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R
egular readers of Alamodoso Connections have followed with interest continuing stories of Miss Alice of Victoria and her ghostly ner-do -well cowboy spirit, Willie
Maggie was a young lady maybe in her late teens…she was traveling North to South, possibly to El Paso.
S
Here is an excerpt of Maggies story and we will leave you to wonder about the similarities of her story and that of Margaret’s.
a fruitlet, but the front yard abounded with fig bushes and apricot, pomegranate and mulberry trees.
It was a quiet place, enclosed in elm trees, fat cotton woods, willows, several barns and a rickety arrangement of pens for sheep, chickens and turkeys.
The older children were in their bedroom but kept getting up and pestering with requests for water or bathroom or "I can't sleep."
My husband was a political sort, away at meetings many nights, and one February evening this was the Somehow, Maggie was case. Our youngest daughter injured… injured by being Pat Garret, Billy the Kid, had been born on Christmas thrown off a horse… day two months previously Colonel Fountain, and an array of Apaches, Spaniards, and she was fussy this eveShe was so severely ning. I was trying to rock Mexicans, heroes and injured that she was taken to villains had traversed the her back to sleep in front of the Doctor’s office in the fireplace which was road behind our simple Alamogordo…where she wooden, white, pitched-roof wildly crackling with a hot soon died. mesquite wood fire. farmhouse. She is a very,very,very, angry and upset young woman for having died as she did.
o it was of great interest here at the offices of Alamodoso Connections when we came across this story of a young lady by the name of Margarett the similarities between her story and that of Maggies.
It was nearly a hundred years old and at the western edge of town on a now unused road that had traveled past our farm on through to the White Sands, over the San Andres Mountains, on to Las Cruces and eventually to California.
And now, on to Margaret's story.
A small house, used for itinerant farm hands, stood catty-corner to our house. It was then occupied by our hand, Gregorio, his wife and their small child.
Margaret and the Cowboy Late in the year of 1960, my husband and I purchased and moved into one of the oldest farmhouses near Alamogordo, New Mexico.
A storm had begun brewing, beginning with brightening the windows with lightening, followed by close bursts of rambunctious thunder. Rain began pouring down in sheets, blown by a forceful wind.
Forty acres of furrowed I relented to the children fields lay south of the houses and were edged on the west to bring in their blanket and lie next to us on the by a stingy apple orchard, too old to produce much but carpet in front of the fire.
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As I rocked the baby and hummed a calming lullaby, I noticed the hatch door into the attic was rising up and hovering a few inches above the little frame that held it in place. It would slowly close and then a few minutes later it would hover open again. I kept rocking the baby and watching the hatch open and close. The storm had begun to abate by this time and I began to fear that someone was in the attic and was watching us.
the ceiling with his flashlight. To our surprise, the hatch was constructed from heavy lumber and my husband struggled to lift it and set in onto the rafters. It seemed too heavy to me be lifted by a mere draft of air.
mento Mountains and overflowing the arroyos had swept across our front lawn and caved in an old hand dug well in our lawn that we were unaware of. We were shocked to find the well; it had been covered with heavy timber and sod and the weight of the flood water must have been too much for the decayed and
"There's nothing up here," he yelled back down. "A thick layer of dust. It hasn't been disturbed,
would find the breakfast table set with an odd assortment of dishes, a plate, a spoon, a cup and maybe a spatula; strange setttings of dish wares appeared on our table intermittently. Tea towels would be folded or unfolded. Kitchen chairs would be moved, lights turned on or off and soft noises - clicks, scrapes, taps, - nothing uproarious. Sometimes guests would ask who just went into that room and when we investigated, we would find the room empty.
I held tight to the baby and continued rocking until the door blew open. I jumped up, and in through the door bounded my husband. I spilled out my story about the hatch while my husband pulled off his winter coat and stood by the fire to warm himself. "It's probably just the draft pushing the door up," he said dismissively, but I persisted and he finally said he would get the ladder and see what was up there.
there's no tracks."
"Maybe a critter," he said, "I don't know how anything could get in there, but we'll have a look"
He swung his flashlight from edge to edge of the attic. Secreted in the corner was a small wooden box, camouflaged with dust, untouched. "It sure doesn't look like there's been any movement up here. Maybe you were sleeping and dreamed the hatch was lifting up."
My husband brought a ladder in from the barn, tri angled it the middle of our living room, and climbed to
The next morning we viewed the results of the storm. Flood water, deluging down the Sacra-
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rotted planks causing them to collapse. The hole was about sixty feet deep and we feared that the children could fall into this pit and even though water didn't rise into the well anymore, it would be a deadly fall, needing to be filled. My husband and Gregorio filled the hole and replanted grass on top of the site.
Several months later we went back into the attic to remodel and turn the attic into bedrooms since the house had only two bedrooms and we had three children. The dust wafted as we stepped from rafter to rafter. Sitting on the joists in the corner was a small cedar chest, coated with decades of dust.
I lifted the top and inside was a collection of embroidered linens with perfectly aligned and administered back stitches, split stitches, french knots - all done in blue two strand thread, a four patch crazy quilt, two dishes bordered with pink After that night, there were changes at the old farm roses, a spatula, several house. Some mornings we
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The Best Darn Grilled Hot Dog Recipe
It doesn't take much to grill a decent hot dog: Just put it on the grill until heated through. But making a truly great hot dog requires knowing a few key tricks. Here's the recipe. INGREDIENTS 4 cups stewed hot-dog onions or 1 (1-pound) package sauerkraut 2 (12-ounce) bottles lager or light ale 2 pounds (about 16) natural casing all-beef hot dogs (such as Boar's Head or Dietz & Watson) Hot dog buns, for serving Mustard, for serving Type of fire: two-zone indirect
Place tray on hot side of grill and cook until . Light one chimney full of simmering, about 7 minutes. charcoal. When all the Slide to cooler side of grill. charcoal is lit and covered Cover grill with vents over with gray ash, pour out and the hot dogs. Cook with all arrange the coals on one side vents open until hot dogs are of the charcoal grate. Set heated through, about 10 cooking grate in place, cover minutes, turning once grill, and allow to preheat for halfway through cooking. 5 minutes. Alternatively, set half the burners on a gas grill . Remove lid. Remove hot to the highest heat setting, dogs from onions and place cover, and preheat for 10 directly on cooking grates minutes. Clean and oil the over hot side of grill. Cook, grilling grate. turning occasionally, until well browned and crisp, 2. Place stewed onions and about 3 minutes total. Return juices in a 10-inch square to onions. Toast buns over disposable aluminum pan hot side of grill if desired. and add beer. Nestle hot dogs Serve hot dogs with buns, into sauerkraut. mustard, and onions. DIRECTIONS
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Get In Touch With Your Inner Kid - Billy, That Is!
OLD LINCOLN DAYS Event Starts: 9:00 AM on on Friday, August 5, 2016 Event Ends: 5:00 PM on on Sunday, August 7, 2016 Fee $6.00 Adults Location: Lincoln State Monument Additional Information Performances of the "Last Escape of Billy the Kid" will be held at the pageant grounds at 8:30am Friday & Saturday, 8:30pm Friday and Saturday, 3:00pm on Sunday. Shops & Museums open; Historical Center & Courthouse will be open 9am-5pm Friday thru Sunday. All Day Food Concession - Arts & Crafts - Parade 11am Sun Living History Demonstrations throughout town.
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PHOTO Information: Mrs. Charlie Mayer PHOTO information ---Lottie Russel Lund rides her horse in White Oaks, New Mexico 1890's. Lottie was On large log with Lane Family in White the wife of Albert Lund, gold miner in White Oaks. Oaks. There were two blacksmith shops, Photo Courtesy of Donna Ikard one run by Charlie Mayer--father of Paul and Berth Mayer, andthe other was operated by Taylor and Sons. A livery stable was run by Paul Mayer, brother of Charlie Mayer. Of the two drug stores in White Oaks, one Was run by Dr A.G. Lane, who was also partner In the North Homesteak Mining Company, also In White Oaks. Photo Courtesy Donna Ikard
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Recollections of the Bonnell Ranch As told by Louise Coe Runnels
L
ocated on Hwy 380, west of Roswell, the Bonnell Ranch , when I was young, was a well-known entertainment place for around 100 miles.
They started this place when very young and raised their children to help them, but, of course, hired help.
At Bonnell Ranch I leaned to dance better. I learned first when I was young, I worked as a waitress one summer and I stayed there.
Along the creek ditch (coming from Eagle Our Eagle Creek home Creek, a White Mountain was too far away. tributary) they had It was a Greyhound bus several cabins for guests A family cemetery was stop for the Roswell to El who wanted to spend nearby, also the Episcopal Paso run, and folks who Church. At Bonnell time during summer. boarded it knew there was a familystyle meal waiting for them at the Bonnell Ranch in Glencoe. Bert and Sydney Bonnell ran it for years. The highway has been moved north of the place and it's hardly visible, and the flood in 1978 left it in shambles.
Bonnell Ranch Circa 1930
They had a bath and wash Ranch, a lot of dances house too. were learned. Dances I The Bonnells were remember were Shod The Bonnells not only famous for their Bonnell dish, Polka,Waltz, Fox had homemade food, Ranch Square Dances. Trot, Two-step, Put your they raised most of it. little foot, Little Brown Sydney was from Coe Jug, Charleston, Black They milked their cows family, and othersBottom, Military Waltz, for cream, milk and Wilber and Louise Coe, Chicken Scratch and the cottage cheese. They Harold Coe, Joe Coe, Virginia Reel. raised their own fruit and Dan Storm other young garden food and killed folks-learned the square At Bonnell Ranch their beef and had dance and other dances. there wouldn't have been pig,chickens,and turkeys. room for the latest
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dances. Nowadays, both seniors and young do the line dance, I’d love to be able to line dance,but watching them is fun enough. When I worked one summer for Bert and Sydney as a waitress, I helped cook and did cleaning. I didn't much like the outdoor toilet cleaning. I was afraid a man or boy would come to use the only one they had. Before I end this part of the Coe and Bonnell story, being from a musical family, I wanted to learn more . As time went on, I wanted one of my children or grandchild to be some sort of musician. My youngest son Benny, is talented. When he was 4 years old, he sang , " Oh Lone Some Me, "but so far, just Ross and Joe ( two of my brothers) became the musical ones.
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Three Rivers, NM, A Shadow of a Wild Past! Traveling North on Highway 54 about half way between Tularosa and Carrizozo, except for a bright red school house off the highway, it would be easy to miss Three Rivers.
Three River Trading Post As a Philips 66 Station Circa 1938
Hard to believe that not all that long ago, Three Rivers, with a population of 300 folks, sported a train depot, hotel, saloons, general store, post office and many homes About all that remains of Three Rivers, is the Three Rivers Trading Post. Built in 1938 the Trading Post has been a gas station, saloon, Biker Bar, restaurant and Post Office..
A Three Rivers Home, Circa 1925
Rail Station Circa 1905
Three Rivers General Store & Post Office 1938
Pioneer Dugout Home, Three Rivers 1930’s
Featuring Authentic Native American Turquoise Jewelry, Rugs, Pottery, Paintings & Much More!
Three Rivers Trading Post, 9667 Hwy 54
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575-585-2923
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GEMINI JUNE HOROSCOPE You may begin June 2016 feeling a little daunted by what you need to do; you have set yourself a very high bar this year and need to keep up with the standard and pace you have set. Even though you are seeing concrete results, some aspects of your life may need to go into reverse for a short time while you check your spiritual energy and continue the journey in a slightly different direction. June 2016 is not a good month to make decisions about your life and overall life direction; you are just not thinking clearly enough, and there are too many confusing factors which could lead to a skewed perspective. Buying and selling both in your business or personal life are not favored. Worry and anxiety can plague you at this time and so avoid alcohol, stimulants or anything that can exacerbate these issues. A lot of the things troubling actually a tricky month; much will be thrown at you seem worse than they are. Get enough sleep, exercise you, and everything that comes your way is an and fresh food and top up your vitamins and proteins opportunity to learn something which you can with a healthy shake.
use in terms of your growth and development.
Your spiritual life matters to you right now, and you will devote time to activities that you feel help you to get in touch with your higher self. If you do visit a psychic or clairvoyant in June 2016, be skeptical as you are highly impressionable, and it is best that you sit on their advice for a while before acting on it.
On a more general level, you will come across new situations in June 2016 that will reflect how far the new you or the evolving you have come. When you change for your own good, not everyone is happy, some are decidedly uncomfortable as the new you is somewhat of a threat. You must not retreat, this year is such a fantastic chance for improving self-knowledge, and so use both the peculiar and annoying circumstances in June 2016 to further your self-understanding, even if what you uncover makes you uncomfortable.
Your imagination and ability to visualize is sensational in June 2016, and so if you use in conjunction with affirmations CANCER JUNE HOROSCOPE visualization to think positive, or if you use your imagination in your day-to-day work, you will You can learn in June 2016 how a subtle change in how you express yourself can make a find that your ability to see things with clarity in your head is a great tool. big difference to your effectiveness. It is
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HIDDEN TREASURE We all look for something Not knowing what it is. Looking high. Looking low. Whether it be new, Or something rather old. Life is full of surprises; They are called Hidden Treasures. Original poem by David Jones, Alamogordo 9/10/2014
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wooden spoons, two teacups and saucers, and an assemblage of mismatched spoons, forks, knives. A simple white sleeping gown lay in the chest; its bodice was embellished with white cloud filling stitches which ended below the breasts and bedizened the bottom of the gown into Grecian folds. In the bottom of the trunk was a floral printed flour sack, tied at the top with a string, enclosing a pair of tiny pair of lamb's wool booties and a pair of knitting needles with a tiny white cap still in progress interlaced on the wooden sticks. "It's someone's Hope Chest," I told my husband,uncomfortable with this new knowledge. We decided to research the history of the old farm house. Through census records we learned that the original farm was homesteaded by a couple who had a daughter named Margaret who was 18. We found a newspaper article saying that one summer Margaret had gone missing. The newspaper reported that the family had hired a drifter, a young cowboy who worked for the family for about a year and one day the daughter and the hired hand disappeared. Thinking they had eloped, the family waited for their return, but they never came back. Stories filtered back of seeing the hired hand in Continued page 29
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neighboring Hillsboro, El Paso, or Las Vegas, but no sightings of Margaret were ever reported. We considered the sequence of events on our farm: the storm, the flood, the uncovered well and the appearance of the ghost in our house. We have decided it is Margaret. We theorize that Margaret became pregnant and told the cowboy who did not take to the news kindly.
We believe he killed her and dumped her in the dried up well and when the well cover collapsed, she escaped and moved back into the farmhouse. We have lived in this house with Margaret for 55 years. Her Hope Chest sits in the bedroom filled with her unused treasures. She still upsets our routine at times and I'm sure we upset hers, but we are all by now family. by Barbara McDonald
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The Magazine for Otero & Lincoln Co., N.M. 575-404-9400 806-224-8226
Front Cover Photo Claunch NM Bean Storage Schenck Photography 575-613-6970 324 Crazy Horse Circle Alto, NM 88312
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