|
By Allen A. Hill and Jeanne La Marca
Courtesy Lordsburg Liberal and Bootheel Magazine
Take a walk through the Lordsburg-Hidalgo County Museum for a glimpse into the past of the people of New Mexico's bootheel. Located in the old armory building at 708 East 2nd Street in Lordsburg, the museum is open weekdays from 2 - 5 p.m. There is no fee to tour the museum, but donations are welcome.
The museum opened its doors in February 2001, at the Rockamania Bootheel Cowboy Poetry Fiesta. It was the culmination of years of work and decades of dreams for the residents of Hidalgo County, who had wished for a safe place in which to display treasured artifacts-or just everyday items that no longer were in use every day.
Construction began on the museum display cases about 1991, in the old skating rink on Main Street. Allen A. "Hook" Hill, president of the museum board, Leon and Margaret Speer, Clemente Baisa, Kenny Robertson, and Mollie and Phil Pressler helped to build the display cases. When the City of Lordsburg sold the building, the dream of having a museum seemed almost unattainable. However, the museum was eventually moved to better quarters in the old National Guard Armory, thanks to the efforts of Mayor Clark Smith, city maintenance supervisor John Hill and crew, and others.
The Old West is now alive and well in the museum's Western Village. A variety of home, farm, and ranch items that were the latest thing years ago can be seen in the cut-away village. Other displays feature metates, a 1937 farm tractor and other vintage farm implements, a Mennonite wagon, an ore bucket and other mining items, an array of colorful tin containers, old railroad items, fire department paraphernalia, and a sassy collection of hats. Marsha Hill, Linda Erickson, Margaret Speer, and June Hill spent long hours arranging thousands of items for the enjoyment of all who visited the museum.
Implements from Speer's Barber Shop have found their way to the museum, as have the vault door from the old First National Bank, and many old Hidalgo County records dating back to the 1920s. Of interest to many is a fine collection of rock specimens.
Displayed in John A. Johnson's photograph room are copies of historic photos related to the county. This collection, which is arguably one of the best in the state, is constantly being updated.
The military room, prepared by Art De La Garza and friends, houses an impressive assortment of uniforms, pictures, swords, and other memorabilia from various military campaigns. The display is a work in progress, as new items are added frequently.
The Avon room is a testament to the longevity of long-time Avon lady Lyne (Lesly) Hassenger, who spent more than 40 years delivering Avon to her customers. The Avon containers, which number in the hundreds, are a delight to both young and old.
Junior Gomez's carved scale model and pencil sketches of his hometown of Rodeo, New Mexico, an old railroad town nearby, are a great attraction. Visitors can almost hear Junior's guitar and harmonica music as they view his display.
The Doc Baxter room brings back fond memories of Dr. James H. Baxter. However, those who found themselves on the business end of a hypodermic needle might disagree-until they remember the sucker or the shiny dime that followed the shot. Doc's widow, Emmeline, generously donated items from his office to the museum, which were then arranged by John Hill.
On display in the Cowboy Hall of Fame room, prepared by Barbara Hoggett and others, are saddles, spurs, paintings, and a cowhide with various brands. Each year prominent ranchers are inducted into the Hall of Fame, and their pictures and written histories become part of the display.
One of the most unusual attractions in the museum is Mollie Pressler's Prisoner of War Camp display. Mrs. Pressler is the recognized authority on the POW Camp, which was located east of Lordsburg during World War II. She assisted the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces in preparing a traveling POW Camp display that made its way across the United States. Its permanent home will be in the Lordsburg Hidalgo County Museum.
Visitors to the museum will come away having seen the tangible history of New Mexico's bootheel. It is a place where the ghosts of the past and the folks of the present can spend a pleasant afternoon.
|
