Lincoln County, New Mexico

We just returned from a week-long trip through New Mexico and I have so much to write about that I don't know where to start!

We drove through Lincoln, New Mexico, 57 miles west of Roswell, where Billy the Kid became involved in the Lincoln County War and the Battle of Lincoln, a historically important range war that took place between July 15 and 19th in 1878.

The buildings and houses look much smaller than I had imagined--Lincoln County was once the largest County in the United States. The historical buildings line both sides of U.S. Route 380 and the town itself is a treat for tourists--the area was meticulously preserved by local residents.

The home of James Dolan still stands in Lincoln. Dolan was a participant in the Lincoln County War. He was Lawrence Murphy's business partner. Both men were Civil War veterans, originally from Ireland, and well-known in the area for their unethical business practices.

The Tunstall and McSween store is also still standing, in spite of the fact that both men were killed during the conflict. Alexander McSween was a lawyer who partnered with John Tunstall, an English cattleman and banker. The two men competed for business with Dolan and Murphy. The business practices of McSween and Tunstall were ethical and honest. Unfortunately, and in contrast to Murphy and Dolan, McSween and Tunstall lacked the support of corrupt politicians from Santa Fe.

There is an odd-shaped building on this street that I've never seen or heard of before this trip. It is called Torreon. It is a large, circular, brick building constructed in the 1850s. The Torreon was used to protect Spanish-Americans from attacks by the Apache. It was also used by Murphy's sharpshooters during the Lincoln County War.

Books and films, such as Young Guns, portraying the life and experiences of Billy the Kid are interesting, but it is a completely different experience to actually walk down the sidewalks where these small, yet historically important conflicts took place.http://www.suite101.com/content/aoudad-or-barbary-sheep-in-the-american-southwest-a362070

While in Lincoln County, we also encountered a small herd of Barbary Sheep. These sheep look more like the "Wild West" than many cowboys I've seen with their woolly coats and long, curved horns. They were first imported into zoos in the United States from their native homes in Northern Africa in the 1950s, but they have acclimated so well in New Mexico, Texas, and other areas that their population in New Mexico alone is estimated to be around 20,000!

Lometa, Texas

My husband and I drove through Lometa, Texas last week. I had never even heard of Lometa before, but I fell in love with the town as soon as I saw the train station.

It appears to have been moved. It is a very long, old-fashioned building with the old, round lamps hanging from the roof, loading docks, and front doors leading to a waiting area that makes one pause and dream...

Like many Old West towns, Lometa was a product of the railroads. Established in 1885, Lometa connected Lampassas and Abilene on the rails of the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad. As we stood outside the original depot, build in 1910, which is awaiting restoration, I imagined women in long dresses, men in fancy suits, cowhands, cattle, little children running along the boardwalk. 1910 was the year the railroad connected Lometa with nearby Eden.

Lometa was once called Montvale. It's buildings were originally in a town called Senterfitt and moved to the new location by residents seeking escape from the ruffians who rode through that Texas town. The town was platted with 200 acres in 1886.

The railroad in Lometa served cotton farmers and sheep farmers. Although it did rise in population to 1500 people around 1930, it dropped to 650 in the 1980s and the population has remained in this range to this day.

I took many pictures of the depot. It is a romantic reminder of the Old West and I do hope they restore it soon.

Las Vegas again...

We drove through Las Vegas, New Mexico on the way home from Colorado where we spent the Thanksgiving holiday. I love Las Vegas! It is such a romantic, historic little town. Everywhere you look there is something to entertain, even if it's just admiring the architecture of the buildings.

There seems to be quite a bit of renovation going on in this town, which is a good thing. These historic buildings are priceless and should not be torn down. They should be restored and protected as treasures.

The Las Vegas Museum was closed when we drove by and I was disappointed that we drove into town so late in the day. The museum is spectacular. It has so much to see, including artifacts from Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders. A very interesting place, indeed.

Fort Croghan Day

Fort Croghan Day is coming soon! Fort Croghan Day is a celebration of the original Texas settlers who were brave enough to make the sometimes dangerous yet stunningly beautiful rolling hills of central Texas their home. Fort Croghan Day is held at the Fort Croghan Museum in Burnet, one of the first four military forts built by the U.S. Army in 1849 during their efforts to protect settlers from attacks by the Comanche.

Fort Croghan is remarkably well-preserved. The sturdy, oak buildings of Fort Croghan once served officers and soldiers alike with a hospital and officer’s quarters. The buildings also offered the promise of protection for local residents during possible attacks. It was this promise of protection that helped establish confidence in the settlers that their families would be safe, and Burnet and the surrounding area quickly grew to such an extent that military protection was no longer necessary.

Fort Croghan was closed in 1853. It is now a museum with Old West artifacts including a 100-year-old square grand piano, an 1852 ballot box, saddles and old jail doors from the county jail. Most of the items on display date back to around 1875. There are many cabins still intact, such as the blacksmith shop, stagecoach house, powder house, and schoolhouse.

On October 10th, the Fort Croghan Museum will hold its annual Fort Croghan Day, a demonstration of how life was lived on the Texas frontier and specifically within the walls of Fort Croghan. There will be demonstrations by craftspeople such as blacksmiths and bakers, and lessons held in the classroom of the school house. There will also be live music and, as always, plenty of people willing to talk about the history of the area. Fort Croghan Day will be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission and parking is free, though they do accept donations, which I am certain are greatly appreciated.

Fort Croghan is in Burnet, Texas at 703 Buchanan Drive, or Highway 29 West. It is open for visitors from April to October, Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. You can call them at: (512) 756-8281. Their web page is at: http://www.fortcroghan.org/index.htm

Old West Museum

When I was just a kid growing up in Colorado the most talked about event of the year was Cheyenne Frontier Days across the border in Wyoming. Rodeo, parades, concerts, food, and fun, Cheyenne Frontier Days had it all, and it still does, year after year. And year after year there has been dedicated people working behind the scenes to make Frontier Days special. On September 11, 2009, the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum will hold its Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person and the seating is limited, so call them as soon as you can to make your reservation at (307) 778-7290.

I also recommend checking out the Old West Museum web page because there is just so much going on at the museum that you don’t want to miss. They currently have a retrospective exhibit of the art of sculptor Chris Navarro. I had the privilege of seeing his work displayed at Colorado State University once and it is outstanding. The exhibit will be on display through October 14th. The museums website is at www.oldwestmuseum.org/

Cowboy Poetry

I can’t think of anything more Western-romantic than cowboy poetry, which becomes more popular each year. In fact, the 24th Annual Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering will be held in Lewistown, Montana, August 14-16, 2009.

The goal of the gathering is to preserve the heritage of the open range with displays of the visual and oral cultural history of the West. According to the gathering’s organizers, 90% of the performers are ranchers, stockmen, and descendents of original homesteaders and settlers.

This is the oldest cowboy poetry gathering in the United States. The second oldest is held each February in Alpine,Texas. The Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering is listed as one of 1000 Places to See in the US and Canada before You Die in the travel directory by Patricia Schultz.

The Gathering offers poetry and music sessions as well as displays of western artwork, rope art, leather craft, and other vendor items. All of the day activities are at The Yogo Inn on Main Street in Lewistown. The Saturday night show, starring Baxter Black, Mike Logan and two kid radio contest winners, is at the Fergus Center for the Performing Arts, which is attached to Fergus High School.

A pin-pass for everything at The Yogo Inn is $8 per person. The night show is $17.50. Tickets may be charged with VISA or MC by calling 406-535-8278. The Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering is produced by the Lewistown Art Center, a non-profit organization and you will find more information on their website at: http://www.lewistownartcenter.org/5.html.

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July! Today is the day we celebrate our independence on the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed, but to me, the Fourth of July also represents a time to reflect on all those men and women who put their lives on the line each day to protect that independence. Thank you to our soldiers and your families. Thank your for your sacrifice, your service, your dedication. As our county employees and volunteers struggle in the 104 degree Central Texas heat to prepare for tonight’s spectacular show, I am grateful that they are the ones sweating their fannies off and not me! But I am also very much aware of the fact that without our soldiers, we would not have the freedom to celebrate—or not celebrate--as we choose.

The Fourth of July fireworks have always been one of my favorite ways to celebrate. I remember a time when I was a child and my parents dragged my bratty little brother and two fighting sisters up the side of the mountain to an isolated camping spot on the fourth of July. We walked at least half an hour at dusk to find “the special rock” a friend of the family had told us about, a place to perch and watch the fireworks display. I grumbled as much as my sisters, wondering how on earth we would possibly be able to see anything shooting off into the night sky when we were surrounded by towering pine trees and disgusting little biting bugs. When we finally reached the rock and situated ourselves, and I took the time to look out over the valley, I realized why my parents had struggled so hard to drag their four children up a mountain in the heat of summer. I could literally see for hundreds of miles. I swear I could see as far as the Wyoming border. I could see Kansas, New Mexico, even Texas—and I was just a tiny little girl on a rock in Colorado! There’s nothing like the American West to warm the heart and soul and remind you of the beauty of our world.

The fireworks in Denver were truly amazing that year. Moments I will never forget. According to the July 6, 1876 issue of the Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado held its first public celebration that same year. There were speeches and music provided by the Council Bluffs Band at a picnic held in a grove near the mouth of the Cherry Creek River, which is where the City of Denver also got its start so many years ago. Lawrence, Kansas held its first Fourth of July celebration in 1855 with a crowd of 1500. Helena, Montana held its first public Fourth of July celebration in 1865 at Owyece Park with a speech given by George M. Pinney.

When I was a child, I remember a few Fourths spent listening to speeches and music, but most of our celebrations involved lots of hot dogs, fresh fruit and lemonade, baseball games with the neighbors and swimming in kiddy pools. The Fourth of July to me is a time to celebrate with family, celebrate the beauty of our country, and celebrate our right to celebrate for any reason we choose. May you all have a happy Fourth of July!