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San Elizario Genealogy & Historical Society Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1090 San Elizario, Texas 79849 Physical Address: 1521 San Elizario Rd. San Elizario, Texas Phone #: 915-851-1682 Fax #: 915-851-0045 E-mail: [email protected] www.SanElizarioGenealogy.com Los Portales Newsletter WINTER 2018 President’s Message Members, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and have gotten off to a great New Year! We had a very successful Luminaria and Posada event! Thank you to all the volunteers, sponsors and support- ers! Thank you staff as well for making sure everything was in place. In order to meet our goal of 40 bikes, we will be taking donations all year long. I’ll be starting off the New Year with a trip to Jimenez, Mexico. They are having their founding Anniversary of 266 years and have asked for me to speak. I will be inviting them to our event in April and making an official invitation to become our Sister City as well. Our contingent will include the Honorary council of Spain, a representative from our Sister City Janos, Mexico and a film crew from Border Heritage Magazine to document our visit. A reminder: we are looking for Board Candidates. If interested please let us know or contact Los Portales museum for more information. Our next meeting will be on January 13 th . We’re looking forward to another productive year for the Society. Be sure to sign up for a few volun- teer hours this year! We will be co-hosting the Book Fair on January 12 th . Be sure to stop by the Historic District to visit the authors! Thank You, Al Borrego

Los Portales Newsletter - San Elizario · According to the 1860 United States Census, Telesforo Montes lived in his home which was lo-cated between the homes of Gregorio N. Garcia

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Page 1: Los Portales Newsletter - San Elizario · According to the 1860 United States Census, Telesforo Montes lived in his home which was lo-cated between the homes of Gregorio N. Garcia

San Elizario Genealogy & Historical Society

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1090 San Elizario, Texas 79849 Physical Address: 1521 San Elizario Rd. San Elizario, Texas

Phone #: 915-851-1682 • Fax #: 915-851-0045 E-mail: [email protected] • www.SanElizarioGenealogy.com

Los Portales Newsletter

WINTER 2018

President’s Message

Members,

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and have gotten off to a great New Year! We had a very successful Luminaria and Posada event! Thank you to all the volunteers, sponsors and support-ers! Thank you staff as well for making sure everything was in place. In order to meet our goal of 40 bikes, we will be taking donations all year long.

I’ll be starting off the New Year with a trip to Jimenez, Mexico. They are having their founding Anniversary of 266 years and have asked for me to speak. I will be inviting them to our event in April and making an official invitation to become our Sister City as well. Our contingent will include the Honorary council of Spain, a representative from our Sister City Janos, Mexico and a film crew from Border Heritage Magazine to document our visit.

A reminder: we are looking for Board Candidates. If interested please let us know or contact Los Portales museum for more information. Our next meeting will be on January 13th. We’re looking forward to another productive year for the Society. Be sure to sign up for a few volun-teer hours this year! We will be co-hosting the Book Fair on January 12th. Be sure to stop by the Historic District to visit the authors!

Thank You,

Al Borrego

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LIFE STORY OF TELESFORO MONTES

Telesforo Montes was born in San Elizario, Texas in 1820. He was named for Pope St. Telesphorus who lived about AD 125-136. Telesforo’s father Ramon Montes and his mother Dolores Arroyo were also born in San Elizario in 1795. Ramon and Dolores both died on July 18, 1848. There is no explanation available as to why they died on the same day. One theory is that they were attacked and killed by Apache Indians. Telesforo died November 11, 1887 at the age of 68 years. Telesforo and his parents were buried in San Elizario Presidio (San Elizario Mission). The cemetery is now listed as Old San Elizario Cemetery which is located next to the Mission and is enclosed consecrated ground. There are no headstones or means of identifying where corpses are interred.

Telesforo’s brothers and sisters, all born in San Elizario, were the following: Cecilia Montes, born in 1822; Anastacio Montes, born in 1824; Josefa Montes, born in 1826; Andres Montes, born in 1830; and Hermengieldo Montes, born in 1838. They were baptized and confirmed in the San Elizario Mission.

Telesforo Montes and Maria Quirina Alderete were married on December 3, 1840 at Nuestra Senora De Guadalupe, in Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. They had the following children which were all born in San Elizario, Texas: Maria Angela Montes, born in 1842; Francisca Montes, born in 1845; Maria Rosenda Montes born in 1848, Juan Montes, born in 1849; Agapito De Jesus Montes (Jesus Montes), born in 1851; Carlota Montes, born in 1852; J. Antonio Severo Montes (Severo Montes), born in 1854; Jose Elizario Montes, born in 1855, Marina Jenara Montes, born in 1856; Guadalupita Montes, born in 1857; Maria Dolores Montes, born in 1858 and Josefa Montes, born in 1859. Telesforo and Quirina had all their children baptized and confirmed in the San Elizario Mission. Josefa Montes became a “Sisters of Loretto” nun and was known as Sister Petra.

According to the 1860 United States Census, Telesforo Montes lived in his home which was lo-cated between the homes of Gregorio N. Garcia and Tomas Garcia in San Elizario, Texas. Tomas was the son of Gregorio and was married to Telesforo’s daughter, Maria Angela Montes. Besides being neighbors, Gregorio and Telesforo were also compadres (Spanish word used to describe the relationship between the parents and godparents when the infant is baptized or confirmed in the Catholic Church), in-laws, friends and colleagues. Like Telesforo, Gregorio had also been a Captain in the Texas Rangers, a Judge and a Justice of the Peace in San

Continued on page 3

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Telesforo — continued...

Elizario. Additionally, Telesforo’s daughter, Marina Jenara Montes married Carlos Garcia, an-other son of Gregorio N. Garcia. Finally, Telesforo’s son, Jesus Montes married Maria Maxima Garcia, the daughter of Gregorio N. Garcia.

Excerpt from San Elizario Spanish Presidio to Texas County Seat by Rick Hendricks and W. H. Timmons: “Telesforo Montes, who had replaced Garcia (Captain Gregorio N. Garcia) as Justice of the Peace in 1871, now replaced him in the field. With a company of Texas Rangers, Montes battled the Apaches for the next two years.”

Telesforo Montes was elected Justice of the Peace in El Paso County, Precinct 4, on July 1, 1872. He was also commissioned a Judge in El Paso County on September 5, 1872.

Telesforo Montes was authorized to muster a Texas Rangers company in San Elizario on May 27, 1874. Like Gregorio N. Garcia’s company, most of the members were local, and Montes’ Rangers were designated the Minutemen Company of the Frontier Battalion. When Telesforo was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Texas Rangers in 1874 he had in his command, 25 men. Under his command were his two sons, Jesus and Severo. Also included in Telesforo’s com-mand were his sons-in law, Tomas Garcia and Carlos Garcia. Tomas Garcia was the Sergeant in Telesforo’s command, a very crucial and important rank during that rough period in Texas his-tory. “These men were commissioned to provide protection of the frontier of the state of Texas against the invasion of hostile Indians, Mexicans or other marauding or thieving parties,” as noted on the original document, dated April 10, 1874. Telesforo was promoted to the rank of Captain in the Texas Rangers in 1877.

According to my father, Conrado Virgilio Montes, born February 9, 1917 in San Elizario, Teles-foro and Gregorio N. Garcia were instrumental in establishing the first catholic school for girls, which is now Loretto Academy in El Paso, Texas. “The idea was bold for its time. When Loretto Academy was founded by the Sisters of Loretto in San Elizario, Texas, in 1879, it was the first Catholic preparatory school for women in the Southwest. Here, young women could receive a rigorous and challenging education in a supportive environment,” as, acknowledged in the school’s history section. Telesforo’s granddaughter Maria, daughter of Marina Jenara Montes and Carlos Garcia, was the valedictorian of her graduating class at Loretto Academy in 1892. This was the last class to graduate from the Academy in San Elizario, taught by the Sisters of Loretto, before the Academy was moved to El Paso, Texas.

Excerpt from Texas Border by Robert Joseph Casey: “Among our citizens of Mexican origin who stood by the side of law and order at the risk of their lives, I can mention Captain Gregorio Garcia and his sons, Telesforo Montes, Jesus Cobos, Judge Gregorio N. Garcia, Juan N. Garcia, Maximo Aranda, Pablo Mejia, Porfirio Garcia, Pablo Romero, all intelligent and leading men.”

Excerpt from The El Paso Salt War 1877 by C. L. Sonnichsen: “ ‘Ba, ba ba, que burrada!’ growled Father Borrajo, and he went out among his people telling them to pay no attention to the crazy American laws. Telesforo Montes, an ex-Ranger captain and a great man in San Elizario, had a daughter sixteen years old when Ellis was sheriff. She was a young lady, not merely too old to be in school with boys, but too old to be in school at all. Consequently she did not go to school. Others followed her example. Ellis was reminded repeatedly that he had a duty to perform, and finally he did it. He put Telesforo Montes and two of his friends in jail, where they enjoyed martyrdom for three weeks. At the end of that time Ellis turned them loose to save worse trouble.”

Excerpt from Pass of the North Volume 1: 1529 - 1917, Four Centuries on the Rio Grande by

Continued on page 4

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Telesforo — continued…

C.L. Sonnichsen: “Along with this powerful padre a good many prominent Mexican – Ameri-cans were associated with Mills and his organization. Among them was J. Lujan - Don Mauro – who lived in big adobe house near the church in San Elizario, the county seat. His fellow towns-man Telesforo Montes, a famous Ranger and Indian fighter, was another, as were Maximo Aranda, judge, legislator, collector of customs, businessman, and Gregorio Garcia, justice of the peace. Martin and Benigno Alderete of Ysleta, leaders of a prosperous and prominent clan, be-longed to the group. In fact, almost everybody who was anybody was on the side of the Mills - Fountain - Borrajo faction.”

The compilation of selected testimony shown below came from the following: House of Repre-sentatives, 45th Congress, 2nd Session, Report (No. 701) and Accompanying Documents of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Relations of the United States with Mexico, April 25, 1878. Testimony taken Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Issue: Texas Frontier Trou-bles. Depredations by Indians and Mexicans. Austin, Texas, January 1878 and May 1878:

“November 1875 - El Paso County Frontier Company followed trail of three Indians, who stole nine horses and one mule from Socorro. Killed one Indian and recovered the stock, besides capturing three Indian ponies.” “March 1876 - Lieutenant Telesforo Montes, El Paso County Frontiersman, reports that Indians were in last week and stole horses.”

“April 1876 - Lieutenant Telesforo Montes, El Paso County Frontier Company, followed the trail of Indians (who on the 16th stole horses at San Elizario) for two days and nights until they saw the Indians go over the mountains into their reservation at Dog Cañon (Canyon). While resting, company was fired into by about 200 Indians armed with needle-guns and pistols, and company escaped during night.”

The trouble surrounding this investigation and testimony had to do with who owned the rights to the salt ponds located ninety miles from San Elizario, Texas. What resulted from this crisis became known as the, ‘El Paso Salt War’ or the ‘Salt War of Texas.’

Following is the testimony (House of Representatives, 45th Congress, 2nd Session, Ex. Doc. No. 93, Page 39) taken by Porfirio Garcia, J. C. C., No. 4; from Telesforo Montes on January 10, 1878 in San Elizario, Texas:

“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned authority, Telesforo Montes, who, being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says: That he was born in San Elizario, Texas, fifty-eight years ago, and has been a resident of that town ever since that time. that he was present during all the recent outrages here; that he knows of fourteen of the mob coming from the Mexican side of the river; saw them in this town armed; that they did not come over in organized bodies; that their chief object was to assist their friends on this side against Howard and his party, whom they considered their worst enemy, and to rob and plunder and seize all the arms they could; that he is further of the opinion, that they had no intention of offering any resistance to the United States troops, or to become involved in any manner with the Government of the United States; that as soon as they heard of the United States troops approaching the town they dispersed and went over on the other side; that in his opinion no armed parties crossed from the other to this side of the river subsequent to that time.” Signed: Telesforo Montes; Sworn and subscribed to before me this 10th day of January 1878.

Continuation of Testimony regarding the Resolution of the House of Representatives, transmit-ting reports of the commission appointed to investigate the El Paso Troubles in Texas. The fol-

Continued on page 5

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Telesforo — continued…

ting reports of the commission appointed to investigate the El Paso Troubles in Texas. The fol-lowing is an excerpt from testimony from H. H. Harvey. The entire testimony can be found in the House of Representatives, 45th Congress, 2nd Session, Ex. Doc. No. 93, Page 64. H. H. Harvey appeared in person before the board of officers and gave the following testimony:

I reside in this town and keep a saloon, and am deputy sheriff of the county.” …I was here the day Louis Cardis was killed, and was in the store about five or ten minutes after he was killed… During the last days of the fighting at San Elizario, I was in El Paso, Mexico, and I asked two young ladies why the Feast was so poorly attended this year, and she said that most of the young men were down at San Elizario. I asked them to go to the theater, and they said they couldn’t go, and when I pressed them for the reason, they told me that their cousin had been killed at San Elizario, and they were in mourning… belonged to the Silver City crowd, Tucker’s or Kinney’s ‘gang,’ but they had been discharged by the sheriff. They said that shots had been fired on both sides; and Captain Montes, called the commandant of the city guards, told me that five of the party of Americans came to him and asked him for protection, and he arrested four more of them and locked the five and four men up and kept them all night. Mexicans and Americans he locked up about twenty-six in all, to stop the row. They were all released, and came over the next morning. They were not fined.” Signed: H. H. Harvey, El Paso 1878

The following citizens testified in accordance with the Resolution of the House of Representa-tives, transmitting reports of the commission appointed to investigate the El Paso Troubles in Texas, regarding the Salt War:

Gregorio N. Garcia testified in San Elizario, Texas, January 2 and March 2, 1878. Hermen-gieldo Montes, brother of Telesforo Montes, testified in San Elizario, Texas, March 2, 1878. Maximo Aranda testified in San Elizario, Texas, March 2, 1878. Jesus Cobos testified in San Elizario, Texas, February 4 and March 2, 1878. Cipriano Alderete testified in San Elizario, Texas, February, 1878. Benigno Alderete, Sergeant under the command of Telesforo Montes, Minute Company of the Frontier Battalion, April 1874, testified in Ysleta, Texas, March 2, 1878. Note: Benigno and Cipriano Alderete were brothers.

Regarding the Salt War, my grandfather and grandson of Telesforo, Jose Jesus Montes, born September 6, 1888 in San Elizario, once told me that his father Agapito De Jesus Montes on many occasions recounted him stories about Telesforo and his numerous accomplishments. Agapito De Jesus Montes said, “that his father Telesforo, a prominent, respected, admired and well-loved man in San Elizario had attempted to settle the Salt War peacefully but was unsuc-cessful, as history has revealed.”

The following information was retrieved from the University of Texas at El Paso Library. This documentation came from the archives department, which contains film records of San Elizario Town Meetings from the mid to late 1800’s.

Telesforo Montes served as Mayor of San Elizario, Texas in 1884. His secretary was Octaviano A. Larrazolo. At the same time, Telesforo Montes was the President of the San Elizario Board of School Trustees. On August 30, 1884, the San Elizario Board of School Trustees ruled on the following: “By a unanimous vote of said board, Mr. Octaviano A. Larrazolo of San Elizario, State and County of El Paso aforesaid, was duly engaged to teach the public white female free school, in and for the town of San Elizario, for the scholastic year beginning on the 1st day of September A.D. 1884 and ending August the 31 A.D. 1885.” The Board of School Trustees members were the following: Jose Talamantes (Secretary), Benito Chasco, Rafael Telles, Boni-

Continued on page 6

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Telesforo — continued…

facio Madrid and Romulo Baca. Sister Mary Margaret was the principal at the school where Octaviano would be teaching. Gregorio Nacianceno Garcia I donated Los Portales to the town of San Elizario for use as a school in 1870, which is where Octaviano began teaching. When Oc-taviano A. Larrazolo accepted his teaching post, he resigned his position as secretary to Mayor Montes. Following Octaviano’s resignation, G. N. Garcia II took over the secretarial responsi-bilities for the mayor. In 1919, Octaviano A. Larrazolo became Governor of New Mexico. In 1928, he became a United States Senator also for New Mexico. Octaviano married Maria Mon-tes Garcia who was the granddaughter of Telesforo Montes and Gregorio N. Garcia I. Telesforo Montes successfully executed his position as mayor of San Elizario through 1885.

Los Portales now serves as a Museum and Information Center operated by the San Elizario Ge-nealogy and Historical Society.

The families that came from San Elizario were admirable and exceptional. They were part of a new and young America with hopes and dreams of a better world. These families had a passion for life and have now become part of the glorious history that has made our country proud and promising. It is my wish that we continue to live in this great tradition with the same values and pass on this rich heritage and history of our ancestors to our families. Our family holds a unique and distinguished place in history that gives us pride to be Americans. “Honor, Respect and Tradition,” are principles that my father believed in and this is what the Montes Family will continue to strive for.

The majority of the above information is based on San Elizario Catholic Church Records, Con-gressional Document Indexes, 1789-1969, Census Records, and Family Contributions. Further information came from my brother, Agustin Montes, who throughout his life had done exten-sive research and collected numerous books about San Elizario. Additionally, since we were a very close family, my parents, Conrado Virgilio Montes and Rosa Gallardo Montes, my broth-ers Miguel (Mike) Montes, Ignacio (Nacho) Montes, Richard Montes and sister, Rose Diane Montes Tate also contributed to the life story of Telesforo Montes. Other data was retrieved from the Internet and The Salt Lake Family History Library and local Family History Centers. Additional information was obtained from the Following: “The Bells of San Eli” by Amelia Montes Skaggs (Amelia is the daughter of Telesforo Montes II and granddaughter of Telesforo Montes); Texas State Archives (Texas Library and Archives Commission); “El Paso To 1900” by Nancy Lee Hammons (Header in her book read, “Names of El Paso County officials as they ap-pear in the El Paso County Deed Records D, E, and F, and in the Minutes of the El Paso County Police Court, 1866-1875). Texas Rangers information was retrieved from the Texas Adjutant General Service Records, 1836-1935; “The Men Who Wear The Star” by Charles M. Robinson III, ‘The Story of The Texas Rangers.’ Salt War data came from House of Representatives, 45th Congress, 2nd Session.

This document was written by Conrado Montes: Great, Great, Grandson of Telesforo Montes. The document was edited by Richard Montes: Great, Great, Grandson of Telesforo Montes and younger brother of Conrado Montes.

Additional information about the family can also be found online.

Volunteer

We are seeking volunteers here at Los Portales Museum. You must be 15 years or older. You can contact Pilar Muñoz or Diana Taylor at 915-851-1682 or via e-mail for more de-tails. We look forward to seeing you.

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El Paso Hall of Honor Telesforo

Montes Plaque 2018

Conrado Montes & Richard Montes

El Paso Historical Society Invitation

El Paso Inc: El Paso Historical Society Nominees 2018

Hall of Honor Banquet. Left to right: Jason Cullers, Jennifer

Cullers, Conrado Montes, Cynthia McMillen, Richard Montes,

Stephanie Montes, Rose Montes Tate and Tony Tate

The El Paso County Historical Society Honors Telesforo Montes

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LOS BRACEROS: Part II By Sam Sánchez

Rural peasants walked long distances on ancient trails to join the long lines of prospective men seeking the opportunity to be recruited as braceros for work in the United States. Indigenous campesinos from the Yucatan Peninsula, Campeche and Quintana Roo, as well as from the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas made their way to collection points to sign up for work as braceros. Their need opened the door to abuses by corrupt recruiters and Mexican politicians demanding private work on their fields in exchange for processing individual applications.

From Ernesto Galarza’s book Merchants of Labor, we have an insight as to what led the Mexi-can peon’s need to migrate north in search of compensated work. “Migration is the failure of roots. Displaced men are ecological victims. Between them and the sustaining earth, a wedge has been driven. Eviction by drought or dispossession by landlords, the impoverishment of soil or conquest by arms-nature and man, separately or together, lay down the choice: move or die. Those who are able to break away do so, leaving a hostile world behind to face an uncertain on ahead.”

The Mexicans who were screened and accepted by their government as bracero candidates were turned over to the Department of Labor representatives who acted as agents for employ-ers. There, they were screened again by the U.S. Public Health Service where they confronted the humiliating experience of fumigation with DDT before being allowed to enter the United States. With the proper documentation in hand (Form 345), the braceros were transported to the Bracero Contracting Center at El Paso, Texas.

Rio Vista

The Rio Vista farm site is located in the town of Socorro, in El Paso’s lower valley, halfway be-tween the Tigua town of Yselta, and the farming communities of Clint and San Elizario, Texas. The layout resembles a mini-military post, ideal to host a thousand individual braceros being processed each day.

At 6:00 a.m., the buses transporting the braceros began arriving at the Rio Vista site, where strict procedures were outlined. They were asked to put their personal equipment against a fence , where a guard was posted to look after their belongings. Confusion ensued almost im-mediately as not all the braceros spoke the same Spanish dialect. Furthermore, many of the indigenous braceros from southern Mexico needed an interpreter as they only spoke their na-tive tongues. Not all braceros were familiar with the Spanglish spoken north of the Rio Grande. However, the braceros were guided in military fashion to the mess hall where they were treated to a generous portion of cooked beans, scrambled eggs mixed with beef hash and a drink of sugar water tinted with Kool-Aid.

Selection

The braceros, who were ready to be contracted, assembled in building #3. The employer repre-sentatives from independent Farmer’s Associations and the Farms Bureau then selected their employees. The employers would feel the braceros’ muscles on their arms and legs. The braceros were asked to show their calloused hands to prove they were experienced farm labor-ers. Large employers, like the Great Western Sugar Beet Company of Colorado and Montana would contract thousand of braceros yearly for their fields. They preferred the short indigenous bracero as they were more suitable for the “stoop” labor required.

After the selection, the braceros entered building #4, where individual contracts were pre-

Continued on page 3

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Braceros—continued...

pared. Fifteen clerks worked long hours asking the braceros the questions necessary to type their contracts. At the end of the day (8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.) the braceros were on their way to their designated work fields.-

When the contracts expired, the braceros were required to turn in their permits and return to Mexico. By that time, they had traded their huaraches for cowboy boots and were dressed in Levi denim. The braceros labored tirelessly thinning sugar beets, picking cucumbers, and weeding and picking cotton. Despite their enormous contribution to the American economy, the braceros suffered harassment and oppression from extremist groups and racist authorities.

Los Braceros I & II are, in part, from the upcoming book, Pirates in the Desert, by Sam

Sánchez, Sr. His book can be purchased online or at Lost Portales.

San Elizario Beautification Project

San Elizario Genealogy & Historical Society (SEGHS) has organized a project to maintain the

Community Cemetery clean year-round. Through community donations, the society will organ-ize regular cleaning of cemetery grounds and additional projects, if necessary and if donations permit. Your donation is tax-deductible and a letter will be remitted to you regarding the re-ceipt of your donation. You will be listed in the “Friends of the San Elizario” webpage. The pro-ject will be fully managed by the SEGHS Cemetery Beautification Committee. The Committee Chair is Becky Munoz Romero; she can be reached at 915-216-2472. Please make your check payable to SEGHS. Thank you for your help.

SEGHS

Attn: Cemetery Project

P.O. Box 1090

San Elizario, TX 79849

DID YOU KNOW? If it weren’t for the 1877 Salt War of San Elizario, Fort Bliss would not be open today.

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Luminaria Festival

by Pilar Muñoz

“How beautiful Mexican culture is brought by our ancestors!”

“¡Que hermosa es la cultura Mexicana traida por nuestros ancestros!”

More than a bike and toy giveaway, piñata, jugetes, dulces & naranjas, as well as La Posada “The Luminaria Festival” in San Elizario is an underway of tradition to welcome Christ child into the world, giving vivacious meaning to the words fiesta, luminarias, piñata and Posada.

With the yearly ritual, again, this year the luminarias, with the excitement of their emitting glow, lined the deep-rooted Camino Real. Their gleaming sparkle lit the way to the historic San Elizario Historic Chapel and plaza. The golden flame vigil, so significant to our custom, in tra-ditional beliefs also represented símbolo del sol, sun gilt which lights our way and their smoke a cleansing of our soul.

This year, two star shaped piñatas were filled with sweets. They are meant to teach faith. The points characterize the seven deadly evils: lust, gluttony, greed, laziness, rage, envy and arro-gance. The stick signifies willingness to beat and overcome the naughtiness. The candies falling from the piñata represent rewards from heaven.

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Luminaria — continued…

Religious expression of prayer and mass followed by the Posada’s symbolic representation of Mary and Jesus seeking shelter in Bethlehem was presented by children, members of San Elizario Chapel.

The holiday season was made complete with a more modern custom a visit from Santo Claus and Sra. Claus encased by lively Norteña folklore music and dance commenced in Northern Mexico derived from melding Mexican, Spanish, Military brass and Migrant German influence. All visitors got to experience how exceptional and beautiful Mexican culture is maintained.

“¡Que hermosa es está cultura Mexicana continuada por los nuestros en San Elizario!”

Join us! Don’t miss our next SEGHS meeting on January 13th at 2:00 p.m. We will be having Board Elections. Meetings are held at Alarcon Elementary cafeteria.

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Luminarias

by Diana Taylor

The 2018 Annual Luminaria Festival: Las Posadas Celebration & Christmas Bazaar was held on Saturday 22 December 2018. San Elizario Genealogy & Historical Society worked in conjunc-tion with the San Elceario Church for the Posada. The San Elizario High School JROTC, led by Chief Jacquez, worked tirelessly building the luminarias. Our community, SEGHS members and businesses donated enough funds to purchase and giveaway 28 bikes, 32 toys, hot cocoa and 105 candy bags. We would also like to thank all of our volunteers, who dedicated their time helping this event come to fruition.

SEGHS BOARD MEMBERS

President: Al Borrego Vice President & Veterans Chair: Ray Borrego

Vice President: Pat Cruz Secretary: Emily Borrego

Treasurer: Magda Flores Board Member: Aurora Bustos

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Luminaria Donors

SEGHS would like to thank our generous sponsors for helping

continue our Annual Luminaria event and bike giveaway. Please

support their businesses, those underlined.

Mr. & Mrs. Manny Alvarado

Elizabeth Baker

Al Borrego

Aurora Bustos

Clint Family Dental: Dr. Owen

Mr. & Mrs. Juan Fresquez

Garcia-Enriquez Middle School: Ms. Rodarte & Ms. Jara

Arturo Godoy

Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Hogan

Patricia Macias

Mr. Martin Medina

McDonald’s: Richard Castro

Hector Peregrino

Sam Sánchez

San Elizario High School JROTC & Chief Jacquez

San Elizario Veterans

Silver Streak / Exxon

T&R Chemicals

Lillian Trujillo

Dr. & Mrs. Robert Villalobos

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THE MEAN GOAT

A Family Story by Osvaldo Grijalva

My fondest childhood memories growing up on the farm include the misadventures with my brothers and sisters. Our farmhouse was approximately a quarter mile from the main road. To access our property, we had to cross a bridge over the main irrigation canal. An enormous Chi-nese elm tree grew just past it. This is where my two older brothers and sister spent endless hours playing or simply challenging each other to see who could climb the highest. Sometimes my mother would ask us to take our younger sister to our play area. We hated it because we had to load her into the old red wagon, pull her to the tree and take turns watching her.

One summer day as we headed out to the tree, my older brother pulled the wagon at a steady pace avoiding any deep ruts in the road. Whenever he did run into a rut, the wagon tilted to one side almost spilling out my little sister. Arriving at the tree, my little sister and I started playing with toys we had brought. My older siblings scampered up the tree as usual. Suddenly one of my brothers started shouting, “Willie’s goat is loose and headed this way!” Our nearest neighbor, Willie, lived across the main road. He, too was a cotton grower, but for some un-known reason, had acquired a goat. By all accounts, it was an old, mean and vicious goat.

In the panic that ensued, someone suggested that we get everyone up the tree. “Impossible!” my oldest brother shouted. “The only thing to do is to try to get back to the house.” Once we had our little sister in the wagon, we made a dash to the house. Halfway to the house, we glanced back and saw the goat crossing the bridge. By then, we were screaming, hoping our mom or any other adult would come to our rescue. Then the unthinkable happened.

My brother ran the wagon into a deep rut. It overturned! My sister went rolling off to the side of the road. Without hesitation, we got our sister back in the wagon and made one last valiant effort to escape from the beast. As we approached the house, the goat caught up with us. It was time for the anticipated encounter, time to face the horrible beast. But there was no horren-dous battle, not even a little skirmish. The goat did a quick side step and kept running past us, past the house, and straight for the barn. My mom came out to see what all the fuss was about. We talked simultaneously, telling her the whole story, but we hadn’t noticed Willie. He had a rope in his hand and was smiling. He apologized to my mom for the scare the goat gave us. We just stood in silence. Somehow, that goat didn’t look mean or vicious. It didn’t even look old.

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The photo shows the barn and it’s proximity to the ca-nal, just to the left of the ladies. Also pictured, behind the group, is the Mendoza home.

El Niño Ahogado de San Elizario (The Drowned Boy of San Elizario)

by Teresa Grijalva-Soliz, Daughter of Salvador Grijalva (aka: el ahogado/the drowned one)

I know these times with my dad will not last forever, so when I am able to sit at the kitchen ta-ble and listen to one of his childhood stories, I pull up a chair. This particular afternoon, he re-calls a time in San Elizario at his grandfather Sabino Mendoza’s farm on Glorietta Road, just a little north of the square. Dad was about 10 years old at the time. He was the eldest of the grandkids, and a lot was expected of him because of the maturity he had shown at such a young age. His aunts fussed over and spoiled him. But his mother, Teresa, was stricter in her dealings with him. She treated him more like the responsible young man he was becoming.

It was towards the end of September. The days were getting shorter, and there was a chill in the air. The farmers were busy watering the fields prior to winter setting in. The canals were full to the brim. Most afternoons found Dad, his younger cousins and friends playing around the ca-nal near the Mendoza house. My father tells me, “That day we were four or five children play-ing around the gate of the canal. The canals were full. There was a little mute girl who played with us called Aurelia. She communicated with pure hand signals. That day, Aurelia found it easy to open the irrigation gate. Water gushed out. Since I was the oldest, I knew they were go-ing to blame me, so I ran to hide.”

“Aurelia ran to tell the Mendoza family what happened. But they could not understand her. She was too excited while trying to explain. She eventually directed them to where we had been playing, and all they could see were a few vertical scratch marks, and they imagined the worst. ‘The boy must have fallen, and maybe the water current carried him down the canal,’ said the aunts. They started an uproar! They went and told the other relatives of the house that the boy had fallen into the canal and was missing.”

Meanwhile, my dad, in an effort to avoid punishment, had run into the barn for refuge. It was just a stone’s throw way, so up to the top of the haystack he climbed. While there, he got warm and comfortable and eventually fell fast asleep. Little did he know that his grandfather Men-doza had the neighbors shut down the main channels of the canal in order to start the laborious search for his grandson. Many farmers started closing gates to their irrigation fields in an effort

Continued on page 16

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Ahogado — continued…

to bring the water level down, so that they could start the search for the young boy that had been swept away by water.

Eventually, most of the men in the San Elizario community came out to help in the search. They dredged up the areas in the canal that they could access. They walked through cold water and mud in an effort to find him. What seemed like an eternity went by, but he was nowhere to be found. The sheriff of San Elizario was eventually notified by the boys’ Grandfather Don Luis Grijalva, who had by then gotten word of the boy’s mishap.

In the meantime, there was a man by the name of Mr. Gallegos, a neighbor, who had been part of the search. He stepped out and away from the group momentarily and into the barn where the boy was sleeping, to answer the “call of nature.” With the opening and closing of the barn doors, the young boy awoke. As he peeked over the top of the haystack, Mr. Gallegos caught sight of him and motioned him to come down. He asked the boy if he was the one that everyone was looking for.

Seeing that by now all of San Elizario was sure to be looking for him, Dad ran out the door and down the road a bit where he came upon a vehicle coming towards him carrying his Grandfa-ther Grijalva, who had come from his farm to help in the search. He wasn’t alone. He was ac-companied by Sheriff Trujillo, who as Dad puts it, “He was a large man. He was respected and feared by many. The sheriff had realized what had happened in his town and had come to in-vestigate.”

By this time someone had located Dad’s mother and had given her the news that her son had been found and was fine. So the group of women that had accompanied her in her search, turned around and headed back to the farm. Creeping up slowly behind them was the sheriff’s car carrying the presumed drowned boy. By then they'd also informed her that the boy had fallen asleep in the barn this whole time and wasn't aware of the ongoing search. As the car slowly passed the ladies on that ride back, Tia Mague, one of Dad’s aunts, caught sight of the boy and cried out, “You ungrateful brat,” while simulating a faint.

His mama may have been relieved by the good news of her son being alive, but she was also very upset with what he put her and the town through. On her way back to get to him, she picked up a large branch to give him a good whooping. Dad’s Tia Lupe was walking with her and says, “Teresa, if you hit the boy with that stick, you’ll kill him!”

But the young boy’s troubles weren’t quite over. As I’d mentioned earlier, on his way to find his grandfather Mendoza and mother, Dad came upon the sheriff’s car carrying his grandfather Grijalva and Sheriff Trujillo. The car stopped, and Trujillo motioned Dad to get in the back. While on the way to take him back to the farm, Sheriff Trujillo had a few words for Dad. “He told me that if I came back to do something else like that again he would castrate me, and I be-lieved him.”

Not long after that, Dad was sent to Grandfather Grijalva’s farm until all of San Elizario Elizario had calmed down. This was back in the early fall of 1939, almost 80 years ago. My fa-ther, now 89, still recalls that incident as if it were just yesterday, and we never tire of hearing about “el ahogado de San Elizario.”

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VETERANS TALK

Meetings

The San Elizario Veterans Committee meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Veterans Museum, 1501 Main Street. We want to see everyone there, especially new mem-bers. Everyone, veterans and non-veterans, is welcome to join and participate. There is no membership fee. The next meeting scheduled is for the first Tuesday of the month, December 4, at 6:30 p.m.

Museum Photos

There are many Veterans and Active Duty individuals that have roots or ties to San Elizario and have not provided an 8 x 10 photo of themselves to the Museum. Please bring a photo with some brief information of the veteran or active duty person written on the back of the photo. We provide the frame.

Memorial Bricks

We continue to sell memorial bricks in honor of veterans and active duty personnel, for place-ment on the memorial brick walk located outside the Veterans Museum. The cost of the brick is only $40. Applications can be obtained at the Veterans Museum or through our website. The bricks can be purchased for any veteran, active duty personnel, and now those in or retired law enforcement and does not need to have roots or ties to San Elizario.

Museum Needs

We need volunteers to greet visitors, log them in, mention that we sell memorial bricks, that we do have a donation box and provide other assistance as needed. If interested, contact Ray Bor-rego. This is a great opportunity for high school students to earn volunteer hours and help the community. Retirees are also welcome. Hours are 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Saturdays, and Sundays 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

Museum Donations

Anyone wishing to donate military memorabilia to the Veterans Museum may do so. Please in-dicate the name of the donor. All donations become property of the Museum and will be dis-played in accordance to space, appropriateness and uniqueness.

In Memoriam

To the service members and veterans that are no longer with us, we thank each one of them for their service, and may God bless them. We remember Lorenzo Alarcon Jr., Ricardo Soto, Har-vey Johnson, Antonio E. Rios and Manuel Cordero-Soto.

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Deanna Ledesma at her 3rd Army reenlist-ment ceremony at the Veterans Museum

November 29, 2018.

Deanna Ledesma is the daughter of Patricia Cruz and granddaughter of Car-men Cruz.

Veteran Future Events

January 2019

January 5: El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, part 1. The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors.“Food is Thought Workshop.” Three-course workshop. To register, e-mail or call 915-320-1390.

January 19: Saturday. Project Salsa De La Vida, part 2 of “Food is Thought Workshop.” To register, e-mail or call 915-320-1390.

January 19: Veterans of El Paso, Texas Summit at EPCC., 9050 Viscount at 8:00 p.m.

February 2019

February 2: Army Wellness, part 3 of “Food is Thought Workshop.” To register, e-mail or call 915-320-1390.

March 2019

March 5: First meeting of San Elizario Veterans for 2019 at 6:30 p.m., 1501 Main St., San Elizario, Texas.

March 17: Art Market in San Elizario. Veterans will set up a booth to sell items.

San Elizario Veteran Photos

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San Elizario Veteran Photos

Veterans Parade DVD for Sale

If you would like to purchase a DVD of the 2018 Veterans Parade, please contact Lupe Sanchez at 915-867-1657 .

San Elizario Veterans Committee of SEGHS

501 c (3) non-profit

Ray Borrego, Chair Patricia Cruz, Co-Chair

Mobile: 915-383-8529 Mobile: 915-630-6285

[email protected] [email protected]

Eduardo Pedregon Veterans Museum & Memorial Walk

1501 Main Street, San Elizario, Texas 79849

Phone: 915-383-8529

www.sanelizariogenealogy.com/veterans

Ray Borrego with special guest speaker, Alice Coleman of the Fisher House at WBAMC, at our Veterans meeting. December 2018.

Veterans Ray Borrego and Octavio Hernandez helping light the luminarias on Dec. 22, 2018.

The Veterans Committee is selling a handcrafted wooden U.S. Flag for $160. It measures 37” x 19

1/4” x 1

3/8. If interested,

contact Ray Borrego.

Sam Sánchez Sr., author of Pirates in the Desert, with Ray Borrego and Marylou Bor-rego, at Los Portales Museum.

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WINTER 2019 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January 2019

January 12: San Elizario Historic District International Book Fair. 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Featuring six authors, in six hours, in six locations of the Historic District. All locations are less than a five minute walk from each other. Old El Paso County Jail Museum — Golden Eagle Gallery — Cafe Arte Mi Admore — Los Portales Museum — Little Town Pastry Shop — Adobe Horseshoe Theatre. There will be book readings at all locations. The authors will be available at the final stop for book signing and sales. Authors: Reina Castro, Ken Hud-nall, Aureliano Garcia Haros, Donna Muñoz, Tomas Cuevas Contreras, Richard Deck.

E-mail or call 915-974-7077 for more information.

January 10: El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Free Spay & Neuter Program. By appointment only. Call 915-886-2724, 915-851-0191 or 915-856-4875.

January 13: SEGHS meeting: Board Elections. Alarcon Elementary school cafeteria. 2:00 p.m. Meeting was rescheduled. Normally, meetings are the 1st Sunday of the month.

January 17: Noche Bohemia. Pan, Queso, Vino, y Mas. Chef Irasema. Six wines from France & Australia. Art, live music, & poetry. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Go online or call 915-974-7077 for tickets.

January 21: San Eli’s Really Good Food. 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. La Fe San Elizario Clinic. 12101 Socorro Road.

January 22: City council meeting. 12004 Socorro Road. 6:00 p.m.

January 27: Free guided tours. 4th Sunday of the month. 12:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. Partici-pants are asked to gather at the Main Street Mercantile, 15 minutes prior to the tour. The tour will take approximately one hour and a half. This is a walking tour, at a slow pace. On a rare occasion, a tour may need to be delayed or cancelled. Please call ahead 915-851-0093 or email to confirm.

February 2019

February 1: San Elizario Ghost Tour $15. Call 915-274-9531 for more information or go online. Meet at the Golden Eagle Gallery, 1501 Main St. Tours are given by PDNPS Presi-dent Bonnie Juárez and Ghosts915 - Paso Del Norte Paranormal Society who were featured in Ghost Adventures Route 666 episode.

February 3: SEGHS meeting. Alarcon Elementary cafeteria. 2:00 p.m.

February 23: The Class Ballet Company of the UACJ present a double feature of “Children’s Tales of Peter & the Wolf” and “Fantasia.” 5:00 p.m. Adobe Horseshoe. Kid food and bever-ages will be available. Group Packages Available. Go online or call 915-974-7077 for tickets.

February 24: “The Class Ballet Company of the UACJ present a double feature of “Children’s Tales of Peter & the Wolf” and “Fantasia.” . 3:00 p.m. Kid food and beverages will be available. Group Packages Available. Go online or call 915-974-7077 for tickets.

February 24: Free guided tours. 4th Sunday of the month. 12:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. Partici-pants are asked to gather at the Main Street Mercantile, 15 minutes prior to the tour. The tour will take approximately one hour and a half. This is a walking tour, at a slow pace. On a rare occasion, a tour may need to be delayed or cancelled. Please call ahead 915-851-0093 or email to confirm.

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March 2019

March 1: San Elizario Ghost Tour $15. Call 915-274-9531 for more information or go online. Meet at the Golden Eagle Gallery, 1501 Main St. Tours are given by PDNPS President Bon-nie Juárez and Ghosts915 - Paso Del Norte Paranormal Society who were featured in Ghost Adventures Route 666 episode.

March 3: SEGHS meeting. Alarcon Elementary cafeteria. 2:00 p.m.

March 16: Jazz Vilá Projects presenta Eclipse. 6:00 p.m. Una obra de Jazz Vilá. Directo Desde La Habana, Cuba. Adobe Horseshoe. Call 915-974-7077 or go online for tickets.

March 17: Mission Trail Art Market. 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Free. 1501 Main Street. Profes-sional artisans from across the region present an amazing selection of quality arts and crafts. Enjoy the food concessions and entertainment. The event is pet friendly. Special cul-tural presentations at 4:00 p.m. Galleries remain open until 5:00 p.m.

March 17: Billy the Kid Breakout Show. Live performance by Los Pistoleros. 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. in front of the Old El Paso County Jail Museum. Shows are during the Mission Trail Art Market.

March 17: Jazz Vilá Projects presenta Eclipse. Una obra de Jazz Vilá. Directo Desde La Ha-bana, Cuba. Adobe Horseshoe. Call 915-974-7077 or go online for tickets.

March 24: Free guided tours. 4th Sunday of the month. 12:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. Participants are asked to gather at the Main Street Mercantile, 15 minutes prior to the tour. The tour will take approximately one hour and a half. This is a walking tour, at a slow pace. On a rare oc-casion, a tour may need to be delayed or cancelled. Please call ahead 915-851-0093 or email to confirm.

Change of Address?

Call or e-mail us today to update your mailing address, phone number and e-mail.

SUBMISSIONS

We welcome your letters, stories of the area, family stories present or past, family events, up-coming reunions, photos, etc. to be used in our newsletter. Please submit your articles by e-mail, regular mail or in-person to the Los Portales. Please note, submissions may be edited for space, grammar and clarity.

Mailing Address Physical Address

Los Portales Museum 1521 San Elizario Rd.

P.O. Box 1090 San Elizario, TX 79849

San Elizario, TX 79849 Phone: 915-851-1682

Museum Hours

Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

E-mail: [email protected]

DID YOU KNOW? Los Portales is the first school in El Paso County.

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FROM LOS PORTALES ARCHIVES

Ms. Trujillo’s 2nd grade class. Please help us identify the school year, the teacher’s full name

and the students.

SEGHS Elections

We are having elections at our next meeting on Sunday 06 January 2019. You must be an SEGHS member for a minimum of six months to be eligible for a position on the board. There are seven current positions on the board:

1. President 5. Treasurer

2. Vice-President 6. Board Member

3. Veterans Chair (Voted in by committee) 7. Board Member

4. Secretary

Terms are two years. Board meetings are held on the first Sunday of each month at 1:00 p.m., General meetings at 2:00 p.m. at the L.G. Alarcon Elementary school cafeteria (12501 Socorro Road, San Elizario, Texas 79849).

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

News

Pirates in the Desert, by Sam Sánchez, Sr. is available for purchase at SamSanchezArt.com or at Los Portales Museum for $21.00. Price does not include shipping if mailed.

What God Has Joined Together: Wedding Bells Ring in San Elizario, Texas—Weddings from 1888 to 1986 by Marta Estrada is for sale for $20. Price does not include shipping.

We are currently seeking submissions for the new San Elizario Cookbook. Recipes and accom-panying photos, if any, are welcome. Please submit your recipes via e-mail, regular mail or in-person to Los Portales staff Tuesday to Sunday. Please note submissions may be edited for space, grammar and clarity.

Announcements

The Montes family raised $195 for the El Paso County Historical Society with their donations during a silent auction.

If you would like to purchase a DVD of the 2018 Veterans Parade, please contact Lupe Sánchez at [email protected] or call her 915-867-1657.

Prayers for the Ill

Manny Alvarado

Ramon & Ysela Holguin

Becky Muñoz

Arnulfo Vasquez

Condolences

Luz Estrada’s wife, Anita, passed away on Sunday November 25th.

Osvaldo “Valo ” Grijalva passed away on Thursday May 17, 2018 at the age of 72. He was born March 23, 1946 in San Elizario to Ramon and Dolores Grijalva. Valo was a retired educator and activist for the Hispanic Community. He also did volunteer work with the Franciscan monks for the homeless. He took pride in sharing his family history and helped write short stories for Random Thoughts by the Silver Scribblers .

Have a Question? Have an Answer? Are you searching for your roots in San Elizario? Submit your inquiry here or send us a letter. Our fellow members may be able to help you. Your question or answer may be published in our next edition.

DID YOU KNOW? If it weren’t for the 1877 Salt War of San Elizario, Fort Bliss would not be

open today.

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LOS PORTALES GIFT SHOP

Coins & Prints

Cards by Candy Mayer $12.99

Coins of San Elceario Chapel & Socorro Mission $10.83 each

Greeting card set by Sam Sánchez $8.66

Prints by Candy Mayer $16.24 small, $32.48 large

Prints by Sam Sánchez $5.41 small, $8.66 large

Books

The Bells of San Elizario by Amelia Montes Skaggs and Dr. Samuel R. Skaggs $16.24

Census 1684, Census 1692, & Census 1841 $10.83 each

From the Pass to the Pueblos by George D. Torok $27.06

Pass of North Heritage Corridor:

Tenacious Immigrants $3.25

Indian Trails, Caravans and StageCoaches$3.25

Railroad and Highways$3.25

The Pass of the North and the Creation of the U.S. Mexico Border $3.25

Pirates of the Desert by Sam Sánchez $21.00

San Elceario Cookbook $16.24

What God Has Joined Together by Marta Estrada $20.00

And More

Billy the Kid Magnet $3.25

Ceramic church hangings: San Elceario, Ysleta, & Socorro $5.41 each

Ceramic church magnets: San Elceario, Ysleta, & Socorro $5.41 each

Holy cards & pictures $0.54

Lucero family CD $21.65

Oaxaca Native handmade rosaries $8.66

Passport to National Parks $8.66

Postcards $1.08

SEGHS T-shirt $12.99

Tarahumara hand-woven medium basket $8.66

Texas lapel pins $3.25

Visit San Elizario CD $10.83

Veteran’s CD $10.83

We accept cash, checks and credit cards. Please note, prices include tax. If you would like your

items mailed, please be advised there will be an additional charge for shipping and handling.

Call or e-mail us today with your order.

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Austin: News from Tejano Genealogy Society of Austin Corpus Christi: News from Spanish American Genealogical Association (SAGA) Harlingen: News from Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Genealogical Society Houston: News from Hispanic Genealogy Society of Houston Laredo: News from Villa De San Agustin - Laredo Genealogy Society San Antonio: News from Los Bexareños Genealogical & Historical Society Victoria: News from Victoria Hispanic Genealogical & Historical Society of Texas

This section is dedicated to our sister Hispanic Genealogy Societies throughout the state.

Thank You, LBGHS, for providing the information

Other Genealogy News

Albuquerque: News From Hispanic Genealogical Research Center of New Mexico

Albuquerque: News From New Mexico Genealogical Society

Pueblo: News From Genealogical Society of Hispanic America

St. Louis News From Center for French Colonial Studies

Los Pistoleros de San Elizario

The San Elizario Genealogy & His-torical Society opens the museum daily, Tuesday through Sunday to the general public, & admission is free. The museum is staffed by knowledgeable volunteers that will offer additional information to visi-tors.

The Pistoleros de San Elizario Re-enactment troupe performs two free shows of the “Billy the Kid Breakout” every third Sunday of the month, March through Novem-ber, in front of the Jail.

Old El Paso County Jail Museum 1551 Main Street • San Elizario, Texas 79849 915-851-0093 / 915-851-1682

Regular Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am - 2pm • Sunday: 10am - 4pm Sunday: 12pm - 4pm • Open during special events.

From Around The