Abraham Staab was fifteen years old when he came to the United States from Germany. He arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, where he worked for two years. In 1856, he and his brother Zadoc took a job in Santa Fe with the Spiegelberg Brothers. There they honed their skills in the wholesale trading business. By 1858 … Read moreLa Posada, Santa Fe, NM (History)
The long-expected engagement in New Mexico came off at Valverde, on the east bank of the Rio Grande, four miles above Fort Craig on Friday, February 21. The battle commenced at eight o’clock in the morning and lasted until sunset. The action was commenced by a portion of Col. Baylor’s regiment, 200 strong, under the … Read moreThe battle of Valverde, a soldier’s account of the battle.
In the early 1800s, the town of Chama was not only exciting but downright dangerous. As the youngest of the Tierra Amarilla Land Grant’s historic villages, Chama was established at a time in New Mexico’s history when much of northwestern New Mexico was without adequate law enforcement.’ Outlaws and other disreputable types, along with businessmen … Read moreFoster’s Hotel, Chama, NM (History)
The Foster Hotel is an assembly of the original circa 1881 frame building plus two later major additions constructed of frame and adobe. All three sections have moderately pitched corrugated metal roofs and are all in the Northern New Mexico vernacular style. The overall structural condition of the Hotel is good to fair. The condition … Read moreFoster’s Hotel, Chama, NM (Building Details)
Like Abó and Las Humanas, red-walled Quarai was a thriving pueblo when Oñate first approached it in 1598 to “accept” its oath of allegiance to Spain. Three of Quarai’s Spanish priests were head of the New Mexico Inquisition during the 1600s, including Fray Estevan de Perea, Custodian of the Franciscan order in the Salinas Jurisdiction … Read moreQuarai Mission (History and Description)
In 1850, the Mesilla Civil Colony Land Grant was established by the Mexican government to give settlers in Mesilla land ownership. The grant was later honored by the United States Government. The Civil Colony Land Grant was established to govern the entire town and to distribute the common lands. Father Ramon Ortiz was the Commissioner … Read moreGrigg’s House, History
From a sandy terrace above the west bank of the Rio Grande, about 35 miles south of Socorro, the scrub desert stretches out for miles to the distant mountain ranges. It’s a lonely and desolate place baked by a hot sun in summer and chilled by snow-laden storms in winter. It’s a land of dry, … Read moreThe history of Fort Craig, NM
He was killed on January 19, 1847, at about six in the morning. We were in bed when the Mexicans and Indians came to the house, breaking the doors. Some of them were on the top of the house, tearing the roofs, so we got up, and father stepped to the porch asking them what … Read moreThe story of Governor Bent’s massacre as told by his daughter Teresina Bent Scheurich
In 1850, Lieutenant Colonel E. V. Sumner looked at the U.S. troops stationed in Santa Fe, and the temptations offered to soldiers there. He immediately determined to remove them from “that sink of vice and extravagance” by establishing forts only in remote areas. The plains near La Junta seemed a likely spot since the Santa … Read moreLoma Parda, NM (History)
The home of members of the politically powerful Luna family, the Tranquilino Luna House was constructed in the early 1880’s. This house is probably the best example of an extant adobe Victorian residence in New Mexico and has retained most of its original design. Tranquilino Luna, son of merchant-farmer Jos£ Antonio Luna and his wife … Read moreLuna Mansion, Los Lunas, NM (History)
In 1882, a local merchant named Don Begnino Romero and Jean Pendaries raised $25,000 to build the Plaza Hotel which was soon dubbed the “Belle of the Southwest.” However, it closed after only 4 years due to mismanagement and economic troubles in the area. With a new management team and with extensive renovations, the hotel … Read morePlaza Hotel, Las Vegas, NM (History)