Summer 2011 Preservation News Volume 26, Issue 2

Published in Las Vegas, NMby the Las Vegas Citizens’ Committeefor Historic PreservationPO Box 728 / 116 Bridge StreetLas Vegas, NM 87701Phone 505 425-8803Fax 505 425-7202E-Mail historic@cybermesa.comWebsite www.lasvegasnmcchp.com

Board of DirectorsRudy Laumbach, ChairDoyle Daves, TreasurerYvonne AragonLoretta BacaKathryn Kretz BenderBarbara FeldmanKenny LujanGeri MadridTasha MartinezMartha McCaffreyTony RoybalAmanda Chavez, Office Manager

Mission StatementTo preserve, protect and promote thehistoric, cultural and architecturalheritage of greater Las Vegas througheducation and advocacy, and to en-courage economic developmentthrough restoration and rehabilitation.

CCHP PHOTO

After seven years workingin the CCHP office,Magee Poler is leaving

Las Vegas to be near family inKalispell, Montana. For someone whohas served CCHP with such consis-tently good work for so many years,any acknowledgement of her contribu-tions may seem an understatement,Our success is directly attributable toher talents and high quality work. Thepersonal loss we feel in her leaving ismitigated by knowing that the friend-ships she has made will continue intothe future.An exciting new chapter hasbegun in her life; we wish her successand happiness and congratulate her ona job well done.

Amanda M. Chavez-Gonzales hasbeen selected to be the new administra-tive assistant/office manager at CCHP.Amanda is a Las Vegas native wholives at Gonzales Ranch off Highway 3a few miles south of Romeroville withher husband and three sons. Please joinus in welcomingAmanda and extend toher your support and cooperation. Weall look forward to working with her asshe takes on this important and chal-lenging position.

Anne Bradford, former CCHPBoard member, volunteered to serve asoffice manager during the two-weekperiod following Magee’s departureand the arrival of Amanda. The transi-tion occurred during a very busy sea-son at CCHP; Anne ensured thatpreparation for all our summer eventsremained on schedule. We are verygrateful to Anne for her commitmentto CCHP and her important help duringthis period of change.

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The New Mexico Historical Preservation Divisionof the Department of Cultural Affairs has honoredhotelier Wid Slick with a Lifetime Achievement

Award noting that he had been instrumental in rehabilitatingand saving sixteen historic buildings in Las Vegas.

Slick’s preservation effors began during the Plaza ViejaProject of the early 1980s. His most recent achievement wasthe rehabilitation and incorporation of the long-vacant IlfeldMercantile Building into the historic Plaza Hotel.

CCHP is proud to join with preservationists state-wide inhonoring Wid Slick for his impressive achievements.

MainStreet de Las Vegas and its Façade Squad were alsohonored for efforts at improving the appearance of manybuildings along the main street corridor by painting buildingfacades. Local merchants have assisted by donating paintand supplies. The Façade Squad paint crews have been en-thusiastically staffed by volunteers, largely students and staffof local schools. The result has been impressive improve-ments in streetscape appearance with minimal expense andgreat community spirit and fun. Cindy Collins, MainStreetdirector and Michael Siewart, board member accepted theaward. Mayor Alfonso Ortiz was present to support the LasVegas award winners.

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Wid Slick Honored for Lifetime Preservation Efforts

New Exhibit Coming to a Location Near You

Looking for New Docents and CCHP Office VolunteersOne of the best ways to learn about Las Vegas History, and certainly the most fun way, is being a volunteer guide at one of the “Places with a Past” build-

ings or homes. Volunteers receive orientation and a fun reception prior to the event. The date this year for the Tour is Saturday, August 6th. Once you do it, you’llreturn year after year as do many of our wonderful volunteers. Just call CCHP at 425-8803 to get your name on the list for this year!

We are also looking for volunteers to give walking tours of the Old Town Plaza/Bridge Street Historic Districts as well as to greet visitors from around theworld this summer. Office volunteers sign up for two or three hours a week to assist staff with greeting visitors, answering questions and giving general introduc-tion to the Las Vegas history. Las Vegas has many “cultural tourists” throughout the summer months from all over the United States, Europe, Canada and Asia.Those looking for the authentic old west find it here in Las Vegas! Help us make their visit an informative and fun one. Call us or come by to see what works bestfor your schedule!

People and Places Past • Summer 2011 • LVCCHP Page 2

Religious expression is a keyingredient in the life of LasVegas – seems like it’s al-

ways been that way. A new mini-ex-hibit, Religious Diversity in Las Vegas,explores the formation of some of thewell known religious institutions intown. The development of the exhibitwas a partmership between the City ofLas Vegas Museum and students andfaculty from New Mexico HighlandsUniversity.

Dr. Elaine Rodriguez, associate pro-fessor of Political Science and Historyand graduate student, Stephen Salas, ,researched the beginnings of many re-ligious denominations that still are ac-tive today. Dr. Eric Romero, AssistantProfessor of Language and Culture andundergraduate, Alicia Danae Garcia,provided information and imagesabout La Fraternidad Piadosa de Nue-stro Padre Nazareno, better known asPenitentes. Selections from the mu-

seum’s rich photographic collection areused to illustrate the story.

The four-panel exhibit will beplaced at locations around townthroughout the summer. Some of the es-tablishments that will host the exhibitinclude the Bank of Las Vegas, Tome onthe Range, Citizens Committee for His-toric Preservation and the Visitor’s Cen-ter in the railroad depot.

—Linda Gegich, DirectorCity of Las Vegas Museum

Las Vegas Heritage Week 2011August 5-14, 2011

Explore Historic Las Vegas

Throughout week:

Las Vegas City Museum, 727 Grand AveExhibitions on Las Vegas History

Ray Drew Gallery, Donnelly Library, NMHU:Exhibit “Highlands and the War Effort- WWll,” photographs, yearbooks and posters. M-F 8-5, S & S 1-5

Meadow City Camera ClubLos Rios de San Miguel, a photo exhibit at the Santa Fe Trail Interpretive Center/CCHP, 116 Bridge Street

Las Vegas Arts Council Gallery 140 Bridge Street:“People and Places,” an exhibit of new works by NachoJaramillo & Toni Truesdale

El Zocalo Gallery, 212 Plaza Park“Historic Houses of Las Vegas” exhibit by the co-opera-tive artist members. 454-9904

ThreadBear, 1813 West PlazaHeritage Quilts Exhibit, 425-6263

Plaza Hotel, Conservatory room“Outlaws of Las Vegas,” exhibit curated by Marcus Gottschalk

Friday Aug. 5Heritage Week Kick-Off Extravaganza

New Mexico Territorial Brass Band will play in thePlaza 5:30-7:30 pm. Sponsored by the Las Vegas FirstIndependent Business Alliance, Chamber of Commerceand Friends of the Museum and the City Museum.. Pic-nic in the park with several food vendors or bring yourown.

Nat Gold Players“Over the Edge 4” Anne Bradford & Cynthia Riley’soriginal script poking fun at Las Vegas life, persons andpolitics on a fictional morning radio talk show, Over theEdge. Show 7:30 pm Sala de Madrid, 8th & University,at NMHU. Tickets $10 454-9707

“Cineflix in Ilfeld” Free Movie at Ilfeld Auditorium,7:30pm. Call 454-3238 for title

Plaza HotelByron T’s Saloon, Live Music Entertainment 7-10 pm

Saturday, Aug. 6Tri-County Farmers Market- 6th & University

7am until sellout Places with a Past: Historic Homes & Buildings Tour

Tour 1860s traditional Spanish adobes, Victorian turn ofthe century mansions and the Montezuma Castle onthis at-your-own- pace self-guided tour. Informativeguides at each of the venues. 10-4pm Tickets $20 atCCHP, 116 Bridge Street, 425-8803, and at the PlazaHotel

Blessing of the WaterTraditional Northern New Mexico Acequia Ceremony.Processions begin at 9am at Our Lady of Sorrows andImmaculate Conception Churches, meeting at the Galli-nas River Bridge for blessing of the water and blessingof artworks.

Annual Hispanic Folk Art MarketOur Lady of Sorrows Parrish Hall on the Plaza. An as-sortment of traditional and folk art will be for sale.10am-5pm Contact 505-670-1957

El Zocalo Gallery, 212 Plaza2-5pm Reception for “Historic Houses of Las Vegas”

Nat Gold Players“Over the Edge 4” Anne Bradford & Cynthia Riley’soriginal script poking fun at Las Vegas life, persons andpolitics on a fictional morning radio talk show, Over theEdge. Show 7:30 pm, Sala de Madrid, 8th & University,at NMHU Tickets $10 454-9707

Plaza HotelByron T’s Saloon, Live Music Entertainment 7-10 pm

Sunday, Aug. 7 Santa Fe Trail Tour. 9am-4pm

The tour begins at 9 am at CCHP, 116 Bridge Street. Thebus will travel along the Santa Fe Trail from Fort Unionthrough Watrous, Las Vegas and Tecolate, ending atSan Miguel de Vado, where the trail crossed the PecosRiver before going on to Santa Fe. Tickets $30, includeslunch. Reservations required. 425-8803

Las Vegas Heritage Week 2011 is an offering of events, tours, music, art, exhibits and lectures celebrating the culture and colorful history of beautiful Las Vegas, N.M. Heritage Week has become a

major attraction for visitors and residents alike. Take a step back in time and place in historic Las Vegas. Make plans to spend a fun and informative week with us! Make your own history.

People and Places Past • Summer 2011 • LVCCHP Page 3

People and Places Past • Summer 2011 • LVCCHP Page 4

Nat Gold Players“Over the Edge 4” Anne Bradford & Cynthia Riley’soriginal script poking fun at Las Vegas life, persons andpolitics on a fictional morning radio talk show, Over theEdge.Matinee 3 pm Sala de Madrid, 8th & University,at NMHU Tickets $10 454-9707

Chautauqua ProgramSponsored by the Friends of the City Museum.“Theodore Roosevelt—Rough Rider-President,” pre-sented by Randy Milligan, an instructor at New MexicoState University in Carlsbad. Plaza Hotel Ballroom, 6pm. Tickets $5 Adults, children free (limited seating).

Monday, Aug. 8Children’s Literary Camp

Tome on the Range offers a hands-on, interactive expe-rience. “Life on the Santa Fe Trail” 9am-2pm Mondaythrough Friday. $50 Ages 7-10, boys & girls. Call Tomeon the Range to register 454-9944 (limited enrollment)

Tome on the Range, 158 Bridge StreetRon Dulle, author of “Tracing the Santa Fe Trail” Pres-entation, slide show & reception 5:30 pm

Tuesday, Aug. 9Immaculate Conception School

Traditional Spanish Pioneer Dinner 5-7 Sponsored bythe Life Teen Youth Group of the Immaculate Concep-tion Parish. Pioneer Dinner includes Traditional Greenchile stew with leg of lamb, potatoes & barley, calabaci-tas & corn, pinto beans with chicos, red chili, tortillasand fresh homemade apple pie. Immaculate Concep-tion Catholic Center. $7.50 children under 5 free.

Wednesday, Aug. 10Plaza Hotel

6 pm Cash Bar, 7 pm Heritage Buffet Dinner featuringlocal foods, 8 pm Jesus Lopez presentation: “OutlawHistory of Wild Las Vegas” Tickets $25. 425-3591

“Cineflix in Ilfeld” Free Movie at Ilfeld Auditorium7:30 pm Call 454-3238 for title

Thursday, Aug. 11San Miguel/Mora County Fair: North Hot SpringsBlvd- 4pm livestock & arts exhibits open

Fort Union National Monument presentation“Those in Las Vegas Who Wore the Blue” Company Aof the 3rd New Mexico Volunteer Infantry present ba-sics of drills and stories from the Civil War. 7 pm atCCHP, 116 Bridge Street 425-8803, Ft Union 425-8025

Friday, Aug. 12San Miguel/Mora County Fair – all exhibits open 9-7pm

Fridays al FrescoTwo local bands play on the Plaza 5-9 pm Sponsoredby the Las Vegas First Business AllianceWalking & Bus Tour of Main Street Old & New LasVegasWith lunch at Masonic Temple 9am-1pm - Spon-sored by MainStreet de Las Vegas Meet at 9 am at ThePlaza Hotel Lobby -Tickets $20. 425-2606

“Cineflix in Ilfeld” Free Movie at Ilfeld Auditorium7:30 pm Call 454-3238 for title

Plaza Hotel BallroomDance to Traditional New Mexico Music,9-midnight Tickets $12

Plaza HotelByron T’s Saloon, Live Music Entertainment 7-10pm

Saturday, Aug. 13Tri-County Farmers Market 6th & University

7am until sellout. 9 am presentation on market history.Peoples Faire

Carnegie Park 10-5 Arts, Crafts, Music, Food, Entertain-ment. Sponsored by the Las Vegas Arts Council,425-1084

San Miguel/Mora County FairContests, races & carnival. 4 pm Livestock Auction, 9pm Barn-dance

Walking Tour of Bridge Street & Old Town Plaza, NoonMeet at CCHP, 116 Bridge StreetSecond Saturday Art Walk, Wine Tasting, GalleryOpenings, Merchant’s Special Sales

El Zocalo Gallery, 212 PlazaSecond Saturday open 10-7pm. Artists Reception withmusic & refreshments 2-5 pm. Plein air painting &drawing in Plaza Park throughout the day. Bring yourown supplies to join in.

Meadow City Camera Club ExhibitReception 1-3pm, 116 Bridge Street

Las Vegas Arts Council (gallery140)Reception 1-3pm, 140 Bridge Street

Plaza Hotel: Byron T’s SaloonLive Music by Groupo Firme 7-10

Sunday, Aug. 14Peoples Faire - Artists & Music

Carnegie Park 10-5 Arts, Crafts, Music, Food, Entertain-ment. Sponsored by the Las Vegas Arts Council,425-1084

Events for the entire family

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Places With a PastHistoric Homes & Building Tour 2011

Saturday, August 6, 10 am – 4 pmTickets $20 at CCHP, 116 Bridge Street or at the Plaza Hotel

This year the annual “Places With a Past Tour ofHistoric Homes and Buildings” promises to beone of our best. As you venture from site to site,

the story of Las Vegas comes to life. Early adobe homes alongthe original Santa Fe Trail route date back to the wagon traildays of the early to mid 1800s. With the coming of the rail-road in 1879, Victorian architecture and opulence flourished

in Las Vegas. Lavish Victorian homes grew up in New Townas the railroad connected the east and mid-west states withthe west. Experience the glory of the railroad era as you enterthe beautifully restored Montezuma Hotel. Take a step backin time and place. Enjoy a day of history, exploration and dis-covery in old Las Vegas. These are the homes and buildingsthat will be open for the Places With a Past Tour 2011.

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Enjoy the 2011Places With a Past TourThanks to our sponsors:Las Vegas Board of Realtors

Bank of Las Vegas

On April 30, CCHP, the U.S Park Service,Las Vegas MainStreet, Las Vegas Firstand the New Mexico Highlands Univer-

sity Foundation jointly hosted a workshop to discuspressing needs of the Las Vegas community andways community activism can help move forward.The workshop format was designed and organizedby Rudy Laumbach, CCHP Board Chair and MarieSauter, Superintendant at Ft. Union National Monu-ment and was facilitated by Krista Muddle from theU. S. Park Service Denver office.

The group heard presentations by Alfonso Ortiz,Mayor of Las Vegas and by Dr. James Fries, Presi-dent of Highlands University among others. Partici-pants saw the workshop as an important step incoming together and developing broadly supportedthemes for taking actions to improve the future via-bility of Las Vegas.

Partners in Action Workshop

The AmeriCorps pro-gram at NewMexico High-

lands University, theonly one in the nationto focus on museumsand non-profit groups,has assigned two stu-dent interns to work onbehalf of CCHP duringthe summer. The twostudents, Amalinda Ar-guello and DeAnna Threadgillare both enrolled in Highlands out-standing media arts program. At CCHP, Amalindawill redesign, upgrade and expand CCHP’s web pageworking under the supervision of CCHP Board mem-ber, Kenny Lujan. DeAnna, who will be supervisedby CCHP Board member, Martha McCaffrey, will de-sign and create educational modules to teach the his-tory of Las Vegas. The modules will be madeavailable to teachers of seventh grade in local schoolsdistricts. The AmeriCorps director at NMHU, LaurenAddario, expressed enthusiasm for the placement ofthe interns at CCHP and for programs assigned tothem. She is confident that the students will find theirassignments challenging and rewarding and thatCCHP will benefit from their efforts.

News and NotesTraditional Hispanic Folk Art

Market during Las Vegas Heritage Week

Road Scholars Programs in Las VegasThis summer the Road Scholar program will bring four

groups for a week-long immersion in Las Vegas history and cul-ture. The Road Scholar (formerly Elder Hostel) program is re-turning to Las Vegas after an interruption of many years. LindaAnderle and the Plaza Hotel brought together a group of localhistorians, artists and other experts to develop the program. Al-ready two groups, representing people from across the nation,have come to Las Vegas for the program and have expressed en-thusiasm for the experience. Two additional groups are sched-uled. The program is intense and features a variety of localexperts, including several CCHP volunteers as presenters. CCHPstrongly supports this program which showcases the history andculture of Las Vegas. We hope it prospers and continues to bringvisitors to our town for many years.

Santa Fe Trail TourSunday, Aug. 7, 9 am – 4 pm

The tour will follow the path of the Santa Fe Trail from FortUnion to San Miguel del Vado – a 50-mile portion of the trail ofgreat historical importance. The Tour will begin and end in LasVegas (CCHP and Santa Fe Trail Interpretive Center, 116 BridgeStreet). At 9 AM, the bus will leave for a visit to historic FortUnion National Monument, Tiptonville (site of Barclay’s Fort)and Watrous. Following a return to Las Vegas and lunch, the tourwill visit Kearny’s Gap, then the villages of Tecolote and SanMiguel del Vado, the earliest Spanish settlement east of the San-gre de Cristo Mountains. Here we will view the site where theSanta Fe Trail crossed the Pecos River and visit the beautiful his-toric village church, The tour will return to Las Vegas about 4 PM.Tickets ($30) are limited so purchase them from CCHP as soonas possible.

New Walking Tour BrochureThanks to a recent Certified Local Government’s grant and

the City of Las Vegas Lodgers Tax CCHP has compiled, printedand distributed a new version of Las Vegas Walking TourGuide. Larger text, improved maps and keyed historic build-ings add to the usefulness of this wonderful guide. Pick one upat 116 Bridge Street or around town.

New Office Hours at CCHPMonday - Friday 9am - 4pm, Saturday 10am-3pm

AmeriCorps Interns Spend Summer at CCHP

People and Places Past • Summer 2011 • LVCCHP Page 7

POSTAGE PAIDNON-PROFITORGANIZATIONPERMIT 147

LAS VEGAS, NM 87701

PO Box 728116 Bridge StreetLas Vegas, NM 87701

This project was partially funded by the City of Las Vegas with Lodgers Tax funds and also with Certified Local Government Grant Funds under project #35-10-21837 by theHistoric Preservation Division, State of New Mexico, 407 Galisteo Street, Suite 236, Santa Fe, NM 87501. The activity that is the subject of this brochure has been financed inpart with federal funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies ofthe Department of the Interior. This program received Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on thebasis of race, color, national origin, disability or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility asdescribed above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240

Address Correction Requested

Traditional Hisptanic Folk Art Market Aug. 6

On Saturday, August 6 at Our Lady of Sorrows Parrish Hall, aHispanic Folk Art Market will offer an assortment of tradi-tional and folk art

for sale. The show and sale willinclude paintings, woodcarv-ings, works of stone, glass,metal and composites. Tradi-tional santos, bultos and retab-los will be featured. The event,organized with participation oftraditional artist, Cruz Flores,will include works by manylocal artists of all ages and ex-periences. The show will show-case contemporary Hispanicart and will truly represent thevibrant state of our local cre-ative community. Folk Artist Cruz Flores