SALON EL ZAGUAN Reflections Across an Historic Trail

SALON EL ZAGUAN
Reflections Across an Historic Trail
Dr. Frances Levine,
President and CEO, Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, Mo

On the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail’s first traders entrance into Santa Fe, Historic Santa Fe Foundation hosts a lecture by Dr. Frances Levine entitled Reflections Across an Historic Trail. The talk was presented for Friday, December 3, 2021.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Dr. Frances Levine became the president and CEO of the Missouri Historical Society (MHS) and the Missouri History Museum in the spring of 2014. Under her leadership, in 2017 MHS received the first ever award for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion given by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). Two years later Dr. Levine led the successful reaccreditation of the Missouri Historical Society by AAM, as well as the successful integration of the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum into the institutional organization of the Missouri Historical Society. Also in 2019 she was named one of the most influential women in business by the St. Louis Business Journal, and in 2018 she received a National Urban League Salute to Women in Leadership Award. In 2021 she received the Norman A. Stack Community Relations Award from the Jewish Community Relations Council in St. Louis.

MHS is a leading partner with dozens of institutions throughout the region, including colleges and universities; media outlets; and local theatre, music, and arts organizations. Dr. Levine serves on task forces and regional commissions that align resources and staff collaborations among many regional arts and cultural organizations.

A native of Connecticut, Dr. Levine received her BA in anthropology from the University of Colorado Boulder and her MA and PhD in anthropology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. In 2009 she attended the prestigious Getty Museum Leadership Institute. She is a member of the American Alliance of Museums, the American Society for Ethnohistory, and the Santa Fe Trail Association. She has served as an evaluator for the AAM accreditation review process for museums throughout the United States and Mexico.

Dr. Levine has been an author, co-editor, and contributor to several award-winning books, including Our Prayers Are in This Place: Pecos Pueblo Identity over the Centuries (1999, UNM Press), Through the Lens: Creating Santa Fe (2008 MNM Press, with MaryAnne Redding and Krista Elrick), Telling New Mexico: A New History (2009 MNM Press, with Marta Weigle and Louise Stiver), as well as a chapter in All Trails Lead to Santa Fe (2010 with Gerald Gonzalez, Sunstone Press), Battles and Massacres on the Southwestern Frontier: Historical and Archaeological Perspectives (edited with Ron Wetherington, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, 2014), and Doña Teresa Confronts the Spanish Inquisition: A Seventeenth-Century New Mexican Drama (University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, 2016), which won a Southwest Book Award by the Border Regional Library Association. Dr. Levine has just completed a manuscript for the University of Kansas Press entitled Crossings: Women on the Santa Fe Trail. It will be published in 2022.

A Guide to New Mexico Film Locations - A Book Review

Book review by Pete Warzel

Such an odd instance of simultaneity – the delivery of this book from UNM Press within the week of the tragic occurrence at Bonanza Creek Ranch. As the local and national press feeds off the real shooting we read that “Things got biblical in a hurry. What started as a lightning delay turned into an all-out evacuation after about ten minutes.” So is the author’s memory of a storm at the ranch during the filming of a pilot for an online streaming service, not the incident. Eeerie.

Jason Strykowski has written this book from experience, hands on in productions at many of the locations described in the book. When it came I was puzzled by its content and intent. Was this a location scouting guide for the film industry in New Mexico, and if so, why would UNM Press be dealing with it? It is not. It is a well-designed road guide for film groupies and New Mexico travelers, or just an arm chair read on the history of these interesting places.

The book is sectioned by geography fairly well covering the state and its long history of Hollywood New Mexico, going back to 1898, when Thomas Edison filmed Indian Day School at Isleta Pueblo. Oddly enough Isleta seemed to be the hot location in the early days as D. W.  Griffith photographed A Pueblo Legend there in 1912. Strykowski provides short , introductory chapters that give a good base for understanding the mechanics of the industry. The descriptions and histories of each entry are a history of some great movies in a geographic microcosm of the entertainment industry. The entries also provide recommendations for accommodations and restaurants nearby, and a side bar explains “red or green” for the uninitiated. So it is a travel guide with a very specific theme, and very thorough throughout.

The first location is our own Santa Fe Plaza, and the buildings surrounding. Ride the Pink Horse, Powwow Highway, Twins, Finch, were shot in and around the plaza. The author is obviously traveling on a production expense account since his recommendation for a hotel is the Inn of the Five Graces, and to eat – Rio Chama Steakhouse. That does not leave much room for the film buff on a budget. There is a wonderful black and white photograph in the Santa Fe section of Warren Oates, Dennis Wilson, and James Taylor, sitting on the hood the ‘55 Chevy 150, in Two Lane Blacktop. (The set photographs and stills from movies are well placed throughout the book. One of the most iconic is from Easy Rider, with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper riding into Taos Pueblo, and forever into film history.)

So, I decided to look at locations that are some of my favorite places in New Mexico, film not a concern, and see what was there in movie history:

·      Evangelo’s Cocktail Lounge, Santa Fe – Crazy Heart, Only the Brave – the guide gives a toned down description of the bar as “…a staple of Santa Fe nightlife.”

·      Bandelier National Monument – Billy Jack – the author to his credit notes and describes the Tsankawi section of the monument as “…an often missed gem.” He knows his New Mexico.

·      Valles Caldera National Preserve – Shoot Out, Buffalo Girls, Longmire

·      Plaza Blanca (near Abiquiu) – The Lone Ranger, 3:10 to Yuma, Cowboys & Aliens – the recommendation of where to eat is at Bode’s, the iconic general store on the highway through Abiquiu. Amen to that.

·      Truchas – The Milagro Beanfield War – John Nichols, the author of the novel, has told me some hair raising stories about the production of this film, best shortened to a quote in this book that is actually the title of an essay by John, contained in the collection Dancing on the Stones: Selected Essays (also published by UNM Press) – Night of the Living Beanfield: How an Unsuccessful Cult Novel Became an Unsuccessful Cult Film in Only Fourteen Years, Eleven Nervous Breakdowns, and $20 Million.

·      Taos Pueblo – Easy Rider – “At the time it wasn’t clear that Hopper could handle his directing or acting tasks in the film” Not a surprise, but the film and its success was a wonderful surprise. The restaurant suggestion is Michael’s Kitchen in Taos, and I would endorse that thumbs-up for breakfast.

·      Acoma Pueblo – Sundown, My Name is Nobody (Henry Fonda) – “Any visit to the Pueblo should start at the new Sky City Cultural Center.” Barbara Felix was the architect for that wonderful building, as she is for our HSFF Master Plan project at El Zaguán.

·      Las Cruces – Hang ‘Em High, The Mule (both Clint Eastwood) – “Bridging the gap between Georgia and Southern New Mexico, Eastwood’s character (in The Mule) hauls pecans to hide his stash of drugs. Turns out that Georgia is the biggest producer of pecans in the United States, and Southern New Mexico is the second largest.” Interesting facts throughout the book. 

This guide is a lot of things, all well done. Strykowski ends it with a filmography of the state that runs eleven pages long. You can use it as a tour guide, a movie guide, an unusual history of the state.

You get the picture.

A Guide to New Mexico Film Locations by Jason Strykowski, University of New Mexico Press, Softcover, 296 pages, 2021.

2021 Meem Trades Intern: Flynn Larson

In 2021, for the second year in a row, Historic Santa Fe Foundation’s long-standing Faith and John Gaw Meem Preservation Trades Internship had to be canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In previous years, the internship spanned 10 weeks during the summer months, but when the time to make arrangements came around last winter and early spring, it did not yet feel feasible. By later in the year, however, a modified version of the program had been conceived. We moved ahead with what was referred to in the office as a “mini” internship.

In October 2021, we welcomed Flynn Larson for some autumn projects. Flynn is a Santa Fe resident who is working remotely on a degree in Historic Preservation from Goucher College. In addition to her work with HSFF, she is also currently interning with the National Parks Service, the latest in a number of internships and other roles she has held with them, and she volunteers as the Architectural Historian for the City of Santa Fe’s Historic Districts Review Board.

Those who have walked down Canyon Road in the last few weeks may have seen Flynn at work, as she put a coat of mud plaster on the adobe courtyard wall at the entry to El Zaguán in anticipation of winter weather. This is important cyclical maintenance in addition to being a bit of fun. She also assisted with a hands on window restoration workshop hosted at the Hesch House in September and October – the first in what we hope will be an ongoing series of hands on learning opportunities. It has been a delight working with Flynn, and we hope she will continue her involvement with HSFF as she is a great asset to preservation in Santa Fe. — Mara Saxer, HSFF Preservation Specialist

Michael Romero Taylor Interview

Nuevo Mexico Profundo started on an oral biography/heritage archive project conducted by Frank Graziano. The interviewees are a cross-section of experience in New Mexico. Profundo’s Frank Graziano presents another extensive, personal look at the life and work of Michael Romero Taylor.

Michael Romero Taylor has been working for the last forty years in historic preservation. His experience includes historic site management, architectural conservation, management of cultural routes, museum/visitor center management and archaeological site preservation. In the United States, he served as the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Officer in 1994-95, and was the Deputy Director of New Mexico State Monuments from 1995 to 2001. Taylor earned a masters certificate from the Architectural Conservation Course through ICCROM in Rome, Italy 1987, and has been active with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) for the past twenty five years. He has lectured on historic preservation with emphasis on earthen architecture, site management, and cultural routes in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. In 2010, he was selected as a visiting scholar to the Getty Conservation Institute in Los Angeles. Taylor earned a certificate in Historic Preservation and Regionalism from the University of New Mexico in 2016. He retired in 2019 from the National Park Service working as a cultural resource specialist for nine congressionally designated historic trails in the United States. His research interests include international approaches to preservation, protection and management of cultural routes.

More on Nuevo Mexico Profundo here.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park Project by Sofia Horn

Introduction by Pete Warzel

Sofia Horn is a senior student at the Academy for Technology and the Classics in Santa Fe. She is the daughter of Claudia Meyer Horn, architect and landscape architect, and principal of Design Office, and of James Horn, architect, and partner at Spears Horn Architects. She is also the granddaughter of Jacqueline Hill, our long time office manager at HSFF, until her retirement at the end of September. It was through Jacqueline, at her last staff meeting, that we heard about this project and its gathering for planting the weekend before. As you will see, in Sofia’s words below, it was quite an undertaking, of community and private/public cooperation. The planning was intensive – note the image of Sofia’s planting and landscape plan – and the coordination maybe only something a committed high schooler could accomplish. It is not quite completed yet, as Sofia tells us about some final steps to take place at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park. I urge you to go and take a look at what vision and commitment can accomplish. The park is located at 2739 Calle Serena, Santa Fe, between Zia Road and Rodeo Road, just before they merge as Rodeo. Congratulations to Sofia and to the city for recognizing the importance of this project, and assisting in getting it done.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park Project by Sofia Horn

I did this project to work on my Girl Scout Gold Award Project initially, but during the planting at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, I knew it was much more than a badge. It was bringing community together, and helping the environment.

For a Girl Scout Gold Award, a girl has to spend 80 hours on a project she organizes and leads. I spent that time finding the perfect place to improve with plants, planning out where all of the trees and shrubs needed to go, asking for donations from nurseries and Lowe's. It was a long journey, but the day to plant finally came on September 25th. There were neighbors that showed up, my friends, family, arborists, horticulturalists, the mayor, and two city Councilors (Carol Romero-Wirth and Jamie Cassutt).

 We planted two big bur Oaks and a lot of small pollinator plants donated by the Xerces Society through a grant to connect the city on a pollinator trial. In total there were 105 plants planted including trees, shrubs, and cacti. I plan to plant some roses in the front of the park as well because Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s wife really liked roses, and I also plan to put some yucca and other succulents on the other side of the park. I will build and place a native bee hive at the park so all of the pollinators have a place to live during the winter when the flowers are not in bloom. 

During the process, I wanted to get input from the neighbors who lived in the area, so I held a public meeting at the park. I drew up a plan to get an understanding of what the park would look like and I talked with a horticulturalist to get his opinion on where the plants should be placed. Then my mother and I went out to the park to place flags where each plant would be placed so it would be easy to see on planting day. 

I wanted to do this project because I love plants, I wanted to help the community, and planting pollinator shrubs is beneficial to bees and butterflies.

Jacqueline Hill Retires from HSFF

Pete Warzel, Jacqueline Hill, Mara Saxer, and Melanie McWhorter - staff of HSFF

Jacqueline Hill Retires from HSFF

On March 17, 2014, I entered the office of the Historic Santa Fe Foundation for the first time as an employee. Three people greeted me. Graciela Tomé, then Chair of the Board, Mac Watson, head of the search committee for the new Executive Director, and Jacqueline Hill.

Jacqueline had been hired several months before to try and organize administration, left to its own devices for some time. Board Directors were hands on, running the place. Jacqueline and the Board created order.

She has been here ever since, and now suddenly, she will not be. September 30, 2021 was her retirement day, and one she was very much looking forward to. Most people I know are ambivalent about retirement, and hem and haw as they near the time. Not so with Jacqueline. She relished the day and the time to explore new things. She laughs out loud. She is most genuinely happy to greet that day.

A small non-profit staff has to have each other’s backs, and cover duties not necessarily in a job description. We are blessed with people who jump in without complaint, and handle issues a staff twice as large could not. Jacqueline’s title is Office Manager, but so much more. She designed the award certificates and frames for the annual Heritage Preservation Awards, our Architectural Stewardship Award. She vetted and gave counsel on potential new tenants, and mostly was right in her assessments. She handled the flow of invoices and payments and when accounts went out whack or a bill missed it was invariably my fault. She has been a strong supporter of new programs and a cheerleader for the El Zaguán Master Plan, often giving ideas on how to make the plan more efficient. She is a very wise person.

In eight years, El Zaguán has in many ways become her place. She is the only one who can unlock and open the door to Apartment #1 without a problem. She is a master at engaging visitors to the Foundation, and finds out more about their lives than they likely seem to offer. She has lived many adventures in her life and talking to her, listening to her stories, is a joy. Now just to wait for the next endeavor and the next story…she will not disappoint.

Sincere thanks Jacqueline, for all you have done for me and for the Foundation. Have a blast. But also come visit. You have been a very good friend and partner in getting all this done and should be proud of how much has been accomplished since you came here to work.

Email melanie@historicsantafe.org to send your well wishes to Jacqueline and we will pass along all messages.

Help us welcome aboard Linda Williams as our new Office Manager, linda@historicsantafe.org.

Images: Jacqueline Hill's retirement party with artist-in-residence Paul Baxendale (above) and with Ken Stilwell (below).