate the stories, nor can one find mention in any newspapers of people drowning in the Lakes to resurface in another part of New Mexico. So, in the end, you can most likely go to Bottomless Lakes State Park and safely enjoy its many wonders without having to worry about enduring your own personal horror story.

Unless you want to make one up.

›

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Legends & Lore of Bottomless Lakes

Picnic at Bottomless Lakes with Mrs. Nathan Jaffa, Mrs. Will Prager, GA Richardson and other members of the Jaffa and Richardson families.

Southeast New Mexico and Pecos Valley Fair parade circa 1900. Photo taken at the corner of 3rd and Main Street. A design inspiration for the “Remembering Roswell” - Reischman Park renovation.

Photo Courtesy of HSSNM

Remembering Roswell

A Centennial Legacy Public Art Project

In recognition of the state’s centennial, plans are underway to renovate L.J. Reischman Memorial Park located at 314 N. Main Street.

The original land was donated to the City of Roswell by Holsum, Inc. in 1977 after a fire consumed the company’s KBIM-TV studio.

In 1982 the site was renovated and named in memory of Lester J. Reischman, local bakery owner and father of Holsum’s chairman, John Reischman.

For the project, Roswell Interarts Organization artists Susan Wink and Nancy Fleming are working in collaboration with MainStreet

45 Roswell: 100 Years of History

Roswell, the City of Roswell, civic organizations and local residents on the creation of historically themed public art features that will make the park more functional and appealing to community members. The new amenities will be an enduring visual tribute to the impact Roswell has had on the development of our State and also serve to educate the thousands of tourists who travel through here yearly.

Utilizing information and memorabilia gathered from local residents, historians and archivists, the RIO artists are conducting

several free tile-making sessions to engage hundreds of community members in the creation of custom tile for the park’s new mosaic features. The new art tile components for the park will include decorative entry columns with lights, wall panels and sculptural benches. Other improvements to the park will include upgrades to the pavement and lighting, an ADA wheelchair ramp, picnic tables and a new performance stage. The stage will provide a platform for musicians and speakers during events downtown such as the annual UFO Festival, Pecos Valley

Remembering Roswell

Jazz Festival, PiĂąata Fest and more.

The 501-c3 non-profit Roswell Interarts Organization received a 2010 Xcel Energy Foundation Arts and Culture grant to help launch the Reischman Park project. Further funds are are being sought through grants and private donations.

The estimated completion date for the project is 2014. For further information please contact rio@roswellamoca.org. ›

Engaging individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community enviornments.

get outside. plant a tree. recycle something. teach a child. get involved.

575.637.6224 www.keeproswellbeautiful.com info@keeproswellbeautiful.com

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Sept. 18, 1942: AT-11 airplanes from the Roswell Army Flying School dip their wings in salute as they fly over New Mexico Military Institute.

Photos courtesy of HSSNM

B-36A “City of Ft. Worth” landing at WAFB. This plane had the largest wingspan of any aircraft (230 ft.) and a range greater than 6000 miles. It was equipped with six propeller and four turbojet engines. Residents in Roswell said it had a very unique sound and shook the houses and buildings as it flew over.

Early Aviation Highlights

by Caroline Brooks

Located on the edge of the high plains, Roswell’s remote location, open airspace, and good yearround weather have attracted many aircraft over the past century. The first biplane ever to come to Roswell was brought by rail on a flatcar and trucked to the fairgrounds in 1910.

The promoters had difficulty starting the plane and finally got the engine running late in the afternoon of the second day. They gained enough altitude to go over a fence, then the prop struck a stack of discarded rotten apples and snapped. The following year, a plane was brought to Roswell for the fair. It flew

47 Roswell: 100 Years of History

for seven minutes and attained an altitude of 200 feet. Most of the spectators, however, didn’t want to pay and stood outside of the official observation area.

In 1927, during the height of Prohibition, a single-engine biplane touched down in a field fifteen miles north of Roswell loaded with American-made whiskey. Federal agents, having received a tip from El Paso, spotted the plane and drove out to arrest the smugglers. The smugglers tried to get away but were foiled when a Federal Prohibition Agent shot the plane, puncturing the fuel tank and, disabling the motor. The capture of the “booze plane” was the first airplane seized in New Mexico for carrying illegal liquor.

Roswell’s first airport was built in 1929 on the northwest end of the city, which is now Cielo Grande Park. Notably,

during National Air Mail Week in May 1938, Dr. William N. Worthington flew the first local air mail in his personal plane to Artesia and Carlsbad.

In the early 1940s, before Pearl Harbor and America’s official involvement in WWII, Roswell was in negotiations to host an Air Force base to be called the Roswell Army Flying School.

The base was operational by May of 1942 and the name was changed to the Roswell Army Air Field. The base was accepted very enthusiastically in the town, whose population grew dramatically as a result.

The RAAF continued to prosper after WWII and became home to the 509th Bomb Squad, which included the Enola Gay in its fleet of B-29s. The RAAF and 509th are still a source of much controversy today due to events

First airmail flight from Roswell in 1938.

Photo courtesy of Anne Huff and the RMAC

509th Bomb Crew and their B-29 on the Walker Air Force Base runway.

Early Aviation Highlights

Photo courtesy of Walker Aviation Museum/ Wayne Slinkard

Roswell was home to several Viking qualification tests. A balloon launched from Roswell was used to initially lift the aeroshell. The balloon then drifted west to the White Sands Missile Range, where the vehicle landed.

in 1947 when they claimed to have recovered a flying saucer, but the story was later retracted.

In 1948 the RAAF became a permanent base of the Strategic Air Command and the Base’s name was changed to Walker Air Force Base in honor of Gen. Kenneth Walker who had died in WWII. The next major development in the Base’s history

was in 1961 when Roswell was chosen to host the Atlas Missile program. Twelve Missile Silos were constructed within a 25mile radius of WAFB, however, the silos were deactivated and the missiles removed by May 25, 1965. That same year it was announced that WAFB would be closed down, a shock to most Roswell residents. The Base

closed its doors for good on June 30, 1967.

The Base property was promptly converted over to the Roswell Industrial Air Center and currently houses an air terminal for American Airlines, aviation-related businesses, as well as a branch of Eastern New Mexico University, among other endeavors.

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Robert H. Goddard and his crew on November 7, 1936.

Photos Courtesy of the RMAC

Dr. Robert H. Goddard

by Caroline Brooks

Rocket Pioneer

Goddard in his workshop, 1935

Goddard at Clark College, 1924

49 Roswell: 100 Years of History

Known as the “Father of Modern Rocketry,” Robert H. Goddard (1882-1945) was inspired by the fantastical tales of H.G. Wells as a teenager in Massachusetts.

He imagined “how wonderful it would be to make some device which even had the possibility of ascending to Mars.” His youthful speculations led to a pursuit of rocketry. Early experiments and research conducted while a graduate student at Clark College around 1919, sparked interest in physics circles, but the popular press ridiculed him for suggesting that a rocket could reach the moon. Embarrassed, Goddard continued his experiments in more secrecy.

In 1926, he launched his first successful liquid propellant rocket on his Aunt Effie’s farm in Auburn, Massachusetts. In a short time, his rockets grew larger, louder, and more dangerous. As a result, he set the wooded area ablaze— frightening his Aunt’s neighbors

and once again drawing the attention of the press, in addition to famed aviator Charles Lindbergh.

Interested in rockets, Lindbergh helped Goddard acquire needed funding—largely from the Guggenheim Foundation—to pursue his experiments on a larger scale.

Thus, in 1930, Goddard and his wife, Esther, along with a small crew, moved to Mescalero Ranch in Roswell, New Mexico. A launch tower was constructed in a prairie about ten miles from Roswell, and a workshop was built near the Goddard’s home. While in Roswell, over the next twelve years, Goddard made great strides in rocket construction, launch control, and tracking. In all, there were fifty-six test flights, with seventeen reaching altitudes of over 1,000 feet. In 1942, a World War II contract moved the Goddards to Annapolis, Maryland, to help design rockets that assisted heavily laden

aircraft during takeoff. Goddard passed away on August 9, 1945, and was laid to rest on August 14—the day Japan surrendered.

After the War, American rocketry grew quickly. Partly due to his reluctance to publish, Goddard’s contributions were all but forgotten. However, Esther Goddard worked to preserve his notes and experiments, and as a result Goddard was awarded 214 patents. Esther Goddard gratefully accepted a Congressional Medal in his memory in 1961—validation for his contributions to rocket technology.

Today, a recreation of Goddard’s Mescalero Ranch workshop, as well as artifacts, a commemorative sculpture, and his rocket tower are on display at the Roswell Museum and Art Center.

Dr. Robert H. Goddard - Rocket Pioneer

Harry Guggenheim, Robert H. Goddard, and Charles Lindbergh at the Roswell launch tower in 1935.

Source: Robert H. Goddard: Dreamer, Tinkerer, Pioneer, Roswell Museum and Art Center.

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51 Roswell: 100 Years of History

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Ambulance and Funeral Vehicles around 1950

Some things Open to all who are impacted by death.

change very little over time...while other’s change for

Early Photo of Ballard Funeral Home

Although we haven’t quite reached the century mark after 80 years of service, we plan to continue serving the Pecos Valley area until we do...and long after.

And we appreciate the trust local families have placed in our service these many years.

Happy Birthday, Roswell. www.ballardfuneralhome.com

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