I NEVER LEFT A PLACE THAT

I DIDN'T CLEAN UP
The Legacy of Historic Settlement on Lands Administered
by Holloman Air Force Base

ELL

Ci:E

DEC 1 4 1994

by
Lori S. Hawthorne

19941209 096
Th~is doc'umetini : ]Daz
for public rae ~se an'd stl.
distribution is. ulimited,

CO:

't

Holloman Air Force Base

Cultural Resources Publication No. 1

SUniwted State ATr ForWeee

Maryin P. Tag
Archaeologist

49 CES/CEV
550 Tabosa Ave
Holloman AFB, NM
88330-8458

Comm (505) 475-3931

Fax (505) 475-7015
867-3931
DSN

I NEVER LEFT A PLACE THAT

I DIDN'T CLEAN UP
The Legacy of Historic Settlement on Lands Administered
by Holloman Air Force Base

by
Lori S. Hawthorne

A"-ccesion For_
NTIS
DTIC

CRA&I
TAB
ic
ced

This project funded by the

Legacy Resource Management Program

Air Combat Command

United States Air Force
United States Department of Defense
Holloman Air Force Base
New Mexico
Cultural Resources Publication No. 1
October 1994

PREFACE
Martyn D.

AFB Archaeologist

Holloman
The

Department

of

Act

8120
establish

(Public

of

facilities,

earth

and

training.

58,410

the
of

this

resources,

and

Because

the

small

size

resources

of
on

Projects

DoD

"promote,

Base

Force

New

acreage
four

base

are

currently
the
in

been

nature

surveys,
properties.

of
little

to

had

LRMP

known
has

Legacy

Command

HAFB

along
base,

administers

FY93,
been

and

conducted

country.

archaeological

was
The

being

inventoried
sites

the

education

Combat

Prior

the

Native

the program
level.

projects.

Mexico.

had

Air

an

archaeological

limited
most

stewardship

(HAFB),

frameworks,

resources,

and

with LRMP

southern

management,

recreation,

throughout

are

These

decision

and

for

tasks

for project

are participating
at the installation

installations
in

of

Program

biological,

cultural

awareness

90 DoD installations

acres

percent

Task Areas

public

Demonstration

Holloman Air
one of

to

resources.

resources,

with resource
is

is

Development

Program

communities,

outside the
specialists

partners

In
1991,
enacting

Appropriations

the priceless

data management,

biological

settler

than

(LRMP)

Program

geophysical

Specific

education,

American
at more

by

Resource Management

restore

and

programs,

resources,
War,

Legacy

and

into

current

survey of

25

responsible for
and large number

is

1992 Defense

(FY)

Legacy

into

cultural,
divided

Cold

the

divided

are

biological,
further

Year

about

public
exist
on
which
resources
historical
The functions
or property held by the DoD."

and

geophysical,
LRMP

of

steward

United States and

of a wide variety

the

fund

conserve,

research,

lands,

Fiscal

and

purpose

manage,

the

101-511).'

Law

The

of

the

of

is

resources.
and
cultural
natural
the stewardship of these resources

irreplaceable
or
Congress elevated
to

(DoD)

Defense

million acres of land in the

the management and protection

Section

Tagg

only

for

3-1/2

cultural

documented.
work and

about

the

become

the

cultural
method

to

advance this knowledge, providing the means to complete projects

HAFB became involved
not eligible for compliance-driven funds.
in the Legacy Program in FY93 with the funding of three cultural
These projects were identified as "milestones
resource projects.
for National Register surveys" in the draft HAFB
and priorities

Historic Preservation Plan and included a Historic Architectural

Instrumentation,
Thematic Survey of Early Missile,
Assessment,
and Test Object Sites, and Thematic Study of Historic Ranches and
the FY93 Legacy Topical Theme
The projects fulfill
Ranch Sites. 3
of "WW II and Cold War research topics and stewardship projects,
themes which
history
contemporary
of
other
development
and
stewardship".4
to
contribute
a
of the Legacy projects,
the completion
To facilitate
was created between HAFB and
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
This
the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Division (HPD).
cooperative
agreement
was
beneficial
to both agencies.
It
allowed the HPD to become more actively involved in the Legacy
gave HAFB access to qualified archaeologists,
and it
Program,
historians,
historic architects,
and certified staff.
The HPD
aspects of the projects and issued grants
managed the logistical
to organizations or individuals with the experience to provide
The HAFB Archaeologist was the
the best possible final products.
technical manager of the projects,
ensuring the results would
provide the information necessary for management of resources on
HAFB,
compliment
the
base
mission,
and
meet
the
Legacy
guidelines.
The Historic Ranch project (Legacy #781)
falls
under the
LRMP Task Area of Native American and Settler Communities,
with
the objective to "establish programs to protect, inventory, and
conserve the artifacts
of native American civilization,
settler
communities, and others deemed to have historical, cultural,
or
spiritual
significances".5
The
project
was
designed
as
a
demonstration project to locate and document pre-military sites
on HAFB administered lands.
General Land Office maps, early HAFB
maps, known water sources, and informant information were used to
designate survey areas with the highest potential for historic
sites.
These judgmental sample units were used for determining
historic settlement patterns and to provide a basis for future
surveys.
After surveys of the sample units were completed and
sites recorded,
extensive archival
research was
conducted
to
provide as much documentation as possible on the pre-military
historic sites and use of lands now administered by HAFE.
Since
the focus of the project was on the early history of the HAFB, a
separate survey report was written dealing with prehistoric and
historic sites from an archaeological standpoint. 6

ii

The
goals

results

set

historic

of

forth

in

sites

the

were

and archival
old

archaeological
historic
1942.

Historic

Ranch

Legacy

proposal.

documented,

research

photographs

provided

the

produced

and

oral
a

survey,

interviews

one

and

project

so

the

methods

including
of

interviews

has

period

settlement prior
to the establishment
The results
can also be used to promote

demonstration

conducted,

combination

oral

cultural

can

be

the

HAFB

the

pre-military

were

The

research,

of

exceeded

information,

records.

archival
picture

far

Twenty-two

wealth of

homestead

complete

Project

on

HAFB--

of the base in
and modify this

used

successfully

on

other DoD installations.

This

is

the

publication
projects
be

series,

made

quality

possible

distributed
since

of this
base.
will
encourage
their

reporting

volume
created

reporting

managers,

and

first

of

to

local

the

results

It
is
other
on

the

to

through

LRMP

of

showcase

the

the LRMP.

project

results

professionals

far

series

and

allow

unique

settler

variety
will

other

this

the
in
of

of
insure

data

DoD

beyond

hoped the project

detailed
bases to begin the process
many

resource

wide

The
and

are useful

cultural

to

resource

boundaries
this
volume
documenting

communities

located

on

installations.
The completion

without

the

Paul Green

support
(Air

of
and

this

project

would

cooperation

Combat Command

of

not

have been

number

Headquarters

of

possible

people:

Archaeologist);

Dr.
Roger

Wilkson and Cathy Giblin (HAFB En'vironmental Flight chiefs during

the
time
involved);
Howard
Moffitt
(HAFB
Deputy
Base
Civil
Engineer);
Thomas Merlan and Michael Taylor (New
Historic
Preservation Officers,
then and now)
and
and especially

the

author,

Lori Hawthorne.

iii

Mexico
State
their
staff;

Notes

for Preface

1.
Department of Defense,
"Legacy:
Our
Stewardship" Pamphlet (Washington,
D.C.:
Office,
2.

Fiscal Year
Ms.

of

on

file

US Air

5.

Ibid.

6.

Lori

Base
Base,

S.

Report

at

Force,

United

Management

States

Printing

Air Force,

Program Guidelines,

Holloman Air Force Base,

New Mexico.

Holloman Air Force Base Historic

Prepared for USAF, Holloman Air

Force

1994.
"Legacy".

Hawthorne,
#

Pamplet;

Resource

Eidenbach,
Plan (draft),

New Mexico,

4.

Defense

93 Legacy

3.
Peter L.
Preservation
Base,

Government

1992).

Department

1992,

Path to Enhanced

1994-003,

Historic
1994,

Ranch
Ms.

Survey,

on file

New Mexico.

iv

Holloman Air

at Holloman

Air

Force
Force

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface ...................................................

ii

Acknowledgements ..........................................

xi

Acronyms Used Throughout Thes Report ....................

xiii

Abstract ...................................................

Introduction ...............................................

Physical and Historical Background .........................

5
Physical Environment ..................................
5
Project Location .................................
5
Tularosa Basin Topography ........................
5
Water Sources ....................................
7
Climate ..........................................
7
Soils, Flora and Fauna ...........................
.8
Farming Potential ................................
9
Grazing Potential ...............................
10
Mineral Potential ...............................
11
History in the Tularosa Basin ........................
12
The Mescalero Apache (1500-1848) .................
12
The Mescalero and the 15S Government (1848-1873).13
Early Non-native Presence (1860-1880) ...........
14
The First Anglo Americans & the Ranching Phase
(1870-1900) ................................
15
Homesteading Phase (1890s-1920s) .................
17
The Railroad Brings Changes (1900-1910) .........
18
The Ranching Phase Returns (1916-1940) ..........
21
Federal Authority in the Basin (1907-Present).. .22
Research Questions ........................................

27

Research Methodology ......................................

The Site Descriptions ................................

28
34

Ranches and Ranch Activity Sites ..........................

The Danley Ranch .....................................
HAR-008--The Jewell Danley Homestead ............

37
37
37

HAR-042--The

The

Danley Ranch ...................

Osie

42

Discussion ......................................
Impacts and Recommendations .....................

50

C.C. McNatt & Son Ranch ..........................

HAR-012--The Old Home Place .....................

54

A.A.

53
54

HAR-047--McNatt Ranch Headquarters ..............

HAR-049--West Well ..............................

60

Discussion ......................................
Impacts and Recommendations .....................

74

& C.A.

McNatt

71
78
79

Ranch .............................

HAR-064 .........................................

80

LA 103411--Dillard

83

Well .........................

Discussion ......................................

87

Impacts

89

Miscellaneous

and Recommendations .....................

Ranch Activity.

HAR-034--Fred

Sites

Bradford's

HAR-057--Fairchild

...................

Place ...................

Well .........................

90
90
94

Farm Sites ......................................................98

Farms at the Well Fields .............................
98
HAR-019--The

James

HAR-051--Luther

Boles'

HAR-053--Groom's
HAR-054--The
in

the

Reynolds'

Interior

Homestead .........

98
104
114
120
124

Basin .........................

132

Redies

132

LA 103410--Hyde's
Sites

Dairy ....................

Singleton's

HAR-061--Charles

Miscellaneous

Farm ....................

Residence .....................

HAR-086--William
Farms

McKillip Farm ................

Homestead ..............

Farm .........................

......................................

136
141

HAR-014 .............................................

141

HAR-045 .............................................
HAR-0 52--Well D .....................................

144
146

HAR-055--Arthur Blair Homestead .....................

HAR-063--Lightfoot Well .............................

147
152

HAR-065 .............................................

156

Non-Site Research Areas ..................................

160

Area 4--Albert Barrett's

Homestead ...................
Area ll--J.L.
Burn's Residence ......................

160
164

Area

165

19--Bert

Harris

House ..........................

vi

Area 21 .............................................
Walthall Schoolhouse ................................
Graves ..............................................
Discussion ...............................................
Settlement Patterns .................................
Land Acquisition and Ownership ......................
Land Development and Use ............................
Farm Sites .....................................
Ranch Sites ....................................
Differences in Site Location ........................
Effects of the Military on Area Residents ...........
Contradictions in the Data ..........................

169
172
174
177
177
185
191
191
195
202
203
207

Summary and Conclusions ..................................

211

Analysis

Project ....................

213

Recommendations ..........................................
National Register Recommendations ...................
Management Considerations ...........................
Further Research Possibilities
......................

221
221
223
223

Notes ....................................................

227

Bibliography .............................................

261

of the Historic Ranch

Appendix.

List of Cattle Brands Used in

the Project Area ....................................

About

the Author .........................................

269
271

vii

LIST OF FIGURES
6
38
40
41
43
46
47
48
49
51
56
58
13. Feature 2, Pump house at "the old home place" ..........
59
14. Outbuildings at McNatt Ranch Headquarters, 1957 .......
61
15. HAR-047 Site Plan (Inset) .............................
62
16. Rear of pump house at McNatt Ranch Headquarters .......
63
17. HAR-047 Site Plan
..................................... 66
18. Portion of corrals at McNatt Ranch ....................
67
19. First house at McNatt Ranch ...........................
68
20. Main house, 1957 ......................................
69
21. Main house in current condition .......................
70
22. HAR-049 Site Plan .....................................
73
23. Trough at West Well as it appears today ...............
74
24. C.C. McNatt's Grazing Allotment .......................
76
25. A.A. McNatt's Homestead Patent ........................
81
26. HAR-064 Site Plan .....................................
82
27. Loading Chute, HAR-064 ................................
82
28. Dillard's Desert Land Entry ...........................
84
29. LA 103411 Site Plan ...................................
86
30. Windmill and Tank at Dillard Well, 1956 ...............
87
31. Corrals at Dillard Well, 1956 .........................
88
32. Fred Bradford's Patent ................................
91
33. Tom Fairchild's Land Entry ............................
95
34. Fairchild Well ........................................
96
35. HAR-057 Site Plan .....................................
96
36. GLO Plat showing Gibsons' Improvements .................
99
37. McKillip, Walthall, Groom, Reynolds, and Blair
Homestead Patents ...................................
100
38. HAR-019 Site Plan ....................................
102

Holloman Air Force Base and the Tularosa Basin .........

Jewell Danley Homestead Entry .........................
3. HAR-008 Site Plan .....................................
4. Windmill at the Jewell Danley Homestead, 1957 .........
5. John Grant's Homestead Patent .........................
6. HAR-042 Site Plan .....................................
7. Osie Danley Residence, 1957 ...........................
8. Osie Danley Residence as it appears today .............
9. Feature 2, Chicken House ..............................
10. Danley's Grazing Allotment ............................
11. C.C. McNatt's State Purchase ..........................
12. HAR-012 Site Plan .....................................
1.
2.

viii

39.
40.
41.
42.
43.

Diagram of Boles' Farm, 1956 .........................

HAR-051 Site Plan ....................................
Boles' Residence, 1956 ...............................
Adobe Outbuilding at Boles' Farm, 1956 ...............
Outbuilding at Boles' Farm, 1956 .....................

44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.

Boles' Flood Dike and Earthen Tank, 1956 .............

GLO Plat showing Willingham's Habitation .............
Plan of Groom's House ................................
HAR-053 Site Plan ....................................
Foundation at Groom's Homestead ......................
HAR-054 Site Plan ....................................
William Singleton Homestead Patent ...................
HAR-086 Site Plan ....................................
Ruins of house on Singleton's Homestead ..............
HAR-086 House Plan ...................................
Remains of garage in 1994 ............................
Rock lined depression ................................
Charles Redies Land Holdings .........................
William Hyde's Homestead Patent ......................
LA 103410 Site Plan ..................................
Virginia Reynolds Homestead Entry ....................
HAR-014 Site Plan ....................................
1918 Department of Interior Map Showing House

62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.

in Section 12 .......................................
Well D.....
...........................................
HAR-055 Site Plan ....................................
HAR-063 ..............................................
HAR-063 Site Plan ....................................
Dugout with roof timbers .............................
HAR-065 ..............................................
HAR-065 Site Plan ....................................
Albert Barrett's Homestead Patent ....................
GLO Plat showing Harris' House .......................
Bert Harris Land Entry ...............................
Walter Harris Homestead Patent .......................
Henry Franklin Land Entry ............................
Settlement Patterns in the Interior Basin ............
Settlement Patterns at Well Field Properties .........

ix

107
109
110
Ill
112
113
115
118
119
120
123
125
128
129
129
130
131
133
138
140
142
143
145
146
151
153
154
155
157
159
161
166
167
168
171
180
181

LIST OF TABLES
1.
2.

Categories of Historic Sites ..........................

Ownership of Osie Danley Ranch ........................

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Ownership
Ownership
Ownership
Ownership
Ownership
Ownership

of
of
of
of
of
of

Boles' Farm .............................

Singleton's Homestead ...................
Charles Redies Homestead .................
William Hyde's Farm .....................
Arthur Blair's Homestead .................
Albert Barrett's Homestead ..............

9.
Site Names and Numbers ...............................
10. Methods of Land Acquisition ..........................
11. Differences between sites in relation to location ....
12. National Register Eligibility
........................

33
45
105
126
135
137
148
163
178
187
202
222

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

assistance,

and

publication

what

sources

any

on

reflection

of

have

whom

to

people

or

used

have

not

are

and

facts

the

are entirely

They

report.

misinterpretation

my own

of

result

for

responsibility

full

take

this

contained within

any inaccuracies
a

However,

is.

it

make

helps

eventually

which

information

advice,

offer

individuals

many

research,

of

course

the

In

talked.

At

management.
My deepest

Betty Jean Johnson,

McNatt,
Willis
and Mrs.
Mr.
Green,
enormous

provided

have

them with me,

possible
made it
her keen eyes.

unwittingly,
past through

Eileen

materials:

archival
Archives,

Rocky

the staff

at

Mountain
Worrell

Theta

of

Schools
Office;

District
Engineers,
HAFB;

at

Aquilar

Raymond

and

to

and Maureen
Judith

the

of

Bureau

Roberto
office;

reference

see

Smith

in

at

Army

the
Real
the

Center;

Suitland,

Coalson,

Management,

Land

find

Superintendent

the
Doug

Wagoner,

at

xi

Center

at

the

the National

Records

Federal

Diana Moya,

Library.

at

in
to

hard

those

Records

Archibeque
librarians

years

sixty

it

also,

She

the staff

Denver

for what

Basin

faults.

locate

Bolger-and

Region,

office;

Albuquerque
the

me

Washington National

the

Maryland;
Public

its

me

helped

individuals

Numerous

for

of

are

thoughts

Special

the Tularosa

see

for

to share

willingness

and their

spite

in

beautiful

is:

Carrie
They
not

if

which,

information

of

otherwise' be known.

who helped me

due Susie McNatt

really

amounts

would not

Susie

informants:

my

Tommy Danley, Albert Mendez,

and Maude Fairchild.
Danley,

and vivid memories

expansive

their

to

goes

appreciation

financial

and

administrative

provided

Abeyta

Patsy

and

Cushman

Dave

Merlan,

Thomas

Division,

Preservation

Historic

the

report.

this

of

many drafts

concentration. through

and unflagging

assistance

support,

advice,

valuable

his

appreciate

especially

project.

for this

manager

technical

was the

,who

Archaeologist,

Base

Force

Air

Holloman

the

Tagg,

D.

Martyn

to

extended

are

thanks

Great

#35-93-HAFB-3).

Project

(HPD

Division

Preservation

Historic

State

the

and

Base,

Force

Air

Holloman

(#781),

Program

Legacy

the

through

possible

made

was

project

This

Las

Cruces

Corps

Property

Alamogordo

and
of

Office,
Public

would
O'Connell, my

tireless

those

maps.

for

not

thanks

killing

changes ....

about

Chris

when

like

many
I

work

field
a

Wende

asked

and

hawk,
for

wishes

for

for

portion

good

his

luck

dr'afting

changes

valuable

Bill,

after

assistance

William
of
I

the
love

in

the

skills
changes
on some

Holly Houghton and

My friends,
matters.
to my endl'ess complaining and lived to

it.

Finally,
endless

and
to

me

eyes

the

Tom Doupe provided

important and decisive

listened
Fran McCarthy,
tell

have

thanks

Special

future.
after

Many

you

during

and

Gunsalus

Heather

thank
crew

Heather,

project.

and

to

like

to

source

be my
other:
He will
always
greatest
most
valued
critic,

my significant
of
inspiration,

mentor,

and

(almost)

to him,

the

one

perfect

who makes

it

companion.
all

possible.

xii

dedicate

this

report

LIST OF ACRONYMS USED THROUGHOUT THE REPORT

ASL--Above Sea Level
BLM--Bureau of Land Management
CA--Civil Action
CCC--Civilian Conservation

Corps

CM--Chattel Mortgage
COE--Army Corps of Engineers
DFRC--Denver Federal Records Center
DLE--Desert Land Entry
DLP--Desert Land Patent
DoD--Department of Defence
EP & NE--El Paso and Northeastern Railway
FY--Fiscal Year
GLO--General Land Office
GPO--Government Printing Office
HAFB--Holloman Air Force Base
HAR--Holloman Archaeological Resource
HE--Homestead Entry
HP--Homestead Patent
HPD--Historic Preservation Division
HSR--Human Systems Research, Inc.
JT--Joint Tenants
LRMP--Legacy Resource Management Program
MOU--Memorandum of Understanding
OCA--Office of Contract Archeology
OCPFH--Otero County Pioneer FaiHly Hjstoriej.
QD--Quitclaim Deed
RE--Restrictive Easement
RG--Record Group
SR--Serial Register
TD--Tax Deed
USAF--United States Air Force
WD--Warranty Deed
WNRC--Washington National Records Center
WSMR--White Sands Missile Range
WSNM--White Sands National Monument
WSPG--White Sands Proving Ground

xiii

ABSTRACT
This report constitutes the second and final phase of the
Historic Ranch Project (Legacy #781).
Research of historical
documents, maps,- newspapers, and interviews with informants was
conducted in order to provide background history for 27 separate
research areas located on Holloman Air Force Base.
These include
eight ranch or ranch activity sites, seven farm sites, six
miscellaneous

sites,

and

six

non-site

research

areas.

The

information in this report provides answers to relative research

questions concerning settlement, land acquisition, and land use
patterns, as well as a history of land use for those lands
currently administered by Holloman.
Research indicates that
settlement on these lands were an integral part of the ranching
and farming economy in the Tularosa Basin in the first
half of
the 20th century.
Additional information includes an analysis of
this project for those installations considering similar studies,
recommendations of potential eligibility to the National Register
of Historic Places, management considerations, and suggestions
for further research.
The documentation provided in this report is not conclusive,
nor is it comprehensive for the Tularosa Basin as a whole.
It
provides the history of settlement for only one small part of the
region.
However, it
does present a foundation on which other
such studies can build in the hopes of eventually producing a
definitive work on historic settlement in the Tularosa Basin.

INTRODUCTION

with

The Tularosa Basin in

south
ranchers
and
homesteaders,

central

New

Mexico

once teemed
horses,
isolated

cattle
and
windmills and tanks, and a variety
of people who made the best of
a very marginal environment.
For almost 100 years,
non-native

people
utilized
the
Basin
until
the
establishment
of
the
Alamogordo Bombing
and Gunnery Range marked
the end of the
traditional land use in much of the Tularosa Basin.
Today, 52
years later, Holloman Air Force Base (HAFB)
is
but one of the
numerous federal agencies operating in the area.
The Base is
attempting
to
preserve
a
part
of
the
Basin's
legacy
by
documenting the people and a lifestyle
which it helped displace.
As part of the Legacy Resource Management Program,
Martyn
Tagg, the HAFB Archaeologist,
suggested a historic ranch project
which would fully document all pre-military historic period sites
located
on Holloman.
A judgmental
sample
survey
based
on
historic maps, informant information, and the location of present
water sources was conducted between October and November 1993, to
provide an initial
inventory of all
such sites.
The results of
the survey exceeded expectations and 17 pre-military historic
sites were
documented
and
4 previously recorded
sites
were
visited.
A historic site recorded by another survey team and
four research areas which did not contain sites were added to the
domain of historic land use areas.
Once
a data
base
was
compiled,
archival
research
was
conducted.
This report represents the results of a three prong
research design.
1)
A background history of each site
was
completed with information pertaining to occupants,
land use,
site function,
and identification of site features.
2)
The
information from each site was then synthesized
to create
a
history of pre-military
land use for HAFB lands.
Research
questions
centered
on
various
patterns
of
settlement,
land
acquisition, and ownership to produce a comprehensive guide to
the various processes revealed through archaeological sites on
HAFB.
3)
An analysis of the project was conducted to determine
feasibility
of the methods used,
potential research strategies
for both surveys and documentation, and areas of further research
potential outside the realm of this project.

This
of

the

report

Historic

military

Ranch

historic

discussion of
for

the

rare

within

These

can

consuming,

It

includes

land use,
types

of

agencies

projects.

investigations

culmination

recorded

settlement,
federal

the

study.

sites

region.

compliance
time

represents

on
and

often

be

cost

second
of

to

date

land acquisition
have

been

while

prohibitive,

phase

all

pre-

and

patterns

concentrate

However,

historical

the

histories

HAFB

projects

which

of

relatively

primarily

on

archaeological
destructive,

and

studies

can provide an adequate base

from which later
projects
can be launched when time and funds
permit.
The Legacy Program provides a vehicle for these types of
studies,
encourage
in

their

and

it

other

is

hoped

resource

that

this

managers

proposals.

demonstration
to

consider

historic

project

will

subjects

PHYSICAL

AND HISTORICAL

BACKGROUND

Y_hvsinal
"nvironmeat
Proiect

Location

Holloman

Air

part
of
(Figure

the
1).

and

located

is

on

lands,

and

miles

on

the
on

western

the

activity

which

the late

Tertiary

state

of

is

380

south

It

is

is

the

Basin

(ASL).

within HAFB is

Tularosa

4398

located

has

feet
been

buried
Jarilla

ASL,

suggested

fault

that

block

Mountains

White

Sands

Mountains

is

Missile

Sands

National
(BLM)

State

noncontiguous

land.

acres

where

on

One

near

the

Base

to

Peak,
at

the

this

on

the west

and
on
Gallinas

lake

the

by the

features
alluvial

in

Mesa

Mexican

Franklin,

the
east
mountains.

by

the
Basin

including
fans,
deep

from

which
2

to

formation

boundary
the

roughly

Elevations

4000

exception

may be

range

with

arroyos.

range

northern

of

flat
cut

a volcanic

of Orogrande.

tectonic

and west

beds.

deep

peak

east

northern part

physiographic
upland flats,

HAFB

from

the

extends from Chupadero

prominent

mountain

west

resulting

characteristically

trending,

level

White

It

and

bordeted

northeast/southwest
sea

Basin

Alamogordo.

owners

mountains

Pleistocene

floor
the

the

land
7400

to the

and

of

of

Land Management

The Basin

cut draws,

late

acres

by

depression

the

period.'

Basin

Basin,

of New Mexico

of

by

Tularosa

Bureau of

San
Andres
mountains,
White,
Jicarilla,
and

portion

the

maintained.

represents
several
dunes,
lava fields,

above

west

Sacramento

topography
white sand
The

town
west

private

the

formed

Chihuahua.

Organ
and
Sacramento,

by

Basin

Highway

and

south by

of

also

and

approximately

are

Tularosa

State

in

the

south,

east

slopes

water well fields

near

situated

of

south

the

administers

The

is

west

north,

on

(WSNM),

HAFB also
the

the

(WSMR),

Monument

Base

Basin and Range Province characteristic

The Base covers roughly 51,000

surrounded
Range

Force

to

the flat

feet
Basin

which rises

of

upper

extends

4200

in

the

to

Base.

portion
south

to

It
of

the

FB

NSN
-'-I
'%P

TEXA

MEXICO

40

0Miles

Figure 1. Hollornan Air Force Base

and the Tularosa Basin.

The white
lie

along

sands,

another

Holloman's

gypsum deposits

physiographic

western

feature

boundary.

from the ancient

Lake

in

They

are

the Basin,

Lucero and Lake

result

of

Otero which

covered much of the Basin in

the late
Pleistocene era.
deposits
were
gradually
transformed
by aeolian activity

These
into

northeast trending dunes which are still

active.
Approximately
224 square miles of these dunes are enclosed by the White Sands
National

Monument,

Service,

but

HAFB's

created

the

in

majority

the

are

1930s

by

the

administered

west boundary are approximately

National

by

WSMR.

17,000 acres

Park
Inside

of white sand

dunes.4
The
Boles,
San
Andres,
and
Douglass
well
fields,
administered by HAFB,
are situated
at the base of the Sacramento
Mountains east of the Base.
Here,
the topography consists
of
piedmont
and

slopes

narrow

with prominent

drainages

alluvial

which

begin

westward down onto the Basin.

Base range from 4080 to 4500 feet

Appreciable
Tularosa

Basin

in

form

the

Sacramento
edge

are
of

proximity

from

The

adequate
to

its

in

the

the

amount

numerous

this

receives

of its

drainages,

the
water

of

along

for

the

of

elevations

water

flow

of

part

much

watershed

of

and

part

eastern

higher

mountain

by shallow

mountains
in

the

The Basin

run-off

an

in

dissected

Elevations
ASL.

sources

scarce.

Mountains.

provides

close

water

fans

the

the

eastern

those

areas

most

important

the

in

being the Three Rivers drainage

canyons, however,
continue their

and Tularosa River.

Few of these
flow into the HAFB proper,
and

sink instead

into the

sandy,

Basin.

Holloman,

On

streams
River

coursing

Basin,

and several
located
presence
close

springs

to the surface

The
less

of

active

than

climate
ten

in

inches

fault

the
of

and

Lakes

is

rainfall

Lost
and

water

table

River,

the

Sands

the

claims
may

of

the

be

Lost

Lakes,

Base,
that

most
the

relatively

arid

and

annually.

soils

intermittent

White

Doleman

areas.

Basin

of

throughout

line.
the

those

consist

scattered

indicates
in

Draw

the Salt

springs

calcium laden

sources

Malone

such as

ephemeral
an

water

through

seeps

along

permeable

on

average

Like

the

receives
mountains

it,

bordering

most

of

Temperatures

elevations.
The

night.

season

growing
6

Flora

The

soils

runoff
these
the

of
of

falling

in

in

high
and

Tularosa

on

Holloman

and

water

from

silty

summer

and

afternoon,

and

averages

Alamogordo

at

southwest
7
fall.

from the west and

in the spring and

proper

loams

the

Desert

Mesquite,

especially

upper

25

are

mainly

of

the

and

are

Sacramento

heavily

Mountain

scrub varieties,

Four-wing

Thorn,
the

Holloman-

type,
a sandy loam which is high in saline and
The soils
at the well fields,
Tome Mimbres,

sandy

Chihuahuan

Crucifixion

shields

the

the

eroded.'

Fast

watershed

makes

soils
especially
susceptible to sheet erosion.
The main vegetative community found throughout

Bush,

summer

the

which

barrier

from morning,

variable
in

during

andalFrul

gypsum land-Yesum
gypsum content. 8
consist

generally

Winds gust
especially

216 days annually.

to 65 miles an hour,
Soils.

are

and are

the winter,

falls

precipitation

the mountains form

of the precipitation

monsoon seasons, but

the Basin from much
mild in

this

desert

prickly

which

Saltbush,
grasses

pear

on

the

and

the

consists

Basin

of

Creosote

Rabbitbrush,
many

flats

Tarbush,

species

and

yucca

is

of
in

cacti,

the

sand

dunes.
The
dominance
of
mesquite
increases
in
the
lower
elevations and creosote increases in
the higher elevations.
In
the riparian
areas of the draws,
most prominent species.
This is
can

be

found

cottonwood
Fauna
reptiles,
rabbit,
species
have their

near

water

salt
cedar,
a relatively

sources,

often

or Tamarisk, is
recent invader
in

association

the
and
with

trees.
consists
and

badger,
inhabit
home

mainly

birds.

These

of

small
include

to

medium

coyote,

the

mammals,

cottontail,

kangaroo rat,
snakes, and lizards.
the Basin and the endangered White
in

size

jack

Numerous bird
Sands Pupfish

Lost River and Malone

Draw drainages.

African Gemsbok,
or oryx,
was introduced in
game animal and multiplied 600% between 1969

the late
1960s
and 1983.10

It
is
believed
that
the
Tularosa
Basin
has
extensive
changes since
the influx of Euro-Americans
area.
Many
wells
have
been
drilled
overgrazing
has changed
the vegetative

as

undergone
into the

and
abandoned,
community of the

which apparently supported much more lush grass

a result,
the fauna inhabiting these areas has

The

and
Basin

in the past.
As
changed to adapt

to a more desert
environment.

climate

Farming Potential
"Although practically

as

all

opposed

of

to

this

its

area

earlier

has been

grassland

classified

as cultivable land, its

value for agriculture is
very low and
even the production of more hardy forage crops
is
extremely
1
1
doubtful."
This
statement
by
a
Department
of
Interior
classifier
succinctly states farming potential in the Basin.
Its
value for cultivation is very limited because water supplies are
irregular and unpredictable.
The potential for successful farming increases with the use
of irrigation.
For example,
the Hispanic pioneers who settled
Tularosa and La Luz developed extensive irrigation systems and
harvested productive crops of vegetables and fruits.
These areas
continue to be productive and their success is
based mainly on
dependable water sources such as La Luz Creek and Rio Tularosa.
When developers looked to similar irrigation techniques to bring
the land south of Alamogordo into cultivation, however, they met
with mixed results.
The Sacramento Valley Irrigation Company,
established in
1907,
intended to use water from the Sacramento River on the
summit

of

the

mountain

Canyon.

According

the very

richest

a high state
was only a

to

range

to

develop

early newspaper

anywhere

and

it'only

the

accounts
needs

area
"This

water

of productiveness.."12
The company,
scheme and the high expectations were

possibilities
they attempted

of
to

irrigation
convince

so

entranced

Congress

to

around
land

...

bring

it

Dog
is
to

it
turns
not met.

out,
The

some early pioneers

that

to put the Reclamation

Act to

work in
the Tularosa Basin.
The main promoter,
Colonel D.W.
Woods, believed 100,000 acres could be cultivated with this aid.
Although
the
bill
was
introduced
in
Congress
in
1911,
it
1
3
obviously did not receive extensive consideration.
Instead of
federal aid, private individuals undertook irrigation projects,
mainly with the use of windmills designed to bring subterranean
water to the surface.
The land to the west of Alamogordo has less agricultural
potential, even under irrigation.
In fact, irrigation was rare
on the flats
because of the lack of water, and the technique
became
less
feasible
farther
west from the mountains.
In
addition,
much of the ground water contained high levels of

gypsum

and

alkali

which proved lethal to many crops.

R.N.
Woodward of Farmer's Flats, four miles west of Alamogordo,
was
one exception.
He irrigated "trees and berries" with the first
"electrically
powered irrigation system in the valley".
Others
14
in that area raised alfalfa by irrigation.
on the flats
Instead of extensive irrigation, most settlers
planted small gardens which did not require a large amount of
water.
Occasionally,
when rainfall
was especially plentiful,
5
they planted cane and watermelons.1
With the use of flood water
farming techniques,
the large deep draws also provided enough
water for raising corn or hay to feed livestock through the
winter.
Despite the lack of water,
many settlers
still
chose to
farm.
An upward trend can be seen in the amount of acreage
classified as farm production in -Otero County in the agricultural
census:
from 3639 acres in 1900 to 15,869 acres in 1920; and 180
farms in 1900 to 556 in 1940.16
The population census records
also show that farming was a desired lifeway for most settlers,
especially for those living outside of Alamogordo.
Forty-four
families, or 65% of the population, living west and south of the
Alamogordo village limits chose farming for their income in 1910.
By the 1920s,
farmers along the foothills made a switch from
subsistence
farming
to
commercial
ventures,
especially
in
1
7
cotton.
The most profitable areas remain those around Tularosa
and La Luz.
.

Qng Potential
One
of
New

production
has

been

of

Mexico's

livestock.

determined

most
Of

useful

the

only

important

industries

State's

million

for

78
grazing

is

the

acres,

purposes.

1 8

98%
On

smaller scale,
this
percentage is
probably accurate as well for
Otero County, of which a large majority is made up of semi-desert
ecozones.
area year

Stock
round,

raisers
have long used the Public Domain in this
and the number of stock increases in the winter

when

mountain

ranchers move

the

Basin.

Mesquite,

their

cattle

Four-wing

to

Saltbush,
19

the milder
and

climate

Alkali

of

Sacaton

constitute the common forage resources.

However,
overgrazing has been
heavy
due mostly to
the
reliance on the open range system prior to the mid 1930s.
As
early as 1918,
the Department of Interior estimated the range
could hold only 15 cows per section year round.
As a result of

10

overgrazing,
erosion has taken its
toll,
especially along the
edges of drainages.
was not the only factor
The condition of the range itself
As previously discussed,
hindering stock raising in this area.
water has always been scarce.
Moreover, because of the alkali
content of the ground water,
ranchers had to enclose natural
water sources in the summer to keep the livestock out and support
their stock instead on well water.
In the winter, on the other
hand, the water sources did not seem to have adverse effects on
the cattle. 2 0
Despite these problems, the land in the Tularosa
Basin still
remains chiefly suitable for grazing, especially that
acreage in the interior Basin.
Miner l

Potentil;

Commercially marketable minerals in the Tularosa Basin are

scarce.
At one point, the white sands were developed for market,
as was marble, or Mexican onyx, from Marble Canyon.
Neither of
these industries
added dramatically
to the economy of Otero
County.
Three metal mining districts
are located in Otero County
along the western slopes of the Sacramentos:
Jarilla,
near
Orogrande,
produced copper,
gold,
and iron; Tularosa produced
copper; and the Sacramento District produced copper, lead,
and
galena.
The
Sacramento
District,
closest
to
HAFB,
ceased
2 1
production in the late 1940s.
Much of the area now within HAFB has been covered by oil and
gas leases in the past.
According to an Army Corps of Engineers'
(COE)
report completed in 1957, 6000 acres in Townships 16 and 17
South and Range 9 East were leased for oil and gas explorations
between 1948 and 1951.22
Earlier,
in the late 1920s,
several
large companies from Texas set up drilling operations northwest
and south of Alamogordo.
One of these,
Johnson and Johnson,
utilized
$30,000 worth of
equipment and employed
up to
30
workers. 2 3
Test wells to the south of HAFB were drilled an
average of 6300 feet unsuccessfully. 2 4
Although experts have
determined
that
source
and
reservoir
beds
are
"abundantly
present", most oil and gas operations seem to have failed.
When
the Alamogordo Bombing Range was established,
a field examiner
found no evidence of any potential minerals,
including oil and
2 5
gas, on the claims.

11

Hi_ tory of the Tularosa

.The

escaIero
s
The

historic

Apache

first

(1500-1848)
of the
occupants

accounts

were

this
Indian
tribe,
Alaska in the 1400s.
southern

New

Mescaleros
the Rio

Basin

and

Mescalero

Athabaskan

By 1541,

Mexico.

inhabited

Grande,

an

the

Tularosa

large

from the

Apache..

group,

they had

According
region
White

Basin

to

Scholars

migrated

established
Spanish

between
Mountains

the

in

documented

believe

south

from

themselves
documents,
Pecos

south

into

River

in
the
and

northern

Chihuahua, Mexico. 2 6
During the Spanish period,
the Mescaleros effectively kept
the colonizers from entering thei-r homeland.
Spanish troops, and
later,
Mexican
forces,
pursued
the hostile
Indians into the
Sacramento and Guadalupe ranges,
usually losing them in terrain
2 7
more familiar to the Mescaleros.
The tribe made their temporary homes in mountain canyons,
easily defensible but inaccessible to enemies.
They lived in
teepees made of well cured skins unlike northern Apache tribes
who built jacales, mud and branch huts covered with hides.
The
Mescaleros subsisted mainly in a hunting and gathering economy.
Wild plants and animals constituted their main food source with
only
minimal
horticulture
supplementing
their
diet
when
necessary. Cadete's White Mountain band is
one such group who
occasionally farmed in the vicinity of the present location of
Alamogordo.
Hunting parties often ranged far onto the flats
of
the Tularosa Basin and the Pecos River valley. 2 8
The bands moved their camps often, usually in response to
subsistence needs.
Seasonal migrations followed herds of buffalo
or antelope or coincided with certain plant harvesting periods.
They also moved for health reasons.
Jose Cortes,
a Spanish
explorer, stated that they "change their location frequently in
order to breathe new air and so that the site which they abandon
might be purified."2 9
The Spanish government eventually made an agreement with the
willing Mescaleros who raided the small villages along the Rio
Grande.
In
1810,
the treaty actually
set aside
the first
reservation for the Mescaleros.
The Indians agreed to remain in
peace within a bounded area in exchange for rations.
The Mexican

12

government

upheld

In

1846,

lasted

two

Mexico

years.

annexation

of

which
mostly

one

Hidalgo

United

States

time

the

bands.

Territorial

miles,

the

resumed

to

as

back

with

the

Mescaleros

more

the

had

ended
of

ownership

and

nineteenth

of

the

New

Thus,

who

David
an
to

the

apparently

area

five

34th
of

the

American

previous

square

from

the

Mescaleros

forces

troops,

with

1854

Immediately

area,

The

peace

and

parallel.

this

in

15,000

River,

tribe

separate

stated

about

Pecos

the

than

into

of

villages.

for

Mescalero

Merriwhether

the

to

effectiveness

the

divided

possession

nearby

after

peace.

century,

individuals

Texas

the

Guadalupe

Arizona.

Apache,

decade

which

California,

Treaty

Mescalero

war

--

Grande

sued

its

around
in

war

with

four

occupied

of

on

interest

California
the

800

States

raiding

entered
centered

resulting

States

their

the

Rio

United

gained

Unn_ ees

of

boundary

Mexico

war

1848,

The

well

Mescaleros

northern

By

Governor

the

the
Polk's

United

thU

600

from

after

President

break

middle
of

the

and

States

for

inherited
to

and

consisted

that

reasons

as

-he Mescalero
By

The

the

also

this

United

battles.

provided
Territory,

the

Mexico.

sided

Mexico

chose

to

after

1820.30

in

and

Texas

belonged

agreement

Spain

from

independence

this

fought

and

the

by

United

1855,
States

government.31
The
Spanish
been

United
and

Mexico

grants

result,

to

the
smaller

homeland.

Fort

Mexico,

tribe.

uninhabited

Raiding

pressing
expeditions
Department

erected
Congress

did

raiding
of

mountains,
increased

the

during

retaliation

resumed.
of

New

the

only
the
not

Rio

Bonito

ratify

Mexico,

the

were

the

the

1863,
General

13

War

to

southeastern
over

the

however,

the

the

for

the

32

United
due

war,

commander
Carleton,

the

Sacramento

century.

waned

their

reason

because

new

As

within

and

19th

of

ratified,

watch

after

James

had

treaty
demands

in

tribe

the

the

never

main

the

Civil
the

their

treaty,

Basin,
in

in

Mescaleros
authorized

late

such

between

government.

fort

Tularosa

if

but

the

Shortly
In

new

negotiated

against

engagements.

it

under

and
until

treaty

believed

for

on

1810

included

as

the

condition

and Guadalupe

military

treaty,

increased

they

have

upheld

Stanton,

Because

Mescalero

would

boundaries

was

the

because

be

1855

proposed

New

ignored'

Mescalero

made,

Pueblo

States

States

to

other

military
of
sent

the
all

Mescalero Apaches to the newly established reservation near Fort

Sumner in the eastern part of the Territory.
Meant to be a
determined effort to subdue the tribe, the Bosque Redondo project
failed
miserably.
By
1865,
because
of
disease,
lack
of
provisions, and an extreme dislike for the Navajos also at the
reservation, the Mescaleros abandoned Bosque Redondo and returned
33
to their homeland.
In the late 1860s,
the Mescaleros hostility
abated, and by
1871, most of the tribe lived peacefully near Fort Stanton.
On
May
29,
1873,
an
Executive
Order
finally
established
the
boundaries of the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation in
the
34
heart of their homeland.
RJry Non- ative Prese-nc-e in the T u1 a r o s aaB ain
BL0__23-0
Even prior to the Mescaleros, establishment on a reservation,
Euro-American people began moving into the Tularosa Basin.
The
first
settlers
consisted of Hispanic refugees from the flooded
Rio Grande Valley.
Floods of the late 1850s had devastated many
small towns near Socorro and Mesilla.
These people moved to the
Tularosa Basin to start
over.
As historian C.L. Sonnichsen said,
"To live
[in the Tularosa Basin],
has
always
been a risky
business--a
matter
of
long
chances
and
short
shrifts,
of
privation and danger."35
That these people braved the unknown
speaks
volumes
for
their
courage,
determination,
and
perseverance.
In 1862, the first
group of settlers
made the move.
Led by
Cesario Duran and following a route taken by an unsuccessful
settlement party two years earlier,
over one hundred families
relocated at the western foot of the Sacramento Mountains on the
Rio Tularoso.
They relied on stories of good water and land, and
hoped for the protection of soldiers from Fort Stanton.
The
settlers
built adobe huts and dug an irrigation
ditch which
watered fields of vegetables, grain, and fruit
orchards as well
as supplying domestic water for the community.
They raised
3'
horses.
and
cattle, sheep,
The Mescaleros periodically raided the village and drove off
stock, but little
bloodshed occurred until April,
1868.
The
Battle of Round Mountain started when Fort Stanton soldiers
returning to the fort encountered a band of Apache and called on
Tularosa for help.
Tularosans responded valiantly, and at the

14

corn

and

wheat

by

irrigated

night

were

within

kept

reservation,
first

settlers

the

Anglo

were

adobe

the

activities

illegal

safely

wall

their

in

on

confined

Tularosa

many of

from Texas,

came

for

wanted

goats,

3 8

with the Mescalero

1870s,
late
Anglos began to move into the

By

their

like

cattle,

of

herds

small

raised

They

Tularosa neighbors.
sheep
which
at
and
village.
the
surrounding

grew

families

much

ditch,

community

for

adobe wall

community with an
and surrounded their
The La Luz
against the Mescaleros.

in dugouts
protection

lived

newcomers

These

a few miles south of Tularosa.

Canyon,

Luz

La

in

settled

Rio Grande,

the

on

area

Socorro

the

from

refugees,

of

group

another

founded,

was

Tularosa

after

year

settlers.

for the Hispanic

threat

the Mescalero

ended

battle

This

37

injured.

been

had

group

their

of

only one

battle,

the

of

end

The

Basin.
it

whom,

is

said,

home.

previous

The

According
the promised land to many.
Tularosa Basin looked like
many moved to the area because of "droughts
to one early settler,
and

in

overstocking

thick

Texas

well

plenty of

of grass,

seas

as

as

stories

glowing

and free

rainfall,

was

land...Here

Fort
In
addition,
of untold variety...".39
an area
Overnight, it
supplied a ready market for beef products.
the Anglos overran
One

of

Coghlan.
late

the

Rivers

an

Coghlan,

1870s.

He

and

Anglo

began

the aid

of

Coghlan

did

erupted

in

the Kid

Billy
not
the

get

The

first

for

unfriendly
his cattle
of

the

economic

on

forces

Good
in

ranching
ranch

Lincoln

with

incident
John

Texas,
to

move

other

involved
had

on.

He

River drainage

had

the

Good moved

Good

settled
the

himself

established

the Basin.

15

with

conflicts

which

Good
the

the
and

La

west.

4 1

one

did.

men

advice

in
as

Three

Although

fame.

to the Basin

taken
to

near

to

40

and

Basin,

mid

cattle

stolen
the

in

Patrick

the

operations

County War

involved

was

in

Texas

of these events are murky,

in southeastern New Mexico.

the Lost

decade,

from

cattle

in

neighbors

Tularosa

prominent

major

murder

his

directly

both from Texas.

families,
Wanted

of

Tularosa

Many of the details

have become folklore

came

scale

stocked

apparently

in

settlers

Irishman,
large

Stanton
seemed,

towns.

the Hispanic

first

tall,

of

Luz

stories
Lee

the
in

1881.

of

many

and

ran

By the

end

of

the

main

In
County,
high

the

1885,
Texas,

with

Lee

because

plenty

of

family
of

moved

"the blue

water

to

be

to

the

Basin.
the

Gradually

Sacramento

members

the

Lee

Mountains

family

in

from

dug

Dog

Suspicions

fell

body

was
blame

ranchers

Socorro, but
Good's wife's

John

but

Good.

received

Lee
this

on

evidence,

Basin

the

In

best
Good's

against

found

in

for

the

were

indicted

son,

the

Fountain

Livestock
rustling

horses

his

to

large

range

area,

and

the
near

other

and

1894,

Bacon
the

Cruces

Lee,

Altman,

and

three

to

tried

and finally
eventually

was

lawyer

for

also a Democrat
Fall.44

1896,

lawyer

before

and

were

be

in

settled
game,
Cruces,

the

when
other

court

at John
and the
From

than Lee
this
time
Albert

J.
New

for
trying
member
of

all
the

Fountain's

arch

backed by

charged

in

Southeastern

responsible
Lee
was
a
and

to

friends

dismissed
left
town,

Las

had

refused

in
the Tularosa Basin. 4 3
tagged as a dangerous man.

Lee

and

his

friend,

cattle

and defacing their

brands.
January, 1896,
and the punishment

for the crime was up to five years

ranchers in
the Basin were indicted
same time. 4 5
In February,

whom Lee

his

in

McNew, with stealing

some
Lee and McNew were indicted in

fiance.

and

leader

Republican

murder

Lee

Republican
a

cousin's

disappeared,

Sands,

murder.

also

appears

to the

against

Las

Walter

White

led

and his

in

Association
and
cases.
Although

he was

Albert

tempers

Walter,

later,

Bill

the

and

the Good-Lee incident been

a more dangerous political

leading

Association,
In

and Perry Altman,

Canyon

friend

the case was delayed

request.
John Good

the

Fountain.

hot

authorities

few months

No sooner had
became mixed up in

rival,

Oliver

greed, and stubbornness.

Good
Tularosa Basin as possible and

1888,

group settled
down to life
point on, however, Lee was

Mexico
cattle

stirrup

the family moved out west of Tularosa as well.

trouble which arose between these two factions

saw Lee as a trespasser.

of George McDonald, Oliver's

his

grew

wells...".

acquired

the

to have had much to do with egos,

wanted to control as much of the

indict

that

Burnet

of

The

good

from

grama grass

had

Milton Lee, the youngest son of the family,

step brother,
brought large herds of cattle
4 2

Basin

the

in prison.
on similar
case

came

Many other
charges at
to

trial,

small
about

Fountain

and his eight year old son were murdered in

the Tularosa Basin
while en route to Las Cruces from Lincoln County.
Within two
weeks,

Lee

was

accused

of

murder

16

again

because

too

obvious

trail
led to Lee's ranch.
Retired Sheriff Pat Garrett, killer
of
Billy the Kid, and the Pinkerton Detective Agency were called in
to investigate but found very little
concrete evidence against
Lee.
The Grand Jury also refused to indict Lee.
The determined
Republicans,
however,
issued warrants for the arrest of Lee,
46
McNew, William Karr, and Jim Gililland.
The case did not come to trial
until 1899, and by that time
it
seemed only a matter of procedure.
The trial
was held in
Hillsboro, New Mexico, and after eighteen days of testimony, the
jury handed down the not guilty verdict in only eight minutes. 4 7
This case was the last major conflict between ranchers in the
Tularosa Basin.

ga~__LgP

s e in the Tu

Homesteaders
interior

Basin

began

as

ao

filing

early

as

on

the

Land
Office
had
18,913,920
southern part of the territory.
choose

from 1,429,427

abundant
States

land,

settlers

government

or for a

acres

very small

in

1890s.

Otero
it

of

In

of
late

easy

$1.25

1890,

the

available
as 1900,

County

provisions

charge

192Q
abundant
land

the

acres
As

found

had made

a~i

to

In

acquire.

an acre

Las

land
settlers

alone.

allowing

in

Cruces
in

the
could

addition

4 8

The

pioneers

through

the

to

United

land free

the

Homestead

Act.
any

The Homestead Act provided up to

citizen
or alien
who declared their

citizen

of

the

United

years of continuous
than six months after
The

settler

house

had

and

fee.

filing
A

Tularosa

for

the

had

to

in

the

minimum price
In

extended

the

make

entailed

five

of

such

as building

acreage.

The

stock
raising
and effort
to

General

and
establish

dairy
a

of the five year residency

proof
and paid a ten dollar

Basin,

residency.

accepted
good faith

land free to
of becoming a

land beginning no later

at the local Land Office.

amount

After fulfillment
filed
final

of

requirements

improvements,

small

(GLO)
also
evidence of

clause

the

certain

permanent home.
period,
the settler

The

residence
on that
making an entry

to make

cultivating

Land
Office
production as

States.

160 acres
intention

1891,
residency

Homestead
allowed
of

$1.25

because

on

which
to

per

of

period

improvements

Act,

settlers

acre

after

widespread

to
the

was

14

months.

land.

17

used

purchase

frequently

their
only

fraud,

Because

six
the

The
the

in

homesteads
months

of

government

settlers
original

still
act

forbade

alienation

issued,

commutation

to

special

death

in

of

the

allowed

circumstances,

the

family,

land

to

before

settlers
such

as

get quick

the

title

who

could

crop

failures,

title

officially
not

to their

was

prove

up

due

sickness,

or

homestead.

5 0

The Desert Land Act was another law used frequently,

but
often unsuccessfully,
by settlers
in
the Basin.
It
was
an
attempt by Congress to make land policy suitable
to the arid
portions of
those lands

the
that

West.
could

The definition
not produce

If

enough

native

irrigation.
an ordinary
be

claimed

along
person

who

three
at the

of hay

under

streams

furnished."
least
acre

crop

this

"until

in

grasses

usual

act.
clearest

an

of desert
agricultural
grew

seasons",

Also,
proof

the

law

of

their

on

lands included
crop without
the

these

land

lands

forbade
desert

"to

make

could

not

entering

land
character is

The

Desert Land Act provided up to 640 acres to each

to put the t-ract under irrigation
within at
years of filing
an entry.
The entrymen paid $.25 per
time of entry and finished
their
purchase at the time

promised

of proof by paying an additional

$1.00

per acre.

They could make

5

final proof anytime within the three year period. 1

Like all
land laws,
the Desert Land Act had flaws.
The
government soon found that the acreage was too large to irrigate
and required exorbitant amounts of money and labor to fulfill
the
requirements.
Although the law specified the entered tract had
to be in compact form, speculators selected acreage in narrow
strips along rivers, and gained control of the surrounding land.
Widespread fraudulent use of the Desert Land Act occurred when
cattle
raisers
filed
entries
on
the
land
but
never
made
improvements.
They essentially used the act to provide immediate
use of the land for grazing, similar to a three year lease, but
were unconcerned with eventually owning the land themselves. 5 2
Despite
the ease in
acquiring
land,
settlers
found
it
difficult
to survive in the Basin.
Prior to 1910, only 14% of
the settlers
proved up on entries made in
the five townships
south and west of Alamogordo.
The next decade showed settlers
much more successful and 34% received final patents. 5 3
The Railroad Brings Chances (1900-1910)
After the turn of the century, with the building of the
railroad,
a great
influx of settlers
began arriving in
the
Tularosa Basin.
South central New Mexico was very isolated prior
to this time.
Most of the Territory already had been connected

18

by railroad transportation.
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
Railroad had been built from Santa Fe to Deming and on to El Paso
in
1881.
By 1893,
the eastern part of the territory
was
connected by the Pecos Valley Railroad from Pecos to Roswell, via
Eddy (later
Carlsbad). 5 4
Conversely, prior to 1898,
the south
central region had no transportation routes other than wagon
trails
to bring settlers
in or take produce out.
By 1898, however, economic isolation was no longer a factor
limiting potential settlement in the region.
On June 15 of that
year, the El Paso and Northeastern (EP & NE) Railway reached its
headquarters of Alamogordo at the western base of the Sacramento
Mountains.
Charles B. Eddy promoted the idea of the EP & NE and
received the backing of eastern capitalists.
His plan included a
railroad north from El Paso to the gold mining town of White Oaks
in the White Mountains,
on to the coal fields of the Capitan
Mountains, and a spur line into the Sacramento Mountains'
rich
timber land.
Eventually, by 1902, the track met the Rock Island
line at Santa Rosa, New Mexico. 5 5
In
1898,
for
the
railroad's
headquarters,
John
Eddy,
Charles'
brother,
bought Oliver
Lee's water rights to Alamo
Canyon and his surrounding ranch land, and had the new town of
Alamogordo laid out in its
place.
The Territorial Legislature
reacted to this flurry of activity and created Otero County in
1899 from parts of Lincoln, Dona Ana, and Socorro counties. 5 6
Eddy sold the railroad to Phelps Dodge in 1905, and shortly
thereafter,
the railroad shops moved to Carrizozo.
Alamogordo
suffered economically because of this sale, but by 1907, the town
started to regain its
footing.
The Fraternal City Sanitarium for
health seekers was built south of town and the population again
rose.
By the end of that year, Alamogordo's population had grown
to almost 3500 people, and the town boasted a variety of services
including:
the Baptist College, the blind institute,
a dry goods
store,
general
merchandise
store,
drugstore,
grocery,
meat
market,
3
hardware
stores,
2
lumber
stores,
a
millinery,
undertaker,
livery stable,
two banks,
cleaners,
hotel,
opera
house,
billiard
hall,
jeweller,
marble works,
a masonry and
concrete factory, 4 real estate brokers, 3 insurance agents,
3
5
7
attorneys, 4 doctors, and 2 newspapers.
Settlers continued to stream into the Basin.
The Rock
Island Railroad publication,
Western Trail, devoted its
entire
February,
1907,
issue
to
the Tularosa Basin.
The
railway

19

excursion packages
of

colonizers

Missouri

and

and special

from

the

homeseeker

midwestern

Louisiana.

As

and

result

rates

brought

southern
of

this

in

states,

groups
such

as

great

settlement
boom, the population of Otero County almost doubled between 1900
and 1910 as compared with an increase of only about 10% in
the
following decade. 5 8
Alamogordo was
Basin after
the
on the railroad
Jarilla
of

town
63

room

hotel,
of
all

1930s,
Dog

only

1905.

and

renamed

population
the

in

copper

was

the

new

town

turn of the century.

from El Paso,
started

Junction

veins

not

The

gold.

In

saloons,

around
of

Mountains
a

smelter

grocery

the

stores,

The boom didn't

mining companies were

located

Alamogordo,

has

always

new

and

plaster

approximately

been

busy

up

in

stop
called
and

town

boasted

however,

out of
nine

rich

built

newspaper,

last,

the

yielded

was

later,

2000.

the

Canyon,

Jarilla

A decade
4

spring

Orogrande,
the first
as a mining town

1906,

Orogrande.

to

business.

miles

the
a

and

and by
5 9

south

of

place

in
the Tularosa Basin
beginning with the Mescalero Apache period.
In the early 1900s,
a railroad
station
for the EP & NE was located there, and soon a
post office
followed.
The residents
honored S.D. Camp, the first
postmaster, by naming the town after
him.
In 1907, Camp City was
"a thriving
and prosperous little
town" with a grocery store, a
cement

claimed
the

water could

soils

Shamrock,
After

would
only

drought

be

company,
found not

support all
to

be

far

crops.

changed

conditions

and

forced

school.

below the
In

once
some

1910,
again

The

residents

ground

surface and

the town

was renamed

in

families

1917

to

Valmont.

to

leave,
Valmont
discontinued in 1922.60

became a ghost town.

The post office
Other communities got a small start
much.
They consisted mainly of clusters

but
of

did

not

farming

amount

to

families.

Fruitvale
was
located
approximately
4
miles
northwest
of
Alamogordo,
and families in
that area planted crops such as
tomatoes, cane, and grains around 1909.
Farmer's Flats, located
about
four miles west
of Alamogordo
along
the Red Arroyo,
consisted
of
dry land
and
irrigated
farms
specializing
in
alfalfa.61

Around 1906,
a Kansas man named R.M.
Nichols planned the
town of Sacramento City about 14 miles south of Alamogordo.
He
laid out a town with a seven story hotel, post office, schools,
and a block for industrial development,
dug a canal from the
Sacramento River to the town, and transported prospective buyers

20

to the area.
By summer, 150 people lived at the town site, lured
mainly by "planted" gold nuggets.
At the end of 1907,
the
promoters of the town disappeared with the money that capitalists
Apparently, the promoters were
from midwestern states invested.
con-artists.
Nichols boasted to a Kansas newspaper that he "sold
$100,000 worth of worthless smelting, irrigation, and water works
stock in the fake development project."62
The Ranching Pha P Rpturns (1916-1940)
For the most part,
people residing outside of the towns,
such as Alamogordo,
La Luz,
or Tularosa,
lived on isolated
individual
tracts
on which
ranching
was
the
main economic
activity.
The Tularosa
Basin was
especially attractive
for
ranchers because of the abundance of free land.
Essentially,
ranchers found the best water holes and filed homestead and/or
desert land entries on up to 320 acres, 160 acres under each law,
around the water hole.
Because water sources were so limited,
but necessary,
for settlement in the arid Basin, the ranchers
effectively controlled thousands of acres around their patented
water source.
In this way, they made sure settlers,
or nesters
as they were often called, did not get in the way of the open
range.
In
1916,
Congress attempted to make the land laws more
adaptable to the stock industry.
The Stock Raising Homestead Act
provided up to 640 acres of land 'classified as "stock raising" to
any individual who met the requirements of age and citizenship.
Improvements were required in
lieu of cultivation and water
sources were to remain open for public use.
Although the act was
accommodating,
especially in a region as arid as the Tularosa
Basin, only 59 individuals filed stock raising homestead entries
proved up and received a patent. 6 3
and of those, only 26 (44%),
Possibly one reason the act was not used more extensively
was because,
in
that era, use of the Public Domain was free.
Stockmen used the open range without paying for anything but the
improvements they had to make to get water to their stock.
To
own 640 acres meant payment of taxes and the cost of fencing to
keep other ranchers' stock out.
By 1934, however, the concept of
open range, as it
had operated in the Basin for over 50 years,
ended.
By 1934, the open range system had ended and ranchers began
to rely on state and federal lease permits on adjoining lands in
21

order

to

have

adequate

government

passed

overgrazing

on

Service,

in

federal
raisers

the

range

Taylor

the Public

the

land

Under

of

grazing

livestock.

Grazing

Domain.

Department

into

for

Act

mainly

the

new act,

Interior,

divided

districts,

and

applied

for 10 year permits

Preference was given to those

land.

The

because

the

Grazing

lease

Act,

but

requirement.
in

of

and

for

territory

and

run their
individuals

as

of

stock on this
who had resided

Congress

Arizona,

or

other

such

to

the

popular

Taylor

because
the

with

which
or

they

ranch

were

were

base,

schools,

each

over when

the

of

the

sections,
lands

but

the

could
state

2
be
or

from leases

or institutes

property,
as

first
in

in

Forest

year

was
for

appreciated

in

overgrazing

effect

the Basin was

federal

said

government

transferable
the

"unit"

the

Basin

federal

When

because

on

the
the

coincided

with

to be

"as

bare

10,000

head

bought

the
a

private

property

rancher

figured

without

sold

into

the

his

the cost

leases,

the

evidence
the last.

of
As

considerably."'

(1907-Present)

was
not
the
first
County, nor was it

authority

Service

Mountains'

with

leases were

diminished

The
Taylor
Grazing
Act
government influence in
Otero
1907,

raisers

to regulate

associated.

the ranch

edealuthr'v

Sacramento

in

In

shipped them out or destroyed them.

Another
the ranchers was the fact
that
federal and

permits

of

the

36

aridity

These

purposes,

stock
Act

its

and

grazing

when

territories

two additional

mining

belief,

tail",

rat's

as

passed

Utah.

the

times.

and

the

Taylor

ignored

and

The money obtained

Grazing
range

state

early

had

16

title

gave

the

colonial

sections
to

on federal
6 4

like

states

since

and

schools,

The

efficiency

the

Due

also

policy

ranchers

institutions

drought.

the

to

statehood.

of cattle
and either
issue heartening to

for

given

ownership.

especially

private,

many

and final

to normal

Contrary

severe

new

stock

6 5

blind.

range,

granted

Mexico,

retained

efforts

been

territories,

grazing

appropriated

not

1934,

officially

lands,

to New

leased

had

achieved

32,

the

to

educational

1848,
Congress
township to the
southwestern

were

prior

Land

the name

territory

permits

remaining

settlers

to

of

the Grazing

in or near each district

prior to 1934.
Improvements
land also had to be authorized by the Grazing Service.
State

federal

could

established

timberland.

22

be

felt

reserve

Next,

in

Otero

over

most

White

Sands

County
of

the

National

Monument was created in 1933 and withdrew most of the gypsum

dunes from the Public Domain.
the
By 1942,
the presence of the federal government in
With the
Tularosa Basin increased to an astonishing degree.
the federal government
United States involvement in World War II,
and bombing ranges.
saw the need for military training facilities
sparse population and large amount
The Tularosa Basin, with its
of federal land, proved to be a perfect location.
The Alamogordo
Bombing and Gunnery Range, comprising 1,243,000 acres of Grazing
Service
and
private
land
constituted
the
first
military
withdrawal.
It
encompassed most of the lands now contained in
White Sands Missile Range and a part of what is
now known as
Holloman Air Force Base.
Construction began in February, 1942.
Within a few months, the base became known as Alamogordo Army Air
Field, and its
mission included a training area for the British
Overseas Training Project.67
In 1943,
the mission changed to the training of American
heavy bomber crews, a mission which remained static
until the end
of the war.
The atomic age was escorted in when,
on July 16,
1945, the military detonated the first
atomic bomb at the Trinity
site near the northern end of the range.6 8
Soon after, with
bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
Japan,
World War II
ended.
The immediate effects of the military base on Alamogordo
were immense.
The economic income of the town switched from one
based

on

farming

expenditures.

In

and

ranching

addition,

new base had been remedied

Bombing Range,
unlike any the
The

get

of

the

land

meant
for

to

the

Powers

Act,

ranch

lands

and

federal

their

that

stock

dependent
of

contract

On January
their
off

on

deactivate
took

the

military,

grazing
1,

leases

1942,

lands
the

of
in

the

immediately.

They

private land by the 15th of February.

23

also
70

temporary
In

had

order

Basin

and
to

of

privately

Service

had been suspended,

the

equally

authority

the

Grazing

was

war.

by

supply

a water shortage

was

the

military

town and the

ranches

Range

much

to

between the

after

over

on

water

Basin

Bombing

range,

War

ranchers

scarcity

military

the

Second

agreements.

by a

the

Initially,

establishment,

the

one

but by 1944, the town experienced

could remember. 6 9
residents

effects

great.

to

to
the

owned
by

rental

informed

the

they must move

move

off

their

By the 19th of February, some of the ranchers had not yet

moved.
Adverse weather conditions and an inability
to find a
place to move their stock hindered their leaving.
According to
the Alamogordo News,
"The evacuees have not yet been advised as
to the terms of settlement by the land acquisition office and are
unable to make
plans."
Still,
the ranchers
did move,
and
apparently without much complaining.
Some said,
"If
it
takes
this to win the war, well, there she is."
Mainly, the ranchers
were concerned that they had to get rid of their stock because
they could not find the range to keep them.
Although the price
of beef had increased
in
response
to the war needs,
these
ranchers'
cattle flooded the local market and drove the price
down drastically. 7 1
Congress
was
determined
that
the
ranchers
be
fully
compensated for their sacrifices.
The ranchers
signed lease
agreements giving the military sole access to their
private and
government land for the duration of the war,
and the military
promised that ranchers'
improvements would be restored to their
original condition and ranch units would be maintained for their
reoccupation after the war. 7 2
At the end of the war, the base was temporarily deactivated
although personnel still
remained.
Late in 1946,
however,
the
area was chosen for the Air Force Guided Missile Program.
The
Air Materiel Command reactivated the base,
and it
soon became
clear that it was to be a permanent installation.
In 1947, the
Air Force and Army became separate entities of the military, and
the eastern portion of the bombing range became known as Holloman
Air Force Base.
The remainder of the range was known as White
Sands Proving Ground (WSPG),
and later
as WSMR. 7 3
The ranchers now understood they would not regain use of
their ranches in the near future.
Although for a short period,
WSPG offered a co-use arrangement to ranchers, a similar plan was
not offered for the HAFB ranchers.
They agreed that it would not
work anyway because
it
would be
impossible
to run a ranch
efficiently only two days a week.
In 1949, the government informed the ranchers that it would
be taking the lands for continuing national defense purposes.
They asked the ranchers to sign Lease and Suspension agreements
which were renewable annually for 20 years and were to end June
30, 1970.
These,
in effect, forced the ranchers to lease their
private property and agree to the temporary suspension of all

24

leases.
Rental fees were based on each
7 4
carrying capacity.
When 1970 finally
arrived, many ranchers hoped

ranch

grazing

able

to

time,

to

return

however,

over the

now

Domain lands.
terminated,
Furthermore,
ranchers for
ranchers
filed

the

past 20

government

homes

government

years

had

considered
In
and

and

informed

amounted

them

to

themselves

military
private
to

desired
property

sign

rental

condemnations

lease

a purchase
full

that

At

that

payments

price,

owners

of

and

the

leases

had

been

broken

the private

so

the

lands

the

Public
up.

lease
agreements
with
for the next ten years.

agreements,

against

they would be

lifestyles.

desired

other words,
federal grazing
consequently,
ranch
units

the
their

refused

annual

their

unit's

the
The

government
until

1980.

Condemnation proceedings drug on for many years mainly because of

the disputes
over the
rate
of compensation
for ranch units,
including the federal
lease lands to which the ranchers felt
they
were entitled.
When the cases came up in
court the ranch as a
"unit",
with its
lease properties,
was no longer viable and the
value

of

the

private

amount

of

lease

lands

permanently
owned

privately

WSMR
in

the

Tularosa
of

and

1950s,
Basin.

Defense

property

payments.
and

paid
land

ranch

Fort

In

Bliss'

caused
By the

owned most of

dropped
1980,

the

only.

time
the

the

government

ranchers
Range,

problems
all

as

did

the

condemned

the

compensation

on

their

7 5

McGregor

similar

considerably

'the cases

Basin,

25

as

it

which
with

was

ranchers

closed,
does

established
in

the

the Department

today.

26

RESEARCH

QUESTIONS

around patterns for the

site
opposed to
as
a whole
sites as
historic
pre-military
was
The topics of study were broad since it
specific questions.
desired to gain as much information as possible without limiting
No areas of
the research to very specific research questions.
research were off limits, and as research advanced, other topics
of interest were added or elaborated upon as deemed necessary.
questions
research
the
included
informants
with
Interviews
When
concerning land acquisition and land use discussed below.
interviewing people directly associated with one of the sites,
however, questions tended to be very site specific.
questions
research
the
of
list
a
is
following
The
All pertain only to
established at the beginning of the project.
pre-military historic trends.
Research

questions

mainly

centered

Settlement Patterns
What are the settlement patterns on land currently
a.
water,
How do factors of topography,
administered by HAFB?
into the pattern?
distance to roads, etc., fit
What are the settlement patterns within each specific
b.
their
within
located
sites
the
are
Where
unit?
property
How do factors of topography, water, distance
respective tracts?
What is the relationship
into the pattern?
to roads, etc., fit
of specific features at the sites to these factors?
in relation
What patterns are discernable for the sites
c.
How distant are the sites from neighbors, etc.?
to each other?
1.

Acquisition
How did people acquire land?
How much did they acquire?
How did subsequent owners get possession?
Do there appear to be any unscrupulous activities
involved?

2.

Land
a.
b.
c.
d.

3.

Land Ownership
How long did people own their land?
a.
Why did they move?
b.
Do these patterns have any relation to national,
c.
state, or local phenomena?

27

4.

Land Use
a.

How did different

b.

How do features
to

people
visible

on the surface

Do changes

in

land use

socioeconomic

5.

What

are

the

well

fields

the

associated

6.

How did the

the

study area?

7.

What discrepancies

on a national,

impacted

the

between

differences

those

and

be

differences

major

with

to correspond

occurring

changes

and how

of people?

lives

the

appear

state,
or local level?
How have later
occupations

e.

correspond

the environment

modified

environment modified

the

has
d.

land?

land use?

How have people

c.

the

use

the

sites

located

What

proper?

on Holloman

site?

could

at

these

with?

establishment

exist

the

of HAFB affect

between

oral

people

living

in

and archival

interviews

research?

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Historical
material
almost
the

archaeology

remains

ignores

study

of

the

remains
modes

of

and

this

It

written

research

This

point
are

more
and

provide

the
the
is

geared

main

In

homestead,
to

research
the

in

and

study

can make
mine,

of

both

the
of

accurate

research

because

primarily

28

this
the

towards

to
or

the discipline
physical

these
picture

this
way, each method of
in gaps where necessary.

objective

of

definition

ranch,
say

interaction

complete

archaeological
stressed

This

documents

accurate

involves

at the site.
the other, and fill

exhausting

report

is

at

the

as

period.

historical

records
to

defined

historical

remains

site.

Significantly,
sites.

been

contributions

archaeology

the activities
can verify
include

any

physical

other historical
of historical

from

has

of

research

project

did

potential

of

recommendations

unanswered

two

not
the
of

questions

which
in

could

one

step

possibly

view,

in

an

this
ongoing

report

answered

report

now administered
this

be

study

by

can

could

by archaeological

be

looked

of

the

historical

Holloman

Air

Force

be,

and

should

be,

as
settlement
and subsistence
analyses.
In other words, this
interpretation

and

available

for

interpretation

more

the
is

The

not

initial

but

only

The

subjected

complete

sites,

Base.

patterns,
report

as

to

Thus,

the

occupation

first

of

lands

information
verification

in
by

project be
then can this
site
occupations such

Only
historic

archaeological studies.
in
determining models for

in-field
useful

upon

work.

or artifact-land
use
contributes to an accurate

picture

without

than

was

previously

archaeology

the

full

complete.

field

documentation

of

the

sites

was

the

main

extent of, archaeological

research completed
for this project
although supplementary visits
to the sites were made when deemed
necessary.
The main objective was to exhaust the historical
documentary

research

potential

of

the

sites

recorded

during

the

survey.
This, in turn, fulfilled
the second objective which was
to provide an historic overview concerning life
on the lands now
administered by HAFB for the 50 years prior to the establishment
of

the Base.

In order to fulfill
the objectives, it was determined that a
history of land use for the Base, in general, would be the most
thorough

and

rewarding

sites

themselves

which

they

remain
of

are

stable

each

were

through

of

reconstructed.
the

site,

as

occupations,
Another
the

this

well

as

also

homestead

various
of

owners,

land

research;

property
the

was

way,
how

the

the

units

site

of

may

from which

later

of

squatters

From
not

the

associated

to
the

could

be

occupations
affected

for

this

as

of

available

opposed

that

method
to,

research

view

the

for

example,

unit.

The

property

or improvements
onset,
with

it

was

made

clear

that

the
only

"prominent"

or

29

on the
the
"famous"

is

on

previous
that

land

this
method did
not work were
for those
sites
occupations of the sites
were not documented at
case

land on

tended

site

have

the

background

researched,

impact

the

historical

archaeological

documents
within

Consequently,

could be determined.

reason

units,

research.

Because

specific

In

historical

property

was.

tract
the

of

not the basic unit of

located

individual

history

avenue

in

many
terms

location
cases
on
all,

of

in

of
of
the

which

which

the

as

the

in

Public Domain.
Holloman
citizens

sites
of

were
Otero

County.
families
it

is

By

using

who

are

used

inner

to

This

communities

of

with

the

the

the

the

events

"historic"

to

tend

County

War.

the

emphasize

to

who

Tularosa

Basin,

resided

Lee,
of

Consequently,
limited
project

used

basically

some

Kid

anything
at

that

center

provide

in

and

and
the

for
a

the

Lincoln
"average"

time?

In

such

as

Manlove

following

sites.

project

background

the

men

Eugene

this

the

Lincoln

the

around

Eddy,

useful

exist.

of

about

more

historical

Basin

accounts

with

sources

much

citizens

historical

associated

as

Few

the

"that

are

outstanding

Billy

or

representative

Tularosa

County

to

of

hoped

available.

Bishop

are

be

were

setting

for

area.

Therefore,
did

whom

may

personalities

Library

hand,

the

accounts

secondary

and

as

by

historically."

succeeded.

other

know

Charles

For

"interesting",

they

the

favor

conducted

interesting

and

Lincoln

historical

Milton
none

in

in

folklore.

day

the

around
anybody

people,

record...interview

present

credit,

in

much

revolve
Does

"to

sources

only

learned

famous",

Project

complete

the

oral

success

be

reminiscences

degree,
on

can

or

'significant",

certain

the

average

so

History

become

as

Alamogordo,

citizens

Rhodes,

own

automatically

or

"not

encompass

activities

do
of

County

instead,

than

days

of

their

interest...descendents

their

be

concerning

early

element

within

more

legend

Oral

to

sources,

discriminating

the

of

To

may

much

whose

was

unknown.

and

which

the

influence.

determined

included,

likely

what
is

Oliver

the

to

collection

have

by

Library

are

Secondary

that

of

persons

determined

Those

that

citizens

common

surrounded

Public

that

accounts

the
of

common

are

average

ignore

persons

possible",

Instead,

influenced

by

people

the

to

figures...[and]

the

the

people.

the

Although

objectives

with

Who

relegate

economically,

affected

could

studying

are

significant...with

the

which

tend

Alamogordo

of

project.

histories

sessions

and

to

who

or

of

group

by

who

historic

of

constitute

majority

this

past

persons

example,

class

citizens

were

people

problem

of

documented

mainly

the

research

failure

about

lower

meant

today.

Dealing
raises

not

socially,

of

which

is

between

who

group
of

society,

politically,

those

it

to

differentiate

from

latter

terms,

associated

workings,

county,

or

these

not

the

main

discriminate

emphasized

sources

referred

against
the

any

commonality

30

of

to

consisted

citizen.
all

people

of

These
by

those

sources,

focusing

on

to get land
For example,
citizens.
requirements asked of all
entries
citizens had to file
all
from the federal government,
testimonies when proving
with the General Land Office and file
land transactions at the
not required to file
was
It
up.
Grazing
courthouse, but most people did to ensure quiet titles.
persons desiring to run stock
leases were also mandatory of all
on state and federal land.
The primary focus of the research consisted of records in
federal repositories such as the Denver Federal Records Center
Land
the Bureau of
Center,
Records
and Washington National
Management Las Cruces District Office, and the United States Army
State offices such as
Albuquerque office.
Corps of Engineers'
and
State
Office,
State
Engineers
Land
Office,
the
State
Locally, the Otero County Courthouse, the
Archives were visited.
Chamber of Commerce Museum, and the Alamogordo Public Library
provided invaluable sources.
a certain procedure was followed to
For the most part,
the
Initially,
obtain information in the most effective way.
Bureau of Land Management Historical Indices gave an idea of when
The patent book in
federal ownership.
certain properties left
the Assessors Office at the Otero County Courthouse then provided
Names were taken to
a name for that date and legal description.
the County Clerk's Office where ownership and mortgage records
and
much as title
could be followed for the property unit,
of all
names and dates
Once a list
abstract companies do today.
associated with the property were derived, tax assessments, lease
and the local newspapers became invaluable sources
agreements,
Census records
and events.
for associating names with activities
and the Otero County Pioneer Family History series helped unite
names with real people and often supplied the names of living
Finally,
informants who provided more names of informants.
informants and Homestead Testimonies helped recreate the history
of historic sites.
can be
that historical documents
well recognized
It
is
Records are kept and some are destroyed, sometimes
anomalies.
without discrimination or sensitivity to the information they
while others just can
Some records are inaccessible,
contain.
with
and
some abound
illegible
Others are
not be found.
Possibly most frustrating, but
inconsistencies and gaping holes.
analyzing the records
most exciting, to historians, however, is
called
It
is
ensure historical accuracy.
that do exist to

31

internal and external criticism.

External criticism judges the
authenticity of the document itself.
This becomes especially
important when dealing with rare and unique documents, but is not
a particular problem with the types of documents used for this
project.
More problematic is
internal criticism, or determining the
credibility of the information within the document.
For the
documents used in this project, especially homestead testimonies
or
tax
assessments,
this
can
be
difficult
and
sometimes
impossible.
Many of the sources are full of fabrications simply
because they were not verified by the authorities responsible.
For
example,
certain
requirements
had
to
be
met
before
a
homestead patent would be issued to a settler.
The settler
had
to testify,
and three witnesses corroborate the statements, as to
the
types
of
improvements
on
the
land
and
the
amount
of
cultivation done.
If no officer of the Land Office ever visited
the homestead, stretching the truth could get a settler
a tract
of
land
free
with
little,
and
sometimes
no,
improvements.
Determining which settlers
might have offered falsehoods
and
which
ones
were
sincere
in
their
testimonies
can
be
an
insurmountable job in some cases.
Analysis of informant interviews is important as well.
More
so than archival
sources,
oral reports
contain
informational
biases and need to be subjected to intense internal criticism.
A
basic problem encountered is the selective memory of informants.
Many are elderly and may be in poor health.
Women informants are
often not as well informed about activities
typically considered
"man's work".
Often,
informants'
own recollections
may
be
tempered by newspaper accounts or other people's perceptions of
an event, and thus, their own account is less what they remember
and more what they have picked up from other
sources.
In
addition, over time many accounts gradually become idealized or
romanticized
versions
of everyday
activities
because
of the
influence of television,
books,
or movies about the subject.
Finally, although previously conducted interviews with informants
who have passed away are available, the questions they answer may
not be ones especially helpful to the project,
or important
aspects may be touched on but not elaborated.
Because
of
these
biases
and
potential
problems,
every
attempt
was
made
to
avoid
discrepancies
and
inaccurate

32

the

in

information

in

visible

use

land
site.

The

farms,

and

as

Table

at

areas

of Historic

Sites

the

sites,

without

sites

category.
Categories

1.

earliest

ranch activity

and

Research

sites.

miscellaneous

were also defined

ranches

included

categories

the

features

and

artifacts

of

form

the

to

according

categorized

were

sites

These

into

the primary land use or occupation of the

land use changed over
In
some cases,

categories according to
1).
land owners (Table
time.

available.
divided

were

sites

was

source

when

sources

to confirmation through other

the
research was completed,

subjected
Once

one

from

obtained

Data

text.

HAR-008
HAR-012
HAR-042

HAR-019
HAR-051
HAR-053

HAR-014
HAR-045
HAR-052

Barrett's (Area 4)
Burn's (Area 11)
Harris's (Area 19)

HAR-047

HAR-054

HAR-055

Sumner's

HAR-049
HAR-057

HAR-061

HAR-063

Schoolhouse

HAR-086

HAR-065

Graves

HAR-064

LA

(Area

21)

103410

LA 103411

of

base

opposed

the
to

sites

activity
and
of

the

The

sites

the

of

and
up

range

in

Yaxim
raise

at which the
are sites
crops instead of livestock.

owned

stock,

they

hoped

to

crops

rather

than

from

the

sale

under the
are closely
total

the
They

or

together

the

land

derive

unit.

Ranch
Ranch

which were
These

category

are

necessary
corrals,
two

types

of Table

1.

owners intended primarily to

Although many of these people
income

animals.

33

to the

linked

include windmills,

the Ranches

as

category

ranch

property.

state

livestock

of

ranch

improvements

ranch.

on federal

grouped

on

listed

make
of

consist

located
are

dependent

which

within the realm of stock

the main economic
was done,

fall

was

residences,

operation

tanks
sites

or

Sites

Activity
to

site

crops.

headquarters,

which
cultivation

sites
some

are those
Although

RanL-cJ
raising.

from

the

sale

of

their

dairy

is

also

included

because

here

product

of

activity

economic

the

cattle

the

as

to

opposed

the sale

based on

is

the

of

sale

a by-

of

the

cattle

themselves.
_Bie

is

determination
sites

were

no

of

with

activity

the

for

at

separately
also

at the
school

after

Boles
which

because

their

of

the

noted

is
the

to

feature

descriptions

how

artifacts

found.

'These

school

eligibility
each site

evidence

important

history

of

plats

description

more
what

fully
is
and

correlate

research
to

their

research

in

informant

as

sought

for which

areas

Included

on

research

but

are
the

no

listed
section

indicated
near
grave

was
the
was

by
in

Human
Systems Research
the research
primarily

the

sites

in

lands administered

made
to
for easy

located.
land and

been

of

information was

which an

organize
reference
of

the

completing

the

by Holloman.

the
following
and comparison.
site's

site
For

location

background

of

the

and

tract

on

This includes the various claimants

land use information.
Each site
is
in

present

order
on

the

to
site's

compare
surface.

historical
In

depth

potential
functions and a discussion of
with the background history
is given.

Finally, an impact and recommendations

disturbances
to the
site,
potential
remaining

have

conducting

on GLO

occurrence
were included

short

discussed

information

no

left

located.

followed by the historical

which the site

and owners of

the

but

no

these

Domain who

Others

descriptions.
a

attempt
was
consistently

is

Public

In addition to
during the survey,

use was as

site,

features

be

site
on

as
an isolated
These
areas

Every
descriptions

then

people,

were
the

the

Many of

Well Field, and an apparent grave location

was discovered by a later
survey.
This

picture

each

sites

on

on which

made.

activities.

occupations

information

recorded
(HSR).

squatters

could

for sites

could be

their

recorded

historic

category

activity

particular
site

sites

the

full

of

earc1Ar_&.

corresponding
is

to

record

associated

catch-all

economic

attributed

written

-_iit
...o-n
historic

potential.
the National

section notes the various

management
concerns,
and

A recommendation
of
Register of Historic
Places

discussion.

34

potential
completes

using
should be noted that the sites were recorded
It
including pace and
standard archaeological field survey methods,
was
that it
It
was felt
compass maps in metric measurements.
best to retain the continuity of the field observations without
risking non-proportionate dimensions which may have resulted if
English
measurements.
English
to
converted
had been
maps
conversions for the features, on the other hand, does not defeat
Therefore, within the
the uniformity of the field observations.
text, features are described using the English system, with the
for easier
in
parentheses,
metric measurements
corresponding
Distances between features are
comparison to historic documents.
given in meters, and site maps
are also metric.

35

36

RANCHES AND RANCH ACTIVITY SITES

J~j~j~ya n ch
The Danley Ranch was a community operation involving two
and
Claude and Osie Danley, Claude's daughter Jewell,
cousins,
James McNatt.
The ranch was comprised of several separate ranch
and
state
grazing
acre
federal
and
a
16,500
headquarters
allotment which covered most of HAFB's western boundary.
Two
sites have been associated with the Danleys' occupation:
HAR-008
and HAR-042.

HAR-008, formerly called Danley Well, was recorded early in

1993 by the HAFB Archaeologist.'
It comprises 7650 square meters
in the SWl/4 of Section 6, T16S,
R8E.
The site is situated at
the terminus of Hay Canyon near the base of the white sand dunes.
Features
recorded
at
the
site
include
a
collapsed
lumber
structure, corral, collapsed windmill tower, an earthen tank, and
a well head.
The artifact
assemblage is
relatively small and
consists
of
some
domestic
refuse,
as
well
as
construction
materials
and
livestock
related
items.
Artifacts
include
whiteware ceramics, glass and tin can fragments, wash tubs, gas
cans,
paint cans,
and construction materials.
No diagnostics
were located.
Historical
Background. In November 1938, Miss Jewell Danley
filed a Stock Raising Homestead Entry on the WI/2 SWl/4, SEl/4
SWl/4, and SWI/4 SEl/4 of Section 6, T16S, R8E (Figure 2).2
This
tract
encompassed
approximately
120
acres
of
valuable
agricultural land in Hay Draw, and a small portion of the white
sand dunes.
Jewell Danley was the daughter of Claude Danley
whose
parents,
William
and
Matilda
Danley,
moved
to
the
3
Sacramento
Mountains
from Texas
in
the late
1890s.
When
Claude's cousin, Osie Danley, acquired a ranch on the flats
west
of Alamogordo,
they formed a loose partnership in
the stock
business.
Claude
Danley
acquired
his
own
headquarters
approximately 6 miles west of Osie's place.
He must have used
his homestead privilege already, so his daughter filed the land
entry in his behalf.

37

,It

ICD

CD

II

-sc.

......
......

..... ..
..
. .....

..

...

...

......

HAR-008............. .

0.
0.
C%

.. .. . .. .

.. . . . . ..
...

..... .

Jew..Da.e
~...

m..

Figure.2.

Ho esea ....Entry..

...........

FEET

C ntou Intrval

ell8

..
.

...

11.5 eg
De..lina.io.

. ....
.. .

...

000

0 Fe t

*:.:~

"

Secondary. Hihwy
har surface.
LightDu.yRoad
had or ip.o.edsurfac
Stram......termtt.n

According

to Miss Danley, her family had been using the land

1938.4
for a patent until
although she did not file

1933,

since

Whether

Jewell

resided
displaced

until

he

was

Range

in

1942.

of

corn,

he

He

Johnson

cultivated

the

by

the

raised

hay,

and

GLO

According

cancelled

to

the

cattle
a

the

land

but because

the

"statutory

improvements
tank,
and
dispersed,

the

reason

The

consisted

of

Jewell

a house,

inconsistencies

site

and

improvements
process

of

were

well,

the

picture

remains

walls,

and

1933 and
an enamel

and woven wire

2).

The

have

been

calves,

southwest
meters

used

north

is

small,

to

keep a

milch

from

southwest

of

straddled

a hand dug

to

Model

Ford

1933,

9'

feature

20

single

tin

house

produced

barbed
The

of
site

flow

of

39

storage
quite
In

disturbed,
is
known
about
sources,

with plank

roof,

which

the west

corral

of

pumping.

(8x5m),

and may

extends

around

3,

12

and
to

hogs,
to

the

located

100

Clipper

(Figure
The

post

(Feature

steel

deep,

wood

side

Feature

tower

built

such as

fence
foot

siding,

was

livestock,

1,
is

near the feature,

its
identification

on

wire
a

is Feature
This feature

15 feet

for

ranch

are
3).

various

is

of

wooden

about

engine
a

metal

house

windmill,
was

tall

well,

gas

type

house,

foot

Danley

identifications.

at the
lumber.

frame

the

the

purposes,

site
(Figure

measuring only 26'x 16'

corral.

to

9'x

of

cows.

the

was

descriptions

1935.7
Domestic artifacts
pot and a shoe sole, support

attached

dug in

corrugated

1944.

follows.

construction with a gate

corral
or

of

the

a comparison

the site

which

cancellation

Claude

the

acres

February

windmill,

in

and

of

the house.
Fifteen meters

Draw,

to have
been
heavily
after
1942.
Too little

The only evidence of a structures

10'x 10' (3x3m)
scatter
of milled

probably

for

at
sites

in

and

located hampered

elimination

the most probable

Hay

did

Gunnery

planted

in

entry

a
trough.
The
features
uncommon
for
most
ranch

the

between
such as

garden

and

taken over for military

period has expired".6

about

plywood

and

Claude

had been

appears
activity

as

the

but

Bombing

and horses

homestead

addition,
the
site
probably by military

unknown,

vegetable

Feature Associations.

By a

is

Alamogordo

Commissioner,

because

where

land

with dry land farming techniques.

The
not

on

mill

4).8

was hooked

well,

which

16 gallons

It
up
was
per

Gravel Piles
Burnt Rubber
Lumber
SA Fallen Barbed Wire Fence
SDirt Berms
.
Fence Posts

Tf

//x
//
//

//

o,

//
51

///1

410

7//

7-,1

Meters
Figure 3.

HAR-008 Site

40

40
Plan.

IN

Figure

4.

Windmill

at

the Jewell

Danley Place,

1957.

(COE Files)

minute.'

The

remains

of

this

improvement

consist

of

the

a 9 'x 9' (3x3m) depression from which a

The mill is no longer present at the s ite.
Located approximately 60 meters further south is a large
Dirt is
(30x25m).
measuring 98'x 82'
Feature 4,
earthen tank,
this
Apparently,
sides.
west
and
north
the
on
up
bermed
on
not listed
is
was added between 1941 and 1942 as it
reservoir
On the west side of the
range inspections before that time.
pipe
a metal
5),
(Feature
another well head
earthen tank is
This seems
ties.
the ground and flanked by railroad
embedded in
maps,
to be the well marked as Danley Well on current topographic
Tommy Danley stated
well.
not the family's original
is
but it
which more
that the well was between the tank and the house,
is unknown when Feature 5
It
to Feature 3.10
closely correlates
was added or by whom.
collapsed tower near
metal pipe protrudes.

41

Piles
asphalt
appear

of

road
to be

Improvements
tanks,

are

burnt

rubber

along

the

and

gravel

eastern

side

associated with

the

cited

such

no

in

1949,

longer

are

later

of

the

Danleys'
as

additions
reservoir

does

occupation

the

wood

and

of

trough

the

and

an
not

site.

storage

present.

HAR7.Q 42 - -h.Ae.-.h
...Le. D._.n1.-..y.Ran.c.h
HAR-042
Section

is

approximately

is

square

R8E,

miles

water

subterranean
corral

24,150

Tl6S,

1,

windmill,

tank,

on

and
on

concentrated

close

filed

Sl/2

round

proximity
In

January

of land on which this

SEl/4,
and the SEl/4

on

to the

the western

Basin,

of which
used his

Karr's

homestead
his

the

Desert

his

entry

homestead

adjoining

SWl/4

of

relinquished

at

on

to

the

real

the

the

semi-

draw.

draw.

The

refuse including
cans,
which
lie

1903,

William

site
NEI/4

is
of

mountain

J.

Karr

located,
the
Section
1.11

cattle

with

range.
the
2

entry,
John

entry,

SWl/4

Section

Q.

same

Grant
of
12,

and

on

Once moving

KAR brand,

many

Having already
under the Desert

Grant,
day

also
T16S,

who

(Figure

filed

Section

October

a
1,

R8E,

experiencing

estate

5).13

Desert

and

1904,

the

which

it

Karr
to

In

addition

Land

entry

a
on

El/2

NWl/4

and

Laura

Karr

had

Grant

relinquished

Mexico from Ohio in

1903,
John Grant
in Alamogordo.
During a time when the

rapid

business,

31,

converted

the same time as her husband.

to his brother, Edward, in 1906.14

tract

was

include

features.

Lost River arroyo.1

Karr had to file

very

After moving to New

quickly became well known
town

Draw,

of the early pioneers in

the
of three families who first

the

running

Land

entry

SEl/4

NWl/4

this

of

of

His wife also filed

on an adjoining 320 acre tract
to
Late in
1904,
Thomas C.
Crawford filed
a contest

relinquished
to

they began

ranged along the

homestead privilege,

Land Act.
the south.
against

slopes

Malone

in

above

the

NE1/4

collapsed

depression

to

the

features

structure,

flat

Karr and his wife Laura were some

Sacramento Mountains
and were one
settled

of

of common domestic
fragments,
and tin

Background.

on the tract
SEl/4,
NEl/4

Its

frame

upland

in

side

HAR-008.

the

consists
glass

Historical

of

habitation

western

collapsed

artifact
assemblage
whiteware
ceramics,
within

the

east

structure,

located

meter

growth,
or

more

42

he

became
specifically,

involved

in

"locating

the

R 1R
89

04

sec

12

...........

..

.....
..
....
..
.. .. . .. .. .

.......
.......

\.
*

A ~~

..............
...

Figure....
...
Jon.rnts
~
~
~
..
.oesea.atn
Seconary.Hghway
ace.
ar aur...

....
....

0~~~~......
FET600hr.r.
.~~m

11.5
Declina.tion...

dg

Contur Inerval.0.Fee

43..

..

Li.ht.Duty...ad,
mrvd
u....dinga..

...

..........

ufc

homesteaders"

who

Northeastern
sprinkling
dust

at

F.W.

dirt

bay.

acres

to town in
who raised

of

tons

herd

Although

he

during

residency

his

$200

to

commuted
the

the

the

1908,

ranch

Grants
sold

to

children,

he

to

have

proof

used
period.

tract

the

the

in

land.

of

May

21,

1907,

the

for

his

160

had decreased
and his
Gould,

with

dropped

and
in

12

value

the
of

($1.25

in

James

Grant

M.

as

early

to
of

horses

1904,
had

the

made

few

claimed

improvements
and

corrals.

issued

the

after

he

tract
At

that

time,

$100.18

and leased
Sacramentos. 1 9
The

tract.

who

In

had

1911

1913,

shared

(Table

Grant

the

2).20

tax

McNatt

the 1880s along with his

McNatt (LA 103411),
and

the Basin.
Little
the land.
Although

at

to

Alamogordo

on the
as

he

States

from the

McNatt,

seemed

established

fences

in

sale

Sedgewick,

he

to only

man
for

When

per acre).

value

rancher

versatile
bred

never

he

as

they moved

from

homestead

family lived

in
the early 1900s moved
McNatt's residence or use
cattle

keep

served

Grant

United

acre

again resided

to

of

daughter

land,

October

only

property

to

but

also

imported

had moved to the Sacramento Mountains in

relatives
C.C.
McNatt (HAR-047)
and A.A.

of

was

and

consisting

James

and

charge

divorced

Grant

1906,

Grant

responsibility

four

By

probably never

the

in

on supposedly

year),

entry and paid $200

improvements
In

and

which

his

and

Grant

filed

one

cows

on

on

with water

school.16

homestead

already

Nevertheless,
patent

Grant

in

claimed

improvements
on

town

the

Paso

El

himself

remained small,
however,
and
and horses combined. 1 7
cattle

20 head of

at

land
for

His

the

put

married

his wife

Kansas.

valued

Grant

spring

Jersey

the

on

1 5

the
hay

thoroughbred

was

also

for Grant,
(70

Alamogordo

of

1906,

Delia Brown.

home

house

He

streets

In

The 320

surpass

into

Railway.

the

Pelman,

family

poured

ranch

in

is
he

1917,

known about
kept 18 head
improvements

to only $24.21

At some point prior

to February 1939,
James McNatt passed
away and his heirs
sold the tract
to Osie Danley for $500.22 Osie
Danley's
had

settled
place
in

born

were

on

in
1898.23
in
1936,
they

that

1942,
but

parents

been

part

of

the

when they were

were

also

the

early

pioneers

Sacramento

River,

of

Otero

where

County.
his

He

parents

When Osie and Garnie Danley purchased

the
called it
"one of the oldest
settled
ranches
country...".24
displaced

permanently

moved

It
by HAFB.
off

44

in

remained

their

home

They moved back

1952.25

in

The Danley

until
1944,
heirs

Table

John Grant
USA
John Grant
Mrs.

McNatt

J.M.

Thomas
*See

Danley

acroynym

retained
in

HAFB

the Osie Danley Ranch

Ownership of

2.

John Grant
J.M. McNatt

10/31/04
5/21/07
3/7/13

HE
HP
WD

$200
$1500

Osie Danley

2/6/39

WD

$500

USA

6/14/88

WD

$186,000

list

on

ownership

page xiii.

of

the

land

until

deeding

it

to

the

USA

for

1988.26

Feature Associations. According to the Lease and Suspension

Agreement
of
1949,
the
Osie
Danley
Headquarters
had
many
improvements
including a house,
windmill,
well,
three tanks,
corrals, and a combined saddle and chicken house.
In 1950, on an
updated agreement, the COE also mentioned a privy, a second well,
and a dugout.
The features at the site (Figure 6) have been
compared to their documented descriptions and the recollections
of
Tommy
Danley,
Osie
Danley's
son,
to
determine
their
identifications.
Several of the features were not located during
site documentation.
The house, located in the bottom of Malone Draw, was a 16'x
23'x 7.5'
one room,
box construction building with wood block
foundation, wood plank floor, and an enclosed 7'x 16'x 16' leanto porch with a dirt
floor.
It had several windows, a gable roof
covered with corrugated tin and was enclosed by a yard fence of
woven wire
(Figure
7).
This
house
predates
the
Danley's
occupation in 1936, and Tommy Danley assumed that McNatt built
it.27
It is
possible it
is the same structure that was located
on the tract since before Grant's residence in 1904.
Today, the
remains of the house, Feature 1, are hidden by a grove of salt
cedar

trees

intact,
two
with

(Figure

and
long
a

is

narrow

pole

8).

propped
window

ramada

The
up

by

eastern
trees.

frames,

extends

are

about

45

wall

is

A central
5

visible,
feet

still

relatively

door,

flanked

and
from

the

plank
wall.

by

porch
Tommy

-n

C-)0
0

0
0

00

~-a

-n

0'

L
.
.

zT
4

>~~

ft

Cf)

cC

,,7~} ~,/

N
z~

CD46

Trac

Road

Figure

7.

The Osie Danley Residence,

Danley mentioned
which

may

walls

seem

haphazard

to
pile

of
A

privy

structure
tin

have

milled

portion
fence

roof.

privy was
Depression

with

era.

by

inward

screened
the

wood

visible

on

(COE

Files).

porch

on the

house.

The

are

represented

and

which

the

measures

block

remaining

30'x

foundation

the northeast

back
by

13'x
is

a
8'

still

and west with

side.
with

concrete

According
built

is

of

lumber

of

associated
a

had a

portion

collapsed

on the western

The

house

this

The yard

a gate

the

identify

(9x4x2.4m).
intact.

that

1957

to

floor

the

the Works

Danley

the

house

and

Lease

and

Progress

remembered

47

was

seat

box,

Suspension

4'x

4.5'x

and

it

was

(WPA)

situated

box

corrugated

Agreement,

Administration

that

6'

this
in

the

against

4 "PF

8.

Figure

the

of

side

corner,
This
which

feature has

was

an 8'x

9).

siding

been identified
1950
8'x

was

This

structure with
dirt.

Although this

on

however ,

it

was

tie

posts

walls,

and

tentatively as
area

11 'x

an

structure which has

railroad

the
the

is

the house,

plank

roof.

chicken house

the

north

each

at

of

the

house.

Lease and Suspension Agreement, the chicken

29
shed type structure with a board roof.

6'

dugout
posts

had

in

also

10 meters
Approximately
circular depression (Feature
dugout.

of

north

It

today.

appears

28

semi-subterranean lumber

plank

claimed
the

10 meters

it

house ;

the

of

north

documentation.

(Figure

horizontal

Danley

the

located

inward

According to
house

2,

(3.5x3.5x2m)

collapsed

to

during site

Feature
7'

Osie Danley residence as

hill1

the

not located
ll'x

The

was

the house
west of
the remains of
3),
a

is
the

9'x

semi-subterranean,

supporting

a wood

improvement

was

48

not

and tin
listed

roof
in

a roughly
cellar or
9'x

covered

1949,

6'
with

one year

Figure

later,
partly

the COE
covered

east.

well
foot

"New

help

4).

tower

investigation

no artifacts

south
It

of

it
a

an
stated

produced

1935

Ford

the

Two
well

tank is
an

of

and
in

Model

indicated

three

trough

the drainage

earthen

enclosed

the
a

tank at

by

house
to

the

with
site

fence

with

was

south

of

the

Tommy

old timbers,
caved in."30

Bradley

that

the well
of

35

Danley,

auxiliary

from

engine.

metal

an

the mill.

oil

gates.

3 3

the windmill,

drum

49

minute

range

1927
with

The

which

are

100'x

or
the

mill

were

missing.
there
40'x

feature,

was not

was

in

3 2

Apparently
This

well

is

but the tower still

was photographed in

tanks

which measured

drilled

per

100 meters away,

it
did when it

and

this

mill.

was

tower

well with a 32

steel

gallons

feature.

windmill

foot deep drilled

galvanized

made

is

foot

flow

located in a small drainage

stands and looks much like
1956.

Chicken House.

associated with this

the

was a 110

and

report

and

of

According

Well".

steel

1928,

are

meters

(Feature

called

2,

represented by a 16'x 10' (5x3m) depression with a

the far
western edge and a possible entrance on

There

Forty

Feature

said that the dugout consisted of "4

few boards,
with poles and earth,

This cellar
is
single post in
the

9.

located

One

was

4'

which

near

and

also
was

Danley

during

site

The

was

In

vegetation.
at

Osie

Danley's

16

feet

deep.

in

the

early

1930s,

flat

the
corral

above

seems

the

east

to

area,

this

marks

maker's

only

..

u...i

two

another

community
Danley,

Osie

Lease

State

HAFB,

in

1935,
relatively

the

of

partners
small

land

gave

HAFB,

found

domestic
Bottle

site.

dates

the
glass

purple

to

of

are

the

McNatt.

the

two

white

applied
for

leases

stock

sand
to
four

of
They

and

dunes.

graze
ranchers

50

150

the

During
cattle

to
base

Grazing

Taylor

it

labeled
Claude
also

the

covered

ranches,

Service

Grazing

James

Their

for

addition

adequate

Danleys'

qualify

The

in

above,

the

and

herd

at

were

with

described

the

the

visible

of

the

consistent
of

and

corral,

activities.

at

involving

Land.

between
some

covering

fee

10).

Danley,

were

occupation.

sources

allotment

calves

the

primarily

pieces

three

of

(Figure

Allotment

are

wire

.R..n .h

of

water

and

milking

On

barbed

buckets

activities

earlier

.n ..

north

tract

property

of

an

tracts

to

1930s

but
of

of

a
and

galvanized

3 5

draw.

the

structure

consisting

as

the

.. QL....,he....

The

Many

of

to

attached

then

vegetation.

pig,

collapsed

the

site,

clues

from

suggestions

was

confirmation

occupation,

Danley's

pen

dug

1949.34

in

dense

cow,

there
was

after

mainly
the

that

ownership,

remains

the

milch

feature.

the

few

the

with

the

at

offer

of

milk

possible

Artifacts
trash,

said

of

because
is

where

correspond

side

located

drainage

5)

Danley

this

located

the

(Feature

located.

in

be

not

could

wer'e

traps

horse

and

Corrals

and

tower

steel

Well"

sometime

drilled

was

Well"

"New

"Old

Grant's

during

Lease

the

claimed

the

Probably
even

on

COE

well

approximately

mentions
the

the

the

that

given

also

later,

property.

or maybe

the

when

abandoned

These

the

on

wells

two

which

year

One

mill.

Aermoter

is

in

hidden

dug well,

hand

to

according

revealed

description

1949,

in

Agreement

Suspension

were

same

This

was

Headquarters

Well,

probably

is

examination

range

1939,

New

site

during

located

the

tank,

earthen

the

like

It,

Danley.

to

and

inconsistent

are

not

was

close

situated

Well"

"Old

which

well,

This

documentation,

the

of

descriptions

confusing.

an

probably

is

overgrown.

completely

and

it

vegetation,

dense

the

of

Because

documentation.

and

had

Jewell

300

combined.

of

boundary

western

and

acres

part

northern

their

year,

first
15

horses,

This

number

caC

U)

OV

10

COD

cc

L,

a)

-J

W.

_)

ca~

co

CM

.... .....
I- . ..
..0..
..
.......
..
.-.
.. x.
...

...
..: .......

....

.....
'

..

.....

..

..

...

.....

......
.......

...

....
..

...

.....

......

.....

....
....
....

.......
.....
......

..

......

..

continually dropped until in 1943, only 14 cattle and 20 horses

grazed on their federal allotment.
By this time, their acreage
had been drastically cut from 16,500 to 570 by the take over of
the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range, and James McNatt was no
3
longer on the permit. 6
In
1940,
their range was "seriously deteriorated due to
destructive use, past and present, by numerous [225] drift
horses
and
by
cattle."
This
major
problem
occurred
because
the
allotment wasn't fenced.
The fencing issue was a continual
controversy between the Danleys and C.C. McNatt, their allotment
neighbor.
McNatt claimed they did not have prior use of a
certain section of the allotment and therefore,
could not fence
it
off.
The Danleys,
of course,
insisted they did have prior
use.
The District Grazier noted that "it
does appear doubtful
that there was any prior use made after 1930 when the fence was
constructed but that there might have been some prior use of the
area...before 1930."
After several months of bickering meetings
between the two parties, they reached a mutual agreement :in late
1939, which determined the location of their fences and allowed a
right-of-way for Danley's cattle through McNatt's allotment. 3 7
The Danleys cultivated small fields of row crops,
such as
corn, and both men had small vegetable gardens at their homes.
Most of the cultivation was done in Hay Draw at Claude's place,
although
Osie
planted
corn
if
rainfall
was
plentiful.
A
percentage of the corn crop was fed to the milch cows and saddle
horses, but they did not supplement the feed of the rest of their
herd.
Pickleweed and coyotes presented occasional problems for
the cattle, but admirable profits were made during fall
sales. 3 8
Like other
Basin ranchers,
the Danleys
had
few of the
amenities that town residents enjoyed.
As late as 1942,
the
houses were not supplied with electricity.
When they first
moved
out to their ranches,
the Danleys maintained homes in town so
their children could attend school in
the winter.
In
1938,
however,
the county funded school bus,
driven by Claude's son
3
Jack, transported the children into town. 9
After
the
Danleys
permanently
moved
off
their
ranch
headquarters in 1952, Claude Danley and his wife Maggie moved to
Washington.
Osie bought 6 tracts of land north of HAFB from R.M.
Daugherty.
Upon doing so, the federal grazing lease transferred
to Danley, and he was able to continue ranching.
He formed a
business with his father-in-law, Tom Jones, and by 1952, they had

52

range

encompassing

cattle

The
the

condition

result

have

of

of

bulldozed
HAR-008

rubber,

asphalt,

High

Speed

has

been

draw

and

the

structures

has

been

Test

carrying

capacity

Weathering

Further
two

of

112

help

Especially
this

the

important

is

In

Alamogordo

prevented
for

activities
are

thought

Places
considered

be

local

marginal

lands
also

supported
design,

association.

in

one
by

of
the

feeling,
At

from

the

the

these
to
testing

at

HAR-042.
privy

be

more

made

at

to

have

thoroughly

his

projects

accompanying

information

the

in

author

to

and

the

In

National

the

main
of

and
HAR-042

accessibility

daily

ranch

addition,

Alamogordo.
setting,

under

Ranching

economic

especially,

have

led

a
to

remained

foundations

of

HAR-042
sites

enough

53

was

It

and both

to

exhibits
have

of

the

be
are:
and

lifestyles

the

Register

would

Historic

areas

market

Basin.

otherwise

of

They

assemblages

overall

level.
Tularosa

Register

artifact

behavior,

ranching

Basin.

research

adaptations.

to

about

Tularosa

National

the

studies,

the

the

Specific

consumer

town

at

constructed

should

in

from

which

WPA

discuss

offer

to

significance
event

of

contribute

construction

D.

eligible

economic

conducted

features

attempts

patterns

environment

to

albeit

archaeological

missing
the

and

sites

eligible

gender

marginal

the

project).

two

patterns,

thought
a

current

Criterion

availability,

locate

Danley

especially

subsistence

and

Mr.

be

under

of

site

settlement

to

land,

would

and

(extensive

these

and

behavior,

to

the

the

Together,

of

appearance

be

analyses

further

visit

occupation

sites

the

HAR-042

slope

the

the

could

location

addition,

Danley

affected

artifact
consumer

family's

the

also

of

near

the

on

the

dumping

vandalism.

along

place

research

determine

site.

Tommy

to

erosion

off

location

susceptible
by

might

tenants

military

site's

primarily

sites.

concerning

would

by

be

military

unwanted

the

taking

Extensive

studies

it

has

to
the

impacted
and

archaeological

sites.

keep

heavily

still

appears

although

affected
is

both

today

to

makes

heavily

grazing

at

ranches

gravel,

Track

more

features

of

with

deterioration,

and

illegally.

was

acres

these

natural

land.

on

14,700

.40

sites

are

Criterion

significant
the

use

vacant.
the

of
It

region
integrity

integrity
Danley

of
Ranch

remains to convey a sense of how the property was organized,

well as a feeling of ranch life
in the early 20th century.

as

now
The McNatt Ranch encompassed a large part of what is
Holloman Air Force Base.
Private property and grazing leases
provided the McNatt's with approximately 15,000 acres,
all
of
which was
included
within
the
original
boundaries
of
the
Alamogordo Bombing Range.
Three sites have been associated with
the McNatts:
HAR-012,
the old home place; HAR-047, McNatt Ranch
Headquarters; and HAR-049,
West Well.
These are discussed in
this order below.

__ARQ12--"The Old HQIoHAR-012 is

a 8250
square meter habitation site located
within Malone Draw just below the western bank of the draw in the
NW 1/4 of Section 12, Tl6S, R8E.
This site, formerly called Owl
Well, was recorded by the HAFB Archaeologist in February 1993.'
Included within the boundaries of the site are a collapsed wooden
A-frame structure,
a one foot diameter pipe imbedded in
the
ground,
and a shallow depression containing 4 railroad ties.
Other features include a 15 x 10 meter scatter of broken wooden
crates, metal scraps, bolts,
screws, square cut nails,
purple,
clear, and green glass fragments, and brick pieces.
This dump is
located in an erosional channel west of the features.
The final
feature (Locus B) is located on the flat
above the draw and is a
10 x 4 meter
refuse
scatter containing
domestic
trash
and
construction hardware similar to those items discussed above.
Historical

Background.

The

land

on

which

this

site

is

located was first

entered upon by Laura Karr, the wife of William
Karr of La Luz (see HAR-042).
On May 22, 1903, Mrs. Karr filed a
Desert Land entry on the SEl/4 SWI/4 of Section 1; the El/2
NWI/4, SW1/4 NW1/4, and the SWl/4 of Section 12, all in Tl6S,
R8E.
This land, along with her husband's Desert Land entry in
Section 1, would have given the Karr's ownership of two miles of
valuable bottom land in Malone Draw as well as a part of Carter
Draw to the south.
The Desert Land Act expressly forbid this
practice,
requiring
entry persons
to file
on solid,
compact

54

tracts to prevent one person from acquiring all

the land along
such a waterway.
Nevertheless, the General Land Office accepted
Mrs. Karr's entry, and according to one of her witnesses,
she
planned to irrigate
this tract by digging wells and "erecting a
2
pumping plant".
William Karr, however, was a rancher, so there
is little
doubt that they wanted the land for stock use and not
the farming activities
to which the Desert Land Act applied. 3
At
any rate, when Thomas Crawford filed a contest notice against
William Karr's entry causing him to relinquish it
on October 31,
1904, Mrs. Karr relinquished hers as well.
As soon as the Karrs' relinquished their entries, John Grant
filed a Desert Land entry on much of Mrs. Karr's tract to adjoin
the Homestead entry he filed on Mr. Karr's tract.
Although Grant
proved up his homestead entry (HAR-042),
he relinquished his
Desert Lands on August 24, 1906.
At this time, Edward Grant,
John's brother, entered on the NEl/4 NWl/4 of Section 12, only to
relinquish it
six years later
without proving up. 4 On May 6,
1912, yet one more brave soul, John Bishop, filed on the land,
5
but he relinquished the tract within two years.
Because all
these persons failed to prove up their entries,
no direct evidence exists as to who, if anyone, actually lived on
the land.
They may have been using it
for grazing without
competition by filing
the entries but had no intention of proving
up.
If,
on the other hand, these were legitimate entries, the
succession of failures indicates the difficulties
ranchers and
homesteaders faced at that time.
After Bishop relinquished his tract in 1914,
the State of
New Mexico acquired it
as an "in
lieu" selection.
The tract
included 240 acres in Section 12:
N1/2 NEl/4, SWl/4 NEl/4, NEl/4
NWI/4, and S1/2 NW/4.
When their application was approved, the
State recognized the preference right of C.C.
McNatt over the
El/2 NWl/4, and SWl/4 NWl/4 of Section 12, part of Mrs. Karr's
original entry. 6
On March 17, 1916, McNatt purchased the entire
state selection of 240 acres at an auction for $840 (Figure 11).
Also included in the sale were 40 acres in the SEI/4 SW1/4 of
Section 1, T16S,
R8E.
The fact that he paid only the minimum
price of $3.00 an acre for the land suggests he was the only
bidder.
The State Land Office listed as improvements on the
land:
a house, corrals, well, windmill, troughs, reservoir, and
fencing valued at $1715.
McNatt had to pay the appraised value
of the improvements and at least a 10% down payment at the time

55

EE

4Dra0

HAR-012

200

'ISO

Figure 11.

*mN

C.C. McNatt's State Purchase

Highway,
hard surface

-Secondary

FEET
Contour Interval 50 Feet

11,5 deg
Declination

56

Light Duly Road.

hard or improved surface

6000

00Z

Buildings

He then had 30 years to pay the remainder, but

of the auction.
24 years. 7
in
off
it
he paid
Although McNatt purchased the land from the State in 1916,
the family continued to live in town so the children could go to
During this time, he kept the improvements maintained
school.
and stocked cattle and horses on the land. 8
Throughout the 1920s, various members of the McNatt family
C.C. and his wife Ella lived
sporadically resided on the ranch.
there for a short period before moving back to town where Mr.
Later, their
at the courthouse.
McNatt was employed as a jailor
lived
oldest daughter and son-in-law, Vivian and Doss Bradford,
Apparently,
it
was during a
at the homestead and ran cattle.
When Mr.
drought and the cattle had a hard time surviving.
Bradford caught the hay stacks on fire, they decided to give up
"They just didn't have the stomach for
and move back to town.
Early in 1928, McNatt's daughter Gladys and her
country living."
The Richards
husband John Richards moved out to the place.
9
attempted to raise goats but quickly gave up.
the McNatts'
youngest son, Doug, and his
Later that year,
wife Susie moved to the homestead, and the elder McNatt's joined
them in 1931.
Ella's doctor had told her she only had six months
Because of the
to live, and she wanted to spend it on the ranch.
house location in the draw, however, flood waters often flowed
In late
through the home making long term residence unpleasant.
the family decided to move south to a new
1931,
therefore,
residence overlooking Carter Draw. 1 0
Feature

Associations.

According

to

Susie

McNatt,

the

improvements at "the old home place" were located in the draw

There was a house, cellar, outhouse, chicken house,
(Figure 12).
The house and a well were
pump house, workshop and saddle house.
in 1916.
McNatt moved a two room house onto
already on the tract
the land to add to the two room frame dwelling already located
screened porch across
there.
This completed 4 room house had a
The structure is
no longer present at the site.
the front.
was drilled in 1912 to about a 153 foot
Feature 1, the well,
depth.
By 1939,
it
was not in use and the windmill had been
1
dismantled. 1
constructed
by
McNatt
remaining
improvements
were
The
(4x4m)
Feature 2 is
the 13'x 13'
between 1917 and 1918.12
plank
of a an A-frame structure with 1x6"
collapsed remains

57

TO.3

0s\

\jf01J,,

Y"Fallen Barbed Wire Fence

Concentration
Cedar Thicket
* Fence Posts
(jArtifact
SSalt

--

Meters

-0

N Figure

12.

Cow Trail

20

HAR-012 Site Plan (Locus A only).

58

siding
It

and

gable

represents

foundation
dugout

marks,

evidence

John

that

in

privy

13.

Behind

tin

pump

of

date

with the

Feature

2,

no

as

earlier

but

resided
latter

at

of
the

glass

with
of

the

built

the

they

bottle
just

Laura Karr,

site,

Archaeologist's

59

"the

and
are

as

Edward
oral

thought

old home place"

Photo Files)

be

McNatt's

may
written

the

not

and

of

where

family.

Pump house at

to

of

could

artifacts

entries

because

McNatt

post

relocated

purple

These

with

evidence

moved

consistent

site.

but

McNatts

(HAFB

not

such

the

Bishop,

the

was

is

13).

wall made out

10' (7x3m).14

the house were

there

(Figure

house

the house,

and

artifacts,

to be associated with this

Figure

corrugated

frame

and

1931

suggest

be associated
or

eave.

The

occupation

Grant,

box
13

improvements

Diagnostic

earliest
well

the

stood.

located.
maker's

foot

headquarters

once

24'

with

Feature 3,
which had a front
and measured approximately 23'x

ties,

new ranch

covered

10'x

and a 4

Most of
they

cellar,

railroad

roof

HAR-047 is
a 49,950 square meter ranch complex located in
the S1/2 of Section 12, T16S, R8E, on the northern edge of Carter
Draw.

The

metal

is

a
a

consists

storage

windmill,
and

site

tanks,

eight

corral

with

close

consist

of

artifact

An

pens.

to

east/west

dirt

structural

two

mainly

glass,

track

road

trough,

on the

flat

Artifacts

ceramic,
bisects

features

remains.

as

round

depressions,

with these

concentrated
such

structures,

Associated

the

refuse

including:

tank,

constructed

scatter

proximity

features

concrete

frame

numerous

domestic

fragments.

numerous

square

collapsed

low density

within

of

and

the

tin

site.

Historical Background.
The
land on which
the site
is
located passed through a long chain of ownership before the
McNatt's purchased it
(see HAR-061).
The site, however, is only
associated with the McNatt's ownership.
In
1941,
C.C.
McNatt
purchased the land from his daughter and son-in-law, Vivian and
Doss Bradford, although the McNatts established residence there
at least ten years earlier. 1 5
The property remained in
the
McNatt family until final Warranty Deeds were signed between the
C.C. McNatt heirs and HAFB, turning the land over permanently to
the
Air Force
in
1988,
after
long
drawn
out
condemnation
proceedings.16
In 1932, the elder McNatts and Doug and Susie McNatt, moved
to this new ranch only .6 miles from the old home place.
At this
time the two families shared a house until the older couple built
a new one approximately 60 meters to the east.
In 1938,
the
elder McNatts moved
back
to Alamogordo,
and Doug and Susie
planned to purchase their part of the ranch.
At that time, a
school bus came out to pick the kids up for school,
so they
didn't have to move to town in the fall.
Mr. McNatt and Doug ran
the cattle like a partnership until Doug could buy his father
out

.17

Feature Associations.
houses

and

McNatt

was

to

and

her

except

for one

at

the

site

recollections

Suspension

outbuildings

McNatt

outbuildings,

interviewed

associate

Lease
All

numerous

The

and

agreements

were

outhouse.

tanks,

and

and

attempt

the

to

located

Ranch Headquarters

60

COE

what

during

Features

an

1 and

is
the

2,

had

corrals.
had

descriptions
currently
site
originally

two

Susie
been

made

on

the

present.
documentation
thought

to

be

features,

cultural

the

river"

"underground

depressions

now

in

noted

which
a

to

appear

grove

of

be

under

flowed
salt

sinkholes

cedar

associated

Carter

trees

Draw.'

of

the

east

with
The
site

related
Most livestock/ranching
also appear to be sinkholes.
and
draw (Figure 14),
features were located in the bottom of this
residential

features
Control

Features.

(Figure 15).
to a depth of

The well,
12 feet.

Water

framework
well was
mill.

of
on

The well

bracings

Figure

of

14.

the

foot

it.

to be

associated

Feature 3, was hand dug by McNatt in 1929

squared off with a
The top of the well is

tall

The
wood

windmill

flow of

tower

are

legs

Outbuildings

still

a 12

16 gallons
in

once

which

tower with

produced a

(COE

bank above

3 and 4 appear

Features

lumber.

2x4"
a 24

located on the

were

place,

foot

straddled
steel

per minute.
and

the

at McNatt Ranch Headquarters,

Files)

61

the

Samson
1 9

The

damaged

1957.

C!)
n

cr==Q

mill

is

lying

scattered

to

around
Feature

shaped

depression

well.

It

is

of

this

lumber

of

had

gas

engine.

listed
x

1"

4"

pine

within

pump

windmill

and

Figure

16.

house,

of

This
the

It

was

pump

appears

two

wells

it.

of

Mrs.

the

ranch

indicated
well

was

Agreement

"cover

pump

more

Although
at

second

and
A

report

is

by

spring,

of

Suspension

flooring

The

couple

this

well.

material;

the

spring...rises

be

The

1"

of

made

inspection

and

east

bell

supports.

natural

second

improvements:

1/2'

of

1952

x 8

1/2'

jack

possibly

run

w/l
the

cyl

lumber

depression.

Feature

well.

together.

& misc

covering

Rear

it

well

post

development

grazing

Lease

meters

although

"a

are

excavated

investigation

remember
1939

hand

could

is

fragments

hole.

and

1941,

it

engine. "22

and

The

that

The

the

an

McNatt's

flooring

gas

in

tunneled

under

air-cooled
seen

to

depression

not

wells

roof

unknown,

examiner

is

two

well

lumber
is

McNatt's

he

represent

did

headquarters,

also

have

lumber

(4x3x3m),

approximately

The

McNatt

3'

9'

According

possibility

Susie

3'x

9'x

feature

range

may

Some

the

12'x

well...".20

plausible

on

to

Service

the

that

within

exist.

Grazing

northwest.

located

possibilities

the

and

appears

function

near

the

5,

is

an

8'x

house

at

located
8'

McNatt

today.

63

directly

frame

north

structure

Ranch

Headquarters

of

the

with plank

as

siding,

hand

cut

Currently,

the

propped

by

This

up

back
the

structure

judging
from

wood

shingles
wall

roof

on

of

the

the

which

roof,

has

collapsed

the well

equipment

from the wood

shingles

on

the

(HAR-012)

at

old

home

(Feature 19).
Directly

place

east

of

Feature

is

still

structure

housed

the

and

is

it

was

same

(Figure

the windmill,

roof,

time

as

16).

and

brought

"rubble

2 3

floor.

standing,

forward

for

the

dirt

over

the

house

masonry"

tank

(Feature 6).
It
measures 15'x 15'x 2'
(.28m)
thick walls and floor are capped

(5x5x.5m)
and the 8 inch
with cement.
The McNatts

engraved

wall

feature
a

their
was

brand

"+

L U"

into

the

of

the

it

is

probably

added after
1939 because
that
year. 2 4
report
for
inspection

range

Three

round

galvanized

metal

storage

tanks

tank.
not listed

are

the draw.
Two of these tanks,
Features 7 and 8,
next to each other and appear to be in
their
original
They are both 6 feet in
diameter
and 6 feet
and
respectively.

Feature

(l.5xl.5m)
cement.

foundation
The

meters

other

away.

It

and

original

location.

stock use.
smaller

is

is

of

set

McNatt

tank.

2 5

suggesting

three
stated

2
it

on

located

in

are

situated
locations.

feet

tall

5'
ties

Feature

only about

overturned,

Mrs.

5'x
railroad

tank,

smaller,
All

up on a

crisscrossed

storage

is

diameter

the

This

9,

feet
has

capped

with

is

located

tall

and 6

feet

few

been moved from

in
its

tanks

were

used

to

store

that

they

used

to

put goldfish

water

for
in

Feature 10, a wooden trough measuring lO'x 1.5'

(3x.52m),
is
the final
water control
feature at the site.
It
was probably
constructed in
1931 or 1932 and was the first
watering trough at
the

ranch.

Feature

2 6

It

9.

The

is

located

trough

is

approximately

constructed

of

wood

planks

time

measured 16'x 1.5'x

1.5'.
Apparently,
a
transported water from one of the storage tanks
Stock
the

Related

southwest

corral.
roof
of

It

Features.
of

was

and a wood

the

structure.

with no definitive

the
a

The

water

l0'x

14'

plank

floor.

2 8

Today

saddle

trough
frame

and

at

the

corral

appears

dimensions.

64

as

was
a

a
of

of

at

one

lead pipe
trough. 2 7
stood

end

of

corrugated

attached
pile

and

11,

eastern

with

north

2 inch
to this

Feature

structure

The
it

house,

meters

to

one

milled

to
the
tin

side

lumber

Northeast
Feature
tin

12.

roof

of

It

the saddle

was

an

and siding,

used until
of milled

the

8'x 12'

granary

lumber.

mice.

stored

2 9

The

and it

was

The

corn

Also
granary
16'x

on

20'

and all

with
(Figure

in

this

building

and

only

open

front

had

work

corrugated

claims that
time they
is

wire

Another

chicken

pens

couple
shop,

tin

separated

into

475

measured
four

linear
66

8 foot

boards.

The

of

to

used

flat

floor

and

17).

walls

The
it

from

crushed,

meters

south

Feature

14.

It

and

dirt

floor.

corral

in this
building.
but otherwise the
two

in

as

feet,

chicken

feet.

gates,

and

corral's

for breaking

two

17,
15.

the
to

the
The

Part
building

of

One

of

houses.
the

granary.
but Mrs.

far
up slope
was a 6'x 14'

discrete
of

and

pens

crowding

foot gates,

several

pens

3 2

The

65

of

an

8'x

these

space

Suspension
pens

the

lumber,
frame

10'

It

was

different
Agreement,

size

from

90

and

chutes

which

had one

9 foot

gate,

all

constructed
the

the calves,
one corner.

corral,

of

18.
for

in

draw.

features had
the ranch. 3 1

Feature

varying

the

portion

about

controlled

milch cows,
shelter
over

in

piles
was

crowding pens

horses.

It

provided

Lease

as

western

comprises

separate
The

the

the

ran loose

which

well

located

Neither

draw
the

five

is

building.
chickens

six

linear

bin

or

pens

as

feed

on

this

the

several
many

of

measured
30

located

Feature

when they were needed,

The hog pen had a little
was

of

roof

least

16

According
as

the

corrugated tin
roof and a dirt
floor.
of lumber with one window covered with

was

because

The

to

house

remains

Corrals.

were

at

visible.

Feature

attached,

there

had

with a
a pile

similar

activities.

its

the drainage did not extend that

lived there.
This chicken house

still

Either

pile

demolished.

Ranch

McNatt
at the

the

over,

is
located immediately north of
drainage
separates
the
two features,

chicken

to protect

15,

frame
structure
Currently, it

was

is

12'x 12'
frame structure
with
galvanized
tin

flat

Today

structure

remains
on

pushed

McNatt

could be

that

corrugated

structure

located

been

Feature
a small

site.

This

13,

and feed

completely

The
these,

with a

floor.

Feature

farm equipment and tools were stored

the post foundation is
still
visible,
has been

shed or feed house,

shot at.

an

and

built,

corn

structure

has

the

was

frame

granary,

building

has been

was a

and a wood plank

above the draw, was a

double walls
covered
McNatts

house

as

it

saddle

of

2x6"

horses

and the hogs.

Another pen
appears

today,

-TI,

ctn

/
NJN

tU0
oD

662

is

mostly

collapsed

and

function.

The

different

corral

may

give

some

appear

to

railroad

tie

western
along

be

the
of

Residences
was

the

This

to

section

their

the

was

have

property
new

at

house

The

first

"the

two
houses

HAR-012.

in

old

to
and

fence

style

with
18).

campfire.
house on

the property

home place"

separate

houses
McNatt's

When

and the
(Figure

predated

1932,

pens

southern

picket

braces

the

the

the

family

they

used

(HAR-012).

that

McNatt

ownership

decided
skids

to

and

of

move
horse

the
flat

was

house across Malone Draw to its

present
above Carter Draw (Feature 19).
Each part

moved

individually

with a breezeway

Figure

horizontal

from

in

was

which

attached

The

barbed wire,

corral

of

planks

tall.

had

throughout

Most

feet

been burned

headquarters

transport
on the

the

Features.

these

activities.
5

pen

construction

strand

to

actually
of

of

attached
corral

One

the new ranch

of

room structure

house
State

were

which

horizontal

approximately

and Related

four

teams to
location
of

of

fences

known

of

constructed

the

connected.
the

types
the

planks

Portions

not

to

north

vertical

is

clue

posts

outer

it

18.

Portion

of

between

corrals

67

and

then

the two

reconstructed

houses

at McNatt

at

and a porch

Ranch.

across

one

and

Mrs.

other two.
as

the

McNatt

their
roof

most

intact

top

of

used

for

also

their
off

portion
60'x

of

younger

had blown
a

30'
frame
structure
roof with hand cut wood

two

was

The

half

12'x

gable

The porch

divider.

onto

The

low

and

foundation
Mr.

3 3

side.

of

60'

the

divided
couple
35

sons.
the

rooms

west,

Feature

corrugated
except

for a

The
of

tin

In

structure,

(20x20m)

pile

the

main

flat

structure

3'x 3'

McNatt

which

recycled
purpose.

from
It

Figure

Feature
in

20).
a
had

19.

There

extends

built

(Figure

was

Mr.

railroad
four

First

21,

is

into

to

McNatt

today,

the

roof

It

is

lumber

frame
left

is

the
on

probably

few meters

structure
of

that

sitting

that

only

rooms,

situated
the

house

on

to

with

this

the

an

he
8'x

at McNatt

68

structure

little

drainage.
it

had
28'

Mr.

out

screened

28'x
and

of

purchased

Ranch

finger

This

elder

constructed

warehouse

house

bedroom
stated

located

nothing

serving

COE

19).36

4'

bed

additional
the

of

4'x

the

round depression.

out

1932

a
is

(l.5xl.5m)

house,

was

It

and Susie

with

an

yet
(Figure

3 7

half

1952,

the house

20.

roof.

in

built

represents the walls of the structure.

The outhouse for this
house was
the

and Doug

had a
pier
shingles. 3 4

Mrs.

materials
for

porch

(Feature

28'

19).

this
on

the

north

side,

and

7'x

12'

covered

porch

on

the

east

side

(the

front of the house).

The house was of frame construction with a
wood block
foundation,
and
had a
corrugated
tin
roof,
pine
floors,
and
water cistern,

sheet rock
interior
now located in the

sat at
porches,

northeast
supplied

the
and

McNatts built
and
planted

into

foundation

is

cedars

intact.

are

apparently
west.

still

it

40'x

30'

visible
The

located

This

Apparently,
5' .40

corner of
the residents

(Figure

between

feature

was

was

similar

Figure 20.

the

not
to

Feature

lumber

but

the

and

salt

house

was

The yard fence

and

during
20

1957.

with

the

this

work

site

except

(COE

two
The

around the house

The
house
has

of

associated

located

69

pile

21).

house

Main house,

A rain
the house,

house,
between
the
with domestic water.

(12x9m)

outhouse

of

the

a nine strand barbed wire fence

salt
cedars
for
a
windbreak. 3

collapsed

3 8

walls and ceiling.

draw to the north

shop

to

the

documentation.
it

Files)

measured

5'x

411

Figure

this

21.

Only

site

and

Main
very

residential

the

house

small

in

current

artifact

majority

hardware,
substantial

the

trash

Glass

ceramics,
and

assemblage

of

structures.

decorated

holdings

are
of

the

the

is

stove

artifacts

(Feature

is

blue
pipe,

that

21).

associated
located

fragments,

earthenware,

buckets

condition

remain

with

near
and

the

white

construction
of

the

once

McNatts.

Diagnostics such as purple

glass and bottle
maker's marks suggest an occupation between 1900
and the late
1940s.
One reason for the lack of artifacts
is Mrs.
McNatt's

insistence

military
moved

out

buried
house.

took

over

of

place

their
4

'

that

the

trash

There

is

needed

land.

that
in

no

she
I

She

evidence

come

clean

small
of

70

clean

explained,

didn't

the

to

up."

drainage
this

trash

up

"...'cause
The
south
pit

after
I

the
never

McNatts

also

of

main

on the

the

surface.

HAR-049--West

Well

HAR-049

consists

of

surrounded

by a five

the NW

of

miles

1/4
from

windmill

the

the

crockery

ranch

square

T16S,

R8E,

corral.

small

corral.

The

dilapidated

scraps

meter

on a

headquarters.

and

and lumber

22

strand barbed wire

Section 24,

tower

outside

is

tank

located

approximately

remains

wooden

located

It

flat

of

trough

concentration

is

earthen

of

south of

the

1.4

collapsed

are

glass

in

present

fragments,

tank.

Historical
Background.
The land on which this site
located was filed on numerous times by homesteaders,
but
remained a part of the Public Domain until the establishment
the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range.
The first
person
file

on

the

daughter.
the
of

same

NWl/4
time,

another

Basin

rancher

this

also

Bradfords

building on
two miles
and the
this

McNatt,

north

privileges

He

the

proved

up
in

claimed

located.

Doss Bradford,

again

Mrs.

March

Susie McNatt

although

they were

in

they

staying

on 480
1918.42
1918,

stated

were

on

but
that

thinking

the McNatt

married

to

Ed

Calentines
or

had

someone

even

take
the

Calentine

who

already

to file

resided

on

in

used
their

the

owned

land

of

Ranch

their

homestead

behalf.

property,

nearby.

and

They also
the

filed
1910,

the
water

had been drilled

long before any

on the land.
McNatt claimed it
he drilled
is
unclear if
although it

Calentines
to
rights

to
the

had

200

the

4 9

on

been

court because
he had already
on it.48
well when they filed
to the land
ran between

horses

of

it.47

their
preference
Act because they

and

entry

1928.46

The McNatts had established

time of the Taylor Grazing
cattle

At

the brother

(HAR-034),
filed
in
early
cancelled

on the tract

well on the property

about

did

is

After the burning hay stack incident

they gave up ranching and moved to town. 4 4

individuals

drilled

HAR-049

and 24 including

(HAR-012).

and needed

The

13

oldest

Bradford
were

there,

the time

McNatt's

Della McCommis filed

on the tract
containing
as acreage in Section 25.
According to Mrs.
actually
Della's
daughter Dovey who wanted the

was

cancelled

these

Sections

which

by 1923.43

lived

C.C.

next year,
as well

Apparently

was

at

Dovey was

never

in

on

Fred

to enter

never

it

it

land.

24

cases

cancelled

drought,

The
site,

acres

Section

Both

attempted

the

McNatt,

her soon-to-be-husband,

Bradford
was

Vivian

on 640

of

nearby.

acres

was

She filed

NWl/4

the

land

is
it
of
to

water

71

source.

In

by the
150 to

1938,

the

McNatts applied for permission to maintain the well "in

good
serviceable
condition",
and the Grazing Service approved the
application.50

C.C. McNatt moved off the ranch headquarters and planned to

sell the entire ranch, which also included the transfer of the
grazing leases, to his son Doug.
In July 1941, Doug bought the
improvements at West Well,
which included a windmill,
water
trough, dirt
tank, and storage tank, from his father for $1000.51
In 1942,
the property became a part of the Alamogordo Bombing
Range along with the rest of the McNatt Ranch, and the McNatt's
grazing lease over the area was temporarily suspended.
Feature Associations.
The improvements at West Well were
not extensive and were used solely to supply water for the stock.
The well was drilled to a 67 foot depth and water was pumped by
an 8 foot steel mill attached to a 24 foot wooden tower.
It
produced about 10 gallons per minute when it was working.
The
water was piped into a 3 foot deep earthen tank and then into the
16'x 1.5'x 1.5'
wooden water trough
by 2 inch lead pipe. 5 2
McNatt grazed his stock at the water source year round, although
by 1940 only 16 horses were found on this southern portion of the
McNatt allotment causing the Grazing Service to believe it
was
"underused".53
By this time, the well was in need of repairs.
In
1939,
the sucker rod was disconnected so the pump didn't
work. 5 4
This problem was fixed, but in both 1940 and 1941, range
examiners observed that the well was pumping but the tank and the
trough were both dry. 5 5
In 1952, the COE noted that the windmill
5
6
had been removed.
By this time, the McNatts had been off the
land for 10 years.
Today,
the 72 foot (22m)
diameter tank (Feature 2)
is
in
good condition although it is silted
in (Figure 22). The windmill
tower (Feature 1)is in shambles and the mill is lying on the edge
of the tank 20 meters away.
The trough, which measures 16'x 2'x
1.5'
(5.15x.64x.43m),
is
still
intact (Feature 3)
but in poor
condition due primarily to deterioration from the weather (Figure
23).
These features are obviously the same ones present on the
land since at least 1934.
The artifact
concentration (Feature
4),
consisting of domestic refuse, may indicate a single event
such as camping while maintaining the improvements.
There is no
evidence of long term permanent occupation at the site.

72

Windmill Blades
Metal Pipe
Fence Posts
Barbed Wire Spool
Artifact Concentration

"
o

C'

Berm

;:Dirt

"Fallen Fence Posts

S(.

N4

0
Figure 22.

Meters
HAR-049 Site

73

20
Plan

Figure

23.

Trough

Christopher
Arkansas
in

the

Ella

Columbus

with

his

Fleming

1893,
they

where

they

1911.

By

this

McNatt

was

in

could

get

medical

raised

the

in

holdings
The

way

of

obtained
relatively
privilege
therefore,

health.

who

participated

free

from

the

bought

his
land

back

family

moved
began

Mexico
They

1880s.

daughters

McNatt

New

old.

Sacramento

a
in

they

during

to

homesteaded

represents

Often

undeveloped.

moved

today.

settled

McNatt
on

the

River

to

the

and

to

from

married

lower

on

the

summit

Penasco
sons,

until

and

Alamogordo

acquiring

Rio

Mrs.

so

his

she

ranch

5 7

Ranch

life.

and

appears

15 years

moved

The

care

McNatt

individuals

had

it

late

the

then

they

Basin.

the

to

as

was

they

horses,

poor

he

in

and

moved

time,

Well

McNatt

when

Mountains

in

Later

West

"Lum"

parents

Sacramento

Penasco.

at

ranching

started

on

residence

had
in

the

State

74

commonly
as

government,

McNatt

from

pattern
an

occupation

homestead

the
to

in

used
nearby
give

his

they

regions

homesteading

mountains.
him

by

and
which

especially

already

used

his

beginning

He,

Commonly, ranchers had homes in the nearest town

in the Basin.
so the children could attend
where the family resided in the fall
Occasionally, the land
Summers were spent on the ranch.
school.
was leased to others.
SMcNatt gradually added land to his original purchase to
an irregular system of open range where
provide security in
By the
control of water sources was of the utmost importance.
time of the Taylor Grazing Act, McNatt had established his right
of
use
and
longevity
sources
through
water
to particular
perseverance, and use of the justice system when necessary.
the
of the Grazing Service,
Prior to the establishment
Some of this
McNatts raised 700 cattle and horses on the ranch.
stock belonged to ranchers in the foothills who could not get
McNatt
From 1930 to 1935,
grazing permits.
Forest Service
claimed to have grazed between 500 and 600 cattle, but in 1935,
when he applied for a grazing permit from the Grazing Service, he
owned only 150 range cattle and 50 horses. 5 8
The Grazing Service provided McNatt with an allotment west
His allotment bounded
and south of his private land (Figure 24).
on the north and west to the Danley allotment (see HAR-042).
This lease encompassed 12,000 acres of federal land, in addition
to 1270 acres of controlled private land (either owned by McNatt
acres
of
another
land
owner),
and
2000
or
leased
from
uncontrolled private range (not owned or leased by McNatt but
within his allotment boundary). 5 9
The McNatts controlled their stock in fenced pastures and
diet with hay and corn fodder in the
supplemented the cattle's
winter months.
Cattle buyers came to the ranch around early
December and again in mid-February to choose the cattle they
wanted to buy.
The McNatts then drove the cattle to the stock
60
pens near the railroad in Alamogordo.
the McNatts owned milch cows
In addition to range cattle,
They also raised hogs and chickens for their
and saddle horses.
personal consumption.
According to Mrs. Susie McNatt, who had
married Doug in 1926, the draw, which they called La Luz Canyon,
was cultivated with 40 acres of hay and corn and an aisle was
Fruit trees, such as
plowed between the two for easy access.
apples, peaches, apricots, and grapevines were planted along the
aisle.
Farming was done with flood water techniques and was very
successful, averaging 60 tons of hay and 50 bushels of corn per
acre.
When the family moved to the new headquarters, they tried

75

C) 0

C)

z
ri

D.

CD

H ~~AFBBoudr

CCD

-I,

cp.

Cdm

CD

toj

76

to move their hay field closer to the ranch.

Carter Draw,
however, turned out to be undermined by a shallow alkali water
table and the crops always were poisoned and molded before they
matured.
They were able to plant a vegetable garden in Carter
Draw, and the "underground river" provided the McNatts with ample
61
stock water.
The drought of 1934 had a profound effect on the range
conditions in the Tularosa Basin,
but by 1940,
the grass was
beginning to recover and water sources were starting to produce
to pre-drought capacities.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
approved McNatt's request for them to build his allotment fence
along the southern boundary to keep out trespass cattle,
and
McNatt sent away to San Saba County, Texas for some expensive
quaking asp posts.
The McNatts' biggest problems in 1940 seemed
to be an infestation of jack rabbits and severe gully erosion in
Carter Draw. 6 2
In 1941, Mr.
and Mrs. Doug McNatt lived at the ranch full
time and were planning to buy Doug's father's interest in it.
A
school bus paid for by the county came out to the ranch to pick
up the children.
The house had no electricity
or gas.
Heat and
cooking was done on a wood stove in which they burned mesquite or
pine
logs.
Air
conditioning
was
cross
ventilation
and
refrigeration was done by use of a "California Cooler", a multilevel unit in
which water from melted ice on the top level
trickled down through a series of drains to the lower levels. 6 3
In
July
1941,
Doug
and
Susie
were
waiting
for
a
representative of the Federal Land Bank to inspect the ranch.
They needed approval on a loan to pay for C.C. McNatt's interest
in the ranch.
When the man showed up, Doug took him to the
Grazing Service Office to determine the extent of the McNatt
allotment.
Mr. Ahl,
the District Grazier,
told them that the
government planned to take the land over for military use.
They
did not
had

get the

informed

land.

By

loan,

the

Basin

early

the

with condemnation
the

15th to move.

number
market.
"We

didn't

of

cattle
Mrs.
like

and by January
ranchers

next

orders
of

McNatt

all

to move

month,

the

against

their

The McNatt's

1, 1942,

had
her

having to leave.

to

owners

sell

having
feelings

Grazing

stock

private

The

77

their

land

ranchers

explained

the

had

stock,
move

about

ranch was

been

federal
served

land and had until

their
to

off

Service

but

flooded
the

the
the

takeover:

the only home

our

son's

had ever known.

But our country was at
of ours."'4
was part
that
and
to make sacrifices
The McNatts
near

Alamogordo.

return to
the

been

constructed
and corn

let

us

with

it

We

Agreement
the

place"

back,

would
When

in

had

possibly

after

C.C.

the

thereafter,

in
heirs

ownership
heir of
are not

as
corrals,

had blown
and

the

died

1953.
signed

of

the

McNatt

or

his

McNatt

final

filed

Susie

ranch,

all

condition,
old

At

home

removed

some

point,

condemnation

bulldozed.

in

Warranty

Ranch.

ranch

Suspension

"the

final

wife

died

the mill

6 6

down.

had

anything

and

poor

and

were

and

done

the

very

stole

they

and

off

reservoir

government

1950

the

"If
up

hay

had been

metal.

Lease

blown

the

person

moved

poor

structures

Doug

CCC

ruin

have

who

their

Another

off the buildings,

the

in

in

McNatts

and before

took

cleaned

they

privies

remaining

McNatt

after

the

could

rancher

to

to

it

'signed

the

1970 when

proceedings,

gotten

they

it

nearby

had

a dairy

headquarters

scrap

afford

listed

of

Roofs

windmill,

couldn't
never

to

cattle

feet.

for

McNatt's

been

from the

it

ten years

exception

well.

McNatt

have

One

the ranch

hundred

sold

we

the

1952,

improvements

and

at

bought

believed

access

his

we all

Although

government

allowed

several

machinery

have

it.

the

The windmill
drug

had

anyway.

by
and

they

did".

people

unusable
down

ended,

we never

other

relocated

and

again."65

with

was

fences

farm

"but

return,

fields.

down

their

to

land and eventually

the war

ranch,

ranch

hadn't

torn

When

their

were not able

long

moved off the

war and

joined
1980.

Deed

him
In

1988,

giving

McNatt

is

shortly

HAFB

the

only

the
full

living

the McNatts with the exception of some grandchildren

She is 84 years old. 6 7
with the ranch.
familiar

who

Lpa c ts ad R
All

three

deterioration,
trails

also

McNatt

sites

grazing,

and

dissect

the

impacted

by

shooting

at

the

features,

features

at

this

site

unwanted

tenants

erected

vandalism,

sign

out
to

have
erosion.

sites.
such
and

were
of

keep

been

track

been

as

burning

part

of

off

road

vehicular

dozed

out

by

The
of

the

HAFB

the

natural

roads

has

area.

people

Two

by

HAR-047

bull

the

affected

and

extensively
the

corral,

activity.

The

military

to

Archaeologist

area

and

cow

to

keep
has

minimize

future

vandalism.
Individually,

archaeologically.

the

sites

Because

possess
of

the

78

further

amount

of

research

potential

flooding

in

Malone

during

Draw
artifacts

first

the

and

few

features

this

report

once

at

and

the

of

buried

at

may

identify

help

the

ranching

sites.

to

Criterion

D because

the

information

of

of

Criterion

to

dependent

remain
in

1900s
of

in

on factors

significant

are

single

on

they

the

effective,

Headquarters,
feeling
association.

and

HAR-047,

family

and association,
These

three

walking interpretive
As

expressed
a

final

note,

the

of

her

interviews

from audio

recordings

Arthur Agustus
his

brother,

C.C.

or

Susie

McNatt,

should be taken

in

best
Base,

of
not
one

the
only

area,

obviously
the

was

sites

are

ranching

well
developed
order
to
be
McNatt

design,

Ranch

setting,

of feeling and
developed into
a
who

to all

This

new dimension

that

has

three

development
can

not be

already
sites

for

in

oral

obtained

photographs.

McNatt moved

McNatt,

the

to HAFB.

recollections.

adds

of

a
in

is

three

The

visitors

to

history

so

aspect

of

eligible
as

This

and HAR-049 has integrity

sites
could easily
be
for

be

Air Force

These

integrity

Mrs.

her willingness,

videotape

history

tour

and

which

every

as

adaptations,

to remain

profitable.

exhibits

such

and

to

lifestyle
in
the
Tularosa
Basin
through
arrangement
of
ranch
resources
necessary
efficient,

under

accessibility

1940s.

control.

document

Places

archaeological

Holloman

activity

beyond their

that

thought

exhibit
a

to be

nomination

phase

time for
a

land

district

through

thought

studies,

market

marginal

sites

under

provide

at
are

are

various

They collectively

amount

also

in

patterns

analyses

Historic

behavior,

ranching

the early

a significant
but

the

A.

from

Ranch

Register

of
to

used

studies,

ranch living.
All three McNatt

representation

be

the privy at

subsistence
artifact

potential

consumer

gender

National

Register

their

could

patterns,

availability,

family

in

structures

the
and

and HAR-047

HAR-012

National

which

subsistence

under

of

dumps

Extensive

at both sites.

eligible

the

presented

site.

recommended

daily

Archaeological

to that

locations

in known trash
Archaeological testing
HAR-047 could provide information about
early

century,

twentieth

HAR-012.

information

additional

might provide

testing

decades
be

may

did.

to the
He

79

and

Basin about
his

son,

the same

Columbus

time

Arthur

McNatt,

began

ranch

half

of

HAFB

in

not

fall

southern

which,
the

headquarters

did

their

improvements,

range

Dillard

Well,

currently
acquiring.
HAFB

were

on

BLM

form

of

located
is

encompassed

grazing

HAFB's

HAR-064,

Well

restrictive

1942,

within

property

Dillard

by

corral,

the

which

HAFB

located

leases.

is

on

LA

The

in

State

but

and

survey.

of

The

boundaries,

during

much

the

Lease

the

ranch
two

of

103411,

corral

is

process

of

Land

under

located

on

easement.

JURZ_0QA
This

site

is

upland flat
in
large borrow pit
made

drainage

dirt

road

fencing.

It

divided

by a

The
federal
entry
the

on

A.A.

site

north

large
and

property
ownership,

two

into

land.

The

and

C.A.

McNatt

pens

the

has
site

on

corral

The

ties,

western
the east

(Figure

anyone

26).

railroad

large

chute

on which
nor

corral

(Figure

posts,

smaller

the

28,

boundary

wooden

divided

(16xl2m)

an

Section 21,
T17S, R8E,
west of a
the main Base (Figure 25).
A man
the site's
southwest
boundary and a

forms

the

40'

of
of

narrow loading

their
grazing
Stock Raising
Section

ditch

is

tank,

NEl/4
and west

of

storage

52'

the

forms

constructed

corral

and woven
pen

with .a

which

are

is

wire
metal

further

27).

is

located

attempted

to

has

file

never
a

left

homestead

is

thought

to

be

associated

Ranch

because

of

its

location

with

within

allotment. 1
In addition, Arthur McNatt patented a
Homestead on the SWI/4 of Section 21,
and Wl/2 of

Tl7S,

R8E,

which

is

located

only 1/2 mile west

of

the

.2

Technically,
Grazing

Service

allottees
before

were

to

constructing

get

permission

improvements

from
on

the

federal

property.
The BLM
has no record
of this
particular corral
which may indicate it
dates to the open range period when the
Public Domain was unregulated.
More likely the corral dates to
the same time as Dagger Tank, which the McNatts built in 1938,
1/2 mile north of the corral. 3
Because of the lack of water
sources in this area prior to 1938, the corral probably was built
as a crowding pen for moving cattle from Dagger Tank, which has
since been destroyed by HAFB's development,
to another water
source or a different part of the range.
There are no artifacts
which can help determine the age of the site.

80

Dagger
Tank

HAR084HAAFBR

Bdy.

4030

Figure 25.
mnN

HAR-064

A.A. McNatt Homestead Patent

Secondary Highway,
hard surface
Duty Road,

-----iLight
OL ---------

FEET

Contour Interval 50 Feet

11.5 deg
Declination

81

hard or improved surface

6000

Stream, lake: Intermittent

''

Dirt Road

* Fence Posts
Wire
Woven Wire

-*--Barbed
---

ZI

Fallen Gate
Gate

-Standing
-~--~Dirt

Berm

+N

-~

Figure

Figure 27.

Meters

26.

HAR-064 Site Plan

Loading chute,

82

HAR-064.

.Iel

LA 1034--
LA

103411

consisting

are

9500

of both water

Aermoter
tank,

is

windmill
concrete

located

in

on
tank,

Red

and

square

meter

ranch

animal

control

features

steel
and

Arroyo

Section
32,
T16S,
R9E,
continuing use.
On the

3-legged
a

wood

tower,

plank

activity

including
a

corral.

metal
These

on

State

Lease

and

have

been

heavily

flat

above

the

southern

Land

site

in

the

storage
features
SWI/4

modified
edge

an

of

of
by
the

arroyo, is an 1880-1920 refuse scatter

containing common domestic
items such as glass and ceramic fragments and tin
scraps.
Two
track roads

and

fence

lines have

impacted

the

area.

Historical
Background.
On May 6, 1907,
Richard B. Dillard
filed on the SE1/4 SWl/4 and SWI/4 SEI/4, of Section 32, T16S,
R9E under the Desert Land Act (Figure 28).4
Richard was the
oldest son of George T. and Jane Narcissus Dillard who moved to
the
region
from Texas
just prior
to the
establishment
of
Alamogordo.
According to their family history, the Dillards had
three ranches near the White Sands,
and Richard took care of
5
one.
He was 22 years old in 1907 when he filed his land entry,
his occupation as "stockman".6
and in 1910, he listed
The GLO cancelled Dillard's entry on the land in April 1911,
probably for failure to comply with the law which required a
certain amount of improvements to be made in order to bring the
land into cultivation. 7
Although they may not have made the
proper
agricultural
improvements,
George
Dillard,
Richard's
father, did live on the land.
In 1910, he served as a witness
for William Hyde's Homestead Proof (see LA 103410).
Dillard
stated, "I live within 3 or 4 hundred yards of their house ....
"8
Today,
only
the HAFB
railroad
tracks
separate
these
lands.
Probably, like most ranchers, the family lived in town during the
winter and on the ranch in the summer.
Still
determined to own the land, Richard Dillard filed on
the tract again on the date his first
entry was cancelled.
This
time he relinquished the claim in November 1915.9
At the same
time, the State of New Mexico applied for the land as an "in
lieu" selection to provide funds for common schools in the State.
Their application was approved in 1922,
and they immediately
leased the land to A.A. McNatt for use in cattle grazing.
A.A.
McNatt held the lease until 1940 at which time his son C.A. "Sam"
McNatt, took over.
According to Mrs. Susie McNatt, the McNatts

83

41

Red

A -royo

I-D~tard
T16 S
T17 S

sec. 32

JIEnr
-T

-X

T16 S
17 S

LA 103411

/I /o
Figure 28.

mN

Dillard's Desert Land Entry

--

FEET
Contour Interval 50 Feet

11.5 deg
Declination

84

6000

Light Duty Road,

hard or improved surface

did not live at the site but camped there during roundups.
In
easement over the
the State granted HAFB a restrictive
1960,
surface of the tract.
While the graziers could. still
use the
land, they were restricted to a smaller number of cattle and the
type of improvements they could erect.
Sam McNatt held the lease
until 1975 when Wesley Walker (et al) took over. 1 0
Cattle still
graze and water in this area.
Feature Associations.
The features and artifacts
at the
site
are probably attributable to several different occupations.
The early artifacts
located on the flat
above the draw (Feature
1) are probably evidence of the Dillard's use of the area (Figure
29).
The trash,
such as stove parts
and ceramic fragments,
suggest a
permanent residence,
and concentrations
of nails,
bolts, and window glass are confirmation of a structure.
Many of
the
artifacts
appear
burnt,
a
possible
indication
of
the
structure's fate.
The house was present in 1916, when the USGS
mapped the area. 1 1
By 1918, however, it
was not indicated on a
2
Department of Interior inspection map.1
A 1936 GLO plat again
showed
some
improvements
in
the
area,
but
these
probably
represent
the developed well,
since no one
resided on
the
property after the State acquired ownership.13
Because the well, Feature 2, is named "Dillard Well", it
is
assumed the Dillard family drilled it
(Figure 30).
A range
inspector noted that it was first
put to use around 1900, on the
"old Dillard place".
In 1939,
the well was 100 feet deep and
produced a flow of 16 to 20 gallons per minute.
The water
was pumped by an 8 foot Aermoter mill on a 30 foot tall
tower
with
a
three horsepower
gas engine.
The water was stored in a
dirt
tank approximately 35 feet in diameter.
Livestock watered
from an 18'x 36'x 2' cement trough.14
The windmill appears today exactly as it
did in 1956 when
HAFB was inspecting the area for potential expansion of their
15
water facilities.
The 25 foot diameter metal storage tank
currently at the site, Feature 3,
can also be seen in the 1956
photograph.
It must have been added after 1939.16
There is no
remaining evidence of the dirt
tank, and possibly the metal tank
replaced it.
The cement trough, Feature 4, is in poor condition
and no longer used for watering purposes.
Several additions have
been made to the water features, primarily military rocket cases
as water storage units.

85

44

17,1

Fence

Pot

-~Lumber

PorFencePostsn

dm l Bladesrs
Wi N'
Standin Plan Fence1

~z~Pak
ale

30

StePln

ene_______________________________86___

Figure 30.

Windmill
(COE

The

corral

(Figure 31)
red
metal

constructed

LA 103411
except
corrals.1

corner

chute
of

Dillard Well,

1956.

Files)

as well,
portable

southwestern
loading

at

and Tank at

of

appears

today much as

for

recent addition of numerous

The
northern
portion
and

the

the

appears

to

military

pierced

plank

have

corral

been
steel

added

are
after

it

did

in

1956

missing.
1956

The

and

is

plates.

Di.s. mi~n__tlih.N. . a..t....

LR &n.sh
Arthur
Agustus
Sacramento Mountains
on

the

McNatt

Penasco
(see

daughter

of

with
McNatt
moved
from Texas in
1887.

River

HAR-047).
the well

with
In

known

his

1901,
Weed

brother,
McNatt
area

87

his
family
He grew up on
Christopher

married
teacher,

to
a

the
ranch

Columbus

Minnie Nations,
John

Nations.

Figure

31.

Corrals
(COE

After

ranching

on

the

McNatts

moved

their
began

education.
the

tedious

the
to

at

Dillard

Alamogordo

process

1956.

Files)

River

Sacramento

McNatt

Well,

so

purchased
of

their
a

building

for

many

years,

children

place

west
up

his

could
of

in

further

Alamogordo

cattle

1911

herd

and
and

gradually adding to his property.18

He filed a homestead entry
RSE,
and by 1939,
he owned 4300
in sections 21 and 28,
T17S,
acres and leased 10,600 acres of federal and state land.19
Prior to the Taylor Grazing Act , the open range caused
severe losses of ca t t Ie,
especially during droughts.
Minnie
was a hard struggle, for we did
McNatt stated in her memoirs, "It
not have our range fenced.
In dry years , people would throw
died together."20
In 1936,
their cattle in on us, and they all
Arthur McNatt suffered a concussion from which he never fully
recovered.
He sold the ranch to his son, Sam, who had been born
on the Sacramento River homestead in 1906.21
88

in poor condition because

At this time, the range was still
unregulated
"past
of
and also because
drought
of the 1934
to take care
grazing", a result of the elder McNatt's inability
the
Nevertheless,
of the ranch due to his failing health. 2 2
range examiners were impressed with the water situation, which
Sam's management ability
they called the best in the District.
During the
and maintenance of improvements was also commended.
he fed the weakest
cows cottonseed
cake and
winter months,
He marketed his cattle
alfalfa which he grew on the ranch.
23
around the beginning of October and the middle of February.
Sam McNatt and his wife Olive managed the ranch until 1949
when Civil Action #453 resulted in the immediate suspension of
all
grazing leases in
the area withdrawn for the Alamogordo
The new military establishment did
Bombing and Gunnery Range.
entirety, however, and they
not take over McNatt's Ranch in its
were able to continue ranching in the Basin until the 1970s when
Sam retired. 2 4

impacted only by natural elements such as the

HAR-064 is
weather.
It does not appear to have been significantly affected
by any other factors.
LA 103411, on the other hand, is currently
Recently,
the corral and water
being used to corral cattle.
in
the
draw
have
undergone
extensive
control
features
modifications, some of which are temporary, such as the portable
scatter
corrals.
The earlier component of the site, the artifact
has been crossed by a two track road and a fence
on the flat,
The on-going grazing in the area continues to have a
line.
destructive effect on the artifacts.
Neither of the sites associated with this ranch are thought
to possess any remaining integrity or significance to make them
Their
eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
research potential has been exhausted by the documentation given
in this report.

89

tti v i t v S

Ni~sJ.I~~vR~c..hg

HAR-034
Section

31,

Basin.

It

Survey

7586

Tl6S,

is

R8E,

was

in

square
on

recorded

1993.1

The

by

site

house

in

located,

vicinity

however,

32)

and

the

was

GLO

pioneers

the

in

of

High

the

SE1/4

almost

1916

the

Lost

River

Speed

Test

Track

this

complete

topographic
2

site.

The

patented

No

indicated

on

1919,

refuse,

stove.

map

land

until

of

which
by

it

a
is

Frederick

under
assigned rights
of
the Soldier's
Act.
He filed
his claim before November

issued

Bradford,

Jr.

Frederick

and

Sacramento

his

patent

on

the

son

Mountains

was
Mary

in

1898

died shortly
thereafter.
Lumber Company and the
Sacramento

River

Columbus

1915,

January

10,

1919

(Figure

While

school,

Mountains
In
the

on

cattle

1923,

western

Otero

County

only

to

Bradford

Brooks,
acquired

but
in

held

over
lose
deeded
onto

1919.6

In

moved

Texas,

edge

in

of

1000
them
his

to

since

head

of

during

the

interest

the SEI/4

SE1/4

the

90

until

to put

the

children

and

he

San Andres
bought

regarded
and

the

setting
the early
to

Bradfords

103411,
Tularosa

better

Mexican
of

sister

the

droughts

in

Sr.

into

his wife

cattle

river

in the
Basin. 4

"which

the

Alamogordo
on the
LA

ranch

adverse
factors,
one drought in

1/2

1930,

and

Tularosa

Brooks,

career,
of

the

goat

and
on the

Alamogordo

closer

J.S.

livestock

to

and Fred,

Lou McNatt,

HAR-047

mountains

an Angora

were persistently
again."
Because
shipped

the

moved

his

(see

raised

of

of
of

They

married Maggie

remained

Bradford

mistake

condition
again and
Mexico

the

enterprise

greatest

out

wife

Bradford.

McNatt

Fred maintained

1918,

partners

He

Arthur

his

early

Fred,
Jr.
worked for the
Forest
Service before
settling

1909.

they moved

of

from Plainview,

The Bradfords

when

Basin.

in

and

respectively).

in

for

an

not

located
south

.3

Fred

of

site

rise

primarily of domestic

and

of

Monroe Bradford,
Jr.,
Additional Homestead
1917,

HSR

Background.

the

low

consists

concentrations
of
nails,
structural
evidence exists.
Historical

meter

e-

as

Section
sold

him back
1920s,
the
pastures

ranch
31

the

the

economic

in

In

back

to

Revolution.
the

into

which
40 acre

he

had

tract

40500

4050050

Lost

4050

Salt Tkes

T16S

mNN

AN

Figure 32.

Fred Bradford's Patent

Highway,
hard surface
Light Duty Road,
hard or improved surface

-Secondary

FEET

3000

Contour Interval 50 Feet

11.5 deg
Declination

/`

*:*.

"-

91

ulig
Sream, take: Intermittent

"together with the water

returned

to goat

ranching

Mal Walters
acquire
corner

the
of

and

water

the

thereon"
in

his

wife

source,

tract.

Section

permit

23,

Prior

to

applied

run

for

Walters

T17S,

150

claimed

30 years

and

In

1939,

he had

to

640 acres

majority

of

Walters
to

which

matter until
McNatt

he
the

to

south

and

Walters'

hall

west

heirs
who

he

quit

land

in

claimed
it

fee from

signed

the

parts

unknown

who

remains

of

1918

Grazing
area

"C

for

L V"

Land in

Section

32,

R8E.11

of HAFB

of

the
a

The
never

of

men
it

per

The

McNatt's

The

McNatt's

portion

of

disagreed

himself

established

1 2

addition

McNatt over the

by
CCC
labor.
as

northern

settled

1 0

boundaries.

fence

two

to

brand.

in

outside

Act.
25

allotment
Tl6S,

he

in

fence

line

allotment

range

on

this

favor

of

prior

use

formed

the

which

adjoined

the

military

initiated

was
running
State,
WSNM,
moved

to

away in
the

Alamogordo

1947.14

the 40 acre

for

of

States

of
land

where

At this

tract

rest

the United

60
head
and BLM

condemnation

he

time,

to one
his

of

the

life,

cattle
totaling
ran

In

pool

the

Walters'

sons,

William,

drawing

government.

on
a
2181

1988,

nominal
his

heirs

land over to HAFB.15

boundaries.

later

1935,

grazing

question.

Feature Associations.
stove

the

boundary.

Walters

rental

the

the

under

encompass

boundaries

passed

retained

site

in

In

had

federal

had

when

The

until

ranching

Walters

1942,

1 3

Taylor

entitled.

proceedings,
Walters
combination of private,
acres.

the

Grazier

northern

In

under

District

the

to

ranching

Walters

land.

location

felt

been

and

the

cattle

fell

would

because

privilege

acre
Lease

the

land

southwestern

had

Walters ran into trouble with C.C.

a
fence
line
to
be
constructed

application

land

they

on

been

head of

allotment

believed

project

the

property,

cattle

had

of State

In 1940,
placement
of

WSNM

that

a 7000

his

on

permit

100

in

the

rights
to only one water source at
Their ranch headquarters was located

grazing

owned

Mountains. 6

Spring,
time,

then

had

of

he

Bradford

probably bought

to this

R7E

head

Bertha

Walters.

San Andres

Bradford

in the Tularosa Basin but

which to keep their
cattle.
in

the

to Mal

built
the

The

No
presence

suggests
this

of

noted

of

were

recorded
concentration of

structure

was

building

structure

Department

features

or

on the

Interior

92

once

when.
1916

within
nails

on the land.
It

is

inspection map.

near
It

probably

topographic

The

map

the
is
the

and

Bradford

indicates

consistent

are

glass,

purple

such as

and the diagnostic artifacts,

with the dates of Bradford's

land,

the

on

residence

however,

refuse,

domestic

of

presence

The

shed.

storage

land.1

the

on

horses

and kept 54
a barn or a

ranch equipment at the site

The building may have been

and

farm

stored

family

ownership.
more

for

it

used

or

land

the

on

resided

never

Walters

The

They acquired the land only to use as a

Walters
to obtain a federal grazing lease.
these
however,
improvements on the 40 acre tract;

grazing.
than cattle
base property needed
some

did

make

lie

300 meters

fenced.1 7
was
Walters provide
of

the

was

developed

trough.19

water

the

and

middle

the

underused.'

with a

4'

board

piped

to

also added

Lx

diameter

1'

wooden

galvanized
isolated

as

recorded

were

tank

trough and
The
tank.
steel
occurrences during the Historic

sunk

spring box

12'x

foot

year,

following

the

result,

5'x 5'x

was

water

Walters

As

portion

that

because

spring

the

at

storage

more

that

suggested

examiner

range

the

spring

The

water.

of

flow

submerged

1940,

In

was

spring

the
in

range

with

spring

undeveloped

an

was

tract

the

of

corner

1939,

Up until

boundaries.

site

the

southwest

the

in

Spring

Bradford

of

southwest

Ranch Survey.

called Salt Lakes on current topographic

Bradford Spring is
The
the spring in place of cattle.
Herds of oryx utilize
maps.
immensely, and the
and has deteriorated
barely visible
trough is
crushed and overturned on the north side of
galvanized tank is
The fence

the spring.
the water

to

prior

built

line,

still

has

been

source.
site

This
Impacts and Recommendations.
minor erosion along the edge of the hill
military

activities

analysis

during
work

further

encircles

1918,

in

the

area.

documentation

site

these lines

along

HSR

and

slope

conducted
and

it

would add

affected

some

extensive
not

is

to the

possible
artifact
level

archaeological testing
However,
information about the site.
analysis
and the artifact
uncover evidence of the structure
has

been

consumer
the

site

Historic

could

completed
behavior
is

and

potentially

Places under

add

information

subsistence

to

eligible
Criterion

patterns.

D.

93

the

to

of
may

which

concerning

studies
For

that

thought

present

by

these

National

reasons,

Register

of

fR-O57--Fairchild,__e U
Current topographic maps locate Fairchild Well in the SWI/4
of Section 35, Tl8S, RIOE, in between two small unnamed drainages
on an alluvial fan of the western foothills of the Sacramento
Mountains (Figure 33).
The site consists of a drilled
well head
imbedded in
a concrete pad and straddled by a wooden windmill
tower, two storage tanks, and some associated refuse (figures 34
& 35).
The Initials
"S.W.F. Jr." engraved into the cement slab
under the tower are associated with Samuel Wilson Fairchild, Jr.
Another name
engraved
in
the slab,
"DICK...GAT",
remains
a
mystery.
The artifacts
are thought to be associated with the
initial
construction of the windmill or later
repairs to the
mill.
There is
no evidence of any kind of human occupation of
the site for habitation purposes.
This well is
located on BLM
property and HAFB has a subsurface

lease for the water

resources.

Historical Background. The Fairchilds have been ranching in

Otero County since 1887.
Sam Fairchild, Sr. moved to New Mexico
to escape the drought which was devastating Texas in the 1880s.
He brought along 500 head of cattle.
Fairchild homesteaded in
the Sacramento Mountains for many years and then moved to the
Tularosa Basin after World War I.1
In 1928, Sam's son, Tom Jones
Fairchild, entered a Stock Raising Homestead on the Sl/2, NWl/4,
of Section 35; and the SI/2 NEI/4, El/2 SEI/4 of Section 34, in
T18S, RlOE.
At some point,
the case and entry were closed
without further explanation. 2
This entry, however,
along with
lands acquired from other ranchers,
did give the Fairchilds a
prior use privilege when the Taylor Grazing Act was implemented
by the BLM in 1934.
The Fairchild's then legally leased the land
on which the well is located today.
Feature Associations. Fairchild Well was a range improvement
designed to provide water and habitat for livestock on public
rangelands.
Its
establishment
was
based
on
a
cooperative
agreement with the BLM and the Fairchilds, in which both parties
contributed labor and supplies.
In
1947, the BLM drilled the
well, and the Fairchild family erected the windmill over it.
The
property on which the well is located was used by the Fairchilds
for cattle grazing under lease from the BLM through the Taylor
Grazing Act. 3

94

..
...
q...

*....N..Figure.....33..

TomFairch.ld.s.Land.Entr
.........

o
11.5.
Dec....a..on

_..Se.ondary.Hi.hway,

.............
....

FEET
e..

6000.hard.r.improved..ur.ac
...

Contour
Intrval.50.Fee
..
.. . . ...

..
..5.
...

hard...ur.fa.e
L.g.t.Duty..oad.

..

....

S.eam..e:.te...en

Figure 34.

Tree
Weather Vane

Windmill Blades

Windmill

\*,

Fairchild Well.

Tanks

i -

II

S/1

0
Figure 35.

Meters
HAR-057
96

20
Site Plan.

The

Fairchild

Challenge
producing
created

was

Company
of Batavia,
a mill almost identical

by

During

windmill

the

World

Challenge
War

II,

manufactured

Illinois.
to

Company,

this

the

U.S.

This
company
began
Challenge 27 windmill

the

also

latter

by

of

Batavia,

company

Illinois.

switched

to

war

production and
did not return to its
original
purpose.
The
Challenge 27 windmill was considered the "top of the line"
and
"the most successful mill of the twentieth century".
It
was a
4
mill.
pumping
back geared, steel
oiling,
self
Despite
little

water

the

windmill

worthy
longer
from

of
in

the
to

mill's
obvious quality,
be useful or efficient.

blew

off
5

repair.
use,

the
The

although

the BLM for

tower,

the

windmill

well

For

this

Fairchilds

and

the Fairchilds

cattle

the

produced
reason,

did

well,

not

to

lease

when

deem

it

are

no

therefore,

continue

too

the

land

grazing.

Impacts and Recommendations.

Fairchild
well
has
been
disturbed by natural elements and deterioration.
Evidence of
minor vandalism includes a campfire ring at which several pieces
of lumber are located.
Sheetwashing and continuing grazing also
affect the site.
The
range
improvements
that
graziers
made
on
federal
property provided them with additional water sources necessary
for the cattle's
survival.
The windmill represents this integral
part of ranching in the Tularosa Basin.
The condition of the
wooden windmill tower is better than any other recorded on lands
administered
by
Holloman
Air
Force
Base.
Moreover,
its
association with a well known pioneer family in Otero County
which
continues
to
additionally
significant
believed
Register
of

the

in

this
a

to
site

phase
eligible

ranch
in

in
the

the
history

could

thematic

extensive

ranching
potentially

that

ranch

group,
units,

the

be

of
into

emphasize

Tularosa

to the National

97

makes
the
site
the County.
It
is

nominated

taking
to

Basin,

to

account
the

Basin.
Register

the

National

various

importance

Fairchild

parts
of

the

Well

under Criterion

is
A.

FARM SITES
rms

at

the Well Field__

HAR-Q19--The James McKilliR ParM

the
HAR-019 is
a 11,600 square meter habitation site in
midst of a much larger Jornada Mogollon prehistoric site.
It is
located in the SEI/4 of Section 19, T17S, RIOE,
on an alluvial
flat
west of the Sacramento Mountains.
The HAFB Archaeologist
recorded this site
in early 1993.1
Features include the base of
a steel windmill tower,
two defined rock alignments,
and one
possible rock alignment.
The artifacts
associated with one of
these alignments appear to be burnt and there is
a scatter of
nails within the
feature.
Tfie overall
artifact
assemblage
consists of tin cans and glass fragments, construction hardware,
and dinnerware items such as ceramics and utensils.
Historical Background.
that

J.S.

and F.A.

In

Gibson shared

1908,
a

house

GLO
in

surveyor

the

vicinity

indicated
of

this

site and they had a cultivated field surrounding their house

(Figure 36).
The Alamogordo to San Andres Canyon Wagon Road ran
just west of their house and several other settlers
had built
houses in the area.
According to the plat, the location of the
house was directly on the NE/SE 1/4 section line of Section 19.2
Often
settlers,
especially
relatives,
would
build
a
house
straddling their
property lines
and plant
a
joint field to
fulfill
two adjacent homestead entries at one time.
Oddly, the
GLO tract books show no indication of entries on this land until
1910.
Late
in
February,
1910,
James
C.
McKillip,
a
lawyer,
travelled
from
Indianapolis,
Indiana
and
settled
in
the
3
Alamogordo area.
The tract he chose, the SEI/4 of Section 19,
T17S, R1OE, included some flat
arid land six miles south of the
town (Figure 37).4
McKillip stated that there was a house on his
claim when he moved there.
This house could have been the one
inhabited by the Gibsons.
It measured 16'x 26'
and had three
5
rooms.
In March 1911, McKillip's house burned down due to "an
overheated chicken brooder which was being operated in the house
by the heat of an oil lamp".
According to the newspaper, the
house had two rooms on the ground floor and one on the second

98

story.

After

Alamogordo
was

built.

barn,

fenced

for
7

6'

with

McKillip

time

while

improvements

chicken

three

of

fire,

short

Other

4'x

1800 feet

the

and

rabbit

house,
four

proof

and

a new

his

two

on

the land

two

wells,

strands

fencing,

of
and

mother

room,

moved

20'x

included:
a

14'
a

windmill,

barbed

and

600 feet

to

house
7'x

14'

10

acres

smooth

wire,

woven wire

stock

fence .8
According
first

year

maize,

to

on

McKillip's

his

millet,

and

attempt

proved

to

McKillip's

feed

bypass

entry,
cane,

had

and

fruitless

as
stock.

cultivation

homestead

he

in

testimony,

cultivated

planted

the

crops

His

1910

1911,

15

small

acres

garden

produced
crop

during
of

milo

patch.

The

only enough millet

disaster

instead

the

caused

spending

him

the

to

year

I-il

. . .

: - .

"

",,..
-

..

.0.

-.

. ..

.. .

S..
.

" 4 ' -.

..

."

. .

. .

,.

.- .

..,

"'

"

". -

. .

..

!0

. .,.

"

....

"

GLO Plat Showing Gibsons' Improvements.

99

I-

MILES1

36.

..

,,

*.

, . "

'

.....

Fig.

. .

-.

'

L"

.....

.
-

.4.

. - .. .

" ,

" . . ..

.5 .,

-.

. . -1
.A
.

. -

.-:

5"

."

,,,
.

- ., :

*"..

R R
9 0

EE

4200

Aque~ducFt

HARO051Se9

Blair

McII't

HRA-05!
ill

17

___________

RIIR
9 10
E-~

Figure 37.

mN

Waithall, Groom, Reynolds,

and Blair Homestead Patents

AMcKillip,

Primary Highway,

hard surface

Secondary Highway,
hard surface
= Light Duty Road.
hard or improved surface

FEET

6000
'

11.5 deg
Declination

Contour Interval 40 Feet

100

Stream: Interrnittant

"observ[ing]

water

conditions

and

study[ing]

the

best

planting".
When he did plant in 1912, the results
devastating.
He planted "20 acres
in
cane and
lightely

[sic]

thinking

I might

be able

hard

very

ran

knee

reject
in
a

to make

one,

and

deep

away...".9
cultivating
his

planned

three

year

failing

to

on

possibly
crop,

but the

portions
the

of

got

a rain

first

the

surface

proof

to

terrace

for

rain

planted

seed

show a

most

of

acute

practically
sum of
GLO

his

plot

to

stock

when
overcome" .13

returned

washouts.

and the

1953,
of

the

was

this

in

living

patent

in

Indiana.

cane

Unfortunately,
failed

to mature.
1 1

field.

town

or

three

years
Lutz,

Feature Associations.
site

(Figure

[the

this

no

of

14,

circular

evidence
for

in

in

Jeffersonville,

to

acquire

1914,

the

agreed

to

became
In

that

he

the
and
he

returned

following

land

for

had

passed away

prior

His only

also of

Very

Indiana,

little

38),

structural
making

101

deeded

it

remains

in

heir,

the property

difficult

In

expansion

1 6

time.

to

1915
5

they found McKillip

to that

to

1915,

Indiana.1
the

large

Alamogordo

1 4

years

power

McKillip
time.

of

of November

settler's]

Committee

at

is

attempting

by a

the

result

Commissioner

patent,

Central

of

On August

"beyond

his

would be

expenditure

the

assessments

facilities,

the

allowed

were

HAFB was

named Mary
1956.17

the

after

residence

water

appellant
and

as

There

Tax

at

and,

the unproductive

appeal".1

Democratic

two

HAFB in

effort

receiving

Indiana
sister

of

McKillip's

when

their

deprive

acreage

homestead.

indicated

time
GLO to

1 0

effort.

prevent

to

denying

after

of
to

entirely

McKillip obtained advice from

planted 20 acres of cane and

to graze

circumstances

Shortly

his

years

required

apparently

water

the

1, 1913

Secretary

the

was

injustice

McKillip's

the

came

appealed
the
crop disasters

money by

reduce

that

being
a
lawyer,
successfully
decision by outlining
his various
good faith.
He concluded that
"...it

four

issued

it

cultivation"

good faith

was rejected,
and then he

the

allowed

proof

that
soil

McKillip,
Commissioner's
as

on

area

and

"insufficient

1913 proved to be a very dry year,

McKillip

if

of

were even more

sowed it
very

fact that
McKillip had such a difficult
claim caused
the
Commissioner
og
the

After his proof

Edwin Kellar,

Mr.

sweeping

The
his

essence,

that

methods

to

exist
to

Fence Posts
Rocks

rA

Artifact Concentrations
Burnt Artifacts and Nails

13

000

*
/\

*15

Ooo11

,_,

N0

Meters
Figure

38.

HAR-019

102

20
Site Plan.

determine

the

functions

of

remains of the windmill

embedded in
the ground.
but has

silted

in.

14,

cobble

12

was

of a
and

obscured

under

suggests

in

1911,

are

east

feature

may be the

by vegetation.

glass

and

16,

is

far

eastern

this

13

is

the
legs

four partial

crank type

to

The

the

that

tower

the

well

handle are

next

16

foot

(6m)

boundary

consisting

remains
by

of

long linear
the

of

windmill,

is

of

two

an

15,

house,

25 meters

which

south of

rock

scatter

and burnt artifacts,

rock

final

feature,

alignment

situated

component.

There

its

Very
few
was
almost

irregular

The

parallel

the barn because

the original

Feature

fragments.

of

the

be the chicken
house.
area
and
the
feature

represented

earthenware

of

remains

the previous feature.

It
consists
of
and a concentration of square cut nails

in

of

probably

pipe
a

meters

rock

It

dimensions are too large

artifacts
existed
in
this

as

Feature

consists

well

A wash tub

alignments.

burned

It

The

located

(3x3m)

10'

linear

features.

feature.

Feature
10'x

tower.

The absence

was hand excavated.

to the

the

were

such
Feature
on

no

the

artifacts

area.

The majority
northwest
food

of

the

containers

condensed

of

milk

such
cans,

include

fasteners,

enamel
(horseshoes

within
artifacts,
consistent

this

artifact

burnt

artifacts
items

the

house

remains

as

sardine

tins,

and

canned

meat

stove
pails,
and

parts,
and

wagon

main
artifact
including purple
with both

assemblage

the

and

crimped
tins.

buckets.

saddle

The site

fruit

domestic

hardware)
The
maker's

has

of

cans,
type

clothing

livestock

and McKillip's

Impacts and Recommendations.

seam
lids,

few

directly

primarily

Other
jar

concentration.
glass and bottle

Gibsons'

located

consists

Mason

and

is

related
were

noted

diagnostic
marks,
are

occupations.
been

affected

by

moderate sheet wash erosion and grazing.

The archaeological
research potential is thought to be high, based on the amount and
nature of the artifact
assemblage.
An in depth artifact
analysis
should be conducted.
This information could tie
into studies,
such as consumer
behavior,
market
accessibility,
subsistence
patterns, gender studies, marginal environment adaptations,
and
daily farm life.
The assemblage also may be a good candidate for
analysis. to determine an artifact/land use model since McKillip's
activities
are so well documented.
Heavy silt
in the area may
also make archaeological
testing profitable to determine
the

103

functions

the

of

Register

under

features.

The

Criterion

D,

site

is

based

on

eligible
its

to the

potential

National
further

for

research.

HAR-051--Luther
HAR-051
Section 19,
an alluvial

Boles'

is

40,000

T17S,
flat

on

component,

west

the
which

consists

of

nails,

square meter

RIOE at

contains
two historic
represented
by
a
located

Far/M

of

Boles Well

the

density

scatter

northern

portion

of

various

alignment,

short

ornamental

trees,

throughout

the southern portion

Historical Background.
habitation

RIOE.
the

of

At

this

this

NWl/4

land

NWl/4

of

on

could be found concerning

William L.
Walthall moved
Walthall
he

frequently

on the

his

in

south

near

of

Walthall

He

cultivated

also
5

that

the

and

Figure

person.
Later
the property. 2

the
Prior

he worked

in

during

foothills

kept

some

horses

acres

each

of

19

(See

Figure

37).

but

professed

of

his

the

the

and

1910,

of

cane,

He

claimed
outlook"
his

104

but

filed
a

year,
1908,

store,

one

a
have

again

but

roundups
3

He
area,

improving
son

also

land valued
of

cattle.

harvested

half:
to

same
to

about

head

in

information

spring

and

an

T17S,

Alamogordo

couple

and

of

Sacramentos.

wife,

Walthall

a year

"poor

of

House"

grocery

on government

and

corn

commuted

plat
No

set

Section

evidence

36).1

to help

for

stumps

"Harris'

and

in

of

scattered

survey

store

Early

the

artifacts

grocery

improving

Alamogordo

concentration

walls,

GLO

had improvements

Walthall
for his job.6

the

been

1910,

made ditch,

to

year.

September

by a man

moving

had

cultivation

second

after

land he

is

The

indicated

Walthall,
time. 4
town at that

1909,
and

1908

(See

area

site

site.

documented

town.

in

$120

19
this
onto

another

house

at
little

the

Prather,

work

farm
In

to

first
a

Paso where

El

came

Jennie

found

owned a

in

Prather Ranch

married
he

lived

The

on

refuse

domestic

surveyors

Section

located

of the site.

The

is

time,' the

of

domestic

piles,

concrete

and miscellaneous

is

occupation

of
the

rubble

It

earliest

from the first

concrete

the NWl/4

Mountains.

The

medium

separated

in

Field.

Sacramento

components.

is

cobble

the

habitation

claim

very

on

the

the

NWl/4

of

10

acres

in

that

claim and probably

year.
moved

In
to

When the Land Office

issued Walthall's
patent,
he
had
several improvements valued at $150 on the land.
These included
a 14'x 32'
lumber house with a 12'x 20'
addition,
a 14'x 16'
barn, two wells, one 60 feet deep and the other 93 feet deep with
a windmill, a 75'x 100' dirt
tank, a 50'x 50' eleven strand wire
corral, a 40'x 40'
eight strand wire corral,
and 3/4 mile of
irrigation ditches.
He also had all
160 acres fenced with three
7
strands of wire.
Three years after receiving the patent, the Walthall's sold
the property to Mrs. Carrie C. Woollen on October 10, 1914 (Table
3).
By this time, one acre in the extreme southwest corner of
the tract had been deeded to the County for a schoolhouse (see
Non Site Research Areas). 8
Woollen and her
husband
had
7-1/2
Table

3.

Ownership of Boles'

Farm

Wmj-.Wathall

1/1D/10

HB

Win. Walthall
USA
Wm. Walthall
Woollens
Woollens
Thomas Woollen
Clyde Woollen
Woollens
L.F. Russell
L.F. Russell
E.H. Henderson
Kirby Weems
W.A. White

Wm. Walthall
Carrie Woollen
Clyde Woollen
Thomas Woollen
Woollens
Woollens
L.F. Russell
E.H. Henderson
E.H. Henderson
Kirby Weems
W.A. White
Frank Davis

1/19/10
4/10/11
10/10/14
1/9/15
1/9/15
7/28/17
'7/28/17
10/24/23
9/7/39
9/8/39
1/9/42
2/17/43
11/18/43

HE
HP
WD
WD*
WD*
WD*
WD*
WD
WD
CM
WD
WD
JT

$1.00~
$1.00~
$i.00~
$1.00~
$1.00~
$1.00~
$1200
$150
$2000
$10
$1.00~

Frank Davis

Luther Boles

3/14/44

JT

$2000

Luther

Boles

USA

7/29/47

Contract

Luther Boles

USA

6/30/59

WD

"See acronym list

$75,000

on page xiii.
Grantors were not required to state the specific amount for
which they sold their land.
As a result, many only put $1.00.
*Warranty Deed for 60 acres of 159 acre tract

105

acres
the

in

cultivation

land.

1921,

They

these

interest
interior

between
gradually

were

valued

1917

added
at

and

1919 and kept

improvements

$1090.9

The

L.F.

In 1923,
Russell,

sold

it

time,

granted
and

sold

the

the new owner a

one

land

1 2

bull.
to

chattel

an

owned

mining
claims in
1919 and 1920.10

for

is

Woollens

Davis.

and
and

made

$2000

on

5 head of

the

small

in

profit

1942.13

dairy

when

Weems

known

about

Davis

property
$2000,
the

cultivated

joint
1944,

and

he

sold

the

land

with

car

as

various

owners

some

land

had

to

down

between

and

he

passed

the next year,

and
White granted
Vera Davis in
November
1943.14
By

Davis was the sole owner of the

Luther
and
Gladys
Boles
for
payment.15
Nothing

mortgage

Henderson

Kirby Weems

it
on to W.A.
White
tenancy to Frank and

horses,

also

Carrie and T.G. Woollen of El Paso sold the land to

also of El Paso. 1 1
Russell and his wife Scottie
E.H.
Henderson in
1939 for $1200 and,
at the same

to

cattle

on

and in

Woollens

in
several
oil
and gas
placer
Basin which they sold off between

two horses

the

cattle,

pig.

When he moved,
he left
one of his horses
the new owners. 1 6
Luther Boles' ownership of the land
was continuous until
1954 when HAPB filed
condemnation proceeding
to acquire the land for expansion of the Base water facilities.17
behind

His

for

use

than

of

the

land

proved

to

be

more

the level previous occupants achieved.

Luther Boles grew up in
Texas,
served

then

moved

first

in

to

New

rental

Mexico
house

in

in

the

1930s.

Alamogordo

the back yard.

Boles purchased
always
his
dream
to
have
a
real

the

consisting

two

and

Betty

plumbing
because

and

that
was

of

Luther,
moved

Gladys,
to

electricity

Boles

which
a

of
Jean,

frame
all

extensive

had given

that

we

of

farm,

they

had

enjoyed

the

were

car

away,

roof.
Betty
so

had

family
a

their

I,

had

small

gave

in

town.

drove

With

the

Jean

claimed,
that

up
In

we

had

in

Edwin
indoor

addition,

around
"We

lived

it
was
family,

the

exception

and

garden

children,

they

they

excited

War

property because
farm.
When
the

new

no doors or
embarrassment,

because

and

productive

World

The

the

had
an

and

in

and

of

in

car

the

car

didn't
this

mind
land

and

place

that we could call

our own...".18
Boles owned some cows,
chickens,
and pigs.
He planted a
portion of his 159 acre tract
with tomatoes,
watermelons,
Jap
melons,
flowers.

eggplant,
His wife

squash,
canned

chiles,

vegetables

106

cucumbers,
and people

currants,
from town

came

and
to

the

to

farm

grocery

local

to

some

sold

He also

produce.

his

buy

stores.19
in

unique

the

having

was

from his

water

which

in

contract
Government

such
on

well

water
said

water

for

maintaining

to

Holloman
the

reservoir

Outbuildings

Reservoir

to

help

and

approached

In

1947,

the

two

make

to

"agree[d]

entered

available

to

at

located

as

are

for

the

development

and

Air

Force

Base."

Boles

and

wells

now

Boles

allowed

In

equipment.
to

use

Flood

the

was

water

for

Road
Line

.5

Miles

0
39.

(Adapted

Diagram of
from 1956

Boles'

Map in

107

Farm,

1956.

COE Files)

the

of

responsible
the

return,

existing

transportation

Dike

Figure

about

HAFB

parties

Wells

-4--Fence

receiving

were

they

although

Force

Holloman Air

time,

same

this

developed wells,
to water his

House

Boles

ranch

his

"*

well.

facilities

government

States

earthen

shortage,

ability

his

recognized

buying

Boles

large

about

water

Basin.

to
spending $3,500,000
system and were
the city's
2
Base with water from Bonito Lake in Lincoln County. 1

water from
provide the
Boles

At

39).

(Figure

gardens

Tularosa

and

ditches,

irrigation
Base

of

much

water

potable

good

land possessed

of

tract

particular

This

United

domestic

purposes

and
to

electricity
domestic
and was
next
also

west

use.
paid

irrigate

the

well

which

monthly
HAFB

and

he

fee

a civil
for

water

test

acres

determined

free

service

the

36
80

They

Boles

allowed

drilled

additional

acres.

10

Boles became

ten years,
bought an

on

to

more

on

adjoining

well

used.
the
his

provided
it

for

for the

Base

access

employee

HAFB

wells

also

2 2

land.
tract

locations

to

Over
2 3

the

Boles
on

for

the

the

government.24

Early in the 1950s, other organizations began to encroach on

HAFB's water resources at Boles' farm.
The City of Alamogordo
and the Southern Pacific Railroad looked to acquire some land in
the vicinity of Boles'
to add to their own water supplies.
In
1956, the Air Force, believing their supply threatened, started
condemnation suits against Boles and several other land owners
surrounding his tract. 2 5
When the case came up in court, Boles'
lawyers attempted to get compensation for the value of the land
and improvements,
as well as the value of the water and its
potential for development.
The government argued that most of
the wells had been drilled by the Air Force at government expense
Boles was not entitled to such compensation. 2 6
and, therefore,
The suit drug on until June 30,
1959.
At this time,
Boles
received $40,100 for the land and an additional $34,900 for the
water.27

Boles then bought property on the west side of the highway.

He kept a five acre plot for farming and divided the rest into
the Boles Acres Subdivision,
now located south of Alamogordo.
Luther Boles died in 1965.28
Feature Associations.
The artifacts
located on the extreme
northern portion of the site (Figure 40)
are consistent with
Walthall's and Woollen's occupation.
Purple glass and hole-intop cans suggest a date between 1880 and 1920.
No further
information could be derived on this component
of the
site
because of the lack of associated features.
The features
located on the southern
half
of the
site
represent Boles' occupation.
The piles of concrete rubble appear
to be the remains of his residence and outbuildings.
It
is
unknown when these structures were built, but most are known to
predate Boles purchase of the property in
1943.
Betty Jean
Johnson,
Boles'
daughter,
provided information concerning
the
improvements.

108

Concrete Filled Pipe

Telephone Pole
Wood Debris

Grovel Road

~-'
----

'

Drainage

Telephone line

---- - -Artifact
Concentration
----- -- -- -- Contour Une

/Artifact

Concentration

(-"4

---

---------

---

20

40

METERS

NFigure

40. HAR-51 Site Plan.

109

When

they

moved

to

the

land,

small

adobe

house,

windmill,
and an adobe outbuilding were
adobe house had two rooms and a lean-to.

already
erected.
Over time, Boles

down

the

the

lumber
side,

lean-to

frame

and

doubled

kitchen,

the

dining

size

room

and

two

bedrooms

on

house was

on a

concrete

foundation

It

was

surrounded

After

condemning

Acres

area
East

drinking
was

in

called
to

Russell

to
Well

house.

bathroom

(Figure

41).

and had a
and

the

The

tin

house

small

house.

get
in

and

pressure
several
of

well

with

A storage

the well,

occupation

to

the

COE

the site

the

windmill

tank set

the water
to

up on

was first

house.

30

roof.
Boles

provided
a platform

pumped
This

N/

9,A

4L4

Boles'

residence,

110

1956.

(COE

Files)

into

well

reports,
and therefore,
between 1923 and 1939.31

41.

32'

driveway.

JI

Figure

east

32'x

gravel

the

added

on

corrugated

circular

HAFB moved

He

The
tore

it.29

house,
to

and

west

trees

property,

to the

next

order
his

the

the

water

located

this
date

of

by poplar

sold

and

the

of

well,

is

must

Behind
a

22'x

side

24'

house,

adobe

(Figure

bought
Ron

the

it.

building

42).32
When

moved

back

almost

with

This

Betty Jean

to

the

directly

on

an

ll'x

structure

farm.

16'
was

married
They

the

in

property

addition

on

the

1954,

remodeled

was

the

when

and her

this

temporary residence until

they could build their
land.
The government took the land before they

on

land

she

line,

east
Boles

husband

building

as

own house on the

could do so.
The

addition housed a Hispanic man,

Jessie,
farm.
Also north
of the house
was

who helped out on the

a stucco workshop or

garage

(Figure

In
and

the

comparing
1956

apparent

of

structures,

associated

Figure 42.

the

swim.

east

the

piles

large

of Betty Jean

photographs
because

sat

cement

tank

in

33

recollections

that,

with the

to

to

the

COE

became
the

and

used

family

the

which

43),

to

the

the

government

of

features

concrete

improvements.

3 4

could

Feature

and Ron Johnson

at

had

bulldozed

not
1

be

it
most

definitely

constituted

Adobe outbuilding at Boles Farm, 1956.

i1l

the 'site,

the

(COE Files)

The gravel

is

drive

by

trees.

ornamental
the house

approaching

barely visible

Files)

(COE

1956.

surrounded

house

the

of

location

original

Farm,

at Boles'

Outbuilding

43.

Figure

from

the

This driveway was bordered by low concrete walls (Feature

south.
out from the gate which had to be opened before
radiating
2)
3 5
reaching the house.
3

Feature
storage

with

consistent
of

remains

house

another
of

an

of
is

to have

been

the

original

there

it

cobble

bladed

is

to
Its

or

which

juts

driveway.

the
from

This
and

According

112

a windmill

or

in

concrete
the

area

of

to

seems

Feature
tank

it

may possibly

to

Betty Jean,

be
the
to
5,

because
Finally,

rubble.
the

is

relation

the workshop.

be

out

alignment.
bulldozed,

location

been
to

3'

Feature

recollections.

seems

of

house

the

3'x

is

It

well.

evidence

no

relative

may have

concrete,

the

of

foundation.

corner

obvious

location

Johnson's

concrete

pile
6

the

location

suggests

Feature
of

Its

tank.

be

but

depression,

(Ixlm)

the

may

site
be
they

appears
evidence
entered

their

land

water,
the

HAFB

from

the

built

original

driveway

west.
straight

curved
to its

Several

road.

location

features

were
this

pump house stood

which HAFB

bought

Some
property
this

A
line

ditch.

remains

of

(Figure

44).

of

and

44.

immense
metal

flood

within

his

In

fence
dike

the

the

addition,
Boles'

the original
the pump

has

site

runs
east

not

house,
a

large

tract

and

one

and

earthen

been

spans
along
of

and

the

from

filled

in

the

northern
inside

house

are

storage
consist

materials,

tank,

completely

the

earthen

boundary

fencing

113

of

3 7

mile

and

moved

documentation.

northwest

well was

scraps,

dike

site

ditch

flood

buying

obscuring

Boles

corner of

irrigation
1/4

Artifacts

sat

occupation
wire

property,

during

wells.

woven

Boles'

shed,

This

Boles'

began

the house.

HAFB dismantled

made

Boles'

government

remains.

Approximately

miscellaneous

Figure

other

of
a

time,

the northeast

water.

man

this

At

nearby.

evidence

destroyed.

in

developing

after

the well

the

structure

pump well was located

a

into

not located

but

of

road

south of

building,

evidence

the

3 6

Apparently another
no

When

1956.

tin

(COE

of
the

tank

mainly
cans,

Files)

window glass
well

and

fields,

mention

said

this

Impacts

by

and

(Albert
airplanes,

No

Mendez,

who

but

diagnostics

Recommendations.

from
also

Albert

especially

parts
built

works

Johnson

representing

at

the

did

this

not
later

found.

slight
impacts
washing.
HAFB

once

Boles

hobby).3

component were

stated

airplane

Mendez.

on

site

has

experienced

erosion through small drainages and sheet

uses the area to dump recent refuse,
as

noticeable

standing

The

the

Evidence

in

the

land

of

southwest

have

either

vehicular

corner.

travel

All

been moved

is

structures

or destroyed

by

HAFB.
The
and

the

field

early
artifact

for

consumer
no

assemblage
could

aid

behavior,

remaining

Boles

and

Force

Base"

Analysis

its
of

makes

potentially
its

history

the

e'arly

regarding

as

the

important
and her

site's

association

"life

line

to

the

association

brother

the

of

the

HAR-053

is

The

46,800

square

meter

habitation

based

site

Jr.,

site

is

on

with

Base.

Boles,

the history
of HAFB (Criterion
for archaeological research (Criterion
D).

potential

Air

interviews

Calvin

Register

Luther

Holloman

potential.

National

component

videotaped

Luther

This

with
to

the

patterns,

later

history

and

in

site.

subsistence

its

research

to

the

The

assemblage

deposits,

analyzed

of

accessibility.

role

it

eligible

important

the

although

artifact

subsurface

extensively

integrity,

the

some

should be

and market

obvious

deplete

to

possess

studies

with Betty Jean Johnson

would

may

contributions

information
has

component

its

A)

and

located

on

an alluvial
flat
in the SW1/4 of Section 19, Tl7S, RlOE, near the
base of the Sacramento Mountains.
A narrow,
deep drainage runs
through

the

northern

portion

of

the

site.

multi-room

cobble

foundation/alignment,

concentrations,
visible
within

possible remains of a chicken house are

boundaries.
Refuse represents
typical

domestic

deposits

horseshoes,

they

with

saddle parts,

Historical
1908,

and the
the site

concrete

several
and

Background.
found

T.D.

cattle

livestock

burnt

items

bone

such

as

bones.

When

Willingham

foundation,

the

GLO

squatting

114

surveyed
in

the

the

SWI/4

land

in

SWI/4

of

and

miles

a 44

was

year

in

the

claim

on

have

may

He

quite

been

have

must

ranch

goat

at

from Arkansas,
and
Jesus, Joe,

goats

raised

who

The

sons

Vashiti.

and

Dottie

man

old

three

Callie,

Wallingham"

Alamogordo.

of

south

He

daughters,

"Mr.

same

the

his

fence

as ranchman

occupation

listed

wife,

his

two

and

William,

City.

with

lived

he

been

Camp

of

precinct

he

1910,

In

time.-

that

wire

post and

with a

enclosed

"pasture"

had a

and

house

built

had

Tom Willingham

45).

(Figure

RIOE

Tl7S,

19,

Section

droNews,
according to the An_a!=g
1908,
because in
3
Corona.
to
goats
of
head
Willingham moved 900
a 49 year old
Nancy Callie Groom,
After, Willingham moved,
widow from Tennessee and her two sons, William and Shelah, filed
substantial,

a homestead
16,
(See

Figure

northwest

miles

approximately

family had

The

37).4

+;

were

"9 I
, , .: . " A

. -,. " -

.. ,.I

brothers

Groom

The

moving

first

when

Alamogordo,

Fruitvale,

at

ranch

on a

later

days

nine

land

..t
.1.

S e.

-)

of

health.

for William's

to New Mexico

lived

RIOE on April

Tl7S,

19,

the

on

residence

established

and

1910

SWl/4 of Section

entry on the

..

,r.

.-.

LAL%

,.,- ...:..,+. .7
".

""

"'-.
-..

- - r- " .

"

. " .;,.

; .
"" "" -.' . -. ".

Figure

..
45.

G"Olat

-, .r " "'.

"""

"

. . .

''

:.

I-.

. '*;2.: /T

I.

'+"-" "Cf.',;;". "

, .... ... ; .

" . .-: -:.-..

ShowngWillinghams
115/

+ ' :.

.-

,'

-.

. +. ':....-. i.

Habitation

..

'115".

"

At

the

time

same

claim

approximately
the

relinquished

the GLO cancelled

Not

it

too long

Alamogordo,
called

the

farm.

1910,

In

crop.

their
The

to pasture
the

In

L.G.

on

remained

at

his

brother

mother.
next

the

but

because

He

year,

the

same

1912,

acres

and

cane

20

meat

market

mother
on

on

but

acres,

the

the

southern

they harvested
they were

which belonged

planted

south of

Alamogordo.

his

happened,

cattle,

they

help
of

in

a drought,

thing

claim

opened

to

of

their

Street

10th

10

to

Lilly

home

planted

to 15 head of

10

field.

and

Calf"

year

of

Groom's moved

Groom

they

next

north

entered

William

tract,

his younger

the

tract,

her

1921.7

"Fatted
Shelah

of

in

William

mile

to

after

Meanwhile,
half

one

entry

on

filed

Callie

time.

that

at

bachelors

eligible

and

popular

very

considered

no

able

to William,

but

again

in

had

no

crop.
peach

About the only profitable

crop on the claim were the seven
trees which in
1912 produced 1500 pounds of fruit.
Mrs.

Groom

also

had

ducks,

the

first

chickens,

goats,

and

small

vegetable

garden.
Within
numerous

improvements

frame

structure,

had

12'x

three

was
14'

erected.
on

chicken

and 14'x 18',

years

the

The

land when

house,

two

20'x 40'

goat

and windmill,
a
a 40'x 60'
dirt

12'x 14'
tank.

outhouse,
The entire

strands
yards

of

barbed

proved up.

Her neighbors,
(HAR-054)

long after

she

The

brothers

the

butchering
Mrs.

son and

remained
died

moved

an

house

to

to

pneumonia

Mrs.

25'x

Groom

had

six

room

She

also

60'

there.

measuring

10'

well

12'x

house,

was

also
to

inclosed

her

and Mrs.

Probably

remained

in

back

Tennessee

transferred
for

1 4

to

their

late
when

their

They may

and
four
400

have

business,

she
E.L.

not

too

Tennessee.

by 1916,
Shelah
with his brother.12
Tennessee

well

homestead,

(HAR-019)
1 1

20'

with

and

in

8'x 9'
outside cellar,
claim was fenced with

she moved

Alamogordo,

cattle

moved

witnesses.

two brothers.

pasture

she

McKillip

her

New Mexico,

moved

her patent,

who had

house,

a 7'x

Groom

James
as

in
of

over to the

land

shed,

the

residence,

duck houses

and grocery business

daughter,

family
the

acted

received

Groom

homestead
use

and

of wire fencing.10
Three years after
Mrs.

Reynolds

the

wire

of

in

rest
to

continued
but

in

1928.13

the
title

was

A
of

the
to

both men

rented houses in
Alamogordo where they lived.
They held the
title
until
the government condemned it
for expansion of HAFB's
water facilities

in

1956.

Both men died in

116

the

1960s.15

Feature Associations.

The

26'x

50'

(8xl5m)

rectangular

cobble alignment (Feature 1) can be identified as the foundation

of the six room house, although only a few small scraps of lumber
remain from the frame superstructure (Figure 46).
Within this
feature were concentrations of nails and window glass, and other
domestic type artifacts
such as buttons, buckles,
an eye glass
lens,
crockery fragments,
a tea cup handle,
stove parts,
and
kerosene lamp globe fragments.
The remaining features at the site (Figure 47) cannot be
definitely associated with the improvements Mrs. Groom listed
on
her homestead testimony.
The 10'x 12' (3x4m) concrete foundation
may
possibly
be
the
remains
of
the
chicken
house
as
the
dimensions
are similar.
This
foundation
has a
trough-like
extension
to the east which may
have been
for rain water
catchment and small stock watering, such as for chickens or ducks
(Figure 48).
The pile of fence posts with small pieces of
chicken wire may be the remnants of a duck house, and a possible
dirt
tank is barely discernable to the north of the house.
is
more
representative
of
the
The
artifact
assemblage
Groom's
residence.
Surface
observations
located
artifacts
consistent with the site's
history.
For instance, diagnostics,
such as purple glass and bottle maker's marks, suggest a date of
occupation within the first
two decades of the 1900s.
Many peach
pits were found in the vicinity of the house,
evidence of Mrs.
Groom's successful peach harvests,
and bone concentrations may
represent butchering activities.
Finally, a Piso's Cure bottle
fragment is confirmation of reports concerning William's illness.
Piso's was a treatment for consumption,
which is
a symptom of
tuberculosis,
an
illness
which
brought
many people
to
the
1
6
sanatoriums of the southwest.
Impacts and Recommendations.

The

only

apparent

disturbance

to this site is
continual sheet wash erosion.
This factor,
however,
indicates an excellent chance for subsurface cultural
remains to be found.
This site would also be a good candidate
for archaeological testing to compare the historical information
to the physical legacy of the Groom's
occupation.
Archaeology
may
help
clear up
any discrepancies
about
the feature
locations
and
functions
as
well
as
contribute
to a
land
use/artifact
model,
and
studies
about
subsistence
patterns,
consumer behavior, and especially, gender studies.
Therefore,

117

C)

000

0D

00

C00

m
0
0

U)

U)

-0

.t-.

118

*
(_)

o
%'"

Fence Posts
Concentrations
Artifact
Rocks
Barbed Wire
Lumber
Bone Fragments
Tank
Earthen
Possible

x_

c
o

0 .,0
.,.

,U,.

"

0 -

"

At.,

Figure

47.

30i

Meer
19

HAR-053

119

Site

Plan.

Figure

48.

Foundation
extension

under

Criterion

National

D,

Register

at Groom's
is

in

this

the

site

based

homestead.

left

is

solely

side

The

of

the

potentially

on

its

trough-like
picture.

eligible

to

archaeological

the

research

possibilities.

4-.T .e__a-.n-.i.n.
HAR-054 is
a

BAR
the

southern

most

actually

straddles

RIOE,

and Section

flat

near

consists
Boles

Well

scatters

boundary
three

the

of

. --.-.. ai.. r-.

75,200 square meter

25

in

base

two

loci

Fields

fragments

Boles

the

(one

of

Survey
and tin

It

which

domestic

cans.

but

structural

this

were

noted on private

is

and

30

in

to

to

by

HSR

density
such

were

thought

120

The

19

medium

refuse,

property

Field.

recorded

No features

remains

located

at

site
T17S,

on an alluvial
Mountains.
The
site

was
of

site

situated

Sacramento

project)

of

Well

sections

Tl7S, R9E.

property,
site

the

sections:

of

representative

ceramic

of

habitation

be

the

as

for

glass

located

and

on HAFB

associated
south.

the

artifact

with

Historical

Background.

The

portions

of

the

site

on

HAFB

fall
in Nancy Groom's 1913 patent (HAR-053),
and Marion Jones'
1909 patent.'
It was assumed that because the structural remains
in Section 30 were so close in proximity to the site,
that the
portion of the
site
on HAFB property was
secondary
refuse
associated with those remains.
Although the site
falls
in the
center

of

T.D.

Willingham's

Reynolds

was

He filed

a homestead

the first

1908

pasture

to obtain ownership
entry on the NW1/4

(See

Figure

of the

of Section

tract
30,

45), Eli L.
of land. 2
T17S,

R10E

July 1909 (See Figure 37).3

Eli Reynolds moved to New Mexico from the Midwest in the
1880s.
He resided in the Sacramento Mountains for a while where
he became friends with Tom and-Virginia Bennett.
In 1888, Tom
Bennett was murdered while inspecting his cattle, and Virginia
and her three children went to Reynolds'
home for protection.
Later that year, Virginia and Eli married. 4
The couple first
had
a ranch on a 40 acre Desert Land patent near the mouth of Alamo
Canyon.
They sold this property to Oliver Lee for $500 in 1896.
This was the same tract which Lee sold for $5000 to John Eddy for
the Alamogordo town site the following year. 5
The Reynolds moved
to La Luz, and then, around 1909, they moved to their homestead
six miles south of Alamogordo.
They operated a dairy farm on
their property.
In August 1909, they had a two story, 32' x 34'
frame house built, a mansion for its
time. 6
Mr. Reynolds was in
poor health most of the time so Mrs. Reynolds and her sons took
care of the farm, which supplied Alamogordo with fresh milk. 7
In 1911, Eli Reynolds passed away and Virginia was left
to
fend for herself.
She planted 25 acres of cane in 1912 and had a
two acre orchard.
During the years 1909 to 1911,
when other
farmers in
the area were having poor harvests,
Reynolds was
reaping about 60 tons of cane and milo maize annually.
In 1913,
her
improvements,
including
the
7
room house,
milk
sheds,
stables, well, windmill, and dirt
tank, were valued at $1000.8
On January 7, 1913, Mrs. Eli Reynolds received the patent to
the dairy farm.
At that time, she was 47 years old, had borne 5
children and did a "man's work" on her farm. 9
In 1914,
her
health failed.
Two years later
she passed away and her estate
sold her personal belongings to pay delinquent taxes.
Her dairy
farm, however,
valued at $2000, was not sold by 1921, and her
estate continued to pay taxes on the property.10
After 1921, no
records could be found concerning the tract of land.
in

121

As mentioned above, the improvements

Feature Associations.
were located in Section 30 and not on the portion of the site
which HAFB owns (Figure 49).
The structural remains, consisting
of a pile of bricks, concrete and lumber, seem to be those of a
substantial dwelling which may have been the seven room,
two
story house.
The artifacts
located on HAFB property do not give
any definite indication of activities
at the site,
being composed
They do, however, appear to
mainly of secondary domestic refuse.
be consistent with the dates of the Reynolds'
occupation of the
such as purple glass fragments,
Diagnostic artifacts,
site.
hole-in-top cans,
and bottle
maker's marks,
all
indicate
an
occupation within the first
two decades of the twentieth century.
The other improvements at the site may have been destroyed
or scavenged over time.
Their tax value consistently dropped
from $500 in 1916 to only $48 in' 1921.11
It seems apparent that
the residence was not re-inhabited after Mrs. Reynolds' death.
A
new residence now stands only a few meters away from the rubble
of the original habitation.
Impacts and Recommendations.
The site has been heavily
affected by several sources including sheet wash erosion, a man
made irrigation ditch, a fence line, and continual habitation and
development of that portion of the site
on private land.
Because
of these disturbances and the character of the site
on HAFB as
only secondary
refuse deposits,
the site is
considered
not
eligible to the National Register.
Further
research
at the
site
is
considered
unnecessary
unless permission could be obtained to document that portion of
the site
on private property.
Also, with the small chance that
the artifacts
in Loci 2 may be associated with a residence on
Marion Jones'
homestead tract,
further survey in the SEl/4 of
Section 25,
Tl7S, R9E may reveal additional evidence of this
residence.

122

(')

Artifacts
Concentrations
Ditch
Irrigation

Structural Debris

Locus

01

i,)Locus 2.

Fiur

49

HA-5

123

iePa

is

HAR-086
the SEl/4 of
west
of

of

the

the

19,600

Section

6,

Sacramento

remains

of

o e ___~

'

/I R- O86--William Si0o

an

meter

square

T18S,

RIOE,

site

on a slight

alluvial

Mountains.
adobe

Features

and

frame

foundation,
cement tank,
rock lined
and a pile
of cobble stones.
Artifacts
with

the

site

are

sparse

and

are

located

habitation
at

house,

the

just

site

consist

garage,

concrete

depression,
thought

mixed with

fan

in

rock
to be

various

alignment,
associated

recent

trash

deposits.
Historical
this
tract
Homestead
RIOE.

Background.

earliest

documented

reference

to

is
in
1920 when a man named Adam Garrison filed
a
entry on the S1/2 SEl/4, and Lot 3 of Section 6,
Tl8S,

Garrison

1926.1

The

lost

the land when

Four years

later,

the GLO

cancelled

William Singleton

entered

his
a

entry

in

claim under

the Stock Raising Homestead Act for the El/2 NWl/4,

and NEI/4
Section 7,
and Lots 1, 2,
and 3 and the S1/2 S1/2 of Section

of
6,

RIOE; and the Wl/2 SE1/4,

and SE1/4 SEl/4 of Section 31,
R1OE (Figure 50).
Singleton, a 64 year old man, proved up
1936.2
July 9,
on
received his patent

T18S,
T17S,
and

During

the

improvements
room adobe

on

proof
his

period,

land.

In

and frame house;

chicken

house,

claimed

to

and

have

dug a

1930,

130 foot

cultivated

built

of

concrete

deep well

between

made

and

24'x

26',

cellar,

with a

20

extensive

acres

In

feed

the crops and the

of flood water.

and leased
Pierce

1949,

the

had

Singleton

land

the

in

Otero County

option

of

improvements as he felt
property
for
$3200
if
expired.

homestead.

At
5

living

Douglass,

the
Two
in

end
years

El

and his wife

Julie

to Clyde

growing

any

moved

D.

crops

with a
up to 10

to El

Pierce
he

He
crops

amount of
He raised

and a garden of vegetables which was irrigated

ditches from the well.
Singleton also grazed
3
livestock.

March

four

garage,

windmill.
of

trees
of

head of

time

he

a 12'x 16'

each year,
with the variability
acreage dependent on the availability
fruit
series

Singleton

(Table

chose,

Paso
4).

adding

necessary,
and he
could purchase
the
he
acted
before
the
one
year
lease
of

March,

later,

Paso,

single woman,

1950,
he

deeded

and
the

for $6450.6

124

Pierce
his
646

owned

wife

the

Florence,

acres

to

Singleton
at

Betty

this
Dare

R :

T 17 S
T718$8

............
.............
i2i
II ~~~

~ ~

___________________
...

....

.... ...
.......
..
..... ..

......
... . .......

E.

A~~..
Win

*.

Sigeo

.. . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . ..

.. . . . . .. . . . . . ..

Hometea
FEE

..

......

Patent.

......

6000....T

125

Table

Ownership

of

am-te.

*Gaint~
Wm.

4.

Singleton

USA

Wm.

Wm. Singleton
Wm. Singleton
Clyde Pierce
Betty Douglass
Douglass Trust

Clyde Pierce
Clyde Pierce
Betty Douglass
USA
USA

*See acronym list

Lease-:

Singleton

Singleton's
Dea te

Homestead
Inutruwt*

11/24/30

HE

7/9/36

HP

2/12/49
3/31/50
4/17/52
12/22/60
1/19/89

LeaseWD
WD
Easement
WD

Pr"

$10/mo.
$3200
$6450
$692,000

on page xiii.

with option to buy within one year

Douglass subdivided the southern portions of her 646 acres

to three other people and she lived at the Singleton residence. 7
In 1960, Douglass granted an easement to the federal government
with the "right to operate existing water wells and to explore,
drill,
construct,
and operate
one
or more
additional
water
wells..." on her full 646 acre tract.
This land was used to
supply HAFB with water supplemental to that received from the
city of Alamogordo and through the Bonita Pipeline. 8
Between
1962 and 1966,
HAFB drilled 11 test
holes on the Douglass and
9
other nearby properties.
In the meantime, the owner was allowed
to
reside
on
the
land and
"enjoy without
restriction
all
buildings, structures, garden areas, and facilities...existing
on
said

lands...".10

At
some point after
granting
the easement,
Betty
Dare
Douglass passed away,
leaving her estate to the Betty Dare
Douglass Trust Fund which operated the Dare Memorial Rest Home
Foundation,
Inc.
in
Alamogordo.
Beginning
in
1972,
the
Foundation rented the house to Ralph and Laura Lermeyer for $100
per month and upkeep on the property.
The Lermeyers kept horses,
mules, donkeys, chickens, and rabbits, and probably cultivated a
small garden. 1 1
In January 1989, the Foundation deeded the land
permanently to HAFB for $692,000,
of which 3/4 of the value
depended on the water rights.12

126

Feature Associations.
When
the
government
decided
to
purchase
the land,
an appraiser
evaluated
the property
and
improvements, which included a house, garage, two sheds and two
chicken houses.1 3
Because the land had been occupied until
relatively recently, it was difficult
to determine which features
were associated with Singleton's homestead and which date to the
later
occupations.
In
addition,
following
the government's
acquisition of the land, the Air Force burned the improvements as
a Fire Department exercise to keep vandals out of the area. 1 4
In 1988, the residence was described as having a foundation
of native stone,
adobe and stucco exterior walls,
wood plank
floors (with carpet), wood frame interior walls (with dry wall
cover),
a rafter and wood plank roof, indoor plumbing, propane
heat and evaporative cooler.
The house had six rooms, including
a living room, kitchen, four bedrooms and a bathroom which was a
later
addition to the original structure which did not have
indoor plumbing.1 5
Feature 1, the 50'x 33'
(15xlOm) remains of
the house, consists of a cobble stone and cement foundation under
the burnt remains of walls and electrical appliances (figures 51
& 52).
It appears that the western half of the house, measuring
13'x 23'
(4x7m),
was constructed of adobe and the walls covered
with stucco (Figure 53).
This was probably Singleton's original
residence.
The central
section of the house
has a poured
concrete foundation, and the front portion is
cobble stone and
cement mimicking the original foundation.
The walls on the later
additions were dry wall on a lumber framework.
The front section
of the house has a concrete floor.
Based on the location of
certain burned appliances, the function of several rooms, such as
the laundry room and kitchen, could be determined.
The laundry
room appears to have been a later
addition to the original house
because the interior dry wall is in direct contrast to the adobe
walls from which it extends.
The garage had walls of wood stud frame with wood plank
siding, a wood roof, and a concrete floor. 1 6
The interior walls
were covered with dry wall, and two 9 foot tall
stonework pillars
flanked the door on the east side of the structure.
All that
remains of this structure (Feature 2) are the two pillars
and the
16'x 16'
(5x5m)
concrete floor (Figure 54).
It
is
located 70
meters southwest of the house, and a gravel road, which enters
the property in the northeast corner, approaches the garage from
the east.

127

Fence Post

Fallen Barbed Wire Fence

:
-- Woven Wire Fence
Line
-- *--Telephone
0
Telephone Pole

\\
\\
//

,,./ Trees

SCactus
Cm

Water

I
\1

Garden

Heater;

1./
I

.,/

\ \

/
///

NN
40

S0Meters

Figure

51.

HAR-086
128

Site

Plan.

~*~-~IN
...
......

... . ...

Kithe

Are

Doorway

Adobe

1Meters
Figure 53.

HAR-086 House Plan.

N
+

129

Figure

54.

Remains

The sheds and the

residence.
Nothing is
corner
structures

of

a
cement
with plank

also were
roofs,

frame

and

foundation is
West of this
wire
6'x

3'

and has

55)

1 7

3 foot

it

6 inch

thick cement

of

cobble

32

foot

(lOm)

pile

tank

located

stones.

(1m)

3,

1994.

metal

an

diameter

4).

(Feature

75

These

plank and

Feature

(Feature

cement
6,

in

siding,

L-shaped

wood

concrete

remains of one of the chicken coops.

82'x 26'
(25x8m)
rectangular chicken

(2xlm)

Feature

The

within

garage

houses were located west of the

these structures
except a small

with wood

floors.

with

the

foundation.
The
sheds
were
wood
frame
siding and wood roofs.
The chicken houses

probably the
feature is
a

enclosure

(Figure

chicken
left
of

buildings

concrete

of

East

rock
of

lined

the

5)

which

north

of

depression

foundation

stands

is

feet

tall

is

pile

walls.
meters

stones

are

linear

rock alignment

of

stones

may

land

on

represent

similar

house,

to those

(Feature
a

the
7)

west

structure

which form a
of

the pile.

which

has

been

located

has

been

bulldozed.
The

which

these

cleared
of
all
vegetation
cottonwood or poplar trees.
garden near

the

garage

and

features

are

except
for
The residents
terraced

130

the

some
large
ornamental
also planted a cactus

land

south

of

the gravel

Figure

road.

The

east

and

line

runs

woven

of

consist
cans,

appears

camp

fire

ring

constituted
result,

occurs
site

the

original

shot

that

the

hazard
and

as

cultural

ongoing

the

of

and

have

of

the

of

historic

had been
resource.

disturbance,

The

cattle

have

area

in

Much

at

1990.
seen

activities,

as

this

site

tenants.

Camping

grazing
in

there

As
still

within

addition

Singleton's

131

the

was

Once

early as
of

of
A

to

obscured
the
integrity
was not recorded during

because

Because

The

sections,

loitering.

for unwanted

habitation.

occupied

area.

refuse.
or

and

electrical

hose

buildings

been

totally
This site

north

house.

haven

recent

other

camping

the

and a

house

garden

recent

the
An

chicken

shells,

of

on

sides.

mattress,

buildings

These

wire

west

the

homestead.

area

gun

west

burned

area

evidence

to
a

depression.

barbed

and

house

evidence

safety

survey

visible

south

hubcaps,

occupations,

Singleton's

with

Recommendations.

boundaries.

later

the

located

and

HAFB
in

on
the

be

is

fenced

cans,
to

Impacts

is

of

paint

this

wire

north

artifacts
gas

property

Rock lined

55.

no
it
has

of
the

revealed

was recorded

recent modifications

homestead

the

immediately

research

1930,

the

lost

and
all

integrity.

It

is

not

considered

eligible

to

the

National

Register.

-HAR Q.

-_ .h ax-1 -s-_R-d ieL ii-Qma -t -e-aHAR-061

the

is

southern

bank

is

two

5250

bank

dissected

track

of

Carter

by

numerous

roads.

dispersed

of

of

previous
vehicular

nails

travel,

Redies

proved

and

site

by Charles

Redies

in

in

1917,

April,

glass

to

John

Drake,

who

Bolger

for

the

owners
relinquish

had

alternately
it
to the

from
the

the

listed
SEl/4

of

T16S,

R8E.

and a

Section

and

proved
in

of

Sl/2

Texas

file

United
and

land

in

room

house,

Sections

Section

in

but

later

SWl/4,
was

30,

the
to

(the
that

on

1912

of
by

tract

of

(Figure

56).

SEl/4

SWl/4

SEl/4,

T16S,
R8E.1
This
Redies purchased

In
1908,
the
sawmill for the
farm

These

to

Samuel

three

1921.4

and

early

New

prior

Homestead

132

covering

SWl/4

of

Redies

In

all,

altered

on

the

(as
NEl/4

Section

12,

August

28,

Redies

ended

1869.

He

up

13.
Germany
5

entry)
he

but

homestead

by

1880s,

Mexico.

year,

SWl/4,
acre

N1/2

filed

12,

the
160

Land entry

Greifenhagen,

in

moving
12

Desert

11,

on

both

SWl/4

March

States

then

acre

filed

entry

on

evidence

Arkansas

year.

gears.

on the SWl/4 of Section 12,

only to
owner.
When Redies bought the land

to
and

an

and

disturbed

in
1912.2
a portable

previous

also

160

born

traded

he

latter
up

Redies was
the

filed
next

11,

This

with 440 acres

to

the

description

above)

1912

property

Musselwhites,

legal

had

large

development.

August

from Zachariah and Josie Musselwhite

Musselwhites,
from Georgia, had traded

clock

located

the

dirt

trash

heavily

of Section 12; and NE1/4 NWl/4 of Section 13,

tract
adjoined,
on the south, a 120 acre tract

tract

and

suggest

been

is

on

The

of

and

land

The

R8E.

domestic

seat

military

on

channels

from

has

located

Tl6S,

primarily

window

site

Background.
up

12,

erosional

buggy

and

site

Section

consists

camping,

homesteaded

habitation

ranging

The

Historical
land

site

to

structures.

in

small

artifacts

hardware

Concentrations

meter

Draw

This

scatter

construction

square

built

in

landing
When
it

he

in

Galveston,

moved

already

another

moved

onto
had

14'x

20'

his
two
two

829

4.2x.

...

.....

.
..
....
.......
.......

ii~eie

___omesteLad

150

.. ... ..
.. .. .. ..

..
..
..
..

..
...
..
.........

...
.....

......
..... ....

AME

Figure..56.

mN.....

hresRde0Ln

H lig

__________________________________________

4133

Sconar

Hghay

room

house.

By

the

end

of

Redies'

proof

period,

he

had

also

built
18 chicken houses ranging in size from 8'x 10' to 16'x 16',
a shed, and a barn.
He dug a well and erected about I mile of
fencing.
Section

Redies
12,

along

drainage ditch
Land tract,
he
feet

also
with

1915

25

well

acres

in

in

the

land.

sorghum,
His

He

corn
harvests

and

but were never

He

almost

and

year

successful.

1/2

deep well. 7
had
a
hard

cultivated

kaffir,

differed

SWl/4

of

mile

Section 13.6
On his Desert
25 acres,
constructed 3000

apparently

(maize,

SEl/4

cultivation

ditches, and dug a 25 foot

his
preparations,
Redies

surviving on the
vegetables.

another

in the NEl/4 NWI/4 of

had cleared and tilled

of irrigation
Despite
all

planting

had

65 acres,

milo),

to year

time

cane,

between

and

1912

and

claimed,

"I planted 40 acres to every crop that

I could get that
was recommended
for dry
farming,
being milo
maize,
cane,
feterita,
and
any
recommended by the agricultural
but

did

the

costs

not

As a result,
people's
Act,
alkaline

adopted

her

decided

to

for

new

his

until

needed

renting

filed

for

in

1916,

two
go

some

live."
it

Redies

children.

to

El

His

for dry

farming

wife

additional
also

is

unclear
"it

raised

work

woman
such

as

an

children

then they

they
from

whether

required

and

Desert

well water
in

named
a

Land

Hettie

and

that

he

failure

engineer
remained

too moved

too

January

to
at

to El

provide
the

farm

Paso.11

allowed others to run about 20 head

He stated
that "while they really

food,

He

the

pay

for other

granted him relief

and

and

to

pastures

scarce

farm was

get

enough

under

too

married

to

1916,

relief

GLO

The

Paso

family.

complained,

were

out his

was

The

1916 and 1920, Redies

on his property.

although
he

he

began

flood water

about September

Between
of cattle
to

and

that

he

for agriculture.9

1917.10
Early

college

that

any of the years produce

8
the work and seed."

1916,

stock,

claiming

grains

in

of

in

other

did

to

he

not

get

10

head

owned

these

supplementary

it

and

of

did manage

dairy

animals.

grain

food

in

cattle,
Of

them

order

to

1 2

keep up the milk flow, through all

of the year."
After Redies moved, the land was probably not
shortly
who

thereafter
became

the

acquainted

structures
with

the

were
area

134

in

destroyed.
the

early

reoccupied
Susie
1920s,

and

McNatt,
did

not

of

account

the

1941,

to

$2000

land

1941,

land only for grazing

such

stoneware

fragments,

represent

the

remains

essentially

artifacts,
of

Redies'

he had

Evidence
site.

of

which

road

this

There

road
is

land

had

Carter

Draw,

which

last

five

the

have

concentration

of

have been
Table

Xt'.
n
r

One of
visible

except
a

be

of

for

well.
his

scavenged

nails

and

the

west

side

he was

ownership,
glass,

5.

Ownership

of Charles

Doss

Bradford

C.C.

McNatt

on page xiii.
See acronym list
*ESE,
SWSE, Section 12, Tl6S,

"SSE, SESW,

Section

Section

El

materials

however,

Redies

11;

12;
SWSW,

12/9/07
7/14/08
8/12/12
1/16/13
4/14/17
3/30/21
5/31/22
?

suggest

NSW,

WD

Section

135

$1200
$800
$1.00

$10
$10

R8E

NENW Section

-P-ric-

5/15/41

13,
12,

T16S,
T16S,

R8E
R8E

the
in

Paso
could
The

Homestead

WD*
WD
WD
Mtg.
HP_
DLP"
WD

1 6

structures
in

Wm.

Bradford

of

residents.

.Gjamtee

Rosing

draw.

depression

living

the

nearby

by

many

round

the

claimed

destroyed.

John Drake
Josie Musselwhite
Charles Redies
Wm. Rosing
Charles Redies
Charles Redies
Wm. Rosing

"NESE,

the

small,
If

window

Samuel Bolger
John Drake
Musselwhite
Charles Redies
USA
USA
Charles Redies
Doss

witnesses

the

and

with

into

of

1 5

diagnostic

down
on

evidence

and

of

buckles,

consistent

flat

some

ceramic

shoe

and

Redies'

from the

still

years

been

easily

might

may

are

glass,

at

McNatt.

to

fragments,

occupation,

led

is

HAR-047).

permanent

remaining

no

his

on

period.

proof

(see

hinges,

purple

Redies
for

of

over

washtubs,

pots,

and

got possession

acres

lamp

1922

but

found,

440

kerosene

as

be

open

an

Between

5).14

son-in-law,

all

the

The artifacts,

that

turned

in

had

of

payment

he

which

not

McNatt's

and

They used

dates

(Table
could

C.C.

in

1913,

credit

transfers

property

Doss Bradford,

point,
the

up

as

the

sold

Redies'

possibly

1922,

William Rosing in
had with Rosing in

to
he

property
mortgage

The

area.13

the

in

structures

any

remember

they

The heavy disturbance of the

Impacts and Recommendations.
site
may explain the lack of features.
Two tracks roads cover
the site
and there is a vehicle turn around area in the center of
the largest ridge finger.
The Boy Scouts apparently camped there
often and constructed
animal
feeders within
the site.
The
military has built some form of dirt
ramp in the middle of the
site,
under which may be some of the features.
More recently,
several of the artifacts,
including the buggy seat, have been
moved, indicating ongoing vandalism to the site.
Periodic visits
to the site should be made to check vandalism.
The buggy seat is
an especially sensitive artifact
which should be occasionally
monitored.
The site may possess some archaeological research potential.
An indepth artifact
analysis should be conducted to determine
possible subsistence patterns,
consumer behavior, and trends in
market accessibility and availability.
If archaeological testing
could be funded, trenches through the military ramps may reveal
evidence of Redies' many structural improvements.
In addition,
comparison of the data derived from the artifact
assemblage could
be compared to those farm sites at the well field properties to
determine the different adaptations each settler
had to make.
Under Criterion
D,
the site is
potentially eligible to the
National
Register
based
on
these
archaeological
research
possibilities.

LA 103410 is
a 9800 square meter site in
the NWI/4 of
Section 5, T17S, R9E, on a slight ridge between two drainages,
Red Arroyo on the north and a small unnamed drainage to the
south.
The HAFB railroad tracks form the north boundary of the
site.
The land is privately owned but falls
within a restrictive
easement enforced by HAFB.
Features include two metal storage
tanks,
a well with a Fairbanks windmill on a steel tower,
a
corral, two feeding troughs, and a U-shaped rock alignment.
The
associated artifact
assemblage is
small and consists mainly of
domestic refuse, such as glass and ceramic fragments, tin cans,
and miscellaneous metal scraps.
Historical Background. On November 5, 1908, William Hyde, a
50 year old man from Amarillo, Texas, filed a homestead entry on

136

the NWl/4

of Section

5,
Tl7S, R9E (Figure 57).'
It
was situated
west
of
the old Alamogordo-Las
Cruces
Highway in
a
called Farmer's Flats.
He commuted his entry in August

1/2 mile
community
1910,

after

period.

March

1909

Also,
his

Hyde

in

for a

residing

few months

By

the

barn,

absence,
Hyde

for

established
a

two

work

in

room

the

required

16'x

4-1/4

Dubuque,

had

the

residence

cultivated

often

the

they

Hyde's

lived

room house,

95

placed

land

32'

acres
3

Iowa.

Farmer's

on

the

month

land

lumber

of

he

was

sewing

left
gone,

club

over

foot

held
a

an

deep

onto

permanently
8'x

well.

the

classified

land.

10'

in

Iowa.

They

left

chicken

house,

For

many

years

Then,

in

January

advertisement

offering

12'x

during
1931,

the

12'

their
Carrie

tract

for

sale.
By May 1932, they had sold their
homestead to William
and Myrtle Huss (Table 6),
although Hyde maintained an interest
in

any

used

oil,

the

branded

gas,
land

or minerals
for

Table

G:AtnrG
William

Carrie
William

is

6.

grazing
no

Ownership

Hyde
Huss

E.T. Baird
Leon Green

they

the

land.

owned
ever

of William

___n

r n

at

Huss

resided

Hyde's

90

on the

head
land.

Farm

Ben

xi.e

HE

3/13/11

HP

$200

8/31/22

WD

$1.00-

5/27/32

WD

$10

Baird

10/27/41

WD

$2000

Leon Green
USA

11/29/43
11/22/60

WD
RE

$5000

Carrie
William
E.T.

Hyde
Hyde
Huss

*See acronym list

on page xiii.
"Grantors were not required to

list

the

they sold their land, but it was necessary

figure.
Many of them stated $1.00.

137

exact

E.

apparently

least

11/5/08
William

Hyde

on

and

evidence

Hyde

USA
William

found

cattle

There

wv.8

in

house.

cane but

While

Flats

14

two

and

he

Hyde

to

Carrie,
1912,

behind

the

building

year,

meetings.

for

claimed

after

that

wife,

on

price for which

to state some minimum

42 0

Red
rroyo

41

4200

Ti16 S
TI 7S

L-340

-*

Ti16 S

se.-.

T17 S

Patent

Dii~atf.

4100

4150

Figure 57.

mN

William Hyde's Homestead Patent

-

FEET

Contour Interval 50 Feet

11.5 deg
Declination

138

6000

Light Duty Road,

hard or improved surface

In

Huss

1941,

October

the

sold

E.T.

to

property

Baird,

The Bairds kept the land only

of Otero County.9
pioneer settler
two years,
and sold it
to Leon and Carrie Green of Clouderoft in

just

being

they

would

established,
ended

installation

lose

but

just

west

that

stated

Green

Carrie

November 1943.10
land, they feared

it

quickly

the

to

boundary

their

of

they

when

a house

lived in
on

the

land,

south of

although

this

on

1 1

The

scale

Most

the

was

military

Greens

the

Basin,

grazing

due

to

used

back

cattle

Cattle

smaller

which

the

property.

tract.

the

HAFB

of

the land for winter grazing range and moved their

the mountains in
the spring.
When staying in

bought

to

they

continues

the

restrictive

improvements

on the

easement.
Feature Associations.
seem

to

(Figure
when

date

to

58).

Carrie Green

they

there.

the

bought

The well

later

it

in

was

was

drilled

it

was

on the northern

The

built

rock

to

Hyde's lived
map indicates
location,
located

by

suggest

the

Greens

the

date

prior

grazing

the

with
NEI/4

the

NEI/4

and

it

land

it

were

dried

North Well

up,

because

Basin property.

The two feed

after

the

purchasing

refuse,
to

Hyde's

(2x2m)
rock alignment,
however,
with the house and may represent

purposes

windmill

but after

earlier

NWI/4

land

no house on the

well

called

domestic

with

for

on

the

of

property

other

hand,

occupation.
1920,

about

claim

that

Section

is
too small
the remains of

Purple

the

on their
homestead.
A 1918 Department
a house, but no well,
in the vicinity

consistent
in

but

Leon shortly
and

land

there was

end of their

associated

glass fragments

the

hand dug,

The

alignment

be

claimed
1943,

deeper.

troughs were
in 1943.12

of

originally

it

appear

use

of

time

of

Interior

of

the

his

site

house
The

5.13

the

was

7'x

7'

to be associated
the chicken house

or a privy.
Impacts and Recommendations.
land,
The

is

affected

later

by

additions

continual
to

represent one aspect

range
improvements,
historical
more
A.

associations

likely

The

earliest

candidates

the site

This

site,

located

cattle

grazing

and minor

are in

fair

good

to

of ranching in
the Tularosa
however,
do
not
have
the
as
for

occupation

other

similar

the National
of

on

the

139

site,

sites

Register
consisting

private
erosion.

condition
Basin.
antiquity

These
or

which

would

under

Vriterion
only

and

of

be
a

contribute

to

Tularosa
eligible

subsistence

patterns,

I racks

Gravel Road

&.-_j
'

,-

Feed
Fallen

Trough
Fence

@
=;

Fence Post
Tank
Windmill

I,

Alignment

S'Lumber
''

Artifact

Concentration

1_

Il

Meters

NzFigure

58.

80

LA 103410 Site

140

the
would

consumer behavior,
the
in
farms
for

considered
is
component
This
Basin.
D.
to the National Register under Criterion

La\iroad

later

by

determine
analysis

Artifact

adaptations

frontier

and

patterns,

gender

of

studies

might

testing

alignment.

rock

the

of

function

heavily

impacted

been

Archaeological

land.

the

of

use

has

scatter,

artifact

dispersed

Plan.

potentially

MISCELLANEOUS

SITES

lLARzDI4.
HAR-014 is a 16,800 square meter site located in the NWl/4
of Section 31,
T17S,
RIOE,
on the alluvial flats
west of the
Sacramento Mountains.
It was originally recorded in 1992 by the
Office of Contract Archeology (OCA). 1
The site
consists of a
rubble mound, a rectangular concrete foundation, two dugout-like
depressions, and numerous artifact
concentrations.
The artifact
assemblage includes glass and ceramic fragments,
tin cans,
bed
springs, construction hardware, and scrap metal.
Historical Background.
The first
homestead entry
land occurred in January 1915,
when Virginia Reynolds
claim on the N1/2 NWI/4 and N1/2 NEI/4 of Section 31
59).2
This claim was located only 100 meters west of the

on this
filed a
(Figure
road to

Alamogordo, which ran along the range line, and 2 miles south of
her dairy farm (HAR-054).
Reynolds passed away early in 1916,
after fighting an illness for two years. 3
It
appears that
improvements were made on the land only after she passed away.
Between 1918 and 1919, the Reynolds'
Estate was assessed taxes
for improvements on government land, which were valued at $200,
and livestock,
including four horses and four head of cattle,
valued at $300.4
Virginia Reynolds'
sons,
Clayton, Joe,
and Thurber,
still
lived in Alamogordo at the time and were employed as drovers by
different cattle operations in the Basin. 5
They may have filed
on
the
tract
in
their mother's
name,
on
behalf
of
their
employers.
For whatever reason the entry was filed, in May 1921,
the

GLO

cancelled

it.6

In November 1929,
with land in sections
1936.7
The land still

John W. Gentry filed on the tract along

20 and 29.
This entry was cancelled in
remains in BLM ownership and HAFB has a

lease on subsurface water rights.

Feature Associations. The diagnostic artifacts
at the site,
including purple glass fragments and solder top cans, support a
date consistent with Reynolds'
entry.
The artifacts,
however,
give
relatively
little
additional
information
regarding
activities
at the site.
The nature of the assemblage and items,
141

424200

HAR 14

Sec.

T 17 S-

TIS

IIl

II

*mN

___

___

___

__

7S

Figure 59.

Virginia Reynolds Homestead Entry

Highway,
hard surface

-Secondary

--

FEET6000hard

11.5 deg
Declination

contour Interval 40 Feet

142

Light Duty Road,

or improved surface

Sra:Itritn

such as

a wash

tub,

stove door,

permanent occupation
Furthermore,
hinges,

as

artifacts

and

and decorated

opposed

to

such

window

corrugated

as
tin,

ceramics,

temporary

camping

glass

are

suggest a

activities.

fragments,

bricks,

supporting

evidence

located

the

of

structures.
Much

of

the

domestic

artifacts

are

mound (Feature
1),
which is
also associated
concentration and some milled lumber (Figure

near

with
60).

rubble

a wire nail
The rubble,,

containing bricks and concrete,

may represent the remains of a
house chimney.
Feature 3 is
located 40 meters southeast of the
rubble
berms
one

pile.
on

but

the

It

is

13'x

east and west.

measures

18'x 18'

13'

(4x4m)

Feature

round
4 is

(6x6m).

depression with

similar

Very

few

(0)3
5
4
a

Rocks
Fence

S"Dirt
/

(Q

Posts
Berms

Lumber

ag

Barbed Wire
.'~
_j

Mattress

Springs

Artifact

Concentration

Railroad

Slag

0
Figure

60.

Meters

40

HAR-014 Site

143

Plan.

to

dirt

the previous

artifacts

were

located

near

recorded

the

cellars
is

site

6'x 13'

like
a
walls,

roofed

walls.

The

feature

tank or cistern.
however,
which
in

this

area

and a galvanized

that

individual

the features

semi-subterranean

poured

(2x4m)

The

features.

postulated

or small

thick

Artifacts

these

concrete
stands

1.3

It has bolts
might indicate
included

metal bucket

some

encased

feet

sheet
in

high

root

Feature

with 4 inch

(40cm)

embedded
it
had

originally

may have been

structures.

foundation

who

(12cm)

and

looks

on the top of
a superstructure.

metal,

a metal

milled

the

lumber,

framework.

Impacts and Recommendations.

The site has been heavily
sheet washed and evidence of previous grazing was noted.
Boot
prints crisscrossing the site suggest vandalism, although this is
probably associated with the prehistoric component of the site.
The historic artifacts
retain research potential.
If
an
artifact/land use model is
completed,
this probably could be
applied to this site
with potentially good results due to large
amount of artifacts.
The information derived from analysis of
the assemblage could contribute to studies concerning subsistence
patterns,
consumer
behavior,
gender
patterns,
and
frontier
adaptations.
Under Criterion D, the site is potentially eligible
based on its
archaeological research possibilities.

1iAR-0Z5
HAR-045

is

10,400

square meter

scatter

of historic

refuse

in the NEl/4 of Section 12, Tl6S, R8E.

The site
is
located on
the eastern edge of Malone Draw on a ridge dissected by numerous
small drainages.
A perennial stream runs along the base of the
steep slope.
The refuse consists of whiteware ceramics and glass
fragments and construction hardware such as nails and hinges.
A
small concentration of nails is
the only possible evidence of
previous structures.

A north/south fence

line bisects

the site.

Historical Background.
The
site
is
situated
on
the
subdivision line between the NWl/4 and the NEI/4 of Section 12.
Part of the tract on which it
is located falls
within the Laura
Karr entry discussed with HAR-012.
The Karr,
John Grant,
and
John Bishop entries all covered the western half of the site.
In
1915,
almost the entire N1/2 of Section 12 passed into State
ownership and then to C.C. McNatt the next year (See Figure 11).

144

The

two

on

found
a

and

only

of

on

residence
a

shows

Interior

between

soon

McNatt
not

did

the

visited

first

she

when

location

(Figure

after

McNatt

Susie

Mrs.

also

map

houses

two

destroyed

State.

1920s.

the

the

McNatt

C.C.
This

Draw.

Malone

in

building
the

of

house

later,

years
a

noted

showed

Two

southeast

been

have

early

the

of

draw

this

in

in

land

McNatt's

mile

the

from

structures

any

the

must

land

the

purchased

site.
map

side

spanning

was

vicinity

map

topographic

inspection

opposite

this

in

habitation

the

of

area

1/4

building

The

recall

the

the

road

61).2

the

approximately

area,

same

in

1916

maps.

early

spring

Department

of

documentation

Erosion along the edge of the

Impacts and Recommendations.
Evidence
draw seems to be the only major source of disturbance.
of

S.: - .-:

. .. . . . .

.. ..

is

site

close
to

susceptible

and may be

roads

dirt

travelled

The

noted.

was

grazing

past

to

well

some

vandalism.

.. . ..

-.

,= , "'

7 7-

45

---

---. --- .-
- i

Li

vI

':-::--'T~-:J
",
: : : :i........

_/

,.--

- ---

N'=--H - =..H
-H . .' -'
-- -'r : --
' -- -' --= '- .

..

{r

- " -- - T --n
. ..__...

.- ; ".r'

..

-" /

...

7"

-'-.4'
,

'- :Y .

.--

- I... _.
4 I -i . . ..- -. i--..
~.-... ..]. . .:. . "!.. .. ..- . 1.
. ."-- ""- 4.
.. . . =
. . : .. . .. - . . . M
e. . .2. . . .: . .
" ;"' ";
. . '
--

__

_--J

____

Figure-.61-- 1918_ Department---.=

. - -- = -'

I-- .J&
- :

iSeto
S . c .. 7 io
1n
.

-145

"..1
2.
.;"
12.

.:I.. . ...

..

of..Interior...
...
ap.-Showing--,.,--House..
-. . . .. .A.. . . ..
. I . .. 5 .

. . . . .

:
..

. . .. .. I "
...

. .. ...

14

' i . .
.

The

site

does

but

not

appear

analysis of
determining site

the

studies

about

frontier

eligible

to

National

the

archaeological

HAR-052
of

Section

concrete
concrete
located
wooden
the

artifacts
activities

is

Nancy C.
with the

3575

square

Tl7S,

RlOE.

with

centered
and

on

the

is

Albert Mendez,
recognize it
as

deposits,

be helpful in
to various

is

potentially

D based

is

in
and

located

in
by

the

in

on

its

metal

framework

consist

of

Figure

62.

Well

146

D.

and

onto
pipe

parts.

claim

patented

to

associated
Although

well

fields,
drilled,

is

has

bolted

(HAR-053),
but apparently the well is
ownership of the Boles Well Field.
of
the water
being one which the military

of

pipe

pipe

glass

machine

homestead

square

well

wooden

SWl/4

(l.8xl.8m)

(.8x.8m)

the

caretaker

the

6'x 6'

diameter

area
a

site

(36cm)

some miscellaneous
within

2.5'

which

foot

well

head has

2.5'x

top,

surrounded

bucket,

Groom
military

site

Criterion

water

The well

The

Artifacts

site

under

meter

smaller,

62).

concrete.
The

The

Register

subsurface

surface might
as contributing

survival.

19,

any

research possibilities.

(Figure

fragments,

have

on the
as well

base

lid

to

did
its

not

location is consistent with a well marked on a 1953 Real Estate

According to this report,
Planning Report prepared for the COE.'
the well, "Well D",
is 245 feet deep and has a capacity of 63
gallons per minute.
The well was probably drilled sometime
between 1947 when the Air Force entered into a lease agreement
with W.E.
and Donna Lee Groom and S.M.
and Earlie Groom,
the
owners of the tract
at that time.
The Grooms received $32 per
year rent on the
land and the Government had the right to
purchase the land for $800" at any time during the life
of the
lease.2

During
this
lease
period,
the
government
drilled
approximately 20 wells in Section 19, but only one, "Well D",
in
the SWl/4.
This well was abandoned by 1953.3
HAFB received full
title
to this tract of land as a result of Civil Action #2386,
for expansion of the Base water facilities
in the late 1950s.
Impacts and Recommendations.
Erosion
within
the
site
boundaries has been heavy and small gravel deposits surround the
well head.
Recent artifacts
suggest occasional loitering,
but
there does not appear to be any vandalism to the site.
This site
does
not
have
significant
antiquity,
integrity,
and
the
documentation
in
this
report
has
exhausted
its
research
potential.
It is not eligible to the National Register.

AR-055--The Arthu
"air mestea
HAR-055 is a 23,800 square meter homestead site
located in
the NEI/4 of Section 25, Tl7S, R9E on an alluvial flat
near the
base of the Sacramento Mountains.
The only feature is
an Lshaped cobble alignment,
and the majority of the artifacts
are
dispersed in its
vicinity.
A fence line runs along the eastern
boundary and an east/west fence line bisects the site.
Artifacts
include glass, crockery, whiteware ceramic fragments, tin scraps,
stove
parts,
construction
hardware,
saddle
parts,
clothing
accessories, and a 1903 Mexican penny.
Historical Background. In December 1906, Arthur Blair filed
on the NEI/4 of Section 25, T17S, R9E (See Figure 37).'
By March
1910, he had commuted his homestead,
received his patent,
and
moved away. 2
The Blairs seem to have moved
short period and by 1911 were in Oklahoma. 3

147

to Alamogordo for a
This is all that is

definitely

known

to William

Blair, a
24, Tl7S,

of Section
In

September

his wife Anna

a

51

about

year

old

north,

on the NEl/4

Park

the

Camp

Parks
built
What

on

and

25.

Mr.

1920,

their
the

1907.7

Blair

deep
land

to

the

few

Apparently,

Parks

operated

Table

7.

Blair

Arthur

Blair

1918.

had
for

other

in

town

and

time,

they

resided

and
a

this
personal

property

boarding

Ownership

of

house

Arthur

Blair

Sallie

F.

Arthur

Blair

of

but

they

NEl/4
the

town.

water",8

of

S1/2
in

Park

Section
NEI/4

located.

1 0

Homestead

Ln.u.e.n2r__ive
HE

9/13/09

WD

3/15/10

HP

Park

8/17/18

Contract

Moore

9/9/27

WD

$1.00

$800

Daniel

Park

Sallie

F.

Sallie

Park

Mrs.

J.E.

Jas.

Birdwell

9/15/30

WD

$100

V.V.

Frye

4/28/31

WD

$10

12/19/38

TD

$1.86

8/24/53

JT

Grant

Mrs.

J.E.

Moore

Birdwells
Sallie
Fanny

Park

Estate

Frye

Geo.

Shipley

*See

acronym

NM
Geo.

Shipley

USA
list

on page

1959
xiii.

148

of

Alamogordo

12/11/06
Park

they

decided
Mrs.

was
in

couple
home

land.
N1/2

to
the

substantial

and

mile

that

the

time,

their
the

1/2

unknown,

that

Park,

had moved

supply

is

and

husband

evidence

"fine

divide

lots

Her

Probably

At

ee

USA

no

SE1/4

Flynt

7).5

Alamogordo

by

household

south

to

in
a

with

until

lots

is

he

._.____taajip.r
Arthur

the

approximately
R9E.6

There

related

Blair

Sallie

from Missouri,

where

well

interests"

kept

he was

patent,

to

homestead.

homestead

possession

Park
25.

the

his

(Table

old farmer

around

the

best

likely

for $800

Mississippi

49 year

foot

several

Section
where

63

joint

received

from

receiving

homesteaded a tract
T17S,
of Section 24,

on

used

their

homestead

Park's

they

their

area

resided

retained
"for

City

remained

before

had

Dan Parks,

Very

farmer from Missouri, who patented

4
R9E, adjacent to Arthur's patent.

woman

C.

Blair.

1909,

sold

Daniel

Arthur

In

his

In

1926,

half

of

their

property

J.E.

Moore

of

only

as

vacant

"a

maintained

Kansas.

the

Methodist

stated

her

After

Rooming

donor"

to

in

her

daughter,

town

husband's
in

was

the

town,

left

estate

a will

be

cash,

except

Probate
no

Judge,

market

little,

the

be

80

acre

effort

HAR-055

is

found

located

vacant

has
and

anything...".12
tax delinquency.'

for

divided

to

unknown

whether

the

land

sell

it

is

for

Frye.16
Frye,

less

who

his new business

the

contracting

issued
own

loans

land,

Shipley,

than a

between

on

real

lawyer,

the

to

sell

apparently

to

the

was

out

to

year
a

the

worth

but

eventually passed

before

and his

Shipleys

Feature

Associations.

in

and
very

to the

that

Mrs.

J.E.

"leaving
the

and

sold

it

The
in

store

in

and
never

away

in

also

It

Birdwell's

owned

1931

town,
land.

He

wife
the

Lorna.1

late

HAFB

By

then

to V.V.

entered

sold,

anything

1953.

is

advertised

bought,

built

owned a
which he

city".15

April

buying the

Frye

passing

[the]

land.

business
1 7

Moore

She and her husband retained

sold
it
to
James
and
Helen

two days after

estate.

tract

furniture

building

land from the

the

same

this

condemned
the
land
for
expansion
of
their
The
Frye
heirs
granted
joint
tenancy
to
a

she

Home of
the
The estate

Birdwell,
a Navy
veteran,
in Alamogordo at that
time

he

owned

just
and

however,

HAFB
had
facilities.

moved

had

which

within

because
he

illness
liberal

According

made

The property

$100.14
Mr.
and garage

desired

lot.

been

received from her father's

estate.
ownership until
1930
when
they
Birdwell for
service station

own.

town,
as well as the N1/2 NEl/4 of Section
Most of Mrs.
Park's property was sold for

"every

can

if

State

for

Park

her

an
"a
in

Children's
Home
in
Albuquerque
and the Orphan's
Southern Methodist Church in
Jackson,
Mississippi.
included property in
25 south of town.

Mrs.

on

result
of
Mrs.
Park,

Mrs.

described

death,

Alamogordo

away,
fall.

Church

that

her

of

in

interest

her

husband's

south

House

also passed
an injurious

desire

her

property

lot".11

Carey
she
after

the

over

The

Late in
1928,
which set in
to

and his widow deeded

Park died,

Mr.

on

and
his

time,
water
George

obtained

the

1950s.19
The

dates

of

the

diagnostic

artifacts,
including purple glass fragments, hole-in-top cans and
bottle
maker's
marks,
are
consistent
with
Arthur
Blair's
homestead
proof
period
and
the
Park's
early
ownership.

149

is unknown what either of

Unfortunately, it
with

the

assessments
at

that

In

1915,

or

property

made

were

there

time,
Sallie

the

land

were

no

improvements

was

19'x
of

remains
window

nearby

glass

(Figure

(buttons,
and

In

fact,

flower

pot

stock

the

presence

stove

fragments

of

parts,

suggest

of

the
and

nails

of

clothing

domestic
camping

accessories

lamp

kerosene

land.

be

to

amount

substantial

and

NE1/4 where

Sl/2

appears

large

it,

improvements

concentration

The

tax

the

on

of

worth

alignment

63).

the

etc.Y,

buckles,

$18

owned

permanent occupation rather than

artifacts suggest a more

activities.

Parks

or

No

built.

but none on the

of

because

structure

for

cobble

(6x8m)

26'

until

assessed

on the N112 NE1/4 of Section 25,

the site is located.20
The

the

on

Park

were

improvements

what

individuals did

these

fragments,

occupation

of

the

of

the

property.

site.
The

north/south

site

seems

1908

GLO

to

represent

plat

passing

along

settler

living

fence

for

the

T17S,

this

right

the same

on

sheet

wash

from vandalism.
as

there

the

range

The

such as

years.

Archaeological

regarding

the

structures,

the

to

at

artifact

life
the

site

testing

activities

and

studies about
eligible

that

has

on the

has
may

the

road
is

analysis

no

Alamogordo

mention
T17S,

of

R9E was

roads

protects

by
it

deposits

The presence of

sensitive

and the Mexican penny are

been

would

National Register

been impacted

some subsurface

and

frontier.

150

from

provide

site

further research.

to

line.21

distance

a complete ink bottle

indications

the

The site has

site evidently

further

portion

Figure 45).

suggested by half buried artifacts.

artifacts

is

Its

of

but

time (See

erosion.

line
the

line,
on

eastern

shows

Impacts and Recommendations.

severe

the

boundary

RlOE,

boundary

almost

not surveyed at

line

undisturbed
relative
reveal

the

information
more

contribute

Under Criterion
based on

over

its

about
to
D,

the

various
the

potential

site
for

/A
01

//

I/

/
/
*

Fence
Burnt

Rocks

Posts
Fence Posts

Railroad
--

-I---

Slag

Barbed Wire Fence

Woven Wire Fence
Coin

IU

Figure

30

Meters

63.

HAR-055

151

Site

Plan.

.iAR-O63--Lightfoot Well
HAR-063 is
a 14,950 square meter habitation site in
the
NEl/4 of Section 24, TISS, R8E.
It
is located on the northern
edge of Sheep Camp Draw.
Features at the site include two round
depressions and a corral, and the high density artifact
scatter
contains mainly domestic type refuse.
Historical

been

covered

Background.

under

oil

and

As

early

gas

as

1917,

permits,

such

this

tract

had

as the Cerreta
Tularosa
No.
9 and
Tularosa No.
13
placer
mining
claims.'
Throughout the next two decades,
several other mining permits
were given for oil and gas prospecting on this land, but in 1942,
an inspector for the military stated there was no evidence of any
development on these claims. 2
At some point, an individual' named Lightfoot, from Tularosa,
improved the tract.
He dug a well and fenced off an irregular
piece of property including most of the NEI/4 of Section 24,
T15S, R8E, and some land in Section 19, T15S, R9E (Figure 64).3
Willis Danley,
whose family was also ranching in the Tularosa
Basin, said Lightfoot never lived on the tract. 4
By February
1934, Lightfoot had abandoned the well, and Leonard Mason entered
a Stock Raising Homestead claim on all
of Section 24, T15S, R8E.
This claim was withdrawn the following year. 5
By 1941,
Lightfoot Well was considered one of Sam Hanna's
watering places for his grazing allotment, but the well was not
in use at that time. 6
Ten years later,
the well was a part of
the Danley community allotment but still
not in use. 7 By 1958,
the tract was described as "ruins" on a HAFB map. 8
Feature Associations.
Feature 1 appears to be the remains
of the well (Figure 65).
It is a round depression approximately
4
feet
in
diameter.
Lightfoot
Well
was
hand
excavated
approximately 8 feet deep and 4 feet in diameter.
In 1941, the
Grazing Service stated that the well was caved in and dry.
A
9
cement storage tank at the well was also of no use.
Ten years
later, the COE had little
to say about the well.
They mentioned
a trough with reinforced concrete walls and bottom which had been
"demolished".1
A
pile
of
concrete
rubble
with
some
miscellaneous metal scraps
located on the east
side of
the
depression is thought to be the remains of this trough or tank.

152

CDO
CDM

..

.. .. .

:...

X-:

... ... .

F.ur 64..
m.N....

.......
......

HA
R-63

mNar

0
11.5 deg
Declination

ScondayAHihway

Fiurreace

FEET

Contour Interval 50 Feet

153

6000

Light Duty Road,

hard or improved surface
Sr

m ak .Ineriten

Feature
entrance

on

southwest

the

of

This

timbers

north edge

solder

directly
with

top
of

hole

drilled

The
2.

fence

the

66).

It

dugout

and

the

is

is

sheet

dugout

with

the

flat.

wash

3'x

1'

(lx.5m)

located

50

meters

thought
of

and

to

through

feature

draw
line

corrugated

tin

stove

is

pipe

Artifact

Stove

Coin
Lumber

been
are

a
in

situated

and ice tongs,

are located
Cracker Jack Mystery Club coin

the

center

was

is

approximately
runs

in

post
60

and

discovered

northeasterly

such

x,

as

purple

__

Concentrations
Pipe

0\,

N0

40

Meters
Figure

65.

HAR-063

154

Site

Plan.

of

near
these
corral

Feature

up the slope

Rubble

wire

southwest

direction

artifacts,

Borden,

barbed

meters

Fence Posts
k)

have

basins,

feature.

The diagnostic

C0Concrete

The majority of
the domestic
artifacts,
ceramic,
and earthenware fragments,
tobacco

this

remaining
in

to

dugout

According to the Cracker Jack company,

issued as prizes in
the early 1940s.11

located
The

of

cans,

west

Feature 2.
coins were

(4x2m)

well.

on the
south edge.
consisting of glass,
tins,

6'

(Figure

Roof

on the

13'x

south

the

residence.
situ

is

glass,

...
.....
~

.........

Figure

66.

Dugout with

bottle
maker's marks,
and the
through the 1940s.
Other artifacts
parts

appear

may be

to

condition,

and

and

only

from

but recent

minor
the

vehicle

The occurrence
a high

potential

Limited testing
above or add
about
studies
potentially

timbers.

coin,
support a date from
such as car and electric
and

it

is

Recommendations.
erosion

disturbance

distance

site

intrusive,

ii

unknown

1900
lamp

with whom

they

associated.

Impacts
the

be

roof

the

factors.

road

it

circle

of

loitering

site's

some

suggested
eligible

for

on the

analysis
the

in

appear

low

good
to

visibility

protection
flats

archaeological

Artifact

are

from

be
and

vandalism,

the well.

dugouts
for

recent
The

give

tracts

features

are

previous

to the National

research possibilities.

155

rare,

research

of the features may support the

further
information to the little

site.

based on these

and

The

would
sites.

Register,

giving

the

possibilities.
functions
that
is

contribute
This
under

given
known
to

site

Criterion

the
is
D,

JiAR-..:O U
HAR-065

10,

Ti5S,

Speed

covers

R8E

Test

in

into

excavated

on

fragments,
and

the

Track

excavated

the

white

the

1940s

when

became

land,

which

Adxem.t.is.ex
house built
this

it

borders

on

the

occurred

in

Subsequent

records

in

Basin

water
total

source

this
The

Lake

stated

land

in

of

was

the

1,

10,

12,

that

it

and

ceramic
buckets

filed

on

until

references

Sands

Lakes,

1910,

when

were

by
the

to

the

discovered.

the

XQ___nJy

had recently
No further

had a ranch
information on

refer

to

the

Lakes.

In

the

late

good

quality

and

point,
was

had

refilled

Taylor

surrounding
14

3000

but

in

1923

in

1938 but

quantity

the lake
had been

it

dried

held a
called

up.

did not

of

The

mention

and

for grazing

additional

dugouts

depressions

Domain

Several

W.H.
Gardner
of the Lake.'

producing

one

brothers
land

used

High

various

never

Public

HAFB.

White

also

at

occurred.

11,

two

glass

scraps,

the stock.
According to the Aguilars,
volume of 45,000 square feet of water.
It

federal

15

Grazing

the water

in

T15S,

only between

acre

allotment

permit

to

source,

R8E.

3000

including

This

October

use

southern

and March.

approximately

12

acres

sections
allotment

They had an

miles

northeast

the lake.
According

ranchers

had

A nephew of
in

round

of

of

three

the

found.

for

Aguilars

was

of

of

Section

Luis Aguilar, two brothers who had been ranching

since 1914, used the land around White Sands Lakes
and horse grazing range.
White Sands Lakes was a

water

Bottomless
how

consists

of

and

cattle

natural

This

November

was

west

include
tin

remained

announced that
on the banks

SEl/4

hardware.

part

Pete

and

kettles,

1930s,
for

it

individual

the

dunes

the

plain,

site

Artifacts
tea

in

flood

sand

Background.
and

first

Draw

The

and construction

homesteaders,

meters

67).

flat.

tubs,

Historical

The

square

Allen

(Figure

wash

cans,

25,200

to

the
the

the

lakes

Aguilars'
fenced

Aguilars,

range

off

Clovis

into
B.

inspection
pasture

Aguilar,

forms,

for the

remembered

the

stock.

swimming

the

lake when he was younger.6

No further
information could be

located
Clovis

approximately
Aguilar

stated

100
that

meters
the

found concerning

north

brothers

156

of

the

camped

Lake.
on

the

the

dugouts
Although

range

when

00

CC
CC

S~ll

Sand Dunes

Figure 67

mN

HAR-065
Secondary Highway,
hard surface

FEET

11.5 deg
Declination

157

="=

Light Duty Road,

hard or improved surface

Cno

Stream, lake: Intermittent

6000

working
location

with
than

the

stock, he could not

"west of Tularosa".7

be

more

specific

as

to

the

Feature Associations.
The function of the dugouts,
which
are 240 meters apart, could not be determined (Figure 68).
Both
are about 32'x 16'
(lOx5m) in size and each has a 6'x 6' (2x2m)
depression
located
approximately
20 meters
southwest
of the
features.
The other 6'x 6'
(2x2m)
depression is
located 100
meters
southwest
of
Feature
2.
Very
little
construction
materials exist at the features to suggest any of them may have
had roofs.
These features may have been dugout houses and the
smaller depressions may represent privies.
The artifact
assemblage,
which is
scattered mainly around
the two dugout features, suggests a fairly
permanent occupation.
Items such as tea kettles, wash iubs, lard buckets, enamel pots,
and Mason jar fragments, are evidence of domestic activities,
and
a hand plow, a rake, harness parts, and barbed and chicken wire,
suggest
both
farming
and
livestock
operations.
The
only
diagnostic artifacts,
purple glass
fragments,
support a date
around the turn of the century which may coincide with Gardner's
possible occupation.
Most of the artifacts
appear to be much
more recent, however.
The remains of an old gate located at the eastern edge of
the site
are the only evidence of the fence which the Aguilars
had erected.
The gate consists of two posts and some rusted
barbed wire.
One of the posts has a hinge nailed to it.
A new
fence line runs just east of this gate.
Impacts and Recommendations.
Disturbance
to
the
site
includes
erosion
on the
edges
of the
features
and
surface
collecting.
The HAFB Archaeologist recently returned the plow
which had been taken from the site. 8
The site's
proximity to the
High Speed Test Track make it susceptible to further vandalism.
Because
little
is
known
about
the site,
archaeological
research may divulge some information.
The site is
potentially
eligible to the National Register under Criterion D, based on its
archaeological research potential.

158

co

03

r..

00

w)

a.4

4Z

159

NON-SITE RESEARCH

When Area
of

was

Euro-American

exception

of

one

surveyed
historic

fragment

Office survey map

in

AREAS

November,

occupation
of

dated 1882

purple

had

1993,

was

found,

glass.

indicated

no

the

S.

evidence
with

General

Jones

the
Land

ranch

in
the vicinity.
Upon closer examination,
it
is
believed
that the ranch may have been located between 200 and 300
meters south, in the center of .the
confluence of Malone and
Carter draws, and outside the survey boundaries.
Despite the
fact that an archaeological site
was not found, research was
conducted on the tract of lan'd on which the site might have
been located.
Unfortunately,
no further information could be
found concerning the occupation of S. Jones, which was around
the time Anglos first
began arriving in
the Tularosa. Basin.
These newcomers often brought large herds of cattle and horses
and settled wherever they could find an adequate water source.
Jones may have been one of these cattlemen,
but he did not
file
an entry on the land and can be classed as a squatter.
Twenty five years later, in April 1907, Albert N. Barrett
filed a homestead entry on a 160 acre tract encompassing the
SEI/4 SEI/4 of Section 11, the NWI/4 NWI/4 of Section 13, and
69).2
R8E (Figure
Tl6S,
in
the N1/2 NE1/4 of Section 14,
Barrett had forced Frank W. Gurney,
Jr.
to relinquish this
tract by filing
a contest claim against him. 3
A little
over a
year later, Barrett realized he had made a mistake when filing
his own entry.
Barrett believed he had filed on the SEI/4
NE1/4 of Section 14 which contained mainly bottom land in
Carter Draw, and he had fenced the land he thought he entered.
When another settler,
Kenneth Ellerton, brought a surveyor out
to mark off his desired tract, Barrett found he had mistakenly
chosen the NWI/4 NEl/4 instead of the SEl/4 NEl/4 of Section
14,
the latter
of which had been included within his fence.
He quickly sent a letter
with a sworn statement explaining his
predicament,
professing his ignorance
of surveying
to the
General Land Office and asking for his entry to be changed to
enclose the SEl/4 NE1/4 and to discard the NW1/4 NEI/4 of

160

R R
EE

4200

..... ....

-....

.......
........

4010

...... .....

Figur

..........

.....
N....
Paten
AlbertBarrett'.Homested.
......

0~..

....

6000.

FEE

Contour
Intrva
.. 50Fet...uidig
11.5..de.
Declination...

...
....

..
Sero d
.H........
har
ra...e ...
-~~~.
LghtDuy..ad
..
ha.or.povd.uf

Section

14.

Barrett

on a Gypsum Mesa
Apparently
and

the

ignorance

tract

and

patent.
valuable

GLO

and

file

believed

the

latter

allowed

on

the

Barrett's

him

to

valuable

40 acres

Approximately
agricultural

65% of
land

pleas

"lies

relinquish

innocence

the

worthless

40

acre

tract

1908,

Barrett

$1.25

per

paid

Barrett's

in

of

August

In
Homestead Act.
160 acre homestead and

Additional
his entire
5

complained that
worthless."4

and is

the

final
bottom

under
acre

for

patent

of

the

commuted

both

his

included

Malone

and

Carter

draws.
In 1908,

When he
x 16'

moved to

house

showed
13,
of

his

hay

from

house

Tl6S,

four

the

on

The
in

barbed

the

added

property

doctor

from

he

bought

map

by

SEl/4

one

room,

Ellerton's

NWl/4

One

NWl/4

Barrett

pastured
stock
in
the
harvesting. 9
Oddly, tax assessments

witness
field,

on

14'

surveyor
of

Section

well

fence.

Missouri.

and 80 cultivated
surrounded his hay field

and

wire

old

Basin,

squatter.?

Barrett

his

strand

Tularosa

situated

R8E.

64 year

was

Barrett

acres
with

indicated
probably.

Barrett's

land

that
after

between

1909 and 1911 indicated improvements valued at only $75

$30 worth of horses and/or mules only in
1911.10
Barrett's

and

personal

his

possessions,

cultured

character,

but his

By

the

which

Just one week after

a 75 volume library,
for $180.11

on

seems

1912,

improvements

his

and

his

and

had

dropped

Lucretia

to

of

again
in

the

proof, he
household

frontier.
mortgaged
furniture

estimated to be worth
1 2
to only $15 in'value.
a

his

doctor
land for

$75.14

Jackson

land almost exactly a year

of
Pattawatomie
County,
improvements
Potts,
living

on

later

to C.D.
Kansas.1 5

increased to
Idaho at this

added
some
land jumped

Nevertheless,

County,

$240,

in
the Sacramento
$4000 to Frank P.

The new owner may

have
because the value of the

improvements

wife

misplaced

indicated

land was

Hitchcock
(Table
8).13
improvements to the land
$480

hand,

filing
his commutation
a piano and all
his

In
October
1912,
Barrett,
Mountains town of Weed,
sold

to

other

Hitchcock

Missouri,

Kelty
The

sold

the

and Harry Potts

value
of
the

$100.16
In
1918,
Kelty and
time,
sold the land to D.C.

Woods.17

Woods
King
Weed,

Woods,

was

the

early

New Mexico

son

of

pioneers
in

1886

William
of

Henry

Otero

but moved

162

and

County.

Sarah
He

to Alamogordo

Elizabeth

was
when

born

in

Charles

Table
raaator
Albert

of Albert

Ownership

8.

Gr.a

____

Barrett

Homestead.

Barrett's

4/23/07

HE

8/26/08

CM

$180

8/28/08

HP

$150

Albert Barrett

J.L.

USA

Albert

USA

Albert Barrett

12/14/08

HP

$50

Frank Hitchcock

10/18/12

WD

$4000

Frank Hitchcock Kelty & Potts

10/23/13

WD

$1.00"

Harry Potts

Albert

Barrett

Lawson
Barrett

C.D.

Kelty

2/14/17

Woods

2/7/18

WD

$1.00-

Grant

C.D.

Kelty

D.C.

D.C.

Woods

Ellen

Woods

5/8/70

WD

Grant

Ellen Woods

David

C.

10/13/73

WD

Grant

David C.

Woods

Joan

Pilcher

2/24/81

QD

David C.

Woods

Jean

Davis

2/24/81

QD

Woods

Jean Davis

USA

5/6/88

WD

$50,000

Joan Pilcher

USA

9/7/88

WD

$50,000

*See

acronym

list

on page

xiii.

"Grantors were not required to list

they

sold their

land,

minimum figure.

Eddy

enticed

Many

his

but

it

was

the

necessary

simply stated

father

to

exact

help

price

to list

for which
some

$1.00.

develop

the

new

headquarters

for the
El Paso
and Northeastern
Railway
at Alamogordo.'
Besides being a stockman,
D.C. Woods also served the railroad
as a machinist in
the property from

his later
years. 1 9
1918 through 1988.

United States

use

for

of

Holloman

Air

The Woods family owned

They deeded it
to the
Force

Base

in

September

1988 as a result of Civil Action #394.20

Woods'
stepdaughter,
Wanda Jean Davis, believed he had never lived on the land. 2 1
Although Woods
owned approximately
50 head of cattle
and
approximately 3000 head of sheep, there is no written evidence
that his stock ever grazed on the land either. 2 2
Recommendations.
Additional maps have been discovered
which better identify the location of the homestead.
Further
survey should be conducted on the south side of Carter Draw to

163
A

attempt

to

find

archival

research

Area
which

was

though
this

of

later

It

be needed

will

is
if

not

felt

the site

is

for

survey

J.L.

Burns'

several

pieces

occupations

based

house
of

of

in

area

on

the

purple

the

that

miles

south

GLO

1909

area.

glass,

have

further

found.

seven

approximately

chosen

indicated

exception

site.

located

11,

Alamogordo,

this

of
plat

With

it

the

appeared

totally

as

obliterated

early residence.
The

first

mention of

J.L.

Burns

indicated

that

he

was

the

Reverend of the M.E.

(?)
Church,
and he located a homestead
near Dog Canyon in
the vicinity
of Camp City.
He had moved to
early 1907.2
in
Indian Territory,
Otero County from Bokoshe,
Burns

apparently

did

not

file

Office because no record of

to the R.H.
Pierce Company
two

horses,
and he
Morgan who also

Joe

Reverend
Otero
broken

land

grown,

owing

moved
near

his

until

the

located

north
to

it

to

this

head

township],
In

the

only

after

to

mortgage
at least

the

but

return
It

land,
a

of

crops

1909,

their

a
in

deal

much

Burns
"ranch"

unknown

there

is

Stock

Raising

Singleton's
house

livestock

not

to

is

living

good

of

for

how

long

time.

filed

Burns'

"a

middle

this

1930.6
of

surveyor,

October.

off

where

Betty

lived

interest

1959.9

GLO

making

Land

no

house
was

and

evidence

Homestead

(HAR-086)

situated.
had

of
was

Singleton

up

to

20

acres

at some point during his proof period.

It
is
the tract
of land encompassed in Area 11 served only

probably
1/3

in

grazing land.
In
1950,
Singleton

sold

the

cultivated
possible
as

of

with

A chattel
Burns had

trouble

the

Singleton
in

10

to

area

moved

tract

ran

up

having

Mesilla

the

William

on

was found.
suggests that

following

in

Burns

it

drouth."4

to

the

remained

entry

the

family

After
use

located

to

Shamrock

Burns

was

According
[is

homestead

and his sons did construction work

homesteaded in the Camp City area. 3

Burns

County.

his

The

in

Dare
the

each to
land

sold

was

the

land

Douglass
Singleton

Fred
further

in

to

1952.8

house,

and Elsie

granted

Hansen,

subdivided

164

Clyde

at

Pierce,

who

Douglass,

who

an

undivided

and

John J.

some

point

Poe

in

between

1961 and 1963 and the western 825 feet of the NW1/4 NE1/4 of
Section 7, T18S, RlOE, was sold to Marvin Green.
According to
appraisal
reports,
Green used his land
(Tract
56)
as an
automobile collection yard.
He had a mobile home, a garage, 2
sheds, a hay shed, and horse pens on the 15 acres he owned.
He also had a well drilled in 1965.
Much of the tract had
been cleared of all
vegetation and a county road provided him
with access to his house.' 0
The remainder of the land was sold by John Poe of Texas,
to E.T. and Dolores Moya in August 1963.11
Moya had a frame
and stucco house and a lumber barn on the property (Tract 57)
in 1988.
He also had a 265 foot deep well.
According to the
COE files,
Moya was confused as to when he and his family had
vacated the property.
He told one person they had moved to
California in
1970 but their son resided on the land while
completing high school.
He also mentioned they used the house
as a vacation home "off & on".
Yet Moya had told another
individual they had not lived in
the home
since 1967
or
1968.12
In 1988, the federal government purchased the land in
these two tracts in conjunction with the Douglass (Water) Well
Field.I'3
Recommendations.
HAFB burned these structures in a 1990
Fire
Department
exercise
because
they
presented
a safety
4
hazard.1
The burnt remains of two lumber structures enclosed
by woven wire fences,
a collapsed septic tank or well,
and
some recent garbage are all
that is left
at Moya's residence.
Mobile home foundations and evidence of landscaping remain at
Green's
tract.
These
remains
are
recent
and
have
no
significance.
The area has been completely
surveyed
and
substantial evidence of the early occupation was not found.
No further work is recommended.

This tract
was chosen for survey because a 1908 GLO Plat
indicated "Bert Harris Ho[use]"
in this vicinity.
The house
was located just east of the Alamogordo to San Andres Canyon
wagon road and a secondary road ran just below his house as
well (Figure 70).1
Some historic artifacts,
such as a tobacco

165

tin,

tin

the

survey

cans,

and

but

sheets
no

of

corrugated

evidence

occupation was noted.

Henry B.
Harris filed
Section 31,
T17S,
RiO

of

Desert

tin,

were

permanent

Land entry

found
or

on

during

temporary

the NEl/4

of
23,
1907
(Figure
71 ).2
About
all
that
is
known about
Harris
is
that
he ran
for
sheriff
on the Socialist
ticket
in
1908,
and he had property
in High Rolls on which he operated a shingle mill. 3
Harris
did
not
prove
up
his
entry,
allowing
another
Harris,
Walter R.,
also from High Rolls,
to file
an entry on
on

February

the

S1/2 NE1/4 and SI/2 NWI/4 of Section 31,

Tl7S,
R1OE on
February 1911 (Figure 72 ).
Walter proved up this
homestead in
1913.4
He
informed
the GLO that
he
had
squatted
on
the
unsurveyed land as early as August 1907 and had put in
a 100
foot well.
According to Harris'
testimony,
he established
a
residence and built
a 16' x 18'
frame house
on
this
land in

"-

L
Q)~~

,.- .....

ffr

"....

,/

....--.

..

,,.

L'I

"- "
'..
,

N*
'

'

g .

v S
t_ _
_ "166'
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
;
1,,
. Har
S
w.,
-iMiles
"
.

se
..
0"
Ho
r
Ha
Showing"
Fla
GL
/
70
C
Figure"'
N,
-

.
..-

'

..

-ous,

00

24200

T 17 ST 185S

..
...
...
............. ..... ....
...
..
.....
.... ....
....
..
..T..

..
.

17

Ti1

Figure 71.

mN

Bert Harris Land Entry

Secondary Highway,
hard surface
--

0
11.5 deg

FEE
FEE

Contour Interval 40 Feet

Declination

167

6000hard

6000Stream:

Light Duty Road,

or improved aurface
Intermittant

R
9 0

C.4200

T 17 S

18

Sc31T

Ti

420

IIR

9 0
E

Figure 72.

mN

Walter Harris Homestead Patent

Secondary Highway,
hard surtace

--

FEE

6000hard

Light Duty Road,

or improved surface
Stream: Intermittant

11.5 deg
Declination

Contour Interval 40 Feet

M6

January

1908.

He
less

a little

and

survey plat.
a tract

best

shows

of

the

Ho[use]"

William

in

1908
GLO

1908

in

the area
a

Wells,

farmer,

the

SWl/4 of Section 31, approximately

where the survey has the house plotted.

assumption,

therefore,

been

slightly

inaccurate

have

actually

been

and

farther

is

the

that

the

Harris

south

than

survey

and

Wells

shown

on

lack of evidence of any kind of residence in

which covered most of the N1/2 NEi/4, support

may

the

the
this

1/4
6

have

houses

may

map.

The

survey

area,

assumption.

on the N1/2
filed
Reynolds
31,
Tl7S,
RlOE,
in
January

Virginia
Furthermore,
N1/2 NWl/4 pf Section

and

corn

and

with

"Well's

However,

on.

in

southwest

mile
The

up

correlate

not

This map also

proved

patented

does

information

This
Harris

planted 17 acres of cane

5
every year afterwards.

NEl/4
1915.

Reynolds owned property a half

mile north on which she ran a
dairy (see
HAR-014 & HAR-054).
Her entry was cancelled
in
7
her death.
1921, five years after
In
the

1929,

land.

same

yet another
He

filed

property

as

individual,

Stock

Reynolds,

John W.

Raising

as

well

Gentry,

Homestead

as

the

filed

entry

S1/2

on

on

NWl/4,

the

NWl/4

NWl/4-of Section 29,

and the SWl/4
RlOE. 8
The Gentry family came to

SWl/4 of Section 20 Tl7S,

New Mexico from Texas in

1902

area

and

ranched

Mountains.9
Basin

in

There

is

was
is

It

is

order
no

in

the

Pinon

possible

Gentry

to

get

evidence

cancelled

in

administered

winter

he

1936.

ever
The

filed

land

on

the

on

grazing

lived

in

this

land
the

remains

land

for

land

in

Sacramento
his

and

BLM

in

the

stock.

his

entry

ownership

but

by HAFB.

Recommendations.

It

seems

that

the

GLO

survey

plat

was

inaccurate and the Harris

House
referred
to was
actually
located farther south.
This land is
privately owned.
No
further work is recommended.

Argea2J.
An
of

1882

ranch

General

near

Land

Office

the confluence

of

plat

Dillard

drainage in Section 13, Tl7S, R8E. 1

to locate the remains of this ranch

169

indicated
Draw

the

and

presence

an unnamed

No survey was conducted

because its
location is

now

completely

obliterated

and

covered

by

HAFB's

Cantonment

of the ranch
an entry on
his tract and was considered a squatter on the Public Domain.
The first
documented entry on the land occurred in 1917
when Henry D. Franklin filed a Stock Raising Homestead entry
on the NWI/4 of Section 18,
T17S,
R9E; and the NEI/4 of
Section 13,
and the SEl/4 of Section 12,
both in T17S,
R8E
(Figure 73).3
According to Franklin's family biography,
he
came to Alamogordo from Tennessee in 1913 and desired to get
into
the
cattle
business.
He
bought
a
homestead
relinquishment with a house,
tank, and windmill, five miles
northwest of the town to get started. 4
The tract
was just two
miles north of the Las Cruces-Alamogordo highway, bordering on
the south side of Dillard Draw.
The entry was suspended in
November 1917 and the case closed two months later.
Franklin filed another entry on a portion of the same
tract, "but soon the open range he expected to use was. bought
up and fenced,
thus changing his plans."5
By January 1920,
the second entry was suspended and cancelled.
A Department of
Interior examiner did not indicate any improvements on the
land claimed by Franklin on a map completed in early 1918.6
However, Minnie McNatt, who had a homestead in sections 21 and
28,
said the Franklins lived nearby. 7
In
September of the
following year,
Robert Lester Nichols filed on the S1/2,
NW1/4, W1/2 NEl/4 of Section 13; and the S1/2 SW1/4 of Section
12,
T17S, R8E.
The GLO cancelled Nichols entry in December
area.
The surveyor's notes attribute ownership
to a S.F. Sumner. 2
This individual did not file

1926 .8

The fact that so many entries were filed on this tract

indicates the presence of a good water source at that time, a
necessity for survival in
the arid Tularosa Basin.
These
entries covered valuable land in Dillard Draw, which has since
been diverted to the east of HAFB.
Because none of these men
proved up their entries,
the State of New Mexico chose the
land as an "in
lieu" selection in 1932.
The first
surface
lease went to A.A. McNatt,
who held the lease until he sold
the ranch to his son
C.A. "Sam" McNatt in 1940.
Sam had the
lease until 1942 when Civil Action #453 led to the immediate
suspension of all state and federal grazing leases in the area
withdrawn for the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range (See

170

.........
0......
0.

HAFB

. . .. .

Cantonment.Are

_______

_____

Figure

..

__._

73..

.........

c.1

Henr FraklinLandEntr

S.condary..i.hway

.ard.sur.ac

a~~
11.5....
Declinat.ion

FEE
.X
.".tr.a..a.e.I.erm.tte.
Inera 50 Fee
Cotu
e...

171 . ...

600
...

ightDutyRoad
har or improved.surface

HAR-064

&

LA

103411

for

more

information

on

the

McNatt

Ranch.)'
Recommendations.
HAFB's
been

Any

obliterated.

headquarters
several
down.
on
the

once

survey,

county

his

homestead,

May

of

the NWl/4
in
which

of

be

homesteaded

was

one

the
the

for

learned

has

since

fields
out
a

over
school

been
was

torn

located

distinguishing

acre

school
that

in

had

20

school
all

the

Camp

time

in

of
that

"4

172

southwest

corner

Walthall,

the

of May

deserve

be

of

who

tract
to
school. 3
22,

modernly

enrolled

the

1909,

great

neighborhood ....
will

37).
The deed
to the
County

for the

new

and

records,

William

neighbors

to 25 pupils

Walthall

historical

sold

age

community

community

very

the

City

the

reserved

building

that

from
to

Otero

school

on the

(HAR-051),

his

in

built

County Advertiser

house

the

R1OE (See Figure

was transferred

been

rooms

so quickly

was

the

the

1910

Superintendent

for

According

Otero

the

of

year,

miles

T17S,
tract

and

School

space

next term of school.

Walthall community are

country.

that

growing

a new school

By

in

to the

lack

same

located

land

constructed
is

when

Walthall

credit

the

Alamogordo.

the

According
"W.L.

that

located.

this

Woollens,

stated

difficulty

County

enough

of Section 19,
the one
acre

not

well

schoolhouse

the

town was

approximately

schoolhouse

could

about

find

space

south

the

spreading

but

this

of

the

the

not

In

created more

the

1909,

Apparently,

children.

miles

because

concern

could

of

informant
of

long

recommended.

dump

location

have

by

refuse.

January

expressed
County.

of

An

covered

improvements

is

trash

evidence

primarily

currently

south

that

definite

origins

mile
is

in

is
of

work

meters.

stood

No

In

1/4

building

thousand

area

evidence

No further

Approximately

house

This

Cantonment.

It
for

Such people as those of

the kind who build up a

One week later, the school directors,

including Walthall and
the namesake of Camp City, chose Miss Zada Martin
S.D. Camp,
as the new teacher. 5
In late June, the final touches were
being added while talk centered around the possibility of
Alamogordo School District #1 being divided. 6
By the time of
the 1910 census taking, Walthall School was a part of the Camp
City District #15.
The Walthall School was like most rural schools.
It
also served
provided not only an education for the young; it
as the community social center.
The year 1910 proved to be a
highlight with school
programs,
socials,
and box
suppers
bringing the community together. 7
It is unknown how long the school remained in operation.
A pamphlet of the School Districts assembled in 1913 makes no
mention of the school,
but the following year, Miss Dillard
Blankenship was chosen to teach a term there. 8
She may have
been the last teacher because, shortly thereafter, most of the
homesteaders left
the area.
In 1919, the members of the Board
of Education decided to bus the two children still
living in
the old Camp City District into Alamogordo.
This gave them
"the advantage of high school work", which the Valmont school,
where they had been attending, could not provide.
A.T. Edge
received the bus contract
that year,
and in
1921,
Carrie
Woollen, who had purchased the Walthall homestead in 1914, got
the job.9
It seems as though the Walthall community undertook the
school project on their own and the Board of Education had no
hand in it.
In the early decades of the 20th century,
the
Board usually let
contracts for building schools to the lowest
bidder,
then
sold discontinued
school
buildings to
the
highest bidder.
They
rented
unused
schools
for
living
0
quarters as well.'
The fact that the Board did none of these
things with
the
Walthall
school
suggests
that
it
was
a
separate entity from the county Board.
In
fact, when the
federal government
condemned the land in
1956,
there were
questions as to who owned it.
The Assistant U.S.
District
Attorney handling the case believed that because the school
was not being used, the one acre tract "probably had reverted
to the grantor of such tract,
namely,
the unknown heirs of
Corrinne C. Willon [sic]"."1
However,
when the government

173

settled
of

the

condemnation
$50
Public Instruction
Betty

Jean

suits,
they paid
for the acre. 1 2

Johnson

claimed

moved out to their

farm in the
the school remained standing. 1
south
which

only

two

scattered

When
1981,

in

the

area.

He

of

gypsum

bricks

very

feet

well.

building in
a clean
there.14
working

Although some
very

little

been

the

0s,

that

Boles

only
time,

more

Taylor

the area.
to recent
stated

family

the

walls

all

the

to

not

too

tied

no

site

field

wire

of

land

and

site.
on

long

aqua glass
to

be

military

done

in

form

Ranch,

interested
him

is

house.

Taylor

who

he

were

was

area

no

has
and

research

Historically,
of

interviews

recommended

has

found,

house

The

the

started

development

there

One

was

destroy

school

school

presence.

house

withstand

after

the

its

to

recorded.

the

lay

not

fragments
the

was

continual

desks

been

long

to

source

is

active

in

Mr.
Taylor was made,
but due
to an interview, although he
at

later

date.

Further

should be made.

crew

for HSR discovered a small fenced enclosure

an area approximately 200 meters southwest of
headquarters.
The
enclosure
consists
of
a
post fence,
and nothing is
within it.
Very

information

presence

by
with

be

contact

did

up mission

be

old

school

appointed

could

would

the

it

Archaeologically,

the

while surveying
the well field

grave

so

An attempt to contact
surgery, he was not up

he

attempts

that

and

about

of

stated

of

was

impacted

research
out

pieces

Mendez

associated

further

and

could

dumping.

potential

high

and therefore,

heavily

refuse

19

By

purple

that

discovered,

little

Albert Mendez,
who has worked at the
first
saw the building the walls stood

three

weathering

woven

early
3

to

constructed

Don

when

Superintendent

of the Boles'
farm had been abandoned,
and Camp City,
had been renamed Shamrock and then Valmont,
had also

been abandoned.
well fields
since

find

that

the

could
Betty

the

land

be

found

Jean

while

regarding

Johnson
the

174

Boles

did

what
not

resided

appears
remember
there

to

be
its

between

1942-1957,

suggesting

acquired the land.'

time employee at the
a

set

of

twins.

it

was

erected

Albert Mendez
well fields
that
No

further

since

the

military

had been told

by a long
it
was the grave site
of

information

could

be

found

to

verify this statement.

The enclosure was recorded as an isolated occurrence by

the HSR crew.
It is far enough from the road that it
likely
will not be disturbed by vandalism.
There may be potential to
find out more about the graves from Don Taylor.
Further
research should be conducted in that direction.

175

176

DISCUSSION
A wealth
encountered
sample
and
HAFB),

of information

during
restrictive

the

applicable

studies

could
as

of

the

they

have

repetition.
answers

Not
to

which owns

the

to

the

project

are

only

and

become

patterns

clearer

of acreage

With

similar

these

for

and

(i.e.

immediately

smallest amount

the

was

limited

area

in
the Tularosa Basin.
by WSMR and Fort Bliss,

would

in

been

questions

does

this

the

more

topic

Several
Table

corresponding

site

descriptions

site

numbers.

will

three

Tularosa

useful

on

of

the

the most

used

This will

at

access

are

list

overlap.

allow

readily

names

provides

provide

it

to

to

separately

method

questions,

particular

dicsussion.

proved

discussed below

research

information.

research
only

the

interested

site

the

below

synthesized,

whole,

due

questions

basis.

Many
result,

of

discussed

agencies
conducted
be

the research

However,

boundaries

to Holloman,

federal
being

general

project.

patterns

of all
projects
Basin,

the

to answer

in

As
risk

a
of

adequate

researchers
the

the

those

names

aid when

referring

pertinent
following
and

their
to

the

given previously.

For
the
purpose
of
this
report,
settlement
patterns
primarily defined the location strategies
individuals
used when
determining where to reside.
Two types of settlement patterns
were researched.
First,
the location of the particular
tracts
of
land on which
factors.

settlers

filed

Secondly,

residence
relation

in

the

most

location

cases,

to environmental,
Jonathan

his late

that

Periam

settling
require

should

know

in

of

careful

the

terms
tract

economic,

and

social

up

the

new

country

thought.

something

perfect
He

about

177

of

environmental

archaeological

each

farm manual.
a

in

within

summed

19th century

"When

were noted

was

site,

studied

The
soils,

in

aspects.

location

strategy

are

things

stated,
there

or

many

intending
texture

settler
and

in

and Numbers

Names

Site

9.

Table

SitI.Tp

Site Name

Ste__..JuJb.e.

Blair's

HAR-055

Misc.

Boles'

HAR-051

Farm

Bradford's
Jewell Danley

HAR-034

Ranch

HAR-008

Ranch

Osie Danley

HAR-042

Ranch

Grant's

(also

Homestead)

Groom's

HAR-053

Farm

Hyde's

LA 103410

Farm

McKillip

HAR-019

Farm

HAR-047

Ranch

HAR'-012

Ranch

Redies'

HAR-061

Farm

Reynolds'

HAR-054

Dairy/Farm

Singleton's
West Well

HAR-086

Farm

HAR-049

Ranch Act.

C.C.

McNatt

McNatt

HQ

"old home

composition;
ground;

drainage,

summer

adaptability
be raised."I

place"

of

and
the

water

winter
land

supply,
climate,

to present

and
and

After vain attempts to

for HAFB along Periam's

determine definitive
line of reasoning,

that

the

water

only major
Doty

sources
factor

Freeman,

in

arid

in

terms

of

study

of

in

above

future

Basin

location

historic

the

below

general
crops

settlement
it
has to be

Tularosa

site

and

to

patterns
admitted

constituted

the

strategies.

habitation

Martha
on

McGregor

Guided Missile Range,

which is
located south of HAFB within
eastern portion of the Basin and on the western slopes of
Sacramento
settlement
primary
area.

provides
of

the

economic

Mountains,
patterns.

reason

for

This

is

that

the

the
true

indicated water as the main element of

believed that
lack of water was
the

small
for

number

HAFB,

limited number

traditional
activity

also
She

use
in

which

the
the

as

sites

is

its

sites

is

the

land

for

people

could

of

of

of

178

in

such

corollary,
basically

engage

in

which
the

ranching,

large

the

the arid

result
only
Basin.

In
other words,
water,
dictated
area,
how

as

well

the

environmental

the

as

economic

how many

they were distributed

With

property
correlation

this
units

in

people
it

namely

viable

could

within
mind,

conditions,

activities

in

survive

in

to

that

lack

of

particular

that

area

and

it.

is

easy

see

the

in
the study area exhibited specific
with the natural environment,
or more

choice

patterns

in

specifically,

water
be it

(figures 74 & 75).

All take in
some type of water source,
a deep cut arroyo with a perennial stream, a spring, or a
shallow drainage which originates
in the mountains and gradually
sinks
interior

into the
Basin,

much

of

the

permeable
soils
settlers
chose

water

source

of the alluvial
long narrow tracts

as

possible

while

flats.
to
at

In
take

the

the
in
as

same

time

remaining congruent with original

survey subdivisions.
Examples
are Grant's and Redies'
land entries
which gave them full
use of
.8
and 1.8 miles of arroyos respectively,
purchase which provided him with .8 miles
examples

include

Red Arroyo,
only

1/4

surface

and

mile

Hydes

Bradford's

along

ponds

At the
appreciable

the

Lost

covering

well field
drainage

bringing

subsurface

and

selected
areas,

for
of

arable
exist

but

As

use.

The

state
Other

who

chose

land

which included

also

spring

tracts

along

which

not

created

1 acre.
each
through

160
it

acre tract
had one
which
could
have

during the rainy season

area, however,
was the

waters

to

the

early

water

which may have

surface
as

and spring thaw.

relative
ease of

through

1907,

the

the

land

use

of

south

of

have shallow subsurface waters

in
terms of which lands they

quality

may

accounted

have

differed

in

some

for early abandonment

of

the

sites.
addition
to

In

scrip

been determined to
influenced settlers

however,

several

River,

properties,
coursing

windmills.

Alamogordo had
which probably

Dillards

40 acre

almost

provided running water

More important in
this
wells

and

and McNatt's
of Malone Draw.

lands

within

without

some

farming

and

most

the
to

a
a

proximity
tract,

former.

supplement

raised

gardens

and

to

water

technically

Even ranchers
the diet
for

is

of

their

an
the

were

inclusion
latter

required

can
to

of
not

conduct

stock during winter months

own
consumption
as
well.

Therefore,
ranchers and farmers alike
required an adequate amount
of arable land or land capable of irrigation
on which to produce
a profitable
crop.
The tracts
in
the interior
Basin included
portions

of

draws

in

which

the

residents

179

cultivated

feed

crops

.. ........-..

.....-

..

..

HAR-063

......
...
.... ~~'

HAR-042*
.......

A R-012

*.:::x::,H

/*

rer

5 5

HAP~HAR-047

.....
A~~~~~~~~~
.

........

1.5..
deg . .
De..lina...ion

...

F.gure.....
atrn0nth6nei1
Seteen
MILES.
Conou..neral100Fet..Lih.Du...ad

.......

ai
Secondary.......way.
hard.....ur...a...
hard.r..m.ove..urlac
Stea..a.et.er..e.

80

Figure75.

BlsAcr

"0

IES3hrdo

--

igtDuy5od
prvdsufc

CotorRntra02054e

Cam

11.5

Stemityemttn

de05

De MNato

PrmayHihwy

and

gardens

with

were

productive

either

irrigation

the

aid of

under

flood waters.

normal

or dry

climatic

patterns.

(i.e.

needs.

residences,
could put
a

sense

It

those
to

of

appears

parts

the most

of

to

the

described

to

correlate

regardless
On

settlers

property

units

still

which

strategies
The best

dictated
where

where

Ranch

dwellings

headquarters

with

both

appear

livestock

located within

to

related

have

settlers
interior

been

structures

close proximity to

compact

and

those

improvements

to his occupation might be located.

Ranching
or hand excavated wells in
the drainages of the

arrangements

they

community.

water and arable lands on a tract

might put his house and, by extension,

Basin.

their

maintaining both

of

related
drilled

the

hand,

for

First,
economical factors
for homesite location
include those discussed for prope'rty units
as a whole.
source
settler

of

the other

chose,

use while

privacy and access

of

those tracts
corresponds
to economical,
as well as

large

beneficial

tracts

the use

above

seem

owners.

that

their

with

the

water)

the

the location of the residences within

closely with important factors
relating
social,

field

techniques.

arises
from
property units

highly with environmental needs

economic activities
practiced by

well

conditions

land farming

conclusion
obvious
The locations
of

One

The

domestic

developed water

sources.
At

the

tracts

well

border

on

however,

is

that
the
80 years

locations
ago.

plat,

it

roughly
Once
be

somewhat

can
the

By
be

same

again,

guessed

used

as
the

for

and

protection

for

within

the

This

because

that

they

those

which

ease with

for surface

factors

Exposure

locations
drainages.

circumstantial

area

and

the deciding

site
runoff

there

the

settlement

located
Almost
in

the

interior
in
all

Basin
areas

house

may
are

which

have

been

near

the

subsurface

irrigation

locations

from

the

patterns

exhibit

which

livestock
draws

acre

determination,
is

in

was

no

evidence

at

the

elements
several

which

would

facilities
also

differing
at

the

provided

182

some

have

been

studies.

the

best

of

could
one

of

factors
These

do

barriers
The ranches

with a
sites

in

today.

waters
fields.

form

Basin

sites

well

patterns

provide

located

probably

not appear to apply at the well fields

where no natural
existed to ward off high winds or inclement weather.
in

160

of these drainages today are the same as those

a projection of the drainages on the 1908 GLO

however,

harnessed

postulated

fields,
small

majority

protection.
were

grazing

located
lands,

suggesting

that

protecting

the

stock

may

have

been

of

high

importance.
Six

of

northern

the

sides

Danley

of

house

draw,

C.C.

he

it,

flat,

on

the

north,

arrive.
063

built

and

the

-065,
of

provide

the

at
are

the

However,
structures

on

the

sites

appear

to

While

economic

and

to

sites

in

been

the

elements
sites

at

within

ranch

may

have

the

well

close

community

which
and

1907,

Camp

City

town"

with all

convenient

for

identified

themselves
up

Walthall

in

the

school
Camp
with

news
house

City,

items
was

provided

entertainment,

of

built,

school,
railroad

settlers

of

of

most

social

those
the

farm

sites

miles

the

study

are

south

of

area.

By

store,

stop

also

The

farm

the

community.

in

of

that
a

names
Once

of

tighter

it

settlers

even

part

and

made

their

center,

and

little

grocery

many

social

education,

be of
to

and

for
new

had
over

and prosperous

travellers.

the

City/Shamrock/Valmont

south

column

to

for

11

City,

for

draws

access

many

"thriving

Camp

of

none

seem

of

the

factor

not

upland

habitations.

Camp

as

with

would

prophetically,

relevant

and

facing

experienced

approximately

freighters

HAR-

fortunate."

of

Basin,

the

location

at

was

the
is

probably

term

amenities:

Its

get

edges

4 miles

necessary

would

south

elements
can

interior

low hillock

locations

crops

location

considered

house,

dugouts

the

the

upland

winds

the

factors

to

approximately

office.

showed

The
located

was

the
who

for

long

most

coldest

into

an

second

by

and

and

the

on
a

as

environmental

fields.
was

location

the

Perhaps

had

proximity

Alamogordo

post

have

but

built

southern

winds.

draw,

in

in

weather.

land

uplands

the

such

"He

the

north

importance

area

on

cold

he

from

lying

low

and

Both

the

stated,

cold

these

than

from

Osie

winds

also

respectively.

The

high

shielded

sites,

the

located

which

on

were

to

slope

underground

sites

to

was

protection

the

built

exposure

other

Periam

four

house

from

dunes,

that

and

from

gentle

protection

important,

them

When

built

sand

adequate

home

site.

located

exposure.

residence

waters,

direction

Suggesting
utmost

flood

on

Habitations

slopes

of

are

warm southern

original

exposure

was

protected

because

it

sites

Danley

McNatt's

high

however,

with

Jewell

probably

drafts.

habitation

draws,

and

which

moved

Basin

the

the

closer
study

sense

of

community.
In
roads

addition
and

to
settlers

proximity
homes

to

the

do

community,

seem

183

to

the

have

location
a

symbiotic

of

access.

In

road
the
main
Alamogordo with

to

because

mile

of the

settlers

for
the

settlers.

lived,

had

wagon

the

Several

Canyon.

these

easy

Alamogordo-Las

secondary

roads

Flats,

also

where

transportation

Cruces

either

connecting

road

Farmer's
an

along

congregated

easy

for

road

main

from

or

Alamogordo

San Andres

provided access
Hydes and Dillards
well,

many

1908,

1/4

than

more

by

never

should

residences

manual,

farm

Periam's

to

According

relationship.

the

route

highway

bisected

as
the

community.
farming settlers
to provide a

Although
were careful
well.

The distance

had
realm

between

the

to

access
of

community

privacy

houses

for

was small

they

ties,

themselves

enough

as

to bridge

when necessary, and the neighbors helped each other by posing as

witnesses to each others'
homestead proofs.
On the other hand,
settlers
in four cornering tracts
did not build their
houses in
the adjacent corners to be near each other or to create community
pastures
West

or

cultivated

fields

as

they

did

in

other

parts

of

the

.7

As

contrast,

the

ranches

had

more

distance

between

them.

This was due to varied factors.

Ranchers did not depend as much
on towns,
communities,
or neighbors because they were relatively
self-sufficient
of

the

and
marginal
and

need

abundant

accepted
ranch
she

said

which
"No
of

of

distance

separating
their

the
their

not

land

of

the

study area

about

operations

Western

not

individual range as large corporate ranches

Basin.
For example,
Oliver Lee's 300,000
the study area, made it
virtually
impossible
within 15 miles of his headquarters. 9

184

the

generally

miles

range

echoed

rule

The

between

lands

the

to have

sources.

did

carrying

rancher

coincidence."

water

low
the

15

Mexico

appear

because

especially

grazing,
New

Also,

(i.e.

none wanted--was

just

major

needs.

activities,

livestock

throughout

parts,
in

the

for

neighbors--and

these

own

southeastern

applied

near

of

their

of ranchers'

space
dictated

headquarters

six miles
orientation

nature

practice

settlement
ranch

the

headquarters.

sentiment

for

characteristics

capacity)
for

produced

in

when
the

On average,
approximately
small

require

as

family
much

in other parts
of the
acre range,
south of
for anyone

to

settle

settling

in
of

symbol

America.
status,

Americans

desire for land

led to a

government

Americans
to

get

when

of

the

it

land

land

became

westward

in

to

the

and

to
as

time

or

Basin

the

was

1880s

low,

transportation.
Squatters'

the

to

people

of

laws

to

the

preempting

improvements.
their

claims

lack

the

on

use

miles

to the southwest.

of

close

they

land was

hardship

for

continuing
greenest

early

their

Travelling

pioneers.

westward

pastures

are

in

only the improvements

A

final

retaliation
contracts
water
further
open

the

with

source
legal
range,

simply

the

filing

not

ranchers,

by

improving
and

it,

were

these

land.

These were

no

to

mercy

185

had

probably

option

been

visions

a
of

"...the

the

closest

the west,
the
another,
making

have

move.

been

profiting

fear
from

a
ranchers
the

of

claims can
Cruces,
70

the next

establishing

easy

few did so.

excuse,

until

may
who

Once

latter

and

may have

people

Throughout
location to

for

Stanton.

fences

one

Tularosa

was widespread.
they made
only

had

is

to survive

claim to the
no

ahead,"

settlers.
from

cattle

Fort

This

their

fluctuated

markets

distance

necessary

reason
by

just

these

to

the

surveyed,

other

journeys.

always

to
the
truth
for
most
perpetual movers travelled

this

Still

ever

however,

methods
the Basin.

why these settlers

did not file
on their
speculated.
The nearest Land Office was Las

be

of

them

Reasons
only

the

flaws,

competition

Although

once

laws

legislation

land

Squatting on the Public Domain

habitations
were ephemeral
because

rudimentary

of

acquire

numerous

the

had
to

land acquisition
of development in

mainly

desire

culmination

out how

land

The

and to

the

as

1862,
touted as the most
it
offered land virtually

All

1890s,

the

states.

passed

Easterners

growing

replace

The

figured

as

and

many

territory

nature

settlers.

and

due

only

it

states,

home

the

They

Homestead Act of
them all
because

own advantage.
Essentially,
with the economic periods
In

their

with

changed.

minded

passed

in

up

own name.

frontier

serious

of

owners

people,

obsolete

moving

destination

keep

people

Gradually,

eastern

into undeveloped

their

various laws was the

democratic measure of
free

to

perceived

the

in

the

property

tried

to spread out

possession

shortage

always

initiative.

and

became

the frontier
result,
who could not become
federal

work,

hard

have

for

meaning

land has held special

history,

Throughout

right

beef
to

imposed

days of

homesteaders.

of
a
no

the

true

The

land

belonged

to

the

cattle

and

new

comers

early southern New Mexico settler

"I... resulted
in
land boundary
0

killings."'
incident

One

or

the

Albert

the Tularosa

Basin

no way.
Despite

the

squatting
often

on

area
when

testified
they

depicted
probably

during

this

surveyors
the

because

often

lines

to

see

wanted

that

the

that

ranchers

things

the

their

Basin

to

Good-Lee

have

way

market.

About

its

Railroad

was
In

development

the

recorded

the

only

government

relative

same

gearing

or

ranchers,

occurred

many people

in

in

more

the

study
claims
than

those

they

could

see

they were marking.

federal
of

one

The sporadic surveys in

the area
accurate extent of these habitations

on their
available

time,

up

Stanton

after

Paso

El

construction

railroads

and the Tularosa

Fort

the

reservation.
and ranchers

the

for

Southwest,

ordered

uselessness

down to peaceful life

contracts were no longer

Mexico.

As

that
there were already houses on their
established
residence
suggests
more
squatters

1896,

abandoned

than

thought

fact

accepted.

the threat
of intruders
range wars,
and a few

of

is

The

not

further

period

Domain

documented.

the

In

no

murder

attitudes

Public

the subdivision

settled
beef

look

on GLO survey plats.

do not display the

because
from

to

stated,
squabbles,

Fountain

hostile

the

than is

needs

were

were

Basin was

result,
a ready

Northeastern

into

always

be

Mescalero

As a
lost

and

to

southern

New

synonymous

with

no exception.

In

addition

to the founding of Alamogordo and other small communities along

the route,
the railroad
company encouraged settlers
to flock to
the

available
At

to

be

the
the

lands

turn

of

best
A

settlement

of

Basin,

given

Homestead
Homestead
in

the

discussion
the

Act,
Act.

of

constituted

for
of

in

the

area

(Table

ranged

in

The

Enlarged

HAFB rarely

from

Land

Unlike

exceeded

to

specifically

Gates

and

160 acres.

186

1 2

the
of

feels

thought

that

the

in

the

include

the

Raising

was

not

the

used

ultimate

in

it
the

McGregor

Range

homesteads

on

Fifteen

the

overglorified,

acquisition
on

of

Tularosa

Stock

1909

been

of land
acres,

These

Act

have

homesteads

1280

were

the

history.
Act,

Homestead

component

40

most

Act

laws

arid
lands
important land laws

and more

Paul

Homestead

existing

remaining

background

Desert

10).11

size

the

the

major

the

the

Southwest,

the
the

Basin.

century,

the study area.

Although
historian

results

now

the

adapted

frontier.
was

in

entries

study
which

what

were

filed

is

Table

of Land Acquisition

Methods

10.

Homestead Act
Desert

all

% of

% of Entries

35%

15

60%

13%

13%

4%

100%

8%

Land Act

Stock Rasing
Homestead Act
Other
Squatters
Improvements
Federal

*No

12%

12%-

on

Land

archaeological

site

recorded

of Redies (HAR-061)
total
-The remaining research
15%)

and sites

under
this
patented.

The
to

occurred

been

other land

which

to

that

It

land

patents

commutation

between
many

correlated

timber

those

settlers

circumstances

Basin.
Because

highly

regards

suggests

entries.
due

have
in

in

patent.

was

entries

(n=2,

part
(n=4,

8%).

act,
and
nine
(60%)
were
finally
proved
up
and
Of these,
55% (n=5)
were commuted into cash payments.

especially

cases

this

land holdings.
areas included failed

located within

Commutations
evidence

on

clause

beyond

settlers,

and

and

an

their

1911,

The

Stock

lands,
were

not

specifically
of

when

Most

severe

ranchers

Homestead

their

for
entries

commutations

drought
who

little

legitimate

way

out

West,

but

enacted

control.

187

the

was

primarily

Raising

in

easy

Basin after
1913,
had previously used their
they had to find other methods of acquiring
government.

fraud

range

discussed above

needed

1908

with

moved

hit
to

the
the

homestead privilege,
land from the federal

Act

of

1916

would

have

allowed

them

classified

each
as

Therefore,
1877,

640 acres,

"stock

many

although

of

act

was
but

only

claim which

160

160 under

the

320

total.

forced
at

to request

relief

laws
The

Karrs,

Land Act

alone,

but

desert

claimants'
in

the

spread

The

law

been
square

as

the

possible,

and

his

Bert

filed,

an

160

Harris

his

in

thus

forbade

and

demanded

(i.e.

one
the

draws

to

which

to

irrigate

failed,

Basin,

file

to

the

his

Desert

so

1/4

tracts

breaking

Basin

to

acquire

the

major

as

the

water

o.n
true
be

section),

Tularosa
as

filing

proclaimed
that

about

desert

filed

in

tracts.

Yet

interior

were

much

of

the

of

the

conditions

draws
later

produce steady crops to feed livestock.

In addition,
filed
by persons known to have already used their

homestead
privilege
in
because these claimants
reason

was

efforts

lands

used

than

he

attempted

desert

acre

more

patents,

because

it

settlers

law.
While the Tularosa Basin is unquestionably arid,
the
provided adequate water in the form of floods which allowed
settlers
to
the entries

of

additional

acquire

Grant

expressly

also

entered

along

and

inspected

preferably
out

waterway

John

were

Redies

both

act

as

By law,

did not

latter

area,

final
proof.
require some speculation

It

claims

the

Act

to make

character.

five

claims

west.

received

1920.

Land

study

Homestead Act

Redies

entries

had

the

the

they

not

farming.

Charles

relinquished

failed

Desert

land

were

almost

was

on

as

Dillards,

land

they

compact,

but

motives.

until

lands

one

the

long

in

desert

This

under

also

the

failure

miserably.

brother.

ways

under

desired

mainly to irrigation

Eight

law as

failed

both

All

was

Although

agriculture

under

acres

1877

they
until

used

adjoined his homestead

could obtain
acres

settlers

patented.

lands

quality

applied

The Desert Land Act

in
much of the West.
one was

the

raising"

these

this

but

as
five

where

the
were
the

were

irrigation

vicinity
self-professed
law

immediately
suspect
ranchers and had no

required.

located
was

are

by

least

Of

the

ranchers

likely

to

in

seven
the

succeed,

claims

interior
as

Redies

discovered.
Where
Stock
in

the

Raising

ranching.
"For

the

character
So

there

Desert

Land

Homestead
As

the

has

was

of

the

condition
slowly

hoped

aimed

Secretary

lands
and

Act
of

at
the

West
and

evolved

188

to

aid

those

farmers,

people

Interior

stated

differ
degree
in

the

as
of

men

the

participating
in

1913,

do,

in

usefulness ....

public

mind

the

1916

of

conception

as much success

law had about

the

The
in

only a
entries,

ranching
by

was

the
with

Jewell

family,
law.
is

be

which

applied

Additional

to

farming,

Land Act.

that
to

little
was

irrigated
Of

interior
the

other

was

ranchers.

evidence

of

with the
when

of

the

Basin

local

cancelled

in

Singleton,

known

other

from the

methods.

scrip

individual
Office

desiring

to

put

Fred

involving

Wisconsin

land from the

through

land

in

fraud

exception

the

bombing

the entries

were

Volunteer
state

tract

the

Cavalry.

on

many

people

believed

that

of
C.C.

Soldier's

Civil

McNatt

Through

this

the land applied

to

the

auction

the

laws,

popular
used

rights

government.

to purchase
the

these

Bradford

price was $3.00 per acre and the land went

Rarely were State lands purchased for more
that

is

and

other hand,

this

(HAR-086),

the

unknown why the rest

acquiring

Homestead

to purchase

because

rate,

mostly

in

little

was

any

mentioned.

well

On the

claim,
it

to

At

the Desert

points

than

act

William

patentee,

feasible

this

entry

this

until

for

up.

addition

settlers

Land

this

created,

not proved

the

to

patented

was

testimony

appears

Danley's

range was

veteran

more

there

one

few head of livestock

six were located

Fairchild

Consequently,
connection

His

as

the area

about

the

that

ranching.

farming with
seven failed

In

fact

interesting

suggests

evidence
involved

in

only

filed,

claims

eight

1936.

of

with respect

lived.

short

was

usefulness

its

1920,

almost

filed

it

classified

was not

Basin

Tularosa

the

Because

where

used

and

fitted,

best

Government

by the

be

should

use."13

that

Of

is

it

which

be disposed of

should

land

policy--that

to

purpose

that

for

new

block.

War

chose

method,
the State

The

minimum

to the highest bidder.

than the minimum price

land

was

not

even

worth

amount.
For

the

most

part,

Basin were acquired

However,

by

1920,

the

slightly
almost

more

marginal

later
all

of

lands

than those at
the

which would be taken was in private

attempts at acquiring land after

land

in

individual succeeded (HAR-086).

Even as late
as
were trying to acquire federal lands in the Basin,

189

interior

the well

within

hands.
Only a
1920 were made

failed.

the

the
few
and

fields.

study

area

scattered
only one

1936,
settlers
but ultimately

the

tracts

only

remained

when

but

ranch,
personal

he

contract

bought

with

to

homesteaders,
the

tracts

such

and then
an

the

additional

land

longer

than

their

land

anywhere

within

the

study area

of these

same

established
C.C.

Bradford had been

sell
until
1930,
The majority
1940.
These
which were

prices.

does

economic

hold

because

whether

after

to

after

1930

Fred

and Blairs,
on adjacent

in

(62%)
place

than

recovery

felt

lands
prior

the

their

that

throughout

the

War II.

190

held

the

onto
sales

Second

owners

years.

The

McNatt,

and

longest.

Although

early 1920s, he did not

obtained the property.

actually
on the
late

occurred
well field

after
lands

1950s.

were not

deeds

gradually
to

for

result,

James

required

records,

reflected

the

to 26

the

deed

trends

from

1 year

the
he

the owners
on

sales

appear,

improved
1940

price

use

purchases to
the low turn

by 24%.

Bradford,

after

took

Other

Patentees
As

lands

sales

his

and Desert

acres.

Grooms,
filed

owner.
years.

their

but

direction.

Homestead

private
because of

them from

as

acres,
under

opposite

on

22

not taken by HAFB until

determined
that

such

of all
land
transactions

purchase
It

to

hurt financially
eleven years

Unfortunately,
exact

his

had four separate- owners

the patentee generally kept

subsequent

retained

seemed

rely
feat

tracts
and

increased

ranchers,

McNatt

price,

any
from

tracts

Few

for

wells

320

Karrs,
relatives

to

over rate.
On average,
the
within approximately 40 years,

so

80

water

both a

as
the Grants,
method in
which

land

additional

in

filed

more

buy

more

operated

After 1920, new comers had

acquire land, which was a difficult

the

land.

which,
once patented,
would provide communal
family.
Rarely did these attempts succeed.

entire

the

an

bought

Redies

acquire

family

to

producing

around

120 acres

entry

adjoining

person

Boles

HAFB.

additional

only

the

revolved

changing

attempted to add more property to their

McNatt did add 440 acres adjoining his

Luther

He purchased

tried

was

use.

motive

Land

owners

however,
tract.
C.C.

individuals,
original

his

the

of

configuration

and

use periods,

their

throughout

stable

size

the

of HAR-086,

the case

in

Except

increased
nation

can

depressed

which

time.

it

state

not

be

market

indicated

purchase

in

but more

value,

This
as

to

reflects

result

the
of World

role

The use to
in
several

The

character

patterns

of

these areas

dictated

use

land,

of

area

the

seem to be

railroad.
These
those

land

and

the

either

differences
in
the

been

this

natural
patterns

farming

or

study
the

ranching.

assoicated with mining or the

also
interior

turn,
and

seem
Basin

below

concerned.

available

most
No

in

profitable

sites

construction

affected
the
the nature
of

methods
historic

in

the

of

the

of land
sites.

to polarize sites
as to location:
were primarily devoted to ranching

well fields
on
these differences,

outlined

was

resources
and

their

determined

land

their

which

settlement

and those at the

To best illustrate
have

with

Land use,
in
land
tenure,

acquisition,

put

settlers

which

and

the

are

alluvial
flats
to farming.
the two prevalent land uses

then

compared

in

the

following

section.

of
majority
flats
of the

The
alluvial
Redies

farm on

the
well

farm
fields.

sites

the bank of Carter

discovered
were
Two exceptions were

Draw and the

Hydes'

Arroyo,
both west
of Alamogordo.
The alluvial
Sacramento Mountains probably offered the best

on

the

Charles

farm on Red

flats
of
opportunity

the
for

farming in
the Basin.
Runoff from rains
or snowfall
in
the
mountains replenished underground aquifers and narrow and shallow
surface

drainages

overly plentiful,
further

west
The

Basin

came

from

twentieth

growth.

Most

already been
into

and thus,

Indiana,

small

Farmer's
railroad

acquired,
in

chance
were

Midwestern

Arkansas,
the

headquarters

middle

to

in

was

adjacent

than the

as
the

Even the
in

1905,

to

Ohio,
first

the

Iowa,
decade

the

rapid

town

to areas partially

Basin.

flats

experiencing
to

not

farming.

had

developed

Camp City near the well

Carrizozo

was

newcomers

such

Alamogordo

directly

such as

aged

Missouri,

so they moved

the interior

water

water

for productive

states,

and

when

land

Although

provided more

a better

century

of

irrigation.

farmers

communities

Flats

for

runoff

of

who

the

this

majority

Tennessee,
of

used

fields

relocation
which

and
of

the

caused

an

economic setback for the Alamogordo area,

settlers.
All the homestead farmers in

did not deter incoming

the study area arrived

after

settlers

this

occurred.

the Basin with reports

Evidently
of abundant

191

these

farm land

were

and water.

lured

to

The farmers bought improvements from squatters, filed on 160

acre tracts through the Homestead Act, and attempted to meet the
cultivation requirements of the law.
For the most part, farms in
the study area seemed to have been single family subsistence
farmsteads.
The homesteaders generally planted no more than 20
acres to cane, corn, and vegetables, and they raised fruit
trees.
Often they allowed the few head of stock they owned to pasture in
the fields after harvest.
The only evidence of commercialism was
found on the Reynolds'
dairy around 1910 and Boles' farm in the
1940s.
It
is
possible
that
if
agriculture
had
been
more
successful,
the early farmers would have sold their produce to
the townspeople much as Boles did 30 years later.
Agriculture on the frontier in general was undertaken by
persons with little
experience in cultivating techniques or in
the environment to which they rel'ocated.
The same is true in the
study area.
Farming was conducted
by new comers who were
unfamiliar with the Basin environment.
Unfortunately,
their
inexperience in
an arid climate led to their early downfall.
Between 1908 and 1910, when most of these homesteaders were just
getting started
on their farms,
a drought hit
much of the
Southwest and devastated farmers throughout the territory.
The
homestead farmers complained of the drought being the reason they
could raise no crops.
Five out of the seven homesteaders who
established farms in
the study area reported very poor crop
returns between 1909 and 1912.
Even those farmers who turned to
others more knowledgeable about the area or the Agricultural
College could not turn their deficits around.
In essence, this
economically insecure enterprise created an unstable population.
One bad event was all it
took for most farmers to give up and
move on,
a trend which occurred
throughout
the West
during
periods of financial setback.
Although they stayed long enough to prove up, soon after
receiving their patents the farmers either returned to their home
states, like Callie Groom, James McKillip, and the Hydes, or they
moved into town, like William Walthall and Arthur Blair, where
they probably
had more
secure
jobs.
Although
these
early
homesteaders abandoned their land, many did not sell
for several
years or even at all.
The Hydes sold their tract
22 years after
they returned to Iowa.
The heirs of Groom and McKillip retained
ownership until the 1950s when the government condemned the land.

192
j

the

The initial
farmers did

the

tracts,

abandonment of these lands was permanent.

When
sell,
evidently the new owners did not reoccupy
and therefore,
it
is
unclear for what purpose the

subsequent owners purchased them.

The Parks, for example, bought
Arthur Blair's
homestead,
but not only did they have another
homestead a 1/2 mile north,
they also ran a boarding house in
town.

One

which

covered

exception

subsequent

to this

vast

owners,

Betty

For

never
Jean

further

the

and,

reason,
the

that

Well

provided

Boles
one

The
and

amount of water would

Boles discovered when

however,

no

many tracts

patent

It
would seem that
would have extended

therefore,

remarked

that

Russells,

When

Walthall's

Field.
Hendersons, Davis,

The abundant
profitable
as

whatever

Johnson

Boles

the
1940s.
Boles'
tract

prospered.

evidence

and never

in
on

boundaries

other farmers.

of

the land.
relatively

he bought
the
tract
underground reservoir

Boles'

part

the Woollens,

Boles,
resided on
have made farming

his property

short term use was

past

enough

water

to

farms

south

of

the

moved

to

lived

south

were abandoned

the

their

farm,
of

them,

relatively

early

reoccupied.

buy

In 1947,
the military
water.
Eight years

to
on

the

land.

to

Even

the

entered into a contract with Boles

later,
they filed
condemnation suits
owners of the unoccupied tracts
attempted

get compensation
for the
profitability
of water
they never
developed.
The United States Attorney successfully argued that
these people, who never put the water to beneficial use,
like
Boles,
should not be compensated or able to profit from the
Government's
Condemnation
were

paid

development
proceedings

fixed

per

of the water under lease agreements.

were completed by 1960.
Most owners
acre

rate

for

their

land,

received an additional amount as compensation

developed prior to his contract with HAFB. 1 4
According
homesteader,
shelter,

to

"the

food

Mari
three

and

farmers
tended
required by the

Sandoz,

daughter

immediate

water".

1 5

needs

Indeed,

to have
three
Homestead Act:

of

for

the

of

the

new

in

the

study

fence.
on the

money
Five
land

to
of
when

enclose
the

their

farmers

they established

Boles

water

Great

he

Plains

settler

were

area,

all

necessary
improvements
as
also
a house,
a well, and cultivated

acreage.
Usually fencing surrounded a cultivated
cattle
and other stock from ruining crops.
Many
spent

and

entire

claim

claimed

to

have

residence.

193

with

field
settlers
a

to

keep
also

barbed

wire

already

had

House

sizes

house
ranged

from

14'x

16'

there were
the

to

25'

60',

had

from

also two 2 story homes.

settlers

moved

in

tended

one

to

The homes

to be

larger,

on

seven

rooms,

and

already built

when

average

150

square

feet larger, than those homesteaders built on their own.

This
may reflect the fact that homesteaders were attempting to survive
on what little
income they could raise during the drought.
The
squatters,

on

productive
from

hand,

is

it

and

may

known

built

seasons,

produce,

hand,

little

other

agricultural

their

other

the

about

the

homes

allowing

therefore,

indicate

their
afford

family

families

them

of

more

profit

more

to

larger

size.

during

homes.

On

the

Unfortunately,

squatters

to

two

verify

this

suggestion.
Secondary

improvements

located

and
less

houses.
Windmills and earthen tanks
Although a windmill was close to a

sheds or barns
were mentioned
necessity,
the

only

chicken
often.

50% of

windmills

were

at

the farmers

associated

63% of the farm sites

said they

with

had

earthen

one,

and

tanks.

the belief,
dugouts

turned them into

afforded.
More

when a frame
structure
improvements were
related

income

of

milking

the

root cellars
specialized

residents.

sheds.

For

Groom

improvement made by
bought the property.

example,

claimed

or

felt

it

homesteading
stated
who

that

more

to

it

is

make.
in

while

land

dispels
received

the
their

Tax

value
was

were
still

notion
patent
idea

was

to
that

of

by

made

most
make
most

as

Groom,
not have

accounts
and a

for many
Mrs.

of
few

women

Groom's

feminine

touch,

outdoors.
the

as

time

many

after

the
the

settlers

of

final

show

patent

proof,

their

as

that

very

was

issued

homesteader's

homesteaders
most

of

improvements

records

194

an

outhouses,

frontier.

assessment
made

probably

Many

16

improvements
great

had

Callie
did

discovery

the

within

that

mention.

terrible

believed,
had

shed,

dairy

raiser,
from whom she
included a well house,

presence

on

than using the

increases
the

such

homesteaders

planned

traditional

none,

categorize

lady like

the

to

could be
to the

Reynold's

goat

two

for the study

homes and then

Only
one
settler,
Either most settlers

obvious

husbands

Generally,
original

were

their

may

too

to mention

there

joined

listing

much

fail

the

Willingham,
a goat
Other improvements

duck houses,
and
ditches.
mentioned having an outhouse.
one

at least
first

75% of

Only

farmers had cellars,

expelling
area,
that homesteaders
built

as

were

waited
need

they
few
and

name.

This

until

they

improvements.

would

the

to

The

mortgage

their

property

in

order

to

afford

improvements,

and

this

could

not be done until the patent was issued.

Although
homestead
farmers
claimed
to
have
numerous
improvements at the time of receiving their patent,
the farm
sites'
few
remaining
features
do not
correspond
with
the
homestead
proofs.
Although
this
could
be
attributed
to
exaggerated testimonies,
it
is
more probably due to the early
abandonment and lack of reuse of the sites which would make them
vulnerable to scavenging by nearby residents.
The lack of
construction materials such as milled lumber is
thought to be
evidence that the materials had been recycled into improvements
on someone else's
land.
At the two farm sites in the interior
Basin, features are non-existent, having been destroyed by later
periods of use.
The features which do remain at several of the sites
at the
well fields consist of those materials which could not easily be
removed, such as concrete slabs, or a windmill tower base.
Three
of the sites have rock alignments or concentrations thought to
represent structural foundations.
The alignment at HAR-053 has
been identified as the remains of Mrs.
Groom's six room farm
house.
Rock materials may have been left
behind because of the
relative ease with which cobbles could be acquired from one's own
property, reducing the need to cart them from another location.
One

similarity

artifacts
that

representing
because

deposition
settlers
and

in

of

of

strewn
crockery

to eat

fragments

livestock

and pots

items

is

occupation
become
the

fragments,

kerosene
railroad

of

these
and

lamp

such as horseshoes

proper

concern.
allowed

Many

the

non-perishable
and

and

cans.

tin
of

the

aqua
sites

fragments,
clothing

of

postulated

sites,

purple
Half

spikes,

been

pressing

had

abundance

has

leaving the

and pans.

the

It

farmyard

sites

ceramic

buckets,

sites

refuse.

edibles,
farm

artifacts:

lard

term
into

the

All

farm

not

trash

decorated

following
shards,

did

all

about.

fragments,

short

trash

threw
chickens

the

all

domestic

pigs
items
glass

Most

had

had

the

window

glass

accessories,

and

and wagon parts.

Ranch Siteg
By
their
Ranches

the

time

farms,

the

tended

of adequate

many

to be

water

of

second

the

located

sources

farming

ranching
in

the

prevented

195

settlers

phase
interior
irrigation

were

was

abandoning

getting

Basin where
farming

started.
the
and

lack
thus,

the

of

presence

homesteaders
valuable

chiefly

as

time, most

homesteading farmers

environment

would

never

impose

on

with

good

which

survive

them.

and

would

ample

supplies
protection

provide

interior

of

Basin

offered

been

even before

that

rigors

lands

were

the

that

left

open

for

They generally chose sites

grass
for

all

had

sense to know that

the

The

lands

but

had the common

ranchers gladly used it.

grazing, and

The

could

lifestyle

these

for grazing,

classified
their

1918,

By

and

stock

these

water

and

landforms

inclement

in

necessities

weather.

on

limited

basis.
Most of
from

the

prior
to

the

Sacramento

to

1900.

school.

mountain
provide

ranchers

who

Mountains

They moved

This

may

schools

moved

were

Service

had

the

Basin

their

part

to

of

abundant' and

af ter

families

Alamogordo

been

adequate educations.

unstated desire

where

to

have

to

had

send

the

on

the

number

of

livestock

that

Sacramentos

following

year.

techniques

of

where

Many
the

government

in

1907,

settlers

Forest

control

and

complained

Service
had

not

and
yet

about

HAFB

this

time,

were

on

marriage.
James

good

C.C.
in

and

Bradford's
By

years

and

unchallenged

north

brother

and

of

lands

were

corner

of

to

now

what

flats

The

Basin

encompassed

related
Fred

the

competition.

were brothers

them.

by

and

blood

their

Bradford's

is

was

they

married

to

ranched

in

had

established

now

unwanted

effectively monopolized

by

C.C.
the

HAFB

area

These

the open range in the area

for

by
and

cousin
limited

completed
sister,

McNatt's

unquestionable
outsiders.

the

management

Bradford was married to the McNatts'

1930,
had

the

They

southwest

the family picture.

daughter.

on

Arthur McNatt

just

the

ranchers

terms.

and

operated

operation

the

began

asserted.

still offered open range with relatively little

At

the

down

graze

established

cutbacks

moved
been

the Forest
could

over

the

to

Part of the motive may have been an

The Alamo National Forest had been

of

although

upgrading

to get out from under the restrictions

imposed

children

motive,

continually

came

settled

their

in the mountains.
much

1915

oldest

up

to

15

range

rights,

four

families

for almost two

decades.
The ranchers used various methods of land acquisition.
Grant,

who

sold

his

Homestead

Act

method.

However,

previously

to

used

ranch

acquire
their

many

to

James

160

acres.

of

the

homestead

McNatt

C.A. McNatt

ranchers
privilege

196

in
who

in

the

1913,

John

used

the

used

this

later

had

mountains,

and

also
came

land had been alienated from the Public Domain to

too little
Although some early
the area.
allow for private purchase in
ranchers tried to use the Desert Land Act, these attempts always
McNatt and Fred Bradford chose not to burden
C.C.
failed.
McNatt
themselves with the requirements of the Desert Land Act.
purchased 240 acres from the State after establishing a privilege
Bradford used
or right to the land, perhaps by improving it.
Soldier's scrip he bought from a company in Iowa to acquire 40
acres

and a water
Prior

mainly

range

which

cattle

lands

and

their

range.

portion

the

to

of

water
They

next."17

include

unowned
and

open

themselves.

relied

the

owners

Ranchers

range

rights,

the range

In
but

this

improved

water

sources,

intruded

rancher

on

this

range

study

or

area

1900

their

by

expanses

corrals

were

or

the

range

these

in

small

unlikely

in

and

improvements

were

in

The

those

to the

not

at

wells

and

as

of

other

their

was

rightful

ranch headquarters

places.
to

to

understanding

land

operations

to a
stream

extended
Cattle

the

crop

stream valley

such

grazing

comparison

corporate

one

trespassers

of

"right

from that

served.

and others reciprocated the favor.

Because of this
system of implied rights,
separated

put

they

range

to

would

range

feed

throughout

definition

one

windmills

or

Basin,

in

conditions
owned

land back

the arid

surrounding

consisted

placed

that

were

range

strategically

on
all

business

cattle

meaning

sources

and

sand dunes.

which marked the boundary between

and the

stock

for

a stream

the

1920s,

operations,

some

of

near the white

late

fended

to the divide

tanks,

source

with
ranches

in

the

south.

such

isolated
in

Basin

the
prior

Consequently,

far

distances

to

require over night camps or line

shacks.
In fact,
ranch activity
sites
consisting
only of the range improvement, such as a well
corral,

are

in

direct

contrast

on McGregor Range.
encompassed
house

and/or

For example,

300,000
dugout

prospered
the war,
in

the

take
in

it

World

because
with

Mexico

stride.
but

War
of

lost

the habitations

Oliver Lee's

range with

addition

to

found at

wells

extensive operation

line

camps

the well

at

consisting

certain

of

distances

18

I,
an

the onset

Southwest,
in

acre

in

from his headquarters.

During

to

or

suffering

undoubtedly
increased
of a

need

nationwide

was

Bradford

many of

them because

for beef

of

197

his

ranchers

supplies.

depression

inevitable

sent

the Basin
and

a drought

but ranchers
cattle

to

the Revolution

After

better
there.

seemed

to

pastures
McNatt

leased

his

terrible

property

effects
By

the

prosper,

but

these

and

men

pioneer
from

in

and

their

original

ranchers

conflict.
an

Mal

to

enclosed

in

were

The
"ranch

fenced

the

business

pastures

and

intrude.

The

McNatts

and moved' their

increased

added

home

competition,

feed crops

The
he

Aguilar

more

father

became

his

the

brought more

to

Service

have

used

in

C.C.

neighbors
of

Sam

Hanna

Danley also filed

locations.

favor

and

property

to

gave
for

or

McNatt,

prior

to

the

main

McNatt,

this

diet

time,

to

the Basin

each rancher
the

the

overgrazing,
conditions of

years

north

control
prior

to

cattle.
including

near

entry

and

Tularosa

and she

and her

had

never

seemed

District

had

to be
were

which was
a
the mid-1930s.
effect
1932,

number

serious
In fact,
on
C.C.

either

the

settled,

Grazier when
the

problems

main

usually

the two
of

with

parties

livestock

to

concern

during
the
the drought seemed

the
ranchers
than
McNatt reported that

the
the

were the wettest he'd seen them in

40 years,
two years
drought conditions were thought to be the worst ever. 2 0

The drought
of

the

Conflicts

to
have
a
more
profound
Depression did.
Although in
flats
later

through

Danley.
Arguments over who had
lands led to disagreements over
who

target.

by

on

could not solve their

own problems.
The Grazing Service also slashed
prevent
drought

to

overgrazing,

stock's

changes

a Homestead

partners with Osie

privilege
to certain

use

antagonist

water

to a more reasonable

leading

to supplement

new Grazing

claimed

brothers

Jewell

fence

in

months.

area

prior

family

keep out trespass

cattle.19
Ranchers
to acquire land on which other cattle

holdings

Peak.
a

from

converted

1934.
These allotments were fenced to impede trespass
Other ranchers'
ranges extended into
what is
now HAFB,
the

Osie

they were

cattle"

to

Although

Still,

operation

to

Walters.

McNatts,

ranchers

cattle"

such

slight

out

ended.

The Taylor Grazing Act

over

the

sold

had

raised

more

to

to

caused

understanding

With

the winter

which
McNatt

land

had

beginning

mountains.

legally

location.

his

again

the

sources were fenced to

bought out nearby residents
not

occurring

related

drought

out.

were

James

sold

the

in

livestock

could

ranchers

were

families

"range

which

the

no way

but

he pulled

lifestyle.

Bradford

ranch

monopoly

1930s,

their

were

son-in-law,

cattle,

changes

of

Danley,

his

on the
early

alterations

to

the

made

Grazing

the

ranchers

Service,

which

acceptable
were

198

similar

to

the

new

to

those

restrictions
the

Forest

Service

had

weren't

enough

funds were

to

advanced

the

end

in

the mountains.

prevent

destroyed

many were
By

enacted

of

the

damage

purchase some
to prevent further
the

to recover

an increase

in

of

to

in

response

mortgages

even

the

sudden

numbers
improved.
the end

in

the

Federal

cattle,

had

market

for

War

I,

was

appears

that

of World

late

It

and

stabilized

The

to the new war.

occurred

cutbacks

drought.

of the weakened
hardship. 2 1

livestock

decade,

and the range conditions

gradually
beef, which had been depressed since
beginning

But

1930s,

probably

an

attempt by the ranchers to bring themselves out of the depression

and drought and get geared up for the new war effort.
The fact
that

ranchers

lifestyle
livestock
out

rarely

shows

succumbed
the

operations.

the

hard

and

the

of

Unlike

times,

before allowing
and
downs
of

to

tenacity

frequent

the

farmers,

commonly

changes

people
ranchers

reacted

to

in

who
tended
local

their

undertook
to

ride

conditions

national trends to affect

them.
Despite the ups
their
chosen
occupations,
these
family
ranch

operations endured and prospered.

The succession of farms
father
to son, as in
the cases of C.C. and Doug McNatt, and
and

C.A.

McNatt,

depicts

the

relative

security

of

the

from
A.A.

ranching

economy.Unfortunately,
by the 1940s,
an event occurred which the
ranchers could not sustain.
In 1942, when the federal government
requested the land for use of the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery
Range, all
ranch families were forced off their land with little
time or money to acquire new ranches elsewhere.
-C.A. McNatt was
the only one whose headquarters was not taken over, although much
of

his

range

moved to

was

town,

acquired

acquired

over.

Some moved

return

to his

the

others

which

ranch

were

time

condemnation

out of
not

their

for

by.. the

military.

other businesses,
the
a

state.

short

allowed

to

drug

and

other

ranchers

attempted

to

start

Osie Danley was permitted

time

between

even

visit

improvements

proceedings

The

had

on until

1949

until

been
final

and

1952,

the

1970s,

destroyed.
deeds were

to
but
by
The

signed

in

1988.
The ranch
three
well,

headquarter sites
shared some consistencies.
All
had necessary improvements,
such as a house,
windmill and
corrals, and some form of water storage.
These are thought

to be

the

upon

closer

represent

minimum

requisites

analysis,

three

phases

for
the
of

livestock

three

development

199

operations.

headquarter
of

typical

sites

However,
seem

ranch.

to
The

Jewell
years

Danley
before

homestead
the

military

was

only

in

takeover.

existence
Features

for

at

this

about

eight

relatively

"young" ranch include only the necessary improvements of a house,

windmill and well,

an earthen reservoir,
and a corral.
Danley headquarters
represents the second stage of

The

Osie

development.

It had been occupied by the Danleys for only eight years but had
been used previously by James McNatt and John Grant, both of whom
probably

added

improvements

as

they

saw necessary.

The

features

at this site suggest a slightly higher degree of self-sufficiency

than Jewell's place.
Structures included a larger house with a
porch, a privy, chicken house, cellar, windmill and well, storage
tanks,
an earthen
reservoir,
and a corral with an attached
milking pen.
The McNatt Ranch portrays the final phase and a perception
of continuity.
The same family'occupied this ranch for its
22
year existence and as such, they were able to best judge their
needs in the environment with which they had experience.
Their
improvements
represented
almost
total
self
sufficiency
and
intensive long term use.
McNatt's
headquarters
included two
houses with porches and associated privies,
a workshop,
feed
shop, saddle house, granary, two wells and a windmill,
storage
tanks including a cement cistern, and extensive corrals divided
to provide space for specialized needs.
Despite their developmental stages, the ranch sites had some
structural
consistencies
which
are
recognizable
mainly
from
archival sources which describe the features at the ranches.
Structures at these sites were primarily box constructed lumber
buildings
with
corrugated
tin roofs
and
block
foundations.
Houses varied in size from 12'x 20'
to 28'x 28'
and the size
seems
to correlate
with
the amount
of time
the ranch
was
2
2
occupied.
Porches were
also common
additions
to
houses.
Privies were known
to be associated
with
two of the ranch
headquarters,
but these were the most elusive features and most
were not found during site documentation.
Livestock features,
such as corrals and tanks, were located away from the houses, and
at
two of the
headquarters,
the houses
were still
further
surrounded by enclosures, presumably to keep stock away from the
house.
The differences in
corrals at the various sites
may
represent differences in the way the ranchers controlled their
stock.
McNatt utilized a fenced pasture method which may explain
the extensive corral system at his headquarters.
Both Danley
200

families
small

practiced

corrals

open

herding.

probably

but definitely

not

used

large

to

herds

Their
control

headquarters
the

milch

have

cows

or

only
pigs,

of cattle.

Other similarities
exist
between McNatt's and Osie Danley's
home.
They both had milk pens and saddle houses and some kind of
structure

for

granary
amount
always

at

storage.

McNatt's

The

and

of supplemental
fed his cattle
in

cellar

stock

grown

only

at

on

Jewell's

at

in

Danleys,

overall

occasion

and

the

place

Hay

Draw.

scarcity

materials.

in

such as
in

of

Although

glass

relation

and
to

all

longer
dump

behind

The

the

is

may

be

unwanted
they

is

occupation,
an

eye

wildlife.

buried

very

children who

at

could

more

trash.

sore,

sme~l

matter

In

of

probably had similar

deposition practices.
The second explanation for the relative
the

homes.

All

had

return after
their

the

non

behind,

but

sold

probably

for

as

Mrs.

scrap

removed

which

Thus they

for

portable

under

understanding

the war.

belongings

Large,
and

conditions

safe

that

keeping

until

items,

such

farm

McNatt

relates,

metal.
other

Over

and

as
the

potentially

materials.

201

years,

can

be

the

trash

attract

it

away,

or

ranchers
laying

had

around

buried their
trash
The other ranchers
of

families

they

be

bottle

valuable

their
able

packed up
could

equipment,
items

artifacts

left

would

carefully

these

use,

The

may

the
items

they

probably

is

artifacts

reasons

dearth

the

sites

of

carted

or metal

probably

domestic

Consequently,
families

were

aesthetics.

addition,

by glass

crops

for
fed

probably relates
these sites.
The

unpleasant,

the

site.

be hurt

of

Several

the ranch.
Susie McNatt explained that they
in one of the drainages near the main house.

concerns

40 acres

construction

percentage

low.

simply

the

the

the

McNatt

ranch

than

presence of trash
occupations of

Therefore,

it

to

was

the

evidence
the

the

cellar

of

have

fragments,

size

this

relate

of

other

sites

postulated for this.

The low
to the long term, high intensity
reasoning

may

majority

artifacts

ceramic

site

structures,

Thus the granary was a necessity

the other hand, confessed that
he

used only to store

food for the family.
Another distinguishing
characteristic
an

these

feeding
the two ranchers
did.
the winter months and had about

planted in
corn and hay.
his purposes.
Danley,
on
his

difference

were

to
all

return.

were

left

scavenged

hunters

have

archaeological

Differences

the

distinguishing
fields
and

The
well

in
the
acquisition,
between

the

but there

sites.

two

are

Site

Locat-ion

between
factors
in the Basin is

previous
section,
settlement

archaeological

text

those

in

land
patterns,

Table

areas.

use

dictated
and
the

sites

a few exceptions.

support

These have

As

discussed

patterns
nature

the

major

these

of
of

land
the

differences

distinctions,

been noted within

the

below.

Table

Differences

11.

LTner ior

between

sites

in

relation

Bagsin

to location.

Well

Fieldas

Ranching Activities
Otero County Pioneers

Midwestern New Comers

Various

Homestead Act

Later
Long

Methods

Dates

Agricultural

Land Acq.

of Use

Earlier

term Occupations

Continuous
Associated

Spread

Out

Compact
Single

Sparse Artifact

Assemblage
Features

Self Sufficiency
Successful

The

Basin

County

moving

to

out property

units

methods,

also

and

property.

many

around

1920

these

sites

continuously

of

sites

were

who

had

the

Basin.

along

Site

Dense Artifact

Assemblage

Unidentifiable

Features

the

to

sold

until

1942

by

did

not

various
in

HAR-042,

Grant's

to

owners,

when

new
the

military

202

land
sites

move

pioneers
Mountains

acquired

activity

later

by

Sacramento

individuals

draws
date

Ties

developed

the

associated

ranchers

were

in

These

large

tended

(exception:

ranches

ranched

utilized

The sites

sites;

Use

Property Units

Community
Failures

interior

Otero

before

of

term Occupations

No Continuity

Sites

Discernable

Activities

Dates

Short

Use

Property Units

of

at

located

land use.

11 summarizes

Most

sites

those

time
to

spread

acquisition
on

federal

than the

the

Basin

Homestead,

1907).

they
came

were
in.

farms
until
Once

reoccupied
Turn

over

rates

were

low,

same family

still

relatively

site

27 years.

small associated

Fred Bradford's
The

farm
flats

HAR-061,

Charles

These
squatters

farms
went
and the

century.

the

sites

time

occupied between
is

legal
span

had numerous

Draw;

both

(exception:

not

for

in

properties,

LA 103410,

the

were

January

1942,

leases

had

Basin).

abandoned

the

land shortly

after

reoccupied

by

subsequent

owners.

by

in

cattle

on

small

Boles

Farm sites

are

only

one

site.

on

the

scarcity

Farm,

Bombing

there

well.
been
restated

ranchers
all

were
The

were

been

privately
of
told
in

here.

establishment

the

singular

four

in

that

one

features

of

and

only

are

construction
artifact

Gunnery

four families

Basin.

informed

that

This

forced

owned

their

Range
living

had

which
other

the

to

transpired

over

areas

of

main

concern

Base

this

affected

the

area.

203

to

their

Doug and
and Garnie

the

their

encompassed

but

next

to

land

grazing

month,

private

report
is

the

graze

Within
off

on

federal

them

which

units.
move

was

By the beginning of
their

lands,

ranch

they

The
of

was

continuously

The

interior

suspended.

events

treated

in

had

their

20th

of the Militarv on Ar

1942,

minority

ranchers

the

homesteaders

Luther

based

Alamogordo

been

William

interior

land now encompassed by HAFB.

Three of these families:
Susie McNatt,
Claude and Jewell
Danley,
and Osie
Danley,

HAR-

early

habitation

with

identify

in

(exceptions:

They do, however, have large characteristic

which produced numerous diagnostic items.

established

but

Act

owners

1910-1957).

the

the

lumber

remains,

assemblage

Homestead

HAR-051,

ffects
When

by

on Lost River).

the

were

associated
to

materials.
assemblages

surface

Arroyo,

through

the

difficult

from

Farm on Carter

Red

(exception:

person

sites

occupied

through
two stages
of
use:
the first
by
second by Midwestern new comers who legally

land

average

years

on

Once

patenting,

Ranch

artifact

ranch site

Redies

Homestead

the

continuously

sites
were located on the well field
adjacent to the Sacramento Mountains

Hyde's

acquired

was

identifiable

alluvial

The

one

for nearly

structures,
034,

and

and

will

discuss

owners

the

lands
46

in

years
not
how
the

a
as

has
be
the

study

Susie McNatt's
bitter.
applied

feelings

toward

and what
virtually
returned

when

lease

the war

the

the

their

they didn't
uncertainty they

the

including

period

meantime,
When

taking,

kind of
compensation
they
impossible to find another

property,

one

were understandably

She and Doug were waiting to hear about a

for so they could purchase Doug's father's

the ranch.
With the military
the property.
She recalled

their

the event

the

so

condemned
the

sold

the

Base,

felt

in
loan

about

lands,

tried
be

dairy.

land again
he

to

get the

or

when

would
the

another.

and

hoped

interest

when at

demanded

the

where

lived

a dairy

had

receive,
making
it
Consolations
that

grazing

short

McNatts

they

work

were

government

the

government

leased

purchased

ended,

ranch
for

ended,

McNatts

war

the

would
ranch.

loan they

end
In

to

over.

return

Unfortunately,

and Doug

was

continually

lost

forced

of
the

to start

able

be

the

to

his

to

go

to

jobs

to

toll

on

veterans.
The
both

McNatt's

the

family

recognized
the worst
effect
it
in

the

that

"Doug

was

for

more bitter

kept

was

he
by

the

had

with

too

to

so

"I

Their

McNatt

felt

that

treated

tell

and

been

the

the

the

much

effect
life

sicker

he

pain

thing
so

of

She

the military

fared little

on

her

....

He

got

the

summed up her

and
has

turmoil
caused

easier

better

during

COE promised that all

original
condition at

apparently

and crop

if

we

land.

did

little

According

to protect

the absence

fences

own

cows ....

and
my
had

and

used

We were

our

range

fenced

and

the

houses,

to Susie McNatt,

fields...for

out for years

204

of

improvements
the time of

"We were not allowed

to use our ranch,
although our
neighbors,
just
off of the Government land,
tore down
our

in

other

of his

us."

of

instead

much recreation

years

whole
have

work

The ranch property

outbuildings,

last

how they

would

she

lamented

died

this

lives

ranch."2

those

cannot

ranch

and not

he

bitterness

its
Susie

sacrifices,

and

also

before

got about

saying,

She

took

Although

to return to the ranch was the

"at an age when boys should be

chores

unhappy

years

property

make

few chores

the McNatts.
Although the
would be restored to their
taking,

their
ranch.

church."

six

and

family ....

had

and

husband,

anger

helping

they

school

feelings

their

everyone

country

sick

and

from

part of not being able

had on her three sons,

town where
than

absence

their
and couldn't

even

see

the

place.

We

permit,

in

sight.

Our

houses

corrals

and

other

away.

Our

windmill

the

summer

several hundred
be
torn
down
bulldozers.
sold for

scrap

fences,

on

It

was

had

been

without

torn

heartbreaking
as

well

as

town down and

down

and

the

taken

dragged

and torn to pieces.

What couldn't
taken
away
was
torn
up
with
soon

equipment
after

we

had been
left

the

we got was our housekeeping furniture,

and what money we could get from the

stolen

and

ranch.

All

personal items,
sale of the cows

horses.'"24

and

She believed

that

even if

they had

been

able

land, they would never have been able to get

condition.
Too much damage and too little
deterred

to move
it

back to

back into working

money would have

Danley

family was

able to

return in

1944,

but

were

forced off in
1952.
Tommy Danley, Osie Danley's son, was
quite young when these events were taking place,
and he

showed

little

family

bitterness

ranch.

toward

Perhaps

their

the

government

animosity

towards

for

taking

the military

to purchase
ranching
Jewell

and

shortly

Claude

and did not

In

some property north of

again

after

Danley

the

both

HAFB's
second

left

the

boundaries

and to begin
proceeding.

state

shortly

after

1942

return.

addition

Boles,
after

they
able

condemnation

to

the

ranchers,

the

landowners

at

the

fields
were affected.
Most of these individuals did not
on
their
property,
lessening
the blow of
losing their
Luther

the
was

low because the family was able to continue the lifestyle

had practiced for the previous two decades.
Osie Danley was

years

the

them.

The Osie
again
still

it,
a

buildings,

had been

our farm

iron

get

of 1976.

and other

feet
and

All

did

on the
the

Base

other
was

hand,

was

established

living
and

on the
the

well
reside
land.

land until

ranchers

left

15
their

homes.
He entered into
a contract with HAFB to sell
water out of
his wells and then proceeded to add more land to his property so
he could sell
of the Base,
the equipment,
The
home

Base,

in

and gave

more water.
decided where
and
turn,
him

trained
built
free

Boles became a Civil Service employee

the wells would be located, maintained
Base

personnel

a new road
access

provided for the well pumps.

to

in

managing

into the well

electricity

When he was

205

field

which
told,

the

water.

and Boles
the

Base

eight years

had

after

he

had

approached

about

HAFB

the

that

water,

the

military

condemned his land, Luther Boles was deeply angered.

According to Boles daughter,
Betty Jean Johnson,

we

weren't

She

and

were

prices."
coming
Base

ripping

2 5

Commander
had

extension

when

that

taken
30

by

to

to

had

lasting

Like

Susie

life

early death.

his

Jr.,
his

bad

In

Boles

to

family

Luther Boles,

the

high

eviction

day

that

the

news.

were
the

They

given
move

an
was

also

it

Manuel
because

his

of

for

the

the

the

life

should
line"

the

later

in

Luther

life

of

Lujan,

Jr.,

"we

stress

that

the

and was
6

father's

health,
paid,

was

not close

her

father.

have

been

Holloman Air

everything

over again

Calvin

to
The

paid

to

to HAFB.

States government
him

of

to

that

government

water,

livelihood

respect

"the

her

price

1E.RQ to Alamogordo,

stripped

bother,

caused

paltry

more

the united

illness

and her

on

believed

father's

Interior

according

He had several heart attacks

1965 of a massive heart attack."2

or

who provided

she

Boles,

at

and

in

dear

Force

return

the

to

and

the age

him

of 57 and

poor health."27

heirs

government
received

of

and $34,900

resource

made him start

The

but

them

the

the

hardship

Luther

for' her

the

believes

government

on

problems

that

Boles was

Base and

in

the

brought
in

the

the land

of

"Mr.

was

died

he

maintains

value

the

them

of

Johnson

put him through.

$40,100 for
the

reason

health

addition

Johnson

told

property,

McNatt,

Secretary

until

on oxygen

the

told

government

because

saw

on

the

effects

was

know

satisfied

never

did,

they

charging

surprise
and

complained

condemnation
Boles,

family

house

vacate

by

entire

family.

daughter.
and

the

off

complete

the

days

they

The event
his

government

stresses
came

originally
causing the

the

the
as

him

was unfair for the Base to treat

it
family felt
"because he felt
like
the government was very

had

of

Luther

officials

Boles
asking

have

written

for additional

numerous

letters

compensation,

but

to
have

no satisfaction.

After
the
government
condemned
his
land,
Luther
Boles
purchased a tract directly across Highway 54 from his profitable
farm.
He subdivided it and sold lots for development in what is
now called Boles Acres.
His first
farm did not fair
well from
government condemnation.
Shortly after the family moved,
HAFB

206

to the new Boles community.

residence and moved it
The outbuildings were apparently bulldozed and the ornamental
The improvements of the farm are too
trees were cut down.
destroyed and displaced to adequately identify.
At the time, as well as today, the McNatts and the Boles
both recognized the duty and the sacrifice they had to make for
1942
by Don Bonnell in the March 5,
An article
their country.
issue of the Alamogordo News summarizes how they must have felt
He editorialized,
at the "Declaration of Taking".
their

sold

"To

had

this

some

home

their

been

childhood.

since

been their
always
love what had
They grew up to
To them this year had the most favorable
home ....
good
Good grass,
outlook of any they had known.
All of them I have talked to said something
prices ....
well,
takes this to win the war,
like this: 'If it
is.'

there she
man
who

the

But

give.

the

is

grumbling

without

gives

to

have

will

all

we

...

real

American."28
Today,
feel
the

however,

both

The lack
livelihoods

they were treated.

their
of
spoiling

and

from

those

McGregor

Range.

century,

the

for

the

same

general

who
government
citizens.
patriotic

Their
back on

When looking
who

people,
they

feel

reluctantly
now

even

defense,

not

did

they

way

adequate compensation for

of
utmost
to
be
seems

of

are

by WSMR

no

or

bitter
their

protect

Bliss'

mid-2Oth

their

sacrificed

different

Fort

of the

the events
feel

was

over

starting

feelings

displaced

ranchers

the many

of

process

the
make.

to

of

the

about

Both
value of the land.
took away the only lifestyle

more so than the actual

important,
the government
that
families felt
desired,
they ever
transition
difficult

sadly

reflect

families

homes

towards
rights

a
as

at which both oral and

for the sites
It was discovered that,
the recovered information from
archival resources were available,
one

source

example,

corresponded

photographs

from

with
the

and

complimented

COE files

207

were

the

helpful

other.
during

For
the

interviews.

Seeing

memories

of

not have

been related.

sources

of

living

of

arrangements
Still,

was

information

limited

are

informant's

not

for

compared,

in

some

three

families
the

sites

were
when

lived

at

associated.
in

their

the

on basic

in

three

three

and

30s,

or

must

or

to

females
farms

females
in

that

each

the

oral

only
ask

statements

to

the

also

take

the

right

which

could

and one male.

with
lived

the

may

and all

obvious

Gaps

enough

back

otherwise

was finished

author

ranches

20s

that

became

knowing
up

The

brought

attributable
The

not

or for not following

had

it

necessarily

either

homes

respect.

have been elaborated.

Interviews were conducted with
All

old

and conditions

recollections.

responsibility

their

once research

information were

interview

questions

pictures

which

their

or worked

case

of

at

Carrie

Green, even later

in life.
Their recollections were vivid and
could be verified with historic documents,
but each interview
contained gaps or was influenced by the biases of the informant.
Susie McNatt was directly involved in the operation of. McNatt
Ranch (HAR-047),
but she
related little
about actual ranching
activities.
Betty Jean Johnson was young when her family moved
to the Boles'
farm (HAR-051),
but she returned to live there
after she was married.
She remembered her father's
activities,
the types of structures that were on the farm, and other items
traditionally associated with the male gender.
Her memories
about the productiveness
of the farm and actual farm life,
however,
were biased due to her feelings of betrayal by the
military.
Carrie Green,
who grazes her cattle at LA 103410
during
the
winter
months,
was
very
familiar
with
ranching
operations because she and her husband cared for the cattle
together.
She was not as familiar,
however,
with the dates
certain improvements were constructed simply because items like
the well or windmill were already on the land when they purchased
it.
Tommy Danley,
the only male interviewed,
was
relatively
young when his family resided at HAR-042.
In addition, because
of his busy schedule,
the interview was conducted mainly to
determine
the
functions
and
dates
of
construction
of
the
features.
Therefore,
information about ranching activities
was
limited.
A more in depth interview with him when his schedule
permits may fill
in gaps about operation of the family ranch.

208

A greater discrepancy was noted

archaeological resources.
Information
rarely
corresponded with site
remains.
the farm sites
testimonies did
explanation

were
not located
and dimensions
not correlate
with feature size.

may

have

misrepresentations
patents,
several
It

this

is

believed

by
in

speculators
the land,

were

do

to

to

be the

untruths

the
one

exaggerations

in

order

case

in

to

the

so

to

the

house

Land

have

their

or

secure

land

study area

been

and

improvements

which

does

Office.

for

cultivation
than they
to suggest fraud if

actually
several

Act

not

of

exist

nothing

have

had.
proofs

only

percentage

them

may

they

required

may

gain

they

more

a profit
related
homesteaders.
If

small

which

would

Instead,

made

improvements,

The Homestead

house

Claiming

addition

about

sparingly.

of

would

or persons having only

not by serious minded

exaggerate

construction

cultivation.

land in
be easier

that

to

probably would

of

due

by homesteaders

not thought

is

settlers

eyes

been

made

given in
Although

reasons.

commonly
interest

the

between the archival and

from the Homestead Proofs
Most features
claimed at

in
in

the

indicated

Secondly,
indicated

it
far

more
would
more

improvements

than others under the same environmental conditions,

or if
homesteaders had not indicated their
efforts
for success
despite the drought.
In addition,
if
homesteads had been sold
immediately

after

suspected.
experienced
several
did sell,
patent,

The
failure

improvements
in

in

to

the

that
to

be

claimed,

of
due

processes.

fraud

may

the study area

property for

uniformity
suggest

in

good

the

faith

types

of

the

to

early

the

inability

recycling

to

in

locate

abandonment

of

of

construction

deterioration

Discrepancies

their

inaccurately
Conversions

structures

measured
of

of

effort

and

and
size

are

the

claimed
sites

resulting

materials

destruction
thought

by
by

to be

features

due

nearby
natural

to

human

error,
either
on the part of the settlers
or on the part of
archaeologist.
Settlers
may have overestimated or guessed
size

be

homes.

fraud,

and/or

profit,

made little
to no profit
when they
far
in excess of those required for

that

they

high

the homesteaders in
drought, retained their

relative

possible

residents

expressed

establishing

Instead
seems

fact
due

at

years before selling,

listed
improvements
and

honesty

patent

or

(by

estimated

pacing)

field

the

feature

may

when

the

was

dimensions

209

site

from meters

have

the
the
been

documented.
to feet

may

also have caused discrepancies in regards to feature size.

This
also occurred at the ranch sites,
at which the feature dimensions
did not match those given by the COE.
between
archival
and
of
discrepancies
Explanations
artifactual information can only be supported by archaeological
testing.
In addition, gaps in the historical data can be filled
with artifact
analysis and patterning studies.
Recommendations
for further work at these sites has been given throughout the
report.

210

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The historic settlement of lands now administered by HAFB
began in the early 1880s by squatters on the Public Domain and
lasted through the military takeover of the land in the 1940s and
those prior to
1950s.
Unfortunately, the earliest
occupations,
1900, are not well represented in either the archaeological or
the archival records and, therefore, remains relatively unknown.
more
settlers
established
After
the
turn
of
the
century,
themselves in the area and many archaeological sites remain to
mark their use of the land.
The research points to one comprehensive division of the
sites into two prevalent land uses which seems to polarize the
sites in regard to many relevant research questions.
Ranching
sites are located in the interior Basin and are located on lands
acquired through various methods, such as the Homestead Act, the
use of land scrip, and purchase from the State.
These sites were
occupied
by
pioneer
ranching
families
from
the
Sacramento
Mountains
who
were
familiar
with
the
environment.
Their
experience with ranching and the arid lands allowed them to
persevere and survive in the Tularosa Basin until the middle of
the century.
Farm sites are located at the well field properties
near the alluvial flats,
and most of these lands were acquired
through the Homestead Act.
Primarily established by new comers
from Midwestern states, the farms failed because of the relative
inexperience of the settlers
with the marginal environment into
which they were lured.
The
differences
in
land
use
have
dictated
not
only
settlement
appearance

patterns
and ultimate
consequences,
but also the
of the archaeological sites today.
Because the farm

sites were abandoned early in the century, very little

remains as
evidence of the settler's
fatal
efforts at survival.
Ranch
sites, on the other hand,
were occupied until the 1940s,
and
their inclusion since
that
time within HAFB boundaries
has
ensured their protection against outside vandalism, even though
the military itself
has destroyed many of the features.
As a
result,
much of the history of the farm sites was obtained
through historic records,
where as the ranch sites were more
easily documented through informant interviews.
In conclusion,
the documentation of 26 research areas has
shown that the historical

settlement of HAFB is

211

intimately

linked

with

viable

provided
use,

the

in
an

and

first

half

abundance

of

task

of

information

living

in

an

arid

remain

areas

of

who

Public

to

their

land

reflect

the

eventually lose
own survival.
The sites
into

prosperous

help of
of

in

the

Holloman

which

the

installations
Although

by

alignments,

and

the

through which

which

HAFB

remains
consists

which

be

investigated

of

habitations

of

domestic

necessary

legacy of

historic

to

to

windmills
the

of

hardy
only

to

country's
environment

progress

is

are

use

of

for their

to

the

abandoned

depression

much

the

with

to the

initiated

on
piles

the

credit
program

regions.
and

their

documented.

the

lands

of lumber,

now
rock

refuse,

this

report

understand

the

channels

settlement

212

and

frontier

have

primarily of

fragments

background
the

upon

can

of
It

they

environment.

through

and

the

into

perseverance

continues

that

insight

and

country,

Base today.

Defense

serve

physical

administered
provides

region
of

the

development

foundations
now

the

to their

land

testimony

sustained
and

settlement,

failed

survive drought

Air Force

Department

as

tanks,

Domain

struggled

have

hostile

ultimately

structures,
homes.
Lumber
their
evidence of
ranching
activities
large

offer

and

They

century.

regarding
and

patterns

Rock
alignments
and
artifacts
hardships faced by farmers who

pioneers

twentieth

the

Basin

Tularosa

marginal

the

made

of

acquisition

land

difficult

which

activities

economic

was

produced.

ANALYSIS OF THE HISTORIC RANCH PROJECT

The
The Historic Ranch Project consisted of two phases.
first
entailed a pedestrian survey of units likely to include
historic period sites.
The second phase encompassed in depth
archival research to determine the histories behind the historic
sites located during the survey.
An analysis of the methods
employed for this project will help other institutions
desiring
similar studies to adapt it
to their own needs, funds, and time
restraints.
The
judgmental
sample
units
were
chosen
from
various
sources.
GLO survey plats and early USGS topographic maps were
used to locate references to historic habitations on lands now
encompassed by HAFB.
Current topographic maps delineated water
sources
which
would
have
been
a
focal
point
for
historic
settlement, and a 1958 HAFB map and informant information added
to the list
of potential survey areas.
Finally, survey areas
around known historic refuse deposits concluded the list.
It was
believed that structural remains may be found in association with
these dumps if larger areas were surveyed around them.
All potential site areas were plotted on 7.5 minute USGS
topographic
maps.
Forty
acre
survey
boundaries
were
then
established
around
the
potential
sites
to
provide
for
inaccuracies
due
to
differing
map
scales.
These
survey
boundaries were then modified to the environmental conditions.
For example, survey was not conducted within major draws, but the
base of the slope was investigated,
as were clumps of trees,
visible fence posts,
and other potential evidence of historic
habitations.
Survey boundaries were also adapted to cultural and
natural features in order to provide for easier relocation in the
future.
All sites
within the survey areas were recorded,
including
military,
prehistoric,
and historic
period sites.
Cultural
boundaries were delineated, pace and compass maps were completed,
and a basic surface
artifact
inventory was
conducted.
No
testing, excavation,
or extensive artifact
analysis was done.
Fence lines and sites were plotted on topographic maps.
The survey of 734 acres resulted in the location of 26 new
archaeological
sites
including
13
historic,
2
military,
8
prehistoric,
and 3 multi-component sites.
The success rate of
the judgmental sample was excellent for locating historic period

213

sites.

Historic

sites

were

found in 8 of the 14 survey areas

with the potential for these sites
(57%).
This does not include
those areas with previously known sites.
Five (31%)
of the 16
historic sites (including multi-component
sites
but excluding
military sites) had been predicted by early GLO plats or other
historic maps showing house
locations,
and three
(19%)
were
located at water sources indicated on historic or current maps.
The remaining four sites were known to exist prior to the survey.
Overall 24% (n=5) of the survey areas did not yield historic
period sites.
There are a number of explanations why sites were
not located in
these areas,
and many of these reasons were
determined only after the historic research had been conducted.
They included inaccuracies of historic maps, ephemeral nature of
the very early habitations, problems of plotting due to differing
scales of the maps,
and total obliteration by later
occupations
or use of the land.
First, inaccuracies of the 1908 GLO survey plat resulted in
a survey area (Area 19) plotted north of where the Bert. Harris
house should have been located.
Mistakes in these early plats
were not a singular event as can be seen in the 1899 New Mexico
Surveyor General's comments to the Commissioner of the GLO about
the inadequacy of many of the surveys executed under contract in
New Mexico.'
However,
inaccuracies on the GLO plats were only
one problem associated with the use of historic maps to plot
survey areas.
It is believed that, because the scale of the GLO
maps differed from the 7.5 minute maps onto which indications of
historic habitations were transferred,
the 1882 ranch in Area 4
was not located where the survey was plotted.
Of course,
the
inability to find the site may also suggest that the relative
earliness of the habitation and the potentially ephemeral nature
of squatter improvements have resulted in no remaining evidence
for archaeologists to find.
Early maps were not the only survey documents which proved
difficult
to use.
A 1958 HAFB map indicated "ruins" in Area 20
but did not indicate exactly where they were located.
Survey of
a 40 acre tract in that vicinity revealed no evidence of the
ruins.
While leaving the area, however, several fence posts were
noted in
the nearby draw.
An investigation
resulted in
the
discovery of the ruins, HAR-063, less than 100 meters west of the
survey area.

214

Finally, the last explanation for not locating potential

sites is due to later use of the land which can obliterate all
evidence of the earliest
occupations.
The majority of the sites
have been affected by later impacts, but not to the extent of
Area 11 where J.L. Burns house was supposed to have been located
in 1911.
Intensive use of the area for an auto collection yard
and residence in the 1960s had destroyed all
evidence of Burns'
squatter improvements.
The last survey area which did not yield a pre-military
historic site was Area 6,
chosen because of the presence of the
Salt Lakes, a natural water source which would have been a focal
point for settlement.
Water control features indicated historic
use of the area but not as a habitation site.
However,
HSR
located a refuse scatter
(HAR-034)
just north of the survey
boundaries during a different project.
Several of the instances in which the historic sites were
not found
could have
been corrected
had
the research
been
conducted prior to the survey.
Also, several other survey areas
could have been added to the sample.
On the other hand, because
one of the main goals was to document the history of land use on
lands now encompassed by HAFB,
the survey would not have been
necessary to complete this project.
However,
corroboration of
historic

documents

insight

into

these

the

lands,

in

on

the

the
site

research,

thus
It
and

not enable

of

to

the

the

survey

making

the

should

be

historic

maps

to

to locate

always

be

some

sites

other

hand,

one

is

how it
efficient

is

interested

has

people

who

permit.

extent

of

project

manager.

all
in

historic

of

should

be

interested

only

the

areas

efficient

and

less

even

produce

If

areas

delineate

more

that

inhabited

future
a

greater

once

funds

would

which

given

and/or

research
noted

remains
providing

resource

surveyor

will

the

when time

histories,

consuming.
patterns

of

determining

goals

site

addition

research

Therefore,

the

lifestyles

in

archaeological
based

with

using

known

sampling

patterning.

both a

history

of

time

settlement

strategy

period sites.

defy

of

will
There

If,

on

the

land

use

and

represented by archaeological sites,

it
would be most
to conduct the research prior
to determining the survey

areas.
Based on the results of this project, the following is
a
list
of suggestions that will allow other installations to alter
the methodology to best fit
their needs or resources.

215

I.

If

the

main

goal

is

to

produce

installation
and
to
determine
archaeological resource, conduct
A.
Researching
delineations
of

within known

B.

decisions

be

Better
made

if

it

is

of

documents
and

of

time

use

reflected

will

on

in

ensure
of

settlement

identifications

ahead

land

an
the

first.

additions

or expected

and

known

history

how
it
is
the research

the historic
survey areas

may not fit

on
what

better

others

that

patterns.

the
type

ground
of

site

can
to

expect.
C.
Research will
provide
information
about occupants'
adaptations of the environment to fit
their own needs, an
aspect often overlooked by during site
documentation.
D.
Conducting research first
will also prevent numerous
site visits
to compare historic information to the site
remains, thereby saving money, time, and effort.
E.
If an installations has evidence of ranching activities,
if
you do,
conducting the research first
will help the
archaeologist locate all
range improvements associated with
one rancher, especially if the activity took place after the
Taylor
Grazing
Act
was
instituted.
Because
these
improvements were so important to the efficiency of ranch
life,
they need to be located and linked with the proper
headquarters.
Often they do not follow expected settlement
patterns,
making them difficult
to locate even using the
means outlined for this project, and surveying all
16,000
acres of a ranch unit would be prohibitive.
Therefore,
research will narrow down the potential locations of these
sites.
F.
Do not
allow
the
research
to
limit
the
survey.
Squatters habitations, for example, often can be found only
by using sound sampling strategy based on known settlement
patterns, such as water sources.
G.

The

sources

to

utilize

restricted:

216

when

funds

and

time

are

1.

BLM Historical Indexes

2.

Homestead Proofs

3.

Courthouse deed records

and Serial Registers

These sources will provide a minimum amount of information

regarding the owners of sites,
dates of use,
and type of
use.
H.
If possible, the following sources will provide further
information
regarding
the
nature
of
the
individuals
associated with the sites:
1.
Grazing Service Range Reports provide information
on
the
ranch
operations,
ranch
improvements,
quarrels
between ranchers,
carrying capacity,
and changes in
the
operation through time.
2.

Local

Newspapers,

especially the social columns,

provide personal information about the individuals, such as
what occupations they practiced in addition to the ranch or
homestead, what types of entertainment they had, when they
leased their land to
other farmers
or ranchers,
their
hardships and joys, etc.
Newspapers are a very challenging
and
time
consuming
source,
but
can
provide
important
information when no other records exist.
3.
nativity.
I.

Census

records:

family

size,

Be

aware of the limitations of

corroborate
information
with
other
criticism is especially important.

age,

sources
sources.

occupation,

and

try

to
Internal

J.
Conduct oral interviews after archival research and site
documentation.
This will allow researchers to:
1.

Gear questions

toward what is

217

on the ground.

Make personal associations

2.
thus avoiding generalizations.
3.

Familiarize

with

each

informant,

themselves with the environment.

Explain the meaning behind some of the questions to

4.
the
Informants seem to be more receptive if
informants.
interviewers already are familiar with their background.
They especially enjoy identifying pictures of the site.
If informants are receptive, they should be taken
5.
to the site.
This makes
their recollections
even more
vivid.
In addition, features can be identified and other
features can be located.

If funds do not permit research at the time,

II.
desired
for
an
inventory
of historic
sites,
suggestions may help:

but a survey is
the
following

A.
Do some general reading about the area/region first.
This will help with settlement patterns as well as site
identifications by providing
information
about
prevalent
land uses of the past.
B.
Chose survey areas from BLM indexes as well as GLO
plats,
current maps,
or oral information.
These indexes
provide property units which were acquired from the Public
Domain under various land laws.
Plot these on 7.5 minute
maps and then determine survey areas in
correlation with
other maps.
This may also provide more survey areas which
do not correlate with expected settlement patterns.
Knowing
the full
range of land an individual had will also help
identify additional improvements which may have been located
at a distance from the farm yard or ranch headquarters.
C.
Do not underestimate the importance of roads noted on
GLO plats for determining settlement patterns.
These should
be used when plotting survey areas.

218

D.

When plotting
for

plan

survey areas

This

project.
survey plat

was

F.

land uses

makes

it

This is

to

3.

prior

sites

if

site

the

may

dependent,

have

rarely

of course,

on

to

in

compare

feet
to

research:
as well

historic

as meters.

This

information

when

conducted.

2.
Be aware of the
road beds,
crop land,
of site

this

installations.

sites

the

easier
can be

the

habitations

earliest

on individual

Document

research

for

used

acres

missing

locations,

inaccurate.

When documenting
1.

GLO derived

40

avoid

help

will

the
E.
Be aware that
any remaining indications.
later

the

than

tracts

larger

around

surrounding landscape.
Look for old
etc.
These too are important aspects

use.

Realize

that

later

disturbance.

It

may be

use

of

a very

site

is

not

simply

important part

of

be

that,

the

site

site's

history.

As
surveys,
research
can not
country

final

note,

it

which can be done

is
time consuming.
be
in

should
rapidly
Thus

used.
Historic
records are
various agencies holdings.

productive.
The reproduction of historic
other documents are necessary expenses
research
surveys,
quality
research

results
often are
researchers
should

remembered

unlike

and inexpensively,
historic
the same approach to budgeting
scattered
Travel

throughout
is
imminent

photographs,
maps,
and
as well.
Also,
because

not as unequivocal
as
be given adequate time

products,
and
also
ample
discretion
to
design when necessary.
Although priorities

set,
the researcher
is
often in
a better
resource manager to determine other directions
take.

219

the
but

those
from
to produce
revise

the
should be

position
than the
the project
could

220

RECOMMENDATIONS

ai

aJRgi~e._Re
r

includes

contribution
trend toward
the

to the
cattle

Tularosa

Ranching also
would
and

have

Alamogordo

Bombing

It

the

marked

seriously

boundaries.

It
to

is

first

half

noteworthy

be

from analysis

studies

are

Five
National

a military

Reynolds

Dairy;
Well.

the

on

D,

amount

of the

Their

HAR-054
land.
on

HAFB

In

not
in

have

has

been

and

land

of

the
area.

Basin

and
the
HAFB

improvements.
and
use

in

design,

patterns.

the

Tularosa

which

assemblages

and

for

to

exhausted

sites

include

corral;

Homestead;

and

if
the

exhausted.

HAR-054,
LA

103411,

permission

to record

the part

research
HAR-086

the

been

These

HAR-064,

eligibility

artifact

research.

has

report.

could

limited

eligible

potential

meantime,

are

information

considered

this

221

potential,

questions

land owner
the

range
setting

information

Singleton's

may

by

current

section on further

period well head;

HAR-086,

the

of

artifact

research

provided

the

because

ranching

research

are

from the private

their

portion

the

sites

Register.

HAR-052,

site

Criterion

the following

the

of

to

century.

given
of

be obtained

and

for

the

arid

government.

headquarters

possible

in

their

importance

an

local

interesting

environments,

otherwise
in

the

in

within

Several

by the documentation

Dillard

lifeway

integrity

century.

ranchers
to

contained

under

20th

adaptations

was

of this

represent a
activity
in

life

the

and
under

lands which

significant

especially

the

considered
testing.

also

of

A,

a significant

the

family

traditional

marginal

eligible

derived

as

portray

reflect

Sites

included

adaptations
the

is

operation

collectively

in

well

Places.

eligible

portray

displacement

Ranch

sites

They visibly

sites

the way many perceived

McNatt

ranch

of

marginal

are

sites

Criterion

history,
economic

of

various

Historic

sites

of our
major

The

22

have made

half

use of
as

Range

end

Those

the

of

under

that

first

vacant.
the

affected

The

Basin

for

environment,
Finally,

The

the

provided

region.

entire

in

remained

hostile

A and D.
with events

broad patterns
ranching as

Basin

two

the

for

the

Register

D,

Criterion

five under both Criteria

Criterion
A, association

of

Seventeen

to the National

ten under

made

recommendations

report.

the

sites
throughout
potentially
eligible
This

the

12 summarizes

Table

c ommm ean

potential
and

LA

could
of

the
of

103411

o0
0

-0

0
0

>

x x
x

x
Ito

xx

CD

Ci
I>-1

xxx

xxx

xx(n 0

x xi0
0m

xx

xxxxxx =r
-0

xx

222

xxxxxxxxR-

have been so heavily modified by recent changes that they do not

have any remaining historical integrity or significance.

Several of the sites have undergone impacts by military

For the most part,
development, vandalism, or natural elements.
Signs have
the disturbances to the sites can not be prevented.
and occasional
to retard vandalism,
been erected at HAR-047
known to be susceptible to this type of
monitoring of sites
considered.
should be
and HAR-065,
such as HAR-061
impact,
sites should be avoided
Because they are cultural resources, all
are planned in
in the event that ground disturbing activities
their

vicinity.

and second
This project has been perceived as only the first
steps in determining true patterns of historical settlement on
A domain of historic sites has been
lands administered by HAFB.
with the use of historic
documented
have
been
and
these
located
records to provide a general picture of land use prior to the
A third step, archaeological studies,
establishment of the Base.
analysis, has been suggested
in the form of testing and artifact
The
this report.
discussed in
for most of the historic sites
should be
herein ultimately
information presented
historical
discipline could aid
verified through archaeology and the latter
in the location and/or identification of various features at the
sites.
assemblages, however, which are believed
It is the artifact
artifact
Extensive
value.
research
greatest
to retain the
as
analysis would add substantially to knowledge of these sites
well as to an understanding of historic sites in the Southwest in
It seems too ambitious to suggest that studies done for
general.
patterns
the sites in the project area could contribute to site
to the
answers
is
believed that
but it
throughout the West,
influence
to or
can add
suggested below
research questions
At the very least
studies done in other areas of the frontier.

223

it

can

add

to

the

comparable

data

base

which

is

steadily

being

compiled.
Although
an extensive
a

list

correlation

of

it

is

beyond

research

potential
with

design

the

of

for future

research
the site

scope

questions

histories

this

project

studies,
which

produced

in

to

provide

the following
could
this

be

used

report.

is
in
The

wide variety of sites,

such as women's homesteads,
bachelor
homesteads,
family farms and ranches,
and specialized activity
sites,
as well as the large diverse artifact
assemblages, provide
an excellent resource base for the studies proposed below.

Site distinctions:
Can
frequencies
of
certain
artifact
types
provide
information about site activities
and inhabitants?
Is
there a
correlation
between artifacts
and
land use?
Is
there
any
difference in
assemblages
at female occupied sites
and those
inhabited by men?
Is there a difference in those associated with
single
person
homesteads
and
family
households?
Between
permanent habitations and temporary sites?
1.

2.

Subsistence patterns:
Can artifact
types provide information on consumer behavior
in terms of preference, use, reuse, and disposal techniques?
Are
there patterns which can be related to gender, household size,

permanency, or economic activity?

Do consumers have a choice in
the items they use, or are they limited by market availability?
Is market accessibility visible in the assemblages?
Do sites
which are closer to town have larger assemblages?
Is the degree
of
self-sufficiency
notable?
Can
an
assemblage
provide
indicators of fluctuating dependency
on primary or secondary
subsistence?
How important were mail order catalogs in providing
for the needs of settlers?
3.

Frontier adaptations:
What
changes
through
time
are
noted
in
the
artifact
assemblage which may represent modification of lifestyle
to meet
environmental conditions?
Are changes in relation to national
trends visible in the site assemblage?
How do assemblages from
sites
in marginal environments compare to those in other areas of
the West?
How do artifacts
from isolated homesteads compare to

224

from

those assemblages
communities?
4.
in

What

mining

camps,

or

other

human

assemblages exist between sites occupied

and those occupied after, for example, 1930?

differences

the early 1900s

towns,

in

5.
Can patterns discerned through these studies be used to draw
generalizations about sites for which no historical documentation
can be located?

at
sites
to
archaeological
investigations
In
addition
to locate
additional
there
is
potential
already documented,
was
In the course of the research, it
historic sites
on HAFB.
Jose
found that Albert Barrett, Kenneth Ellerton, Marion Jones,
Estrada, John Drake, the Musselwhites, and perhaps George Doggett
Much of
at some point resided on lands now administered by HAFB.
the historical research for these individuals is already complete
the
and locating the sites would add to the data base and
(Maps for locating these potential
patterns discused above.
sites have been given to the HAFB Archaeologist and are not
included in this report.)
Recommendations have been made for videotaped interviews
Also, Don Taylor
with the informants contacted for this project.
should be considered and a more complete interview with Tommy
Further historical studies,
Danley would be advantageous.
mainly in the form of comparing the HAFB information with other
The patterns
is
recommended.
similar studies in the region,
but do add to a
value,
visible on HAFB are of a restrictive
HAFB
should be
remembered
that
data base.
It
comparative
federal
of
acreage
of
all
the
smallest
amount
administers
all
of which played similar
agencies operating in the Basin,
Projects similar to
roles in altering the economy of the region.
the one reported on here are currently being undertaken by Fort
Bliss and WSMR, and these, together with the patterns discerned
for this project, could be synthesized to create a viable model
Basin.
Such
an
for
the
Tularosa
of
settlement
patterns
assessment would be useful far beyond the confines of the Base
and Tularosa Basin region.

225

226

forh vP i ca
1.

Frank E.

and Hi4s ti o..rj

Rousseau H.

Kottlowski,

Roy W. Foster, Stratigraphic

_ewMeat co
New Mexico:
(Socorro,
._0_J

Studeq__

Resources,

1956),

2.

72.

Ibid.,

State

DacgXr-.Vn-d
M.L.

Flower,

and

Thompson,

$_L__h__
Memoir
errces
r
Lsa
ii
Bureau of Mines and Mineral

73.

ca __1 _.art- Ax
William Doleman, ,The_ji j igm__- __
3.
Archeolo1i'cal Survey, (Albuquerque, New Mexico:
Office of
Contract Archeology, 1988), 9.
_
ry.infoHooa P
4.
Peter L. Eidenbach, Hi--tDAir___
eBase-g, 1993, 17, Prepared for Holloman Air Force Base,
New Mexico.
5.

Doleman,

sJ&,

LTeUJ1

7.

6.

Sergio Garza and J.S. McLean, F.res.1u~aJr Resor

ew Mexi _QQ__.g
Tularosa B i
._h
t
En ineer Tenical Report 40, (n.p.: Modern Press, 1977),

5.

7.
Frank E. Houghton, "The Climate of Otero County, New Mexico,
in T echnica.
19 7 3 Su.rvev of the TujgaiL_._i
i
Human Systems Research,
(Tularosa, New Mexico:
R-e-s
DD zsj.g
Inc., 1973), 193.
8.

H.J.

Maker,

Sgse9zhvp_9L
University,

P.S.

1972),

Derr,

(Las
a
38.

and J.U.

Cruces,

Anderson,

._fica.

New Mexico State

New Mexico:

9.
Phillip S. Derr, Soil $urvev of OterArea.
(National Cooperative Soil Survey, 1981), 69.
10.
Martyn D. Tagg, Holloman Archaeologist,
Communication with the Author.

New Nezi-,

Personal

11.
Depue Falck, "Report of Block Examination," March 19, 1918
in Box 1 of 2, Folder T16S, R8E, N.M.,
_
4. Rec
49.
of t h
IB
r eaofat_.N
Me_ oS
8NN49-91-221, Denver Federal Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.
Hereafter cited as DFRC.
12.

Otero CountAderi

13.

AlwmosordoRejia

June

February 2,

1, 1911,

227

4:1.

1907,

1:2.

14.

AaoXQdo___Wa

15.
Mr. and Mrs.
Tularosa, May 26,

June 3,

1909,

Willis Danley,
1994.

3:4.
Interview with the Author,
and Henry Walt, T e._
(Santa Fe:
Historic

Chris Wilson, Stanley Hordes,

16.
nraI Ne Mn
Rew
al
Preservation Division, 1989), 44.

17.

Li~.

18.
A. L. Walker and J.L. Lanfow, Prelimnr__.Uy of 127 N-h.
Mei*es
in 1925. Agrinul
r~a~l__
i
t ajQi ____]
i!
New Mexico College of
No .159 (Las Cruces, New Mexico:
Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, 1927), 27.
19.

Falck,

7.

20.

Ibid.,

5.

21.
Margaret Anne Rogers, William L. Mansker, and Donald Peters,
"Potential Environmental Threats in Old Mining Areas--The High
Rolls (Sacramento) Mining District" (New Mexico Geological
Society, 1991), 357.
22.
Army Corps of Engineers, "Planning Report, Expansion of
Facilities,
Otero County, New Mexico, Holloman Air Development
Center, Alamogordo, New Mexico," March 3, 1957, 6-7, in File
1504-05, Realty Historical File (area transferred for HAFR only),
Army Corps of Engineers Office, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited as COE Planning Report.
23.

Alkamogordo News January 24,

24.

COE Planning Report,

1929,

1:4.

7.

25.
William E. King and Vickie M. Harder, QilandaS__Po_
nti
oLfhe Tuaro a Basin--Otero Platform--Salt Basin Graben Area,
New Mexico -nd Texas.
Circular No. 198 (Socorro, New Mexico:
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources,
1985), 34;
"Adverse Proceedings Ordered, 1942-1943, Alamogordo Bombing
Range," in RG 49, 8NN-49-91-234, DFRC.
26.
Scholars tend to disagree on the exact date in which the
Athapaskan speaking tribes, including the Navajos and Apaches,
moved into the Southwest.
Spanish documents place a nomadic
Indian tribe in the traditional homeland of the Mescalero Apaches
in south-central New Mexico as early as 1541.
Albert H.
Schroeder, A
e_1qdians. VoMue TPartL,
ed. David Agee
Horr (New York:
Garland Publishing Company, Inc., 1974), 34.
27.
Alfred B. Thomas, "The Mescalero Apache, 1653-1874,"
A pache Indians.
.jimg__
U,
ed. David Agee Horr (New York:
Garland Publishing Company, Inc., 1974), 9, 10, 14.
228

in

28.
Jose Cortes,
Dor
v_LQa
eji__.i
(1799),
ed. Elizabeth A.H. Johns, trans. John Wheat (Norman:
University of Oklahoma Press, 1989), 58, 60, 65;
Averam B.
Bender, "A Study of Mescalero Apache Indians, 1846-1880," in
A_ cha_ Tndi.
Val-un__X1, vii.
29.

Cortes,

57,

62.

30.

Thomas,

15,

16.

31.

Bender,

1, 3.

32.
United States Department of Interior, A
_Innni
Report. i15(Washington, D.C.:
Government Printing Office (GPO),
1854), 93;
United States Department of Interior, AnnuaI Rport. 1858
(Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1858), 297.
33.
United States Congress, Joint Special Committee,
Q.s/aiLqn
.Q__tie~Lx~ia.Tx._i.
(Washington,
D.C.:
GPO, 1867), 100;
Bender, 103, 107.
34.

Thomas,

39; Bender,

186-187.

35.
C.L. Sonnichsen,
uia_r_ __F
(Albuquerque:
University of New Mexico Press,

e -r-._ e__
L_
1960), 5.

36.
I-bjid_,
11-12.
The masculine name Rio Tularoso means "river
of a large number of tulares", or swamp grass thickets.
The town
Tularosa is the feminine form of the river's
name.
Almer N.
Blazer, "Recollections of Almer N. Blazer (1865-1949) of Life
Among the Early-Day Inhabitants of the Village of Tularosa and of
Tularoso Canyon,"
in Oter
C.__t
on_
Family Historis.
YIume2 (Alamogordo:
Tularosa Basin Historical Society, 1985),
29.
Hereafter cited as _0_f2_.
37.

LhisL,

13.

38.

Lbij_.,

12-13.

39.
Anonymous, "James
(Alamogordo:
Tularosa
40.

Sonnichsen,

41.

Ibid.,

19,

42.
George L.
in New Mexico:
Cruces:
n.p.,

Finis Briscoe," in
,PFH.
Basin Historical Society,

VIUM~e._l
1981), 35.

15.
24.

McNew and Elizabeth M. McNew, The Pioneers of 1885

The Altmna.s.
Les
and McNews (Las
1987), 66, 88.

43.
Sonnichsen, 36-37, 41, 50-51;
George L. McNew, "The
Altmans, Lee, Graham, and McNew Families in New Mexico," in
OCPFH. Volumg__2p_!, 297-299.
229

44.

Sonnichsen,

45.

Ibid.,

46.

Sonnichsen,

121-125;

47.

Sonnichsen,

189.

48.

United

96;

90,

96.

McNew,

States

_QQYPf , 315.
McNew,

Department

QC2I,

of Interior,

320-322,

328.

ortQfQtheYQX--

Qr

__wri,L.
2D9_
(Washington, D.C.:
GPO, 1890), 603;
United
States Department of Interior, Report of the Governor of Npe
m xi__O_
19
(Washington, D.C.:
GPO, 1901), 255.
49.
12. Stat. 392;
General Land Office,
k1heenn.er of
Proceeding to Obtain Title to Puluic Lands Under the Homestead.
De
d.sandiQtirL~v, reprint of Circular issued July 11,
Hereafter cited as GLO.
Arno Press, 1972), 14.
1899 (New York:
50.
Ibid., 19, 24;
United State's Department of Interior, AnnitAl
Report. 1914 (Washington, D.C.:
GPO, 1914), 165;
Benjamin
Horace Hibbard, A His t
L
j
i_ Land Policies (New York:
Peter Smith, 1939), 389.
51.

19 Stat.

377;

52.

Hibbard,

428.

GLO,

39,164.

53.
Historical Indices, Bureau of Land Management, District
Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Includes indices for T16 & 17S
R8E, T17S R9E, and T17 & 18S RIOE.
Hereafter cited as Historical
Indices, BLM.
54.
William S. Greever,
New Mexi co
_0__
oc"
R

"Railroad Development in the Southwest,"

32 (April 1957): 159, 178.

55.
William T. Rabe, "On to White Oaks:
The Story of the El
Paso and Northeastern Railroad, Part 2,"
la&__w.od 16:72;
Sonnichsen, 150;
Chris Wilson, Stanley Hordes, and Henry Walt,
_hSsuth Cntral
New Me io Re"i"nal Overvie
(Santa Fe:
Historic Preservation Division, 1989), 31.
56.

Wilson et al,

31.

57.
George B. Anderson, J[ist
__fieVij_.xe_ co. Its
Resources and
.Pepop__ Volume2
(Los Angeles:
Pacific States Publishing
Company, 1907), 821;
Aiawpoordo Dav
Newz February 24, 1991,
Supplement "We of the Basin," 4:6;
Alamogordo News December 7,
1907, 7:5.
58.
_
oCer _ntm Advertiser February 9, 1907, 1:4;
February 16,
1907, 1:2;
Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, "Alamogordo and Otero
County, New Mexico," (n.p., n.d.), 15.
Located in Vertical File
at Alamogordo Public Library, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
230

59.
James E. and Barbara H.
_amp
of New Mexicoj
(Norman:

Sherman,
LhgstaZn.Lj
University of Oklahoma Press,

1975), 166; Emily Kalled Lovell,

(Alamogordo:
.ounty. New Mexico
1963), 20.
60.

Sherman,

61.

AlgadR-.J_.iis

June 24,

62.

_AQ~g_OKQ__gN__..

October 24,

63.

Hibbard,

398; Historical

64.

48 Stat.

1269.

65.

Hibbard,

312.

220;

Al.mrro

History of Oters
Star Publishing Company, Inc.,

lgwya November 9,
1909,

1907,

5:2; June 3,

1929,

1:3;

Indices,

BLM.

1909,

Sherman,

1:1.
3:4.
179.

66.
_Al
- _
June 15, 1934, 1:6;
June 21, 1934, 1:1;
Congressional Reference to the United States Claims Court, No.
84, White Sands Ranchers of New Mexico vs. USA, "Plaintiff's
Brief in Chief," on file
Alamogordo, New Mexico.

at Alamogordo Public Library,

Hereafter cited as "Plaintiff's

2-

Brief".

67.
Congressional Reference to the United States Claims Court,
No. 2-84, White Sands Ranchers of New Mexico vs. USA, "Appendix
A, Exhibit 1, pg. 1, on file
at Alamogordo Public Library,
Alamogordo, New Mexico;
Anonymous,
110.nir
LrFl R_._._A
Force Missile Deyeo, pMenCet
(Baton Rouge, Louisiana:
Army
and Navy Publishing Company, Inc., n.d.),
3.
68.
Anonymous, Ai
Ari
Forc_

a
_r
Wilson, et al, 66.
69.
Jeanne
AI-&a=U-gQ.rLd.Q,

Fore

Missil ent
Center., jHo11=n

adquarters,
(He
t
1958);
Hereafter cited
as 1_958 Yearbook.

Culbertson,
Master Thesis

(Las

State University,

1972),

70.
1:7;

Brief," 8;
1942, 1:4.

"Plaintiff's
February 5,

17,

_
Cruces,

21,

New Mexico:

New Mexico

25.

A]-aw-

o__ew

January 1, 1942,

71.
jLinp-rdo 1y
February 19, 1942, 1:4;
March 5,
Susie McNatt, Interview with the Author, Holloman AFB,
1994.
72.

"Plaintiff's

73.

1958 Yearbook.

74.

"Plaintiff's

75.

Ibid.,

Brief,"

Brief,"

10.

15-17.

29-33.
231

1942, 6:7;
June 8,

Notes

for Research

Methodology

Grant from State Library, Notes

Special Projects
1.
Alamogordo Public Library, Alamogordo, New Mexico.

L.es

the

for

on file

at

Danley Ranch

1.
Martyn D. Tagg, Test Track Area
Air Force Base Report No. 1993-005,

Site Documentation,
1993.

Holloman

2.
S&erial Rest.
R,
in Record GrouR (RG)
49. Records
f the_
Denver
.,
New Mzic__Ae__
maeent (BLM).
Biurjeau of La n d
Federal Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.
Hereafter cited
as
DFRC.
3.

Anonymous,
"The Alexander (Alec) Danley Family History," in
Volume 1 (Alamogordo:
_Qter
County Pioneer Family Histories.
Tularosa Basin Historical
Society, 1981),
128.
Hereafter cited
as DQPU.
Anonymous,
"William (Bill)
Danley Family, in OCPFH.
LoJung__ , 135.
4.
"Application for Grazing Permit," May 25, 1935, in Osie,
Claude, and Jewell Danley File, Bureau of Land Management,
District
Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited
as
Danley File, BLM.
5.
Mr. and Mrs. Willis Danley, Interview with the Author,
Tularosa, New Mexico, May 26,
1994.
6.
in

Joel David Wolfsohn, Assistant

Commissioner, GLO, "Decision,"
"Color of Title,
Mixed,
1948-58," 8NN-49-9-232, RQ_49, DFRC.

7.
"Schedule of Improvements for Lease and Suspension Agreement,
Osie and Garnie Danley and USA," October 12, 1949, in Historical
Files,
Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited
as 1949 Danley Schedule,
COE.
On a 1935
Application for a Grazing Permit, Jewell Danley stated
she had
used the land since 1933 and that
she resided on that
tract.
Danley File, BLM.
8.

1949

Danley Schedule,

COE.

9.
"Water Rating Data," February 10, 1939,
in
"Studies and
Reports, 1939-1981, Box 19, Folder:
District
4, Osie Danley,
-41, DFRC.
Hereafter cited as "Studies and Reports", DFRC.
10.
27,
11.

Tommy Danley,
1994.
D

Personal

esert Land Entry Resister,

Communication with

E_4_9,

232

DFRC.

the Author,

KQ

July

12.
Clerks
Hereafter

a_
Office,
cited

Otero County
as OCCO.

20, page 134, Otero County

Courthouse,
Alamogordo,
New Mexico.

13.
tePt
Doct-LY/juzj3,
page 101, ED-L2, DFRC; 3-_-ri-aj
Peister. R8E, DFRC.
Because a person could not sell any part of
their claim until
they had full
title,
the relinquishment process
allowed them to get money for the improvements they may have made
on government land.
The process involved the transfer of the
claim back to the government.
The original entry person then
sold this document to the interested buyers who took it to the
Land Office where they filed both the relinquishment and their
own entry on the land.
According to the Ailamgg
. this
complex procedure cost the new claimant between $3 and $10 per
acre, depending on the amount of improvements the original entry
person had made on the land.
The price may have been worthwhile
considering the lack of water sources in the Basin and the fact
that the previous owner may have developed that source to a
useable condition.
Therefore, the new claimant paid about the
same amount for the land as it may have cost him to develop it
himself.
Alamogordo Newa January 25, 1908, 6:2-3.
14.

.
oa-aLam&LMaam Lem Pn__ National Records Center, Suitland,
WNRC.

h .inrt
C.n us
__
Roll 916 (Washington,

Government

AdV_,zjj-a-e-r
8:2;

Wa shin g t on
Hereafter cited as

Maryland.

15.
United States Bureau of the Census,
ited State,
Otero County, New Mexico,
D.C.:

hRdQoL__

Oter

Printing
Office
(GPO),
1910),
145;
March 10, 1906,
3:2;
am qow.rjia__
April
County Advertiser
Apr.il 7,
1906,
3:2.
Final
"Cash

"Homestead Entry,
16.
September 25,
1906,
in

Proof,

Testimony

Entries,"

Box

of

137,

Otero County
11, 1908,

Claimant,"
File

2189,

RLAQ49,

WNRC.
17.
Otero Qo nt; dve__ 9_aXY November 3,
MortLyae Book 26:96, OCCO.

1906,

3:1;

18.
"Testimony of Claimant"; Ia__Ajsessment Record Book for
1906.
Tax Assessment Records for the first
two decades of the
20th Century are stored at the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce
Museum, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
19.

AUj_9ordo

News March 7,

20.
g_rrantv Deed
for 1911, 124.

_p_

21.

lax

22.

Wa.rrty DeedjjQ

1908,

44:252,

2:1.

OCCO; Tax

.g-_-_-_
r_ Book for 1917,
119:399,

OCO.

233

Se
46.

Book

23.

"Alexander Danley Family,"

131.

24.
Osie, Claude, and Jewell Danley, Letter to US Department of
the Interior, Division of Grazing," February 4, 1936, Danley
File, BLM.
The discrepancy between the dates on this letter
and
that on the Warranty Deed probably represents the time it took
the Danleys to purchase the McNatt Ranch in full.
25.
8,
26.

Tommy Danley,

Personal Communication with the Author,

June

1994.
jg_ ratv Dk_-d3Doj

651: 396,

OCCO.

27.
"Schedule of Improvements, Lease and Suspension Agreement,
Osie and Garnie Danley and USA," December 7, 1950, in Historical
Files, Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited as 1950 Danley Schedule, COE.
Tommy Danley
Communication, July 27, 1994.
28.
27,

1950 Danley Schedule,

1994.

COE; Tommy Danley Communication,

29.
Tommy Danley Communication,
Schedule, COE.
30.

1949 Danley Schedule,

COE;

31.

1950 Danley Schedule,

COE.

32.

"Water Rating Data".

July 27,

1994;

July

1950 Danley

1950 Danley Schedule,

COE.

33.
R.G. Thompson, "Range Surveys, Appeals, Special
Investigations," May 21, 1941, in Danley File, BLM.
34.
Tommy Danley Communication, July 27, 1994.
According to the
Danleys, the drilled well was also called Grant Spring and it had
been developed by J.M. McNatt around 1900.
This information
seems to be false as the McNatts did not acquire the land until
1913.
At any rate, it shows the confusion encountered when
attempting to identify the features and also the contradictions
present in a variety of historical documents.
"Affadavit of
Private Water and Public Domain Use," April 19, 1938, Danley
File, BLM.
35.

Tommy Danley Communication,

36.

"Application for Grazing Permit".

June 8,

1994.

37.
P.R. Adair, Field Examiner, Memorandum for File, May 17,
1940, "Studies and Reports," DFRC;
"Hearing Cases and Special
Investigations," November 20, 1939, Danley File, BLM;
J.R. Ahl,
District Grazier, Memorandum for File, October 10, 1939, Danley
File, BLM.

234

Mr.

38.

Mrs.

and

Danley

Interview with Author,

Susie McNatt,

39.

Danley Communication,

Tommy

Interview;

June 8, 1994; "Grazing Unit Description,"

"Studies and Reports," DFRC.

HAFB,

in

1939,

February 10,
June 8,

1994.

40.
"Record of Evidence of Land Ownership or Control," April 1,
1952; and "Summary--Carrying Capacity" April 30, 1952; both in
"Studies and Reports." DFRC.

1. Martyn D. Tagg, "Owl Well Site Documentation,"

Force Base Report No. 1993-015, 1993.
2.

Desert LAndE try Reist,

the

in

_x_9_sz

Holloman Air

p 49.

Recrd___ot

acaeempnt. New Mexico State

Off icQ_,
Denver
Lakewood,
Colorado.
Hereafter
cited
as
Federal
Records Center,
May 20,
of Witness--Thomas Frazier,"
DFRC;
"Affadavit
RG 49,
1903,
in
Cancelled
Desert
Land Entries,
Box 206,
File
991, R.Q_4_9_,
oxa
f

Irdsothe R
Washington National
S2.QfLL,
cited

Hereafter

as

E___42,

aet-eat
Center,

Records
WNRC.

Maryland.

Suitland,

3.
United States
Bureau of the
Census,
T
Roll 916 (Washington,
New
Mexico,
Snitd S__Zje. , Otero County,
D.C.: Government Printing
Office
(GPO),
1910),
152.
4.

New Mexico

5.

6.

Book.

Tract

Rei-ster-

8E,

in

70,

Volume
R_2,

.RLQA.,

WNRC.

.DFRC.

iijd.

7.
State
Land Sale No.
269,
in
State
Land Office
files,
State
Land Office,
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
._9_Q__.
110, page 112,
Otero County Clerks
Office,
Otero County Courthouse,
Alamogordo,
New Mexico.
Hereafter
cited
as OCCO.
8.

Susie

McNatt,

Interview

with

the

Author,

1923,
Alamogordo News October 18,
9.
January 1, 1931,
1:1;
McNatt Interview;
February 2,
1928,
6:5.
10.

McNatt

4:3;

HAFB,

June

!aQ-g
_
AiauLQgQrQ___

8,

1994.
C

Interview.

11.
"Water Rating
Data," February
Reports,
1939-1981." Box 19,
Folder:
Son, RG 49, DFRC.
Hereafter
cited
DFRC.

15,
as

235

1939,
District
"Studies

in

"Studies
and
4,
C.C. McNatt
and Reports,"

and

12.
1a Ase__e..ntReJQ_rxd Book for 1917, page 32; for 1918, page
36.
These old courthouse records are stored at the Alamogordo
Chamber of Commerce Museum, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
In 1917,
McNatts improvements were worth only $180.
By the time of the
1918 assessment, his improvements were valued at $1570.
After
that, the assessment gradually decreased in value.
13.
"Schedule of Improvements for Lease and Suspension
Agreement, Belle M. Samples and USA," September 10, 1952, in
Historical Files, Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, New
Mexico.
Hereafter cited as 1952 McNatt Schedule, COE.
Belle
Samples was C.C. McNatt's daughter.
She handled his estate after
he passed away.
14.

McNatt

Interview.

15.
DesDJ&9_ 119:277, OCCO.
This discrepancy in dates may
represent the time it took the McNatts to fully purchase the
land.
16.

lee-

gJL 652:889,

OCCO.

17.

McNatt Interview.

18.

Ibid.

19.

"Water Rating Data".

20.
R.G. Thompson, "Range, Surveys, Appeals, Special
Investigations, C.C. McNatt vs. Mal Walters," May 20, 1941, in
C.C. McNatt file,
Bureau of Land Management, District Office, Las
Cruces, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited as McNatt file,
BLM.
21.

McNatt

22.

1952 McNatt

23.

Ibid.

24.

Ibid.;

25.

McNatt Interview.

26.

Ibid.

27.

1952 McNatt Schedule,

28.

Ibid.;

29.

1952 McNatt Schedule,

30.

Ibid.

31.

McNatt

Interview;

"Water Rating Data".

Schedule,

COE.

"Water Rating Data".

COE.

McNatt Interview.

Interview;

COE; McNatt

Interview.

1952 McNatt Schedule,

236

COE.

32.

1952 McNatt

Schedule,

33.

McNatt Interview.

34.

1952 McNatt

35.

McNatt Interview.

36.

1952 McNatt

37.

Ibid.

38.

McNatt Interview;

39.

McNatt Interview.

40.

1952 McNatt Schedule,

41.

McNatt Interview.

Schedule,

43.

2Lj .

44.

McNatt Interview.

r a

COE.

1952 McNatt Schedule,

e * e ._

COE.

COE.

e *_,.,

46.

McNatt Interview.

47.

"Water Rating Data".

48.

McNatt Interview.

49.
19,

McNatt Interview.

COE.

Schedule,

42.

45.

COE;

"Affidavit of Private Water and Public Domain Use,"

1938, in McNatt file,
BLM.

April

50.
"Application for Permit to Construct and Maintain
Improvements on Public Lands in a Grazing District, November 22',
1938;
Permit to Construct and Maintain Improvements in Grazing
District No. 3 [sic],"
October 24, 1938; both in McNatt file,
BLM.
51.

"Bill of Sale,"

52.

"Water Rating Data".

53.

Handwritten Notes,

54.

"Water Rating Data".

July 7,

55.
Handwritten Notes;
in McNatt file,
BLM.

1941,

August 28,

in

McNatt file,

Thompson,

1940,

237

"Range

in

BLM.

McNatt file,

Surveys,

BLM.

Appeals";

both

56.

1952 McNatt

Schedule,

COE.

57.
Anonymous,
"Christopher Columbus McNatt," in
__erC9_unty
,_L
iy HistorieAsolu1Uj__2 (Alamogordo:
Tularosa Basin
Historical
Society, 1985), 261.
58.
"Affidavit of Private Water and Public Domain Use," April
19, 1938;
"Application for Grazing Permit,"
April 19, 1935;
both in McNatt file,
BLM.
59.
"Summary--Carrying
and Reports," DFRC.
60.

"Grazing Unit

and Reports,"
61.

McNatt

DFRC;

Capacity,"

Description,"

February

February

15,

15,

1939,

1939,

in

in

"Studies

Studies

McNatt Interview.,

Interview;

"Grazing Unit Description".

62.
J.R. Ahl, District Grazier, "4Memorandum for files
and
Regional Grazier," August 6, 1940;
D.C. Woods, Jr. Range
Examiner, Memorandum for files,"
May 14, 1940;
both in McNatt
file,
BLM.
According to Susie McNatt, the CCC constructed fence
lacked only 1/4 mile to completion when they were told to leave
in 1942.
She stated that the military paid Osie Danley to remove
the fence shortly thereafter.
63.

McNatt Interview.

64.

Ibid.

65.
Susie
the United
New Mexico
Alamogordo

McNatt, Undated Letter in Congressional Reference to

States Claims Court, No. 2-84, White Sands Ranchers of
vs. USA, "Plaintiff's
Brief in Chief," on file
at
Public Library, Alamogordo, New Mexico.

66.

1952 McNatt Schedule,

67.

McNatt Interview.

COE.

Notes for A.A.

& C.A.

McNatt Ranch

I.
"Carrying Capacity Tabulation by Allotments," February 17,
1939, in "Studies and Reports, 1939-1981," Box 19, Folder:
District 4, A.A. McNatt & Son, Record Groun 49. Rcordds Qt
Bureau of Land Manazerment. New Mexico StateOj.Qffic,
Denver
Federal Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.
Hereafter cited as
"Studies and Reports," DFRC.
2.
Historical Index, T17S, R8E, page 1, Bureau of Land
Management, District Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Hereafter
cited as BLM.

238

3.
"Water Rating Data,"
Reports," DFRC.

February 17,

4.
Desert Land Entry'Register,
group 49, DFRC.

1939,

Volume 117,

in

"Studies and

page 121,

Ri-.xsd

5.
Wanda Hammond and Ellen Hayles, "The Dillard Family," in
Otpro Co nt__R.rear F&il_
2 (Alamogordo:
Tularosa Basin Historical Society, 1985), 106.
Hereafter cited
as OQPEH.
6.

United States Bureau of the Census,

_
nited
, Otero County, New Mexico, Roll 916
D.C.:
Government Printing Office, 1910), 148-9.
7.

Historical

Index,

(Washington,

BLM.

8.
"Homestead Entry Final Proof, Testimony of Witness, George T.
Dillard," July 28, 1910, in Serial Patent Files, 1908-1951, Box
5188, File 183387, Record Group 49. Records of theBe
fL
anagament. New Me
n
_r
P Washington National Records
Center, Suitland, Maryland.
Hereafter cited as WNRC.
9.

New Mexico Tract Book,

Volume

71,

RQLJ49,

WNRC.

10.
Surface Transfer Book.__6_F. State Land Office, Santa Fe,
New Mexico;
Susie McNatt, Interview with the Author, Holloman
Air Force Base, June 8, 1994.
11.
United States Geological
Quadrangle Map, 1916.
12.
Depue Falck,
in 8NN-49-91-221,

Survey,

Point

Sands,

15 Minute

"Report of Block Examination," March 19, 1918,

Box 1, Folder: Tl6S, R8E, NM, RG 49, DFRC.

13..

General Land Office,

14.

"Water Rating Data".

Survey Plat,

T16S,

R9E,

1936,

BLM.

15.
Army Corps of Engineers, "Planning Report, Expansion of
Facilities,"
September 10, 1956, in File 405-lof," Acquisition
Files, HAFB, Leasehold Acquisition of 18,240 Acres," Historical
Files, Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited as COE.
16.
The metal tank was not mentioned in
inspection report.
"Water Rating Data".

the 1939 range

17.
Carrie Green of Cloudcroft mentioned that her son, Arnold
Green, also used this area for cattle grazing and watering.
He
added the portable corrals.
Carrie Green, Interview with the
Author, Cloudcroft, July 9, 1994.

239

18.

Gertrude

QCPFH.

M.

Volume 2,

Painter,

"Arthur Agustus

19.
"Summary--Carrying
and Reports," DFRC.

Capacity,"

February

20.
Minnie Nations McNatt,
"Memoirs
1949," in OCPFH. Volume 2, 284.
21.

Ibid.,

Family,"

McNatt

in

289,
17,

of Minnie

1939,

N.

in

"Studies

McNatt,

1881-

286.

22.
D.C. Woods, Jr. Range Examiner, Memorandum for
1940, in "Studies and Reports," DFRC.

File,

23.
"Grazing
and Reports,"

Unit Description,"
DFRC.

February

in

24.

Painter,

Arthur

Gertrude

"Columbus

17,

"Sam"

1939,

McNatt,"

May

25,

"Studies

in

OCPFH_.

Yglu_ p 2, 290.

Totes for Fr ed
1. Beth O'Leary, The High Speed Test Track Quantity Distance
Zone and Missile Test Stands Area Cultural Resource Survey,
Holloman Air Force Base Report No. 1994-004, 1994.
2.
United State Geological Survey,
Quadrangle Map, 1916.

Point of Sanc-s,,

15 Minute

3.
Assistant Commissioner, General Land Office, letter
to Mr.
Samuel Herrick, Attorney for Fred Bradford, February 14, 1919,
Serial Patent Files, 1908-1951, Box 23322, File 658255, Le-_-g-rd
Group 49. Records of the Bureau of Land Manaizement. New Mexico

in

Suitland,

StLate Office, Washington National Records

Maryland.
Hereafter cited as WNRC.

Center,

4.
Anonymous,
"Frederick Monroe Bradford
County Pioneer Family Histori.
Vi jQjn__
Basin Historical Society, 1981), 30.

Family," in
_e.rQ
(Alamogordo:
Tularosa

5.

Ibid.,

31.

6.
DedE_9_pk 82:269, Otero County Clerk's Office, Otero County
Courthouse, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited as OCCO.
7.

i)eLJ~Dk

8.

Alamozordo News March

121:9,

OCCO.
17,

1932,

1:4.

9.
D.C. Woods, Jr. Range Examiner, Memorandum for File, May 20,
1940, in "Studies and Reports, 1939-1981," Box 21, Folder:
District 4, Mal Walters, Record Group 49. Rec
oftel__Lr._2_
of Land Ma
ement. New Mexico State Office, Denver Federal
240

as "Studies
Hereafter cited
Colorado.
Records Center, Lakewood,
"Grazing Unit Description," February 21,
and Reports," DFRC.
1939, "Studies and Reports," DFRC.

"Application for Grazing Permit," April 13, 1935, in

10.
Walters File, Bureau of Land Management, District Office,
Hereafter cited as BLM.
Cruces, New Mexico.
"Summary--Carrying
11.
and Reports," DFRC.

Capacity,"

21,

February

1939,

in

Mal
Las
"Studies

Grazier, Memorandum for File and Regional

12.
J.R. Ahl, District
in "Studies and Reports," Box 19,
Grazier, Augu'st 6, 1940,
4, C.C. McNatt, DFRC.
Folder:
District
13.
14.

15.
all

ee
_

106:402-4,

OCCO.

Pr_0_
OCCO.

e~2_s

both OCCO.

660:73;

2
Book 106:402;

Book for 1920.

These records are
xAsesen
the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce Museum.

"Water Rating Data,"

Reports,"

DFRC.

18.

Woods,

D.C.

_File #12;

6;

1-btL

16.
stored in
17.

gQk

February 21,

1939,

in

"Studies and

BLM.

Memo,

19.
R.G. Thompson, Jr.
Special Investigations,
20, 1941, Walters File,

Range Examiner, Range Surveys, Appeals,

C.C. McNa~tt and Son vs. Mal Walters, May
BLM.

20.
Schedule of Improvements, Lease and Suspension Agreement,
William and Ann Walters and USA, January 31, 1950, in Historical
Files, Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque Office.
Notes for Fajrra

bi i_d__gU.

1. Helen Black, "Fairchild Country," in

_amilv Histories. Voljume2 (Alamogordo:
Historical Society, 1985), 128.

y
C
_Q
Tularosa Basin

b
Serial Register, RIOE, in Ee__d Group 49. Recor_.__
of Land Manaqtment. New
o
t
Ofc,
Denver
rea
Federal Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.

2.

3.

Maude Fairchild,

Personal Communication,

July 11,

1994.

to American W" jn
_
T. Lindsay Baker, A_2_
4.
University of Oklahoma Press, 1985), 174-175.
(Norman:

241

5.

Maude

Fairchild,

Personal

Nots
1.
Martyn
Force Base

Communication.

2_or

D. Tagg, Boles Wells

Report No. 1993-009,

2.
General Land
Land Management,

Office,
District

KipiDirM
Road Maintenance,
1993.

Survey Plat,
Office, Las

Holloman Air

T17S, RIOE,
1908, Bureau of
Cruces, New Mexico.

3.
Otero County Advertiser February 26, 1910, 6:3; United States
Bureau of the Census,
hirt.enth Census of the Unitea Sates..
Otero County. New Mexico, Roll 916 (Washington,
D.C.: Government
Printing
Office, 1910),
215.
4.
Serial Register,
RIOE, in Record Group 49. Records of the
Bureau of Land Management.
New Mexico State Office, Denver
Federal Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.
Hereafter cited
as

E-QJL29, DFRC.
5.
"Appeal from the General Land Office," June 24, 1914, in
Serial Patent Files, 1908-51, Box 14319, File 426014, EQ 49,
Washington National Records Center, Suitland, Maryland.
Hereafter cited as File 426014, WNRC.
6.

A=oazordo News March 16,

1911,

5:4.

7.

Alaordo News March 23,

1911,

5:2.

8.

"Appeal from the GLO".

9.
James C. McKillip,
426014, WNRC.

"Affidavit," November

7,

1913,

in

File

10.
Clay Tallman, Commissioner of the GLO, Letter to Register
and Receiver, Las Cruces, New Mexico, October 18, 1913, in File
426014, WNRC.
11.

"Affidavit."

12.

Ibid.

13.

"Appeal

14.

0 exo County News September

from the GLO".

11,

1914,

3:3.

15.
Tax Assessment Record Books for 1915 through 1921.
These
books are stored at the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce Museum,
Alamogordo, New Mexico.
16.
Graham E. San, Deputy US Marshal, "Return of Service of
Notice of Suit," Civil Action No. 2386, USA vs. 1,799.98 acres of
land in the County of Otero, New Mexico, Robert G. Walker, et al,
242

and Unknown Owners,

in Civil Case Files 1938-1953, Box 240,
74, Folder:
Case 2386, Progress File,
RG 21
R
of New Me.
tric
Distrct
Court of the Un"td States.
DFRC.
Hereafter cited
as Civil Action No. 2386.
17.

"Order

of Dismissal,"

Civil Action No.

__i__lgr

1.
General Land
Land Management,

Office,
District

Bles

Entry

2386.

Farm

Survey Plat,
TI7S, RlOE,
1908, Bureau of
Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico.

2.
"Homestead Entry, Final Proof, Testimony of Claimant,"
September 10, 1910, in Serial
Patent Files, 1938-51, Box 5412,
File 189124, Record GQrup 49.
Cords
r
of Lant
na-uA
e n t -newYe.
0_c
___
P
Washington National Records
Center, Suitland, Maryland.
Hereafter cited as File 189124,
WNRC.

3.

-_v_9rdti-Pr April 13,

CrIo Couaty

4.
Oter o
U tv Advertiser July 28,
August 8,
1912, 1:4

1907,
1909,

6:3.
3:1;

Aj__mqgrLe__

5. Tax Assessment Recrd Books, 1909.

These books are
the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce Museum, Alamogordo,
Mexico.
6.

"Testimony

of Claimant."

7.

Ibid.;

_Assesment Book

I_

stored
New

at

19.11.

8.
DeedBook 47: page 179, Otero County Clerks Office, Otero
County Courthouse, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited
as
OCCO.
9.
10.
11.

l/iA_ a_

ne

1917-1921.

33:417,

OCCO.

eed Bo k 82:405,

OCCO.

DLBoj

12.
Deed-3smk 117:120,
#19360, OCCO.
13.

Deed

14.

Ded.Bs-q

Book

1119:579,
121:456,

OCCO;

hatte_ MortagefBs-jj 3,

OCCO.
OCCO;

Book

124:315,

15.
DeLd Book 124:556,
the Author, Alamogordo,

OCCO; Betty Jean Johnson,

July 15, 1994.

16.

Interview.

Betty Jean

Johnson

Record

243

OCCO.
Interview with

17.
"Order of Delivery of Possession,"
Action No. 2386, USA vs. 1,799.98 acres
Otero, New Mexico, Robert G. Walker, et
in Civil Case Files
1938-1953, Box 240,
2386, Progress File, RG 21. Rgcords of
United states.
District
of New Mexico.
Civil Action No. 2386.
18.

Johnson

19.

Ibid.

20.

Ibid.

July 29,
1953, Civil
of land in the County of
al, and Unknown Owners,
Entry 74, Folder:
Case
the District
Court of the
DFRC.
Hereafter cited
as

Interview.

21.
"Partial
Transcript
Civil Action No. 2386.

of Pre-Trial

Conference,"

May 20,

1959,

22.
"Contract to Supply Water," in File 1504, Realty Historical
Files,
Volume II,
Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, New
Mexico.
Hereafter cited as COE.
23.
Dr. David Bushnell,
"History of Water Use and Resources,
Holloman Air Development Center, New Mexico,"
(United States Air
Force, Historic
Branch, Office of Information Services, 1957),

28.
24.

Johnson

25.

Bushnell,

26.

"Partial

27.

"Judgement,"

28.

Johnson

Interview.
27.
Transcript."
June

30,

1959,

Civil Action

No.

2386.

Interview.

29.
Johnson
Instructions

Interview; "Plaintiff's
Requested Special
(to the Jury)," Civil Action No. 2386.

30.

Interview.

Johnson

31.
Army Corps of Engineers, Real Estate Planning Report
Including Gross Appraisal Addition to Water Well Area, HAFB,
Alamogordo, New Mexico, December 23, 1953, in File 1504-05,

Realty Historical

File,

32.

"Plaintiff's

Requested

33.

Johnson Interview.

34.

Photographs

35.

Johnson Interview.

Volume VII,
Special

COE,

13.

Instructions".

are from the 1953 Real Estate Planning Report.

244

36.

Ibid.

37.

Ibid.,

Transcript".

"Partial

Albert Mendez,
38.
November 29, 1993.

Communication

Personal

Notes for
Office,
District

General Land
1.
Land Management,

with the Author,

rmS

1908, Bureau of
T17S, RIOE,
Survey Plat,
Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico.

2. United States Bureau of the Census, Th-irx.rthne-e___-e

United States
Otero Conty. New MeXCQ, Roll 916 (Washington,
D.C.: Government Printing
Office, 1910), 214.
3.

Ag

_kj

February 29,

1908,

2:1.

4.
Thirj-_e t-bQ-eB_,5
138; "Homestead Entry Final Proof,
Testimony of Claimant," April 25,
1913, in Serial
Patent Files,
1908-1951, Box 12247, File 369163,
9ecord Group 49. RecosQ__
e
xico Staote
_ ___ L__9
_th/e.Bureau
Washington National Records Center, Suitland, Maryland.
Hereafter cited
as File 369163, WNRC.
5.
A.
D~r___LeXa September 16, 1909, 4:3; Emily Kalled Lovell,
A Person li7d
"t
"
ry
Ne_0Mg__LLc
(Alamogordo:
Star Publishing Company, Inc.,
1963),
5.
6.

ogoRggrj-Q__jej-_

7.

....

t Book.

8.

Aim gL__.i

9.

"Testimony

10.

September

New Mexico.
October

16,. 1909,

VolM-e 72_,
13,

1910,

5:3.
T17,

Ri0,

in

PLA__,

WNRC.

5:1.

of Claimant."

Ibid.

11.
"Testimony of Witness,
in File 369163, WNRC.

James

C.

McKillip,"

April

25,

1913,

12.
1vj
rtgeJ3_pJ
3, page 3, in Otero County Clerks
Office, Otero County Courthouse, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited
as OCCO.
13.

Alamogordo

News December

6,

1928,

6:3;

January

1:6.
14.
15.

ggeLgk
Probate

79:442,

Case

File

OCCO.
#1357

and #1624,

245

OCCO.

17,

1929,

16.

Cloudcroft

Silver

Lining January

7,1905.

1.
Marion Jones homesteaded the SE 1/4 of Section 25, T17S, R9E,
on January 14,
1909.
Serial Register R9E, in cord
Group 49.
La
Manaaeient.
New Mei
Records of the Bureauof
.QIjsie., Denver Federal Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.
2. General Land Office,
Land Management, District

Survey Plat,
T17S, RiOE, 1908, Bureau of
Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico.

3.
"Homestead Entry Final Proof, Testimony of Claimant," August
22, 1912, in Serial
Patent Files
1908-51, Box 9971, File 307872,
R_-9_42, Washington National Records Center, Suitland, Maryland.
Hereafter cited
as File 307872, WNRC.
4.

Lilian
R.
(Bennett) Hooks,
"The Bennett/Reynolds Family,"
tj__
tyC
Familv Histories.
VoluY1me2 (Alamogordo:
Tularosa Basin Historical
Society, 1985), 20.
5.

Martha Doty Freeman,

"The Historic
__IAsesmp
eoor
nt
nge,.Oro.Couny
New Mexico. Pr
(Austin:
Texas Archeological Survey,
136.
6.

Qt.rqujntyA.xti

7.

Hooks,

August

27,

Resource," in A Cuki-ur.aj
Gregor GuidedA
e__pR_
.ri-tI&
University of Texas,
1977),

1909,

Hooks,

4:2.

21.

8.
"Testimony of Claimant",
ax
books are stored at the Alamogordo Chamber
Alamogordo, New Mexico.
9.

in

1913.
of Commerce

These
Museum,

20-21.

10.
Probate Case File #180,
Otero County Clerks Office, Otero
County Courthouse, Alamogordo, New Mexico; lAxn%..fls.Jes
1916-1921.
11.

AssessmentBoos 1916-1921.

1.
Serial Register RIOE, in Regcrd Group 49. RerdE
of the
3ureau of Land Ma
ment
New Mexico StateOffice
Denver
Federal Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.

246

2. Ibid.;
Patenftl..o_9
110: 309, Otero County Clerks Office,
County Courthouse, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited
OCCO.

Otero
as

3.
"Homestead Entry Final Proof, Testimony of Claimant,"
Patent Files
1908-51, Box 41342,
in Serial
December 14, 1935,
File 1084970, RQ 49, Washington National Records Center,
Suitland, Maryland.
Hereafter cited
as File 1085970, WNRC.
4.

a_ k 137:367,

OCCO.

14 8: 2 20,

OC CO.

5 .__Da__-aoa

6.
7.

DeJ

172:31,

OCCO.

253:45,

OCCO.

8.

/D) P d __BWg

9.

Sergio Garza

274:526,

and J.S.

_Engineer Teqchnj

10.

D-ee__BsLQ_

OCCO.
McLean,

.P-Rpxr2_-_Q

274:526,

._Fj__Lr

(Modern

Rs

Press,

Inc,

1977),

16.

OCCO.

11.
"Tract 95" in Active File
405-lof, ACQ Files, HAFB, NM,
Tract NO. 95, Betty Dare Memorial Rest Home Foundation, Inc.,
Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
12.
95,
13.

DeedB.Qok 663:938, OCCO; T.D. Engelage, Appraisal

October 11, 1988, in Active File
405-lof, COE, 29.
Engelage,

14-15.

14.
Robert J.
Majka, Lt. Colonel USAF,
Letter to Thomas Merlan, State Historic
2, 1990, in Archaeologist's
Site
Files,
Flight.
15.

Engelage,

16.

Ibid.

17.

Ibid.,

of Tract

Base Civil Engineer,

Preservation Officer,
HAFB, Environmental

May

14.

14-15.

Ce___r__.. _eHeta

1.
"Homestead Entry Final Proof, Testimony of Claimant,"
November,
1, 1916, in Serial
Patent Files
1908-51, Box 204999,
File 577788, Record Group
49, Rgords of the Bu_r a i of dL
Management. New Mexio
Washington National Records
Center, Suitland, Maryland.
Hereafter cited as File 577788,
WNRC.
247

2.
De~eesQrs1 44:30, Otero County Clerks Office, Otero County
Hereafter cited
as OCCO.
Courthouse, Alamogordo, New Mexico.

July 18, 1908,

Yogd[_ie
3.
Aj-a
Advertier December 16, 1907, 3:4.

Supplement;

Otero County

Sri

_
RLi_ ter, R8E, in R9,_A9, Denver Federal Records
4.
Center, Lakewood, Colorado.
5.
"Certificate of Naturalization," October 2, 1916, in File
577788,
6.

WNRC.

"Homestead Proof,

Testimony of Claimant."

"Purchase Proof, Testimony of Claimant," August 17, 1920,

7.
Serial Patent Files, 1908-51, Box 28511, File 801559, RG 49,
WNRC.
Hereafter cited as File 801559, WNRC.
8.

in

Ibid.

9.
Commissioner, GLO, Letter to Register, Las Cruces,
Mexico, January 15, 1917, File 801559, WNRC.
10.

"Purchase

11.

"Homestead Proof,

12.

Ibid.

Proof,

13.
Susie McNatt,
8, 1994.

New

Testimony of Claimant."
Testimony of Claimant."

Interview with the Author,

14.

De_do_

78:608,

15.

Ded.oQLk

119:277,

OCCO;

_oaeojo

Holloman AFB,

46:315,

June

OCCO.

OCCO.

16.
"Testimony of Witness,
File 577788, WNRC.

Herman Pruess,"

sfrHd'

November

1, 1916,

Farm

in R
d Grou 4 4,
9,
/tco.
State O_ LQQ, Denver
. New
Federal Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.
Hereafter cited as
RG 49, DFRC.
"Homestead Entry Final Proof, Testimony of
Claimant," July 28, 1910, in Serial Patent Files, 1908-51, Box
5188, File 183387, in RG 49, Washington National Records Center,
Suitland, Maryland.
1.

Serial

.B-Ue-a_L__o

Register, R9E,

-1__a n d Ma

2.
Paten
Rerd
34:50, Otero County Clerks Office, Otero County
Courthouse, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited as OCCO.
3.

"Testimony of Claimant."
248

4.

Alamojor~doNewU May 12,

5.

"Testimony of Claimant."

6.

Alamoegrdo New.

7.

8.
9.
10.

11.
Carrie Green,
9, 1994.
12.

5:3.

1:4.

Record 17533,

OCCO.

OCCO.

124:273,

DedJoak

1910,

OCCO.

Book 3,

119:463,

ke__B3oD.k

8:3; February 24,

January 1, 1931,

119:446,

hat__19_rtgzg_

1910,

OCC0.

Interview with the Author,

Cloudcroft,

August

Ibid.

13.
Depue Falck,
in 8NN-49-91-221,
DFRC.

"Report of Block Examination," March 19, 1918,

Box 1 of 2, Folder:
T16S, R8E, NM, .Q4_,

1. W. H. Doleman,
e 0l
_ _
l _$ vev o_
Wter System Annex. HAEB, OPro ConYtv. New MexigsQ
Office of Contract Archeology, 1992), 20-29.

(Albuquerque:

2.
Serial Reaist c, RIOE, in
qu,
d GrouD 49. Record s
fb
Buire-au of r
nLanent. New Mexico State Offic, Denver
Federal Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.
3.

Lillian R.

(Bennett)

Hooks,

"The

Bennett/Reynolds

Otero County Pioneer Pam "

"
"
Tularosa Basin Historical
Society, 1985),
4.
TaI _sses
are stored at

Alamogordo,
5.

Hooks,

7.

Ibid.

8.

Doleman,

__2.
21.

Family,"

Books for 1918 and 1919.

These
the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce Museum,

New Mexico.
21-22.

28.

249

in

(Alamogordo:

records

Notes fo
1. United States Geological
Quadrangle Map, 1916.

04L
5

Survey,

Point of Sands,

15 Minute

2.
Depue Falck, "Report of Block Examination," March 19, 1918,
in 8NN-49-91-221, Box 1 of 2, Folder:
T16S, R8E, NM, Recorz
r.untp., Re-crdi -: E L__ i__oea
Lnd
Man:ad em en t. New Me x i CQ
Stae__OZfic, Denver Federal Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.
3.
8,

Susie McNatt,
1994.

Interview with the Author,

Holloman AFB,

June

Notes for WllD

1.
Albert Mendez, Personal Communication with the Author,
February 21, 1994; Army Corps of Engineers, Real Estate Planning
Report Including Gross Appraisal, Addition to Water Well Area,
HAFB, Alamogordo, New Mexico, December 23, 1953 in File 1504-05,
Realty Historical Files, Volume VII, Corps of Engineers,
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited as COE.
2.
Land Lease for Expansion of Water Facilities,
Eng-6809, in File 1504, Realty Historical File,
3.

Real

Lease W-41-038Volume 1, COE.

Estate Planning Report.

Notpe,

iJi

for Arh'

e_a

I.
Serial Regist-er, R9E, in Record Group 49. Record of the
1Bux-.r_._oda 4 Manag ement. New Mexico State Office, Denver
Federal Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.
2.
_g
_
_
34:107, Otero County Clerks Office, Otero
County Courthouse, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited as
OCCO.
3.
_aI__g__snt
eRe-coLr
Book for 1911.
These records are
stored at the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce Museum, Alamogordo,
New Mexico.
4. United States Bureau of the Census, Thirteenth Census of the
nited States. Otero County. New MexicQ, Roll 916 (Washington,
D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1910), 214.

5.

Dei31:344,

OCCO.

6.

Otero County Artis

7.

Thirteenth

8.

Ajamo~ordoDNewS March 14,

CensZ.us,

April 18,

1908,

2:2.

214.
1908,
250

2:1; April

18,

1908,

2:2.

9.

52:93,

DedB

0eGO.

United States Bureau of the Census, Fourteenth Census

10.
D.C.:
United States, Otero County, New Mexico (Washington,
167.
Office, 1920),
Government Printing
Probate

Case File

#372,

OCCO.

12.
Probate
1931, 6:3.

Case File

#409,

OCCO; Aor

11.

13.

ef

113:218,

14.

eLflp___BQQ

95:329,

15.
Navy,
16.
17.
30,
18.

_
May
D

15,

L.B_2J&

leq

April

of th.be

30,

OCCO.
OCCO.

86629, OCCO, Honorable Discharge from the

September 4, 1930, 6:6.
1921; AIamogord __z_
95:637,

A-m-g.-q~xAQw
6:3.
1931,

OCCO.

January

169:500,

DedBg],

1, 1931,

AihiqgrJ1_4_.__i

1:7;

April

OCCO.

1959, Civil Action No.

19.
"Transcript of Proceedings," May 26,
2386, USA vs. 1,799.98 acres of land in the County of Otero, New
Mexico, Robert G. Walker, et al, and Unknown Owners,
in Civil
Case Files 1938-1953, Box 240, Entry 74, Folder 5,
RecormjofN_.L_
District
_et~b&.D!i_r~icQCourt of the 1Jiij_4_$_ts.
Me!

20.

CQ

Jg

DFRC.

_Qr~d

Books

21.
General Land Office,
of Land Management,
District

Ntz

for 1911

through

1921.

Survey Plat, T17S, RIOE, 1908, Bureau

Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico.

tfQot

fq

Well

1. De
56:5 61:377, Otero County Clerks Office,
County Courthouse, Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Otero

2.
Historical Indexes, T15S, R8E, Bureau of Land Management,
District Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited as BLM;
"Adverse Proceedings Ordered, 1942-1943, Alamogordo Bombing
Range," in 8NN-49-91-234,
9_.Sredoup 49. Records of the BureaQ_
f L.and Management. New Mexico State Q9ffjs,
Denver Federal
Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.
Hereafter cited as RG 49.
3.

Map,

in

C.C.

McNatt File,

BLM.

251

4.
Willis
1994,

Danley,

Interview with the Author,

Tularosa,

May 26,

5.
Tract BoQok. New Mexio Volume70Q, in RQJ49, Washington
National Records Center, Suitland, Maryland.
6.
R.G. Thompson, Jr. Range Examiner, Memo to James Ahl,
District Grazier, RE:
Inventory of Sam Hanna's Waterings,
February 13, 1941, BLM.
7.
Supplemental Agreement No. 1, Contract DA-29-005-eng-474,
April 17, 1951, in File 1504-05, Realty Historical Files, Army
Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
8.
17,

Department of the Air Force, Master Plan, Vicinity Map,

1958, Holloman Air Force Base, Environmental Flight.

9.

Thompson Memo.

10.

June

Supplemental Agreement.

11.
Hewitt Smith, Consumer Representative, Borden, Inc., Letter
to Author, September 8, 1994, in Archaeologist's Site Files,
Holloman AFB.
Similar tokens with center holes were discovered
at a Hispanic homestead near Roswell, New Mexico.
According the
Yvonne R. Oakes,
these were distributed
by stores
in return for
traded items, in the case of the Roswell site,
for wool.
These
tokens could then be used the same as money to purchase items or
services at a later
time.
Chinese coins with holes in the center
were also found at the Harmony Borax site
in California.
Apparently these were used as gaming pieces.
Yvonne R. Oakes,

Ihat.ibe~r_&S__te: A Hispanic Homestead Near Roswell. New

(Santa Fe:
torv of Anthopology Note No. _3_
_ La
]e
Museum of New Mexico, 1983), 78;
George A. Teague and Lynette 0.
Shenk, Excavations at Harmony Borax Works. P blications in
Western Archeological and
kA=-hr-Qp-.jgy No. .6 (Tucson:
Conservation Center, 1977), 143.

1igtes for
1.

A-0~

Cotiunty Advertier
_o
November 20,

1909,

3:5.

2.
Affidavit of Private Water and Public Domain Use, April 19,
1938, in Luis and Pete Aguilar file,
Bureau of Land Management,
District Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
3.
"Water Rating Data," December 19, 1938, in "Studies and
Reports, 1938-1981," Box 15, Folder:
District 4, Luis and Pete
Aguilar, Record Group 49. Records
__
Rr
ofand
1a&en-e/etNew Mexzio State Office, Denver Federal Records
Center, Lakewood, Colorado.

252

4.
"Summary--Carrying
and Reports".
5.

"Water

Rating

6.

Clovis

B.

Lancaster,
7.

Capacity,"

December

19,

1938,

in

"Studies

Data."

Aguilar,

Personal

California,

Communication

August

with

Author,

1994.

11,

Ibid.

8.
Martyn D.
Tagg,
Resource Investigation,

017,

Test

Track Artifact
Holloman Air

Collecting,
Force Base

Cultural
Report No.

1993-

1993.
No

__j

ese for A

1.
General Land Office,
page 21,
Bureau of Land
New Mexico.

r_ r et t 's

Surveyor's
Management,

Ho

Notes,
District

p-sgS__"a

1882,
Volume 1159,
Office,
Las Cruces,

2.

*erial
Register,
R8E,
in
cod Group9.Records
Juzre_..U__f__Lnaad M aagement. New
_x co
State
f
,
Federal
Records Center,
Lakewood,
Colorado.
Hereafter
RG 49, DFRC.
3.

Contest

Docket.

Vol!.m.

n.G_..2,

4.
Albert
Barrett,
Sworn Statement,
Patent
Files,
1908-1951,
Box 1628,
National
Records Center, Suitland,
File
90464,
WNRC.

of the
Denver
cited

as

DFRC.

August 21,
1908,
File
90464,
l__49,
Maryland.
Hereafter

in
Serial
Washington
cited
as

5.
ae
o
34:6,
7:352,
Otero County Clerks Office,
County Courthouse,
Alamogordo,
New Mexico.
Hereafter

Otero
cited
as

OCCO.
6.

United

States

J!
_nitPR
, at
z
D.C.: Government

Bureau of

the

7.
21,

"Homestead Entry
Final
1908,
in
File
90464,

8.

Edwin Walters,

9.
File

"Testimony of
90464, WNRC.

Proof,
WNRC.

Survey
Witness,

jh

~_

Map,

undated,

Francis

26:296,

Roll
206.

Testimony

10.
Tax Assessment Reccr_
Books
stored
at
the Alamogordo Chamber
New Mexico.
1.

Census,

aro
ountv. New Meic,
Printing
Office,
1910),

in

of

File

DeGroot,"

1909-1911.
of Commerce

OCC0.
253

916

(Washington,

Claimant,"

90464,

August

21,

August

WNRC.
1908,

in

These records
are
Museum, Alamogordo,

ses&tsnn
5As

Record Book 1912.

12.

Tax

13.

Thirteenth Census,

14.

Tax Assessment

15.

ieeBoQk 44:511,

16.

Tax Assemnt Record Book 1914.

_e

17.

206;

44:133,

OCCO.

Record Book 1913.

OCCO.

53:578.

18.
Dorothy Jensen Neal, Theg___x_.___
"Q"
n
(Alamogordo: Alamogordo Printing Company, 1966),
19.

- rtrjfjstePf

20.

!e-ed&-Bsk

Death 496:345,

660:74,

21.
22,

Wanda Jean Davis,

1994.

22.

h tte_t.a

2-6.

OCCO.

648:862,

OCCO.

Personal

Communication with Author,

3:36,

#1440,

May

OCCO.

1. General Land Office, Survey Plat, T18S, RIOE, 1909, Bureau of

Land Management, District Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited as BLM.
2.

County Aderxtiser,

January 2,

1907,

4:3.

3.
Uattel Mortgage 26:244, Otero County Clerks Office, Otero
County Courthouse, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited as
OCCO.
4.
General
118, BLM.

Land Office,

Surveyor's Notes,

5.
21nero C
Advertier
November 6,
1910, 4:2.
6.

June

24,

1909,

1909,

2:4;

Volume 10, page

Alamogordo News

__

ie,
RIOE, in Record Groun 49. Records of the
.irtraU___Lnd Management. New Mexico State Of-fL_,
Denver
Federal Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.
Hereafter cited as
RG 49.
5ex

7.
"Homestead Entry, Final Proof, Testimony of Claimant,"
December 14, 1935, Serial Patent Files, 1908-1951, Box 41342,
File 1084970, RG 49, Washington National Records Center,
Suitland, Maryland.

254

8.
9.

ieAoBaa
Ded

148:220,
253:45,

172:31,

00O.

0CCO.

10.
Travis D. Engelage, Appraisal of Tract 56, August 4, 1988,
in Active File 405-lof, HAFB, Tract No. 56, Army Corps of
Engineers, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited as COE.
11.

364:728,

Ddo

OCC0.

12.
"Preliminary Relocation Data Form,"
Active File 405-lof, HAFB, Tract NO. 57,
13.

November 28,
COE.

1988,

in

Book 660:985.

14.
Robert J. Majka, Lt. Colonel, USAF, HAFB Civil Engineer,
Letter to Thomas Merlan, State Historic Preservation Officer,
2, 1990, in Archaeologist's Site Files, Holloman AFB,
Environmental Flight.

No e5 LX Ax

may

a 19

1. General Land Office, Survey Plat, T17S, RIOE, 1908, Bureau of

Land Management, District Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited as BLM.
2.

D
rnpQD 49.

___rd_

v Re_

page 115,

Records of the Burent.

Ltate Office, Denver Federal Records Center,

Hereafter cited as RG 49, DFRC.
3.

O0ero County Adv er-tser October 31,

4.

S"rial R

ister,
"
R1OE,

__Q__4_9,

1908,

in

Rgr.r-d

N__

Lakewood,

CQ

Colorado.

3:1.

DFRC.

5.
"Homestead Entry Final Proof, Testimony of Claimant," July
23, 1913, in Serial Patent Files 1908-1951, Box 12247, File
369164, RJ.42, Washington National Records Center, Suitland,
Maryland.
6. United States Bureau of the Census, Thjrteenth Cnsus o__t_
United States. Otero County. New Mexisc,
Roll 916 (Washington,
D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1910), 214; Serial R ster,
"
RlOE.
7.

Serial Re" ster, RIOE.

8.

Ibid.

9. Anonymous, "The Gentry Family," in

tro County Pone
Histories. Volume 1 (Alamogordo:
Tularosa Basin Historical
Society, 1981), 216-217.

255

Notes

for Area 21

1. General Land Office, Survey Plat, Tl7S, R8E, 1882, Bureau of

Land Management, District Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Hereafter cited as BLM.
2.
General Land Office,
page 12, BLM.

Surveyor's Notes,

1882,

Volume

1192,

3.
Sea
"
r, R8E, in_] prd GrouD 49. Records of the
trierau of Land Management. New Mexico State Office, Denver
Federal Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.
Hereafter cited as
RG 49, DFRC.
4.
Anonymous, "The Henry Dick Franklin Family,"
(Alamogordo:
.P-_ieer Family Histories. VouIatgj
Historical Society, 1981), 198.
5.
6.
in

_eria

Regster;

"Henry Dick 'Franklin,"

in _Qx.S0uiJy
Tularosa Basin

198.

Depue Falck, "Report of Block Examination," March 19, 1918,

8NN-49-91-221, Box 1 of 2, Folder:
TI6S, R8E, NM, E__,

DFRC.

7.
Minnie Nations McNatt, "Memoirs of Minnie N. McNatt, 18811949," in
Ltero County Pioneer Family Histories. Vo.Llug__2
(Alamogordo:
Tularosa Basin Historical Society, 1985), 282.
8.

Z-.

gl_.

9.

Transfer Surface

Fe,

New Mexico.

1.

Ron Shoddart,

2.

-Q.tero County Advertiser January 2,

Tract Books,

17SE,

State

Land

Personal Communication with Martyn.

1909,

4.

5.

.tero

6.

Otero County Advertis-er

7.

AlnmoCordo

xte

__e

County Advertiser

NeWa February

May

22,

1909,

2:6.

May 27,

1909,

2:4.

June
24,

24,

1909,

1910,

5:3;

D. Tagg.

Otero County

2:4.
October

6,

8.
Anonymous, "Otero County School Districts,"
on file
Alamogordo Public Library, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
256

Santa

3:2.

3.
Ien) LBo.k 47:179, Otero County Clerks Office,
Courthouse, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
_erG__CA

Office,

1910,

at

4:2.

9.
Otero County Board of Education, Minutes August 11, 1919,
January 10, 1921, on file
at Superintendent of Public Schools
office,
Alamogordo, New Mexico.
10.

See

Board Minutes

for 1917 and

1919,

and

especially.

11.
"Transcript of Proceedings," May 26,
1959, Civil Action No.
2386, USA vs.
1,799.98 acres of land in the County of Otero, New
Mexico, Robert G. Walker, et al, and Unknown Owners,
in Civil
Case Files
1938-1953, Box 240, Entry 74, Folder 5,
21.
1 Records
of the District
Court of the United States. District
of New
M
Denver Federal Records Center, Lakewood, Colorado.
Hereafter cited
as Civil Case No. 2386.
12.

Schedule

A,

13.
Betty Jean
July 15, 1994.

Civil Case No.

Johnson,

14.
Albert Mendez,
August 29, 1994.

2.
29,

Albert Mendez,
1994.

Interview with the Author,

Personal

I.
Betty Jean Johnson,
July 15, 1994.

2386.

Communication with the Author,

Interview with the

Personal

Alamogordo,

Communication

1.
Jonathon Periam, The
Greenwich House,
1984), 276.

J______

Author,

Alamogordo,

with the Author,

ajjpu-I

(1884)

(New

August

York:

2.
Martha Doty Freeman,
"The Historical
Resource," in AuJfltgj
R.eQurce Tnventory and As'sessmnt of McGregor Guide~L_1i.
.Li
Ran e.
Otero County. New Mexico. Part 1. Rerch
Report No.65
(Austin:
Texas Archeological Survey, University of Texas,
1977),
92.
3.

Alamoco-rdo News

4.

Periam,

5.

Al-a moordo Ne

6.

Periam,

September

28,

1907,

3:1.

277.
November
Nv

9,

1907,

1:I.

291.

7.
Allyson Brooks and Steph Jacon, "Homesteading and
Agricultural
Development Context (Draft),
South Dakota State
Historical
Preservation Center, October 1993.

257

tt
May Price Mosley,
8.
New Mexico:
(Roswell,
1iesxic_

i
Hall-Poorbaugh

Nee-w
heastern
P

"
Press,

Inc.,

1973),

31.
9.
10.

Freeman,

131.
"Lets Chew

Anonymous,

1982):

the

Fat,"

._jd

Timer's

Review

3(Spring

15.

11.
Paul Gates, "The Homestead Law in an Incongruous Land
ed. Vernon Carstensen (Madison:
System," in The Public Domain,
University of Wisconsin Press, 1968).
12.

Freeman,

144.

13.
United States Department of Interior, AnniB1 _enort of__e.
S
tary of the Interior. 1913 (Washington D.C.: Government
Printing Office, 1913), 5.
14.
"Partial Transcript of Pre Trial Conference, May 20, 1959,
in Civil Action No. 2386, USA vs. 1,799.98 acres of land in the
County of Otero, New Mexico, Robert G. Walker, et al, and Unknown
Owners, in Civil Case Files 1938-1953, Box 240, Entry 74, Folder
5, R 21. Re crs
CoLuxt of the Unai e&5t.._.L_
District of New Mexi-c-_.
Denver Federal Records Center, Lakewood,
Colorado.
15.

Marn

Cintr

Sandoz,
(Lincoln:

16.
Ibid., 300;
Dell Publishers,

"The Homestead in Perspective," in OldJu.Le-.

University of Nebraska Press, 1963), 293.
Carrie Young,
1991), 51.

No~thing To Do But Stay (New

York:

17.
Joseph Nimmo, "Report on the Cattle Industry," in IkpDocuments, ed. Robert V. Hine and
AngmiLjci.&_F.ontier. Reading__n
Edwin R. Bingham (Boston:
Little,
Brown and Company, 1972), 237.
18.

Freeman,

131.

19.

Nimmo,

20.

Aaggoro

21.

A&UQmQrLo__i

237-238.
Npew

January 21,

1932,

November 15,

1934,

6:3; June 21,

1934,

1:1.

1:6.

22.
Interestingly, house size does
family size.
The Danleys at HAR-008
house was the smallest of the three
had the largest house with only two

not seem to correlate with

had three children and their
ranches.
The elder McNatt's
inhabitants.

23.
Susie McNatt, Undated Letter,
the United States Claims Court, No.

Congressional Reference to
2-84, White Sands Ranchers

258

of

New Mexico vs.

USA,

"Plaintiff's

Alamogordo Public Library,

24.

Brief in
Alamogordo,

Chief,"

on file

at

New Mexico.

Ibid.

25.
Betty Jean Johnson,
July 15, 1994.

Interview with the Author,

Alamogordo,

26.
Luther C. Boles, Jr., Letter to Manuel Lujan, Jr., Secretary
of Interior, October 10, 1989, in possession of Betty Jean
Johnson.
27.
28.

Ibid.
mo-or

__

March 15,

1942,

6:7.

Notes for the Analvsi.

1. United States Department of Interior,
19-mmiahner of the Gener
L
Government Printing Office, 1899), 161.

259

nual
eiotroft.he
(Washington, D.C.:

260

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Aguilar,

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Tommy.

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Mr.

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Lancaster,
La Luz.

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Wanda Jean.

Fairchild,

Maude.

Carrie.

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California.

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Betty Jean.

July 9,

1994.

1994.

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267

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268

APPENDIX
Cattle
in

Brands Formerly Used by Settlers

the Holloman Air Force Base Area
R'F=

J.S. Brooks and Fred Bradford

17

717

William Huss

William Karr

KAR

McNatt

C.C.

McNatt Family

Walters

K<'

WV1\

A.A.

Mal

SWF

Fairchild Family

John Grant

/A E

C7D

Danley Family

Family

T-G

>TY

+I-_LU

CLV

269

>-----

270

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lori S.
She moved to
Laude with a
Anthropology

Hawthorne is a native of Belleville, Illinois.

New Mexico in 1987 and graduated Summa Cum
Bachelor of Science degree in both History and
from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales.
She is currently finishing her Master of Arts degree in
History at New Mexico State University.
She has worked in
various parts of New Mexico on archeological survey crews
and has conducted extensive research concerning the
Sacramento Mountain and Tularosa Basin region of the state.

271

Bennett Printing, Inc

Alamogordo, New Mexico