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Greene County, Indiana ~ Friday, September 5, 2008
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Go West Young Man
Posted Sunday, February 10, 2008, at 4:04 PM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
If you are trying to decide where to take the kids on a vacation in the near future, let me suggest something. It seems that everyone wants to go to Disney World, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, or maybe Six Flags Over Somewhere. Interesting places, I've seen them all, but not as interesting as some of the better, off the path, less commercial and, of course, historical sites. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not a travel agent, nor do I get a commission for anything that I write about, just a poor old purveyor of information.
Several years ago, I got the opportunity to work with a company out of Albuquerque, New Mexico on some research projects for the government. As good custodians of the environment, we are always looking for ways to reclaim, recycle or reuse material that has, for one reason or another, become excess or obsolete. During this period of time, we were trying to develop alternative uses for old explosives and propellants. It was interesting work that looked at various processes for reclamation and reuse. Some of these projects included the reuse of propellants as fertilizers, as animal feed supplements, for mining explosives and even in oil and gas well fracturing techniques. Additionally, I was involved with the construction of a processing plant to extract the primary explosive from its plasticized binder. This project took me to Gallup, New Mexico for an extended period of time.
Gallup is on the historic Route 66 (and also right off I-40, if you like Interstate travel) and features one of the most unique hotels in the country. The place is called The El Rancho Hotel and Motel. Pretty catchy for a hotel and motel, wouldn't you say? It was built by the brother of D.W. Griffith, the guy who made "Birth of a Nation" and several other movies. I could try to explain this place, but I'll let you visit the web page and see for yourself. http://www.elranchohotel.com/ I enjoyed the novelty of staying here a few times, but that is not the reason for this article.
Because Gallup was about a 135 mile drive to Albuquerque, I wasn't at liberty to travel back home to Indiana every weekend, so I spent several weekends in Gallup and visited some of the local attractions, which, for some reason, included a bronze sculpture of a guitar, in recognition of Jerry Garcia.
This locale is just full of history and there have probably been hundreds of books written about all of it, but there is one place that is really special to me. Located a little over 50 miles from Gallup, El Morro National Monument is a sandstone mesa that is a must see for archaeologists, geologists and historians. I had the opportunity to visit with some colleagues one day and didn't get enough of the place, so I went back later on my own to spend some more time. There are two trails to hike at El Morro. The shortest and easiest takes you to the Inscription wall, where you will see historic names carved into the stone and the pool of water that attracted travelers to this location. The second trail takes you to the top of the mesa for some beautiful views and an opportunity to visit the abandoned ruins built by the people of the Anasazi culture and occupied in the 13th and 14th centuries. Try the National Park web site, for more info on El Morro. http://www.nps.gov/elmo/index.htm
One of the inscriptions you will see is that of Don Juan de Onate from 1605; he was the Spanish governor of the area that is now New Mexico. This guy was an extremely cruel individual who killed a lot of Acoma Indians and even amputated the left feet of some 80 men. Another name, which is meticulously carved into the wall, is P. Gilmer Breckenridge. Peachy Gilmer was famous for assisting Lt. Edward Beale's camel expedition across the southwest and later died as a Confederate Officer near Kennon's Landing. Also, there is the name of R.H. Orton, who was a Captain in the California Cavalry in 1866, when he stopped at El Morro, and later became Adjutant-General of California. Orton was known as a great Indian fighter and served with the legendary Kit Carson.
Another name that I noticed and wondered about, because I thought that I recognized it, drove me to do some research. The name T.H. O'Sullivan is inscribed on the rock and I found out that T.H. was a photographer, and a very good one at that. He began his photographic career during the Civil War, working for Matthew Brady. After the war, T.H. joined the U.S. Geological Service and made three expeditions west and one, with LCDR Thomas O. Selfridge, to the Isthmus of Darien to search for a canal route across Panama. During the 1867 western expedition, T.H. became the first photographer to photograph underground miners at work in Utah and Nevada. They say that he used magnesium-flares for his light source underground. It's amazing that he didn't blow up some mine. In 1871, he accompanied Lt. George M. Wheeler on another expedition and, I believe, that is when he visited El Morro. T.H. was later named the official photographer for the U.S. Treasury, but he died 4 months later of Tuberculosis…at the age of…42. Now that's quite a bit of living in 42 years. You can see many of T.H. O'Sullivan's Civil War and U.S.G.S. photographs at the following URL: http://www.geh.org/ne/mismi3/osullivan_s...
Just a side note; Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge, the nephew of the preceding Thomas O., was not only the first U. S. military man to pilot a plane, he was the first passenger killed in a plane accident. He died as the result of a crash during military testing of a new plane at Ft. Myer, Virginia in 1908. His pilot was Wilbur's brother…Orville Wright.
So, when you're planning your next vacation, see if the kids want to go out west and learn some history….or go to Kings Island. Good luck. Comments Showing most recent comments first [Show in chronological order instead] |
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So far, am enjoying Go West article.
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December 1969??? Need new date stamp
on blog.
You,GarthHudson whoever you are, have no idea how it makes my day that you remember some of that song. I like the Delta Blues, but they are light blue by comparison. "In these rooms the heat pipes just cough/ the country music station plays soft/ but there is nothing, nothing really to turn off." Knowing full well what I am doing, putting myself out of the now, but they just don't write them like that anymore. Now everyone knows I am 100 years old.
Here's one for Sampson, "They're selling postcards of the hanging." All (") credit Bob Dylan. I just realized who it is that lives on the HillTop. I miss you guys. Not an hour goes by that I don't think of a supreme man who lived close to you all. I will never figure out if he laughed because he had it all or if he had it all because he could laugh. He could light up a region with that laugh. I apologize for taking up space that is not really my own by writing about someone so inspiring, but in this situation I would rather ask forgiveness than permission. That a-- ---- who does not live in Greene County still has a swing or two left. How anyone who does the Texas two step in the tee box, and calls it his address, and then mashes one about 310 yards does it I will never understand, but I have reservations about anyone who after that mash looks around and asks, did anyone see which way that went. Who ever heard of five putting a green, in the County Tournament. Square dancing in 3/4 time.
Sounds like a retirement party coming on soon. Let me know when and I'll grab my neighbor (MC) and Wigs and haul them to the HillTop.
Might have to brush up on my square dancing. I haven't dosey doed in awhile.
Those songs are still relavant.
"The ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face. Where these visions of Johanna have now taken my place." - Bob Dylan
Hilltop thank you. Yes some of the best times of my life were spent at your home. If you go back and look at my list a few blogs back you will see me talking about some of my best times, and PW was on the list. And as for as the babies growing up, I stand by my last remark about your kids, Lea is one of the most lovely older ladies that I have ever seen, your kids have a way of getting more lovely the older they get. Yes only the kids, the rest of us have not aged quite that well, maybe it was the lifestyles we lived. Not you Ginny you were a saint, me and PW .
Hey Simmons, I'm adding this to my retirement "to do" list.
Congrats to not from Greene Co's little boy for his new job. Seems like yesterday he was swimming in my pool practicing for the olympics! Yes boys, the times they are a changing and our babies have grown up. When you come down this way, don't forget to stop on the HillTop!
We miss you out there, there's not too many of us go for broke, free swingers left. Tucson is a pretty nice place, jusy stay out of Nogales after dark. Stop and see me sometime when you're down this way.
Mr.Robato you are right, I do still have a few sticks that are not broken. I now live on a golf course in Peru Indiana, I have only played 2 rounds in the last 4 years. I do miss the game a great deal, but found that Mark Twain was right, playing golf for 4 hours with people you dont enjoy being with is, "just a good walk spoiled". And simmons, the trip south used to be the highlight of the year, something that one could look forward to, but as B ball fan stated, "the times they are a changing" sorry they did change but time goes on. Simmons, I may soon be viewing the places you just mentioned, my son just this week accepted the job as Warden at the Arizonia State Prison in Tucson, so he is moving in the middle of March. I grad. from Indiana University in May, so I will soon be trying to get B ball to go with me and make the migration in that direction.
Well, you are close, I was the guitar player then. "Desolation Row" "Visions of Johanna" "I Pity the Poor Immigrant" "The Times They are a'Changin" were some of my full houses back then. The songs were personal and relevant then, now they are just campfire sing-a-longs.However, the times were really changing, and still are, and the wind is still blowin with the answers still swirling, the same answers.I swear we believed everyone would hear them and soon.
It has always been a belief that it was a big area with people fenced out.Only deer could come and go as they pleased, and the guards are on the inside.Which leads me to the thought of turning South out of Grants, just south, there are no roads with names other than local names,and driving a Hummer about one hour or so and seeing the "Great Wall of America" stretching across the horizon all the way across Arizona land, and back to Texas,what a wonderful opportunity for a photographer,one of the twenty-fourth, I think "Wonders of the World."And if it is successful that Wal-Mart will be a "Trading Post.""And the times/they are a'changin."
Yes Simmons, I know whom the right company is...It would be great going south this time of year with Wiglund, Dog, Midnight Rambler, Garth, Grip, Big "O", Jobe, RS, Chuckie, Sneaky, and I would include Hatten though I have just played once with him. I also miss the days when Not From Greene Co. used to get the sticks out. I heard he still had a few sticks left in the bag, but he broke the others.
"Sundown" is an old war movie with Gene that you should see Mike. I may have a copy of that, I'll check.
Bballfan, I can just see you in a commune in the Taos area. Maybe just sitting at the El Monte dealing stud. Gallup, in McKinley County, had the highest unemployment rate in the nation when I was there. You should have seen Walmart on Payday Friday in Gallup.
Curt, I'd go south to play golf with you anyday. Looking forward to our Park Mammoth trip and if you want to put together any others let me know, my clubs are nearly jumping out of the bag right now. Still working on my putting after you're last tip.
Nothing like hump day, listening to the Box Tops "I Met her In Church", getting ready to slide on down to the big fenced-in area.
It looks like something from the Black Hills. The rock just sort of juts out in places in the northern sections. Granite to the north, sandstone south and west. The elevation is about right, high ground at 7,200'.
My youngest is well traveled. I've always wanted to take her out to the Tri-Territory area of the Red Desert and let her run for 10 days at high altitude, and let her see the wildlife, petroglyphs, and the landscape. Perhaps late summer, before she moves out to wherever she's going to school.
Siler, it may have been a blessing missing the Unser's. They can drive it, but the stories I hear lead me to believe having an escape plan is a good idea if they're around.
Gene Tierney stayed at El Rancho. In her day she rocked:)
Simmons you are after my heart. It is difficult to write about NM. I went to school in NM and I love the place. I am now waiting for the weather to break so I can visit my cousin in Taos. I spent a little time at a commune in Eagle Nest back in 1966, the highest place in NM, the high plains.18 of my friends bought the Laguana Ski Lodge there as a co-op and it lasted for a while, most of the people were from New York and Eagle Nest was just not them. There were only 54 people living in Eagle Nest then, one pool table, one bar, and a long ride for the school kids.The first morning I woke up there it was 20 below zero,it warmed up to a pretty day by around one, but mornings were cold.
Taos is about thirty-five miles south of Eagle Nest and this time of year it is a six hour drive sometimes.One must drive around the mountain instead of down it. My cousin lives about six miles from where D.H. Lawerence had his home near Taos. Grants, well it is the darkest place at night that I have ever been. You painted a rather nice picture of Grants but there is another picture of Grants. The poverty is great there,mostly native Americans and school is a difficult task for many of them.Not to mention all the terrible conditions of the native Americans there. But NM is packed full of exciting history. Kit Carson lived up around Taos. And Madrid, which was a ghost town when I lived there now has running water, I hardly recognized the place a couple of years ago. Red River is so beautiful that they do not like people talking about it, too many tourists. It is too much for me to write about NM, you have be there. I am glad you were able to visit and get to know some of NM, the Land of Enchantment. Oh, you must have seen your share of the state bird, The Roadrunner. Their legs do sort of look like wheels when they are running at full gate. The color is not the same as the cartoon but the rest is close.You have to love them.
I miss NM every day.The La Fonda Hotel on the plaza in Taos is special, they have the exhibition of paintings by Lawerence that were banned in England, if you look at them you have to wonder what the British were thinking.I have what is now an old rug on my floor that I got at Taos Pueblo in 1967, the dog scratched a hole in it years ago but I still hang on to it, a good reminder of NM. Maybe the best and most lasting thing I got from NM is the love for a good pair of boots. Thanks for writing about such a treasure.
Taking the risk of getting my feelings hurt, define the right company!!
VAisforlovers, You were born about 350 miles south of there and I may have taken you to Elephant Butte/Truth or Consequences a time or two, but if you went to El Morro, it was without me. That entire area is beautiful and I recommend that you and Patrick see it someday. Window Rock and the Navajo Nation, Red Rock, Canyon de Chelle, the Petrified Forest (across the border in Arizona), lava rocks,... take the Tram up to Sandia, visit Roswell, the Inn of the Mountain of Gods in Ruidoso, White Sands, Trinity Site at Los Alamos and the art of Santa Fe. The Land of Enchantment, little girl, it is as it is advertised.
Hey Robato, the south is always wonderful this time of year, if you are traveling in the right company.
Oh wouldnt is be nice to be going South this time of year...Way South
The one time I was close to that area we were 3 hrs behind schedule heading for Flagstaff-- missing all the important places allong I40 and even missing the UNSER ranch--- and well that was unforgivable.
That place looks beautiful. Have I ever been there?