Valencia County Historical Society

06/09/2026

We are pleased to share the recording of the lecture by Javier Marin-Lopez, “Juan Bautista Ralliere’s Cánticos espirituales and the Making of a Transnational Soundscape in Nineteenth-Century New Mexico.” This presentation is one of the outcomes of the Underwriting Program awarded by the John Donald Robb Musical Trust at the University of New Mexico in 2025.

Father Juan Bautista Ralliere was the parish priest of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tome from 1858 to 1913. Today, a memorial plaque marks his gravesite under the floor boards of the church.

This talk was made possible through the collaboration of the Latin American and Iberian Institute, the John Donald Robb Musical Trust, and the University Libraries’ Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections.

The lecture forms part of a broader research project on music in Spanish and Territorial New Mexico and its connections to the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and the Santa Fe trail, which Marin-Lopez began in 2022. The project has continued to evolve through archival research in New Mexico and the U.S., Spain, and Mexico, exploring the circulation of music, devotional practices, and cultural exchange across the nineteenth-century Southwest. This research would not have been possible without the generous support of many institutions and individuals, including librarians, archivists, informants, colleagues, and friends.

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | Frank Waters Room, Zimmerman LibraryC...

06/09/2026

Renowned local Santero, Alcario Otero will be discussing his incredible craft and present some of the beautiful pieces were acquired for the Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts by the Friends of the Los Lunas Library & Museum through generous donations.
📅 When: June 13th, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Where: Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts, 251 Main Street SE, Los Lunas, NM

🎨 Join us in celebrating renowned local Santero, Alcario Otero🎨

We are thrilled to host Mr. Otero as he discusses his incredible craft and presents some of his artwork for our collection. These beautiful pieces were acquired for the Los Lunas Museum by the Friends of the Los Lunas Library & Museum through generous donations.

📅 When: June 13th, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Where: Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts, 251 Main Street SE, Los Lunas, NM

05/29/2026

Civil War Battles Reenactment in Tijeras Saturday, May 30th.

05/12/2026

Valencia County Historical Society Newsletter May 2026 - Episodic Bulletin -

If you have enjoyed what we’ve provided so far and are not already a member of the Society, please consider joining. If you are a current or former member, please consider renewing your membership. You can find information about the organization and how to join or renew on our website, vchsnm.org.

05/11/2026

Professor Richard Marlar the President of the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association will be giving a presentation on the Navajo-Churro Sheep and its impact on New Mexico.
Navajo-Churro sheep are descended from the Churra, an ancient Iberian breed. Although secondary to the Merino, the Churra (later corrupted to “Churro” by American frontiersmen) was prized by the Spanish for its remarkable hardiness, adaptability and fecundity. The Churra was the very first breed of domesticated sheep in the New World. Its importation to New Spain by the Spanish dates back to the 16th century where it was used to feed and clothe the armies of the conquistadors and Spanish settlers.
By the 17th century the Churro had become the mainstay of Spanish ranches and villages along the upper Rio Grande Valley. Native Indians acquired flocks of Churro for food and fiber through raids and trading. Within a century, herding and weaving had become a major economic asset for the Navajo. It was from Churro wool that the early Rio Grande, Pueblo, and Navajo textiles were woven — a fleece admired by collectors for its luster, silky hand, variety of natural colors and durability.
Join us at the Los Lunas Museum of Heirtage & Arts to learn more about the Navajo-Churro on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 2:00pm.

04/21/2026

KEEPING THE FAITH

A new book, Albuquerque’s Roman Catholic Heritage, by award-winning author John Taylor, has just been published by the Valencia County Historical Society.
Former State Historian Robert J. Torrez wrote,

Albuquerque’s Roman Catholic Heritage is much more than the title implies. This wonderfully illustrated and easy to read volume goes beyond the history of Roman Catholic heritage in the historic Villa de Alburquerque. The author opens with the stories behind the original San Felipe Neri Church in today’s “old town” and skillfully shows the development of the numerous parishes that developed as the city expanded and incorporated the myriad communities and local chapels that dotted the middle Rio Grande Valley, including histories of churches and parishes located north and south of greater Albuquerque, as well as those along the eastern slope of the Sandia mountains. These stories are enhanced by dozens of seldom or never-before published photographs as well as many contemporary images not only of churches, but of individuals that contributed to the development and growth of the Roman Catholic heritage in the greater Albuquerque region.

The book describes over 100 parishes, missions, and other affiliated institutions. Its 183 pages are richly illustrated with 300 color images and over 100 historical black and white images. The document is also thoroughly indexed for ease of study.
Albuquerque's Roman Catholic Heritage is available on Amazon or at the Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts for $30. For additional information or questions, please contact [email protected] or Louis Huning at [email protected].

02/11/2026

Your Valencia County Historical Society Newsletter - February 11, 2026:

If you are a current or former member, please consider renewing your membership. If you have enjoyed what we’ve provided so far and are not already a member of the Society, please consider joining.

02/03/2026

Our annual meeting will be held on Sunday, March 1, at 2 pm at the Harvey House in Belen. The agenda will include presentation of annual awards and election of officers. John Taylor will speak on the history of the Belen Cutoff, one of the most significant events in the history of both Belen and the Santa Fe Railway. Refreshments will be served. Hope to see everyone there!

Our annual meeting will be held on Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 2 pm at the Harvey House in Belen. The agenda will include presentation of annual awards and election of officers. John Taylor will speak on the history of the Belen Cutoff, one of the most significant events in the history of both Belen an...

01/28/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/14bdcRZiqSn/

Elizabethtown: The Rise and Fall of New Mexico’s First Gold City

Located on the western slopes of Baldy Mountain in the Moreno Valley, Elizabethtown—familiarly known as "E-Town"—holds the distinction of being New Mexico’s first incorporated town. Its history is a blend of massive engineering feats, immense wealth, and the lawless reputation of the Wild West.

Founding Families and Notable Surnames
The settlement of E-Town was driven by a mix of military veterans, land grant owners, and persistent pioneer families. Key names associated with the town's origins include:

* Moore: Captain William H. Moore, a commander at Fort Union, was a primary founder. The town was named for his daughter, Elizabeth Catherine Moore. The Lowrey family (via Elizabeth's marriage) remained in the valley for generations.

* Maxwell: Lucien B. Maxwell, the famous land baron of the Maxwell Land Grant, owned the valley and Baldy Peak. His influence (along with the Beaubien family) shaped the entire region's economy.

* Mutz: One of the most enduring names in E-Town history. The Mutz family ran the prominent Mutz Hotel, the ruins of which remain the most iconic site in the ghost town today.

* Keleher and Huning: Prominent early merchants and businessmen who helped establish the town's infrastructure.

* Lynch: The Lynch family was heavily involved in the mining operations and the construction of the "Big Ditch."

* Allison: While a controversial figure, Clay Allison was a rancher and prominent member of the local vigilante committee during the town’s peak lawlessness.

The Discovery and the Boom (1866–1870)
The rush began in 1866 when a Ute man brought copper ore to Fort Union. When soldiers investigated the source on Baldy Mountain, they discovered gold in the creek beds. By 1870, the population was estimated between 5,000 and 7,000 people, making it briefly the largest settlement in New Mexico Territory.

The Engineering Feat: The Big Ditch
To solve the lack of water for mining, the Moreno Water and Mining Company built the "Big Ditch" in 1868. This 41-mile-long canal brought water from the Red River through tunnels and wooden flumes. It was an engineering marvel, though high maintenance costs eventually hampered the town’s profitability.

By 1875, the easy gold was gone. A brief revival occurred in the 1890s with new dredging equipment, but a catastrophic fire in 1903 destroyed the business district. By 1917, the post office closed, and E-Town became a ghost town.

Historical Sources and References:
* New Mexico Office of the State Historian: Records on the incorporation of Elizabethtown and the Maxwell Land Grant.
* "The Big Ditch" by Beth Koch: A detailed account of the engineering of the Moreno Canal.
* New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources: Geological surveys for the Elizabethtown-Baldy District.
* "Haunted Highways: The Ghost Towns of New Mexico" by Ralph Looney.
* "Origins of New Mexico Families" by Fray Angélico Chávez (for genealogical context of the region).

12/23/2025

Los Gorros Blancos of Northern New Mexico. https://www.facebook.com/share/17oV2fcEac/

~Gorras Blancas~
This secretive association of hooded nightriders operated in San Miguel, Santa Fe, and Mora Counties, New Mexico, from 1889 to 1891. Comprised of neomexicanos (Spanish-speaking New Mexicans), the Gorras Blancas took their name from the hooded White Caps uf Tuscola, Illinois, who in 1889 made headlines for their destructive raids on the property of local commissioners who were proposing an unpopular drainage canal in their community. Believed to have numbered between 700 and 1,500 members, the Gorras Blancas launched a militant campaign of threats and intimidation against individuals who allegedly had encroached on community land and made that land inaccessible by fencing it off.
In an 1890 publication, the Gorras Blancas declared themselves defenders of "the rights of all people in general, and especially the rights of poor people." They sought favorable adjudication of the contested Las Vegas Land Grant to protect the community's right to use and occupy the land. When legal action failed, however, the Gorras Blancas vowed militant retribution. They cut miles of fence lines, destroyed buildings and farm equipment, and threatened the lives of presumed encroachers and their sympathizers, some of whom were fellow neomexicanos. These actions prompted Governor Lebaron Bradford Prince in 1890 to denounce the Gorras Blancas as a vigilante mob and to take measures securing the safety of local officials. Although at least four dozen of the Gorras Blancas were eventually indicted for their activities, none was convicted.
The Gorras Blancas were reportedly headed by former U.S. Indian agent and Knights of Labor organizer ,(pictured below) Juan Jose Herrera (affectionately known as El Capitan) and his younger brothers Nicanor and Pablo. It is believed that Juan Jose may have been inspired by the tactics of the above-mentioned White Caps; however, a surviving family member suggests that Herrera took his inspiration from the hooded Ku Klux Klan.