Friday, August 29th, 2008
As noted in this post , Luther Burbank , "The Plant Wizard," developed the spineless cactus with the dream of providing unlimited cattle feed in arid lands. His dream excited many cattlemen, but was never realized. Here’s an article from the 1909 Mesilla/Las Cruces newspaper reflecting that hope.
The Thornless Cactus
"Too much value can not be placed on Burbank’s thornless cactus as a fodder for cattle," was the declaration made by Charles J. Welch, who has a great cattle ranch at Los Binos, in southern California.
Mr. Welch last year planted thousands of the Burbank cactus plants and says they are thriving and growing in every way, as Mr. Burbank said they would.
He and other Los Angeles men are arranging for other large shipments of this plant. Southern Pacific land commissioners are also contemplating planting large areas of Burbank cactus on desert lands along their railroad system.
– Rio Grande Republican, September 3, 1909
Tags: Spineless Cactus , Luther Burbank , History
Friday, April 25th, 2008
The J. Paul Taylor Visitor Center opened this evening with a dedication ceremony featuring the Mayor of Mesilla and many Mesilla citizens. A welcome part of the opening ceremony was a display of some of the materials being collected for the Mesilla Museum, which will emphasize the history of Mesilla, including it’s role in the Billy the Kid saga.
Billy the Kid was tried in the courthouse on the Mesilla plaza in April, 1881 for two killings. He was acquitted of the killing of Andrew A. “Buckshot” Roberts, which occurred on April 4, 1878. He was convicted of the killing of Sheriff William Brady, which happened a few days before, on April 1, 1878.
The sentence for the killing of Sheriff Brady was death by hanging, to be carried out May 13, 1881. That didn’t happen, of course, because Billy the Kid escaped from the Lincoln jail 15 days before he was to be hung. The hanging was to be carried out in Lincoln because that’s where the killing of Sheriff Brady had occurred.
The most intriguing item on display this evening was the barber chair where Billy the Kid was given a haircut before his trial. The chair is privately owned and was being displayed only for the ceremony.
The chair was manufactured in the early 1870s. It was re-covered in the 1980s, before the current owner acquired it. The reupholstering covered up several bullet holes that were in the chair, of unknown origin.
The permanent display in the center includes numerous historical Mesilla photos.
Here’s a photo of the original San Albino church, which was torn down when the current church was constructed in 1908:
Here’s a photo of the consecration of the new San Albino church in 1908:
Here’s a picture of the Mesilla plaza in 1900. The first San Albino can be seen in the distance.
Here’s a picture of the Fountain Theatre taken about 1930:
Tags: Billy the Kid, History, Mesilla Plaza, Fountain Theatre, San Albino Church
Wednesday, March 26th, 2008
The Town of Mesilla is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the J. Paul Taylor Visitor Center Thursday, April 24 at 5:30 p.m.
As part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony there will be Billy the Kid display inside the Visitor Center. The display will feature historical photos, information and artifacts pertaining to Mesilla’s past. The subject is the historic period of April 1881, when Billy the Kid was a prisoner in Mesilla and tried and convicted of murder. A team of volunteers has collected names and items for the display. One of the items is the barber chair – built c1870 – in which Billy the Kid had his hair cut before the trial. The chair was once in the Billy the Kid Museum, owned by Dr. George Griggs in the 1930s, which is now La Posta Restaurant. The chair is currently in a private collection. An open house of the museum display will take place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The visitor center is an extension of the current Mesilla Town Hall, located at 2231 Avenida de Mesilla.
For more information about the ceremony, call Kristie Medina at (575) 524-3262 ext. 116.
Tags: Billy the Kid, Mesilla, History
Friday, February 15th, 2008
Today appears to be the 130th anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Mesilla. Yet there is no celebration, no mention by the village government.
Perhaps this is explained by the fact the no one appears to know the correct date of incorporation. The history of Mesilla on the official Mesilla town site gives 1861 as the year of incorporation. Other dates are given by other sites.
I present here evidence of the official incorporation of Mesilla that appears to be definitive. This is the text of the official Act of the Territory of New Mexico that incorporates the Town of Mesilla, as printed in the Mesilla Valley Independent newspaper, dated May 4, 1878. The Act is given as passed by the Territorial Legislature on February 15, 1878. That makes today the 130th anniversary of that act.
If anyone knows differently, please post it as a comment.
An Act to Incorporate “The Incorporation of Mesilla”
Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of New Mexico:
SECTION 1. All owners and holders of real estate situated within the limits of Mesilla Grant in Dona Ana county who are actual residents within said limits, be, and they are hereby created a body politic and corporate under the name and style of the Incorporation of Mesilla and by that name may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded; may hold real estate and have a common seal.
SEC. 2. That the officers of said incorporation shall consist of three commissioners each one of whom shall be a qualified voter under this act. Said commissioners shall have authority to take control of all real estate held in common by said Incorporation, and shall make such rules for the government of the same as they may deem just and proper, and shall have the power to lease or rent, and with the consent of two thirds of the voters under this act to convey and dispose of such real estate, and to make deeds of conveyance therefore.
Sec. 3. The said commissioners shall be elected at an election to be held on the first Monday of January of each year. Each owner and holder of real estate within the limits of said incorporation who is an actual resident therein shall be entitled to one vote for each terreno of land he may own or hold within said limits, and one vote for each separate portion of terreno; the three persons receiving the highest number of votes cast shall be declared elected, and shall respectively hold office for one year, and until their successors are elected and qualified. The commissioners elect shall take the same oath that is required by justices of the peace.
SEC. 4. The commissioners shall elect one of their number as President, one as Secretary, and one as Treasurer. The President shall call meetings of the board whenever the business of the incorporation shall require, or whenever petitioned to do so by twenty qualified voters. Whenever the said commissioners shall deem it necessary or proper to sell or lease any real estate, belonging in common to said corporation they shall call a meeting of all the members of said corporation, by giving five days public notice of the same, and shall present the project fully to the meeting who shall take a vote theron, and if two thirds of the votes cast are in favor of the project, then the said commissioners shall have full power to sell or lease the lands voted on, and in case of an absolute sale, the signature of the president of said commissioners, attested by the signatures of the secretary and the seal of the incorporation, shall be sufficient to convey all the title of the said corporation to said land.
SEC. 5. That until the first election under this act, the Governor shall appoint three commissioners, who shall have all the powers that are by this act granted to commissioners elected under its provisions.
SEC 6. This act shall be in force and effect from and effect from and after its passage and approval.
Approved Feb’y 15th, 1878
Quoted in the Mesilla Valley Independent, May 4, 1878.
Not surprisingly, only land owners could vote. They received one vote for each “terreno” and each portion of a torreno, so, obviously, one person could have multiple votes.
But what is a “terreno?” I haven’t found any definition on the internet or elsewhere. It appears to mean “a block of land,” of any size.
The measurement unit used by all the property deeds in Mesilla, which derives from the original Mexican land grant, is the “Spanish vara.” One vara as used in Mesilla is equal to 32.9927 inches, according to The History of La Mesilla and Her Mesilleros by Lionel Cajen Frietze.
Tags: History, Mesilla, Territory of New Mexico, Mesilla Incorporation
Friday, November 30th, 2007
Who’s daydreaming now?
Tags: Misc Images
Saturday, June 9th, 2007
It seems there’s something about cacti that’s almost fetishistic.
Protected species are constantly being stolen* in the desert areas around Mesilla. They have a compelling attraction for many people.
Cacti vandalism** is also fairly common.
It may be something of a challenge to stomp a barrel cactus.
There is no challenge to stomping a spineless cactus.
As noted in this post, a stand of Burbank Spineless Cactus next to an old adobe in Doña Ana was recently vandalized. Here’s a photo of the damage:
The plant has begun to recover, as you can see here:
You can see the necrotic tissue here:
and here:
The new growth is producing blossoms:
*”Cactus rustling” — an euphemism for a criminal enterprise that yields millions of dollars according to some sources.
**Is there a psychoanalytic term for this? Cactiphobia? Cactiandry? Cactisogyny? Cactisadism?
Tags: Spineless Cactus, Luther Burbank
