Archive for the 'Mesilla' Category
Thursday, March 1st, 2007
Adobe Restoration
Part of preserving Mesilla history is restoring and maintaining its old adobe homes. This isn’t a cheap proposition and most home buyers won’t do it.
Here’s a wonderful example of a new home owner who’s willing to buy a neglected adobe and restore it:
This structure was built originally as a single room adobe in the 1860s, then added to over a period of 40 years. Here’s the original part of the house:
The lintels show the location of entrances, later closed in. Here’s a better view of the blocked doors:
Here’s a view of the living room and the corner where the fireplace was located and will be restored:
Another corner showing a blocked window and a restored wall:
In order to preserve this wall, it was necessary to add a new wall beside it:
Another example of repair:
This is one of the wonderful features of the structure, an arched door:
After the adobe walls are made structurally sound, they will be plastered inside and out, making an energy efficient home that will be naturally cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Tags: Adobe, History, Mesilla, Restoration
Tuesday, February 20th, 2007
Adobe Wall
An old adobe wall along a quiet Mesilla street.
Thursday, February 8th, 2007
"Development"
Mesilla is getting something it’s never had — apartments (how rare is that in today’s world?). Two apartment complexes are now going up, as you can see here:
The Mesilla City Council, which does take its responsibility to preserve historic Mesilla seriously, approved these projects.
But why? Apartment complexes are totally out of character for Mesilla. They will increase the traffic and population density without contributing in any way to Mesilla’s wonderful qualities.
But perhaps worst of all, they are now the tallest structures in Mesilla except for San Albino.
Tags: Mesilla Development, Mesilla Apartments
Sunday, January 7th, 2007
Snow!
Mesilla caught up with the rest of New Mexico this morning and got snow — the first this winter. There are years in which Mesilla gets no snow.
Here’s what San Albino looked like as the snow came down.
An adobe off the plaza:
The Rio Grande:
A pecan orchard:
About 1 pm the sun came out and the snow was mostly gone by evening.
Tags: Mesilla, Snow, San Albino
Monday, January 1st, 2007
Happy New Year!
2006 ends in a few hours and 2007 begins.
A traditional way to celebrate the start of the new year in this former Spanish colony is to set off fireworks.
The City Fathers have been trying to squelch that behavior for years. Here’s a lone fireworks stand in Mesilla, selling the bland, “safe” fireworks permitted by current law.
Best wishes for 2007!
Sunday, December 31st, 2006
Mesilla Plaza – Christmas
Taken this evening on the Plaza, looking toward San Albino.
Tags: Mesilla Plaza, Christmas
