New Mexico
Saturday, June 14th, 2008
A fire, apparently arson, started today about 5:30 on the Las Cruces side of the Organ Mountains. The origin was evidently just south of Dripping Springs.
By late evening about 400 acres had been burned. Several homes were evacuated. The old sanatorium ruins at Dripping Springs are evidently not at risk.
June 17 — The fire is basically out. Fire fighters from as far away as Lincon and Silver City helped fight it.
Friday, October 19th, 2007
As noted here, the just restored Rio Grande Theatre was designed by Otto H. Thorman, an El Paso architech.
That was not his only theatre project. He also designed the Mission Theatre in El Paso.
The theatre, at 3031 Alameda, was built in 1940 for the El Paso Amusement Company. It is now a bar.
The Spanish mission theme is obvious. The bell is still in the bell space.
Tags: El Paso, Mission Theatre, Theaters
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007
Rio Grande Theatre, Main Street, Las Cruces.
In 1925, the Hacker Hotel was torn down to provide a site for The Rio Grande Theatre. An El Paso architect, Otto H. Thorman, was hired to design the theatre, which is built of adobe.
The theatre opened on July 29, 1926 with the film Mare Nostrum (a silent film), directed by Rex Ingram and staring Alice Terry and Antonio Moreno.
Prices for movies were 40 cents for the main floor, 30 cents for the balcony, and 15 cents for children.
In 1933, the theatre burned, but it was rebuilt and restored, even though it was the Great Depression. A “washed air” cooling system was installed during the repair — which must have been very rare in New Mexico then.
The theatre remained in operation until 1997, when it was closed as no longer economically viable. It was feared it would be destroyed or put to another use.
The theatre was saved by the generosity of the descendents of one of the original owners, who donated the portion they owned (thank you!), and the Dona Ana Arts Council, which raised the money to purchase the rest and to restore the theater.
The restoration process began in 2001 and the was completed sufficiently by 2005 for a grand opening.
The marquee, restored to its original look.
The original facade was covered some time in the 50s. When the new front was removed, the original decorations, although damaged, were discovered. In a 1933 newspaper article, the decorations are described as “color combinations of reds, yellows, and blues.” They are almost completely restored, except for these few:
Here’s the restored ticket booth:
The beautifully restored interior now seats 422:
Notice the “ghost light.” (A “ghost light” is a single bulb burning on a dark stage, an old English tradition.)
Some photos of the restored ceiling:
(Historial information provided by the Dona Ana Arts Council.)
Tags: Las Cruces, Rio Grande Theatre, Theaters, Main Street
Thursday, September 27th, 2007
In reply to an inquiry as to how Las Cruces, New Mexico, “the City of Crosses,” got its name, Judge Charles Blanchard, of Las Vegas, who is located in Las Cruces temporarily, handling lands and mines, writes to The Optic as follows from that city:
“I have renewed here the acquaintances of many old settlers, some of whom I have never seen but whose names were familiar through business connections in the early days; from the early 1840’s until the advent of the railroad in New Mexico, during the good, old times of wagon freighting from Chihuahua to [the] Missouri river, by way of Las Vegas, where I was initiated into the mercantile business that commanded the patronage of this portion of New Mexico in its full breadth from east to west and along the Rio Grande [and a] hundred miles into Texas.
I read the other day the register of the old Mesilla hotel, rendered famous as the rendezvous of many pioneers of the southwest, at that time that Soccorro county extended from Arizona to the west line of Texas, when the present “Lincoln” was known only by the name of Fort Stanton and the old town of Tularosa. Such names as John Chisum, Col. Emil Fritz, Major Murphy, Capt. J. C. Lea, Col. A. J. Fountain, Col. Rynerson, Jimmy Dolan, Joseph Reynolds, Pat Garrett, A. Griggs and a host of other familiar figures often appear upon the leaves of the records of the ancient hostelery of Mesilla.
In the old town of Mesilla are several families with centenarians, one of whom is living with members of four generations in the same house, due, of course, to simple, frugal living, and exploding the theory that longevity is produced by modern, scientific preparations of diet.
Mesilla is one of the oldest settlements in the southern New Mexico, and has consequently been the scene of many thrilling adventures and historic events. Being on the main road between Santa Fe and Chihuahua, it was a settlement of no small importance, and when in 1865 Silver City began to loom up as a mining camp, a wagon road was opened from Mesilla through Cook’s Peak and Stein’s pass, of Indian massacre fame, and it added much to the importance of the old town. El Paso and Las Cruces were not known then; the town of Dona Ana, seven miles up the valley, being the only settlement as a rival as a trading post and county seat.
In 1852, a long caravan of forty five carts drawn by oxen, heavily loaded with freight from Santa Fe to Chihuahua merchants were one morning nearing a point where the Lucero flouring mill now stands, the northern suburb of Las Cruces, where the convoy was attacked by the Mescalero-Apaches and entirely destroyed, some fifty men being killed and buried on the spot. The native cart was constructed without bolts of iron and the creaking of the wheels could be heard at great distances, when in motion.
The news of the disaster was conveyed to Dona Ana where some troops were stationed. The men were buried in separate graves marked with mounds and a cross on each grave. Ever since the spot has been designated as that of Las Cruces, the present City of Crosses.”
– Rio Grande Republican, Feb 13, 1909.
Tags: Las Cruces, History
Tuesday, September 11th, 2007
The Organ Mountains behind a row of tractors.
Tags: Organ Mountains
Wednesday, August 15th, 2007
The Princess Drive-In, built some time in the 1940s. Up until the late 50s or so, THE PLACE to hang. In the last 15 years, it has been opened and closed by many owners.
No one seems to know who designed and built the sign. But it’s so iconic, it has endured all the travails of the property.
“Famous for Tacos” — when you whipped-in with your ‘55 Chevy, it was tacos and a coke — not burgers. And maybe a little backseat bingo.
Tags: Las Cruces, Signs, Misc Images
Tuesday, June 12th, 2007
Al’s Garage — a wonderful, effective sign without the semiotic overhead that bashes its way into our subconscious in at every turn. Sadly, the effect is spoiled by the ubiquitous logoistic sign painted on the front (logo overkill).
Tags: Las Cruces, Misc Images
