Passing Through Kenna

Ozark Trail: Farwell, Texas

This one's a reproduction, still nice though.

Backyards: Kenna, NM

Outbuildings, Muleshoe, Texas

Kenna Cemetery

Midway Service Station, Kenna, NM

A Lively Place

Denton's Feedlot, Kenna, NM

Kenna was once a lively place, a hundred and some years ago, it was one of the largest cattle shipping points in New Mexico.
Says the Office of the State Historian, "Officially organized in August 1906, Kenna grew overnight with slapped together wood-frame buildings topped with false fronts arranged north and south of the railroad along Main Street. These buildings housed an array of businesses typical of any western boomtown, including a mill, grocers, a barbershop, two lumber companies, a weekly newspaper, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, saloons and a bank."

Railroad Station, Kenna, NM

Now a private residence.

Old House 63

 

Kenna, NM

Abandoned: Elida

Old House 53

Elida, NM

Blackwater Draw Museum set for move

(Clovis News Journal) The Blackwater Draw Museum, once located between Clovis and Portales on U.S. 70, officially closed its doors early in September after more then 46 years. Its artifacts, dating back an estimated 13,000 years, will soon find a new home at Portales’ Eastern New Mexico University. Continued

Storefront: Elida, NM

Old House 24 & 25: Kit Houses

 

Kit houses became popular around the turn of the 20th century, the same time that Eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle experienced a boom in population. It was perfect timing for homesteaders, who needed quick shelter in a region mostly devoid of timber. Many kit houses still stand in the area, including the two examples above, found at The Muleshoe Heritage Center. Though they are typical kit houses, I don't see them as typical for the region, where most of the structures ordered were more modest.

Old House 22 (Dugout)

 

Dugouts have been used by people worldwide since time began. This particular dugout was built by the Gentry family and now sits at the Muleshoe Heritage Center.
 Says Alice Liles, "A recent addition to the Center is the dugout home donated by the Bundrant family. The dugout came from Goodland in southern Bailey County and was reportedly lived in during the 30s by the Gentry family and later some of  the Bundrants during the 40s."
It's a fine example of a late period dugout, earlier dugouts would have been made of logs instead of cut timber. Dugouts were cheaper to build than a standard house, but just as labor intensive. Dugout living could be messy, with dirt constantly sifting in, but they could also be quite snug, offering insulation from extreme temperatures.
As ranchers prospered or failed, the dugouts were abandoned, leaving very few intact examples for the curious to examine.

Muleshoe Heritage Center

Did you know that Muleshoe, Texas has a museum? Well, it does, The Muleshoe Heritage Center, and looking from the outside (we found it after hours), it's a very nice one. There are several buildings on display, covering most of the area's history. I'm going to feature one of those today, and others as time allows.

The Muleshoe Ranch Cookhouse/Bunkhouse dates to around 1903.

Muleshoe Ranch was owned by the Warren family

Elida Memories

Country Churches: First Baptist, Elida NM

If you're familiar with Elida, it's probably because you stopped for gas there, travelling between Clovis/Portales and Roswell. It's the only town between them. Fortunately, the only convenience store in town, Allsup's, is first rate.
The town itself features some interesting sites, including this church. At first, I thought it was a Catholic parish, with its missionesque front. But it's a Baptist nod to the locale, offset with glass block windows and cross, not to mention the brown brick detailing. It works for me, I like the look of the thing. It is both of its time, circa 1913, and its region.