Melody Groves and Before Billy the Kid

 

Many stories have been written about the exploits of Billy the Kid, the charismatic outlaw of the Old West. Some have been pure fiction, designed to entertain and excite. Purple prose writers began chronicling the exploits of Billy as early as the late 1870s. Others have been biographical, researched by historians or recorded by those who knew him, including his murderer, Sheriff Pat Garrett.

But there was once a different side to the famous gunfighter, a softer more artistic side that seems at odds with Billy’s reputation for shooting, killing, and robbing. Born Henry McCarty, he was also known by the names Henry Antrim, Kid Antrim, and William H. Bonney. He didn’t shoot twenty-one men, as has been claimed. Four is a more likely number, three in self-defense. In Before Billy the Kid, author Melody Groves explores the early life of the infamous outlaw, the teenage boy who loved to sing and dance. The young man who was polite, educated, and popular. A boy who had the bad luck to be orphaned at fifteen and left with no one to guide him through life. How different history might have been if Billy had pursued his love of music instead of a life of crime. Copies of the books will be available to purchase during the event.

Melody was born and raised in Las Cruces, southern New Mexico, but spent a few years "growing up" on Guam and in the Philippines. A graduate of New Mexico State University (B.S. Education), she is also a graduate of the University of New Mexico (M.A. Education). Melody taught in Albuquerque until leaving the classroom to become a full-time freelance writer.

A deep love of anything cowboy and Old West creates a fertile playground for her imagination. After spending ten years with the New Mexico Gunfighters Association, she learned what it feels like going toe to toe with a revolver-wielding sheriff. Being both "good guy" and "bad guy" gives her a firsthand feel for what her western characters experience.

Melody is a contributing editor for Round Up magazine for Western Writers of America. She is also a contributing writer for "American Westward Expansion," a collegiate history encyclopedia. She also writes for Wild West, True West, New Mexico and other magazines.

When not writing, she's busy playing rhythm guitar with the Jammy Time Band.

David Caffey and Chasing the Santa Fe Ring

 

Chasing the Santa Fe Ring

During the Gilded Age, from about 1870 to 1900, great enterprises were built, fortunes were made, and opulent lives were lived. One of the features of the day was the appearance of “rings”—combinations of men who collaborated to use the powers of wealth and government for their own satisfaction and enrichment. The Tweed Ring in New York was the first to attain fame for its corruption, but the term was soon applied to cliques across the country. In the West, no alliance was more enduring or broad in its ambitions than the Santa Fe Ring in New Mexico. David L. Caffey set out to examine the who, what, why, and how of the Santa Fe Ring, producing a book, Chasing the Santa Fe Ring: Power and Privilege in Territorial New Mexico, which he will discuss through this illustrated lecture.

David Caffey

David L. Caffey grew up in Abilene, Texas, and became enthralled with New Mexico’s history in twelve summers on staff at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Colfax County. He later lived in New Mexico for thirty-three years, serving as Director of the Harwood Museum in Taos, and later in administration at San Juan College and Clovis Community College. His forthcoming book, When Cimarron Meant Wild: The Maxwell Land Grant Conflict in Colorado and New Mexico, will be published by the University of Oklahoma Press in spring, 2023. He and his wife now live in Lubbock, where they are watching a little girl grow up. 

Pat Smith - HOF Nominee

 

Oscar Adams - HOF Nominee

 

Bruce Rosenbaum

 

Bruce Rosenbaum has been dubbed the Steampunk Guru by the Wall Street Journal and Steampunk Evangelist by Wired Magazine. Bruce’s functional Steampunk artwork and design has been featured in the Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, Architectural Digest, CNN, NPR and featured on MTV, A&E, HGTV and Netflix. 

Bruce and his wife Melanie recently purchased an 1876 Victorian Church in Palmer MA to convert it into their home, gallery and workshop space. The Rosenbaum’s church conversion project – Steampunk Wonderland (episode 8) – is featured in the Netflix Original docuseries – Amazing Interiors. 

Currently – Bruce’s ‘Discover Steampunk’ Museum Exhibition is on a worldwide 5 year tour premiering at the Museum of Idaho.

Bruce’s company, ModVic, works with clients all across the world to take period, repurposed, personal and meaningful objects, and creatively infuse them with modern technology to transform the ordinary into incredible Steampunk functional art. The Steampunk art and design process celebrates history, while setting a path for a reimagined better future — telling the personal stories of individuals, organizations and places along the way.

He also now travels the country, not only educating others on how to do Steampunk design, but how repurposing and the ‘combination of opposites’ creative problem solving can help repurpose and transform our own lives with meaningful connections to the past, present and future.

About the Author: Marjean Purinton

 

About the Author - Lindy Bell

 A project ten years in the making, "Fully Involved" is Lindy Bell’s debut novel and avidly reflects her admiration and love of the fire service. Thoroughly researched, the quest for accuracy for the book led Lindy to participate in the Plano Citizens Fire Academy, attend classes and accompany firefighters on ride outs. With a retired fire chief and a current paramedic/firefighter in the family, Lindy has witnessed firsthand the dedication and humbleness of first responders which fueled the impetus to convey the importance of the legendary fire service brotherhood and create cancer awareness and

its growing effect on the fire service. 

A project ten years in the making, "Fully Involved" is Lindy Bell’s debut novel and avidly reflects her admiration and love of the fire service. Thoroughly researched, the quest for accuracy for the book led Lindy to participate in the Plano Citizens Fire Academy, attend classes and accompany firefighters on ride outs. With a retired fire chief and a current paramedic/firefighter in the family, Lindy has witnessed firsthand the dedication and humbleness of first responders which fueled the impetus to convey the importance of the legendary fire service brotherhood and create cancer awareness and its growing effect on the fire service. 

Lindy’s first book, Jane Austen Celebrates~Holidays & Occasions Regency Style, showcases Regency Era holidays and their impact on modern holiday celebration traditions. A member of the Jane Austen Society of North America and Friends of Jane Austen, Lindy has spoken to a variety of groups and taught Continuing and Adult Professional Education courses at Southern Methodist University (SMU).

A graduate of Hobbs High School and Abilene Christian University, Lindy currently lives in Plano, TX and works from home for a municipal government executive recruitment and training firm. As hobbies, Lindy enjoys volunteering with Plano Fire Rescue Associates, writing, reading an engaging novel, calligraphy, and cross stitching.
Lindy’s first book, Jane Austen Celebrates~Holidays & Occasions Regency Style, showcases Regency Era holidays and their impact on modern holiday celebration traditions. A member of the Jane Austen Society of North America and Friends of Jane Austen, Lindy has spoken to a variety of groups and taught Continuing and Adult Professional Education courses at Southern Methodist University (SMU).

A graduate of Hobbs High School and Abilene Christian University, Lindy currently lives in Plano, TX and works from home for a municipal government executive recruitment and training firm. As hobbies, Lindy enjoys volunteering with Plano Fire Rescue Associates, writing, reading an engaging novel, calligraphy, and cross stitching.

Fully Involved - Book Signing

 

Inductee: Tommy Charles Price

 

Born:  September 19, 1934

Birthplace:  Mattie Price Ranch, Tatum, NM

Parents: Alvin and Mattie Price

Spouse:  Peggy J. Sullins

Children:  Charley, Sid, and Sterling

Died: April 22, 2005

Tommy Charles Price was born in the family home North of Tatum, NM. Being a grandson to Tatum pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. Russ Anderson, and was a life-long Lea County rancher. He took great pride in his home and ranch being in the family for over 100 years. He and Peggy J. Sullins were married on November 16, 1954.

Tommy was a National Champion High School Bull Rider, a National Champion High School Calf Roper, and the All-Around Cowboy runner-up for the National High School Rodeo Association.  Tommy served numerous Lea County organizations throughout his life including President of the National High School Rodeo Association, the New Mexico High School Association, Tatum, NM school board, and the Liberty National Bank Board (now Western Commerce Bank).  He was also a member of the Lea County Electric Cooperative Board and the NM Livestock Association.

A successful lifetime rancher, Tommy ran about 5,000 head of yearlings and about 400 cows on owned and leased land around the Tatum area. From Crossroads to North of Hobbs and from Caprock to North of Bronco, at the height of his career. Tommy would eat, breathe and sleep cowboy-ing throughout his life. He was an artist at working any class of cattle quickly and efficiently. Tommy was considered by many to be one of the best draggers in New Mexico. He was not only known for wearing out flankers in the branding pen but his fun-loving personality and enthusiasm made the work fun for everyone. Tommy also loved anything related to the ranching lifestyle, like roping, sharing all his knowledge with anyone who wanted to learn. There were many people that grew up in town that never would have experience the lifestyle if it wasn’t for Tommy’s heart for the traditions and patience to teach. He had a soft spot for troubled youth and took in many young adults and kids over the years, teaching them how to rope, cowboy and work hard, so they could have a better chance in life. 

Tommy’s sentiment for Lea County’s Ranching Heritage and the role he and his family had in it was most prominent in his last brag: he spoke of how privileged he was to reach the end of his life on the original homestead, and with his bed in the same place, in the same bedroom, in the same house, that his granddaddy had.  

Inductee: Daniel C. Berry III

 

BORN

December 4, 1947

BIRTHPLACE

Lovington, NM

PARENTS

Dan and Wilma Berry

SPOUSE

Libby Berry

CHILDREN

Jessica Berry Hilton

Shaun

Jeff Hilton, Son-in-Law

Hannah, Luke and Dillon, grandchildren

Danny Berry was raised in Lea County by his parents, Dan and Wilma Berry on the family ranch west of Eunice.  Danny’s family moved to the Berry Ranch in 1932.  Growing up, he was the only child on the four to five ranches around his own, giving him experiences that made him the man he is today.  He Graduated from Eunice High School in 1966.  He was an active participant in LCJRA and AJRA as a youth.

While attending Sul Ross State University, Danny was on the rodeo team as a roper, and became president of the Sul Ross Rodeo Club.  He graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business.  Danny met his wife, Libby, at the many Wednesday night team ropings hosted by Libby’s dad, Giles Lee, on the Swamp Angel Ranch south of Lovington.  They were married in 1969.  An avid team roper, Danny won the Windy Ryon Team Roping in Fort Worth in 1979 and won the Lea County Team Roping Championship several times.  In 1982, Danny started competing in single steer roping.  He competed in the Invitational Steer Roper’s Association and won their year-end championship several times.  He went on to compete in the PRCA as a steer roper where he was the runner up for Rookie of the Year in 1985. Friends who steer roped with Danny say his horse JJ was one of the best.  They say you couldn’t ride JJ for anything else, but there was hardly a better horse to rope steers. 

Danny and his brother, Philip, bought the family ranch in 1977.  Danny now owns, operates, and lives at the Berry Ranch.  Besides raising Charolais and Hereford crossbred cattle, Danny has expanded into raising some straight bred Red Angus cattle.  He and Libby lease the Swamp Angel Ranch at Buckeye and are partners with Bill Sims in the B&S Partnership Ranch at Halfway.

Danny has served on the Lea County Fair Board including being Rodeo Chairman several years, as well as serving on the Lea County Road Advisory Board, and the Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame Board.  He served as an Adult Director for the Lea County Junior Rodeo Association.  He is a member of the New Mexico Cattle Grower’s Association and of Our Savior Lutheran Church.  In 2004, Danny was honored with the Young Rancher Award, now the Outstanding Rancher Award, for the Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame.  Danny feels ranching is his heritage and he is dedicated to conservation of the land.  He wants to see this good life continue with his family.

Silver Concho: Jim Davis

 

Outstanding Ranchers: Lynn and Katie Medlin

 

Working Cowboy: Mark Hicks

 

Megalomania

MEGALOMANIA

By Mary Lyle, Director of Education

The Megalodon has intrigued us for thousands of years, but the fascination with this ancient creature has increased in the past few years. It was featured in films like Shark Attack 3: Megalodon (2002) and The Meg (2018). Megalodon has also appeared in video games, comic books, and television shows. What accounts for the ancient shark’s popularity?

In 1988 The Discovery Channel created a series of programs entitled “Shark Week.” The idea was to stimulate public interest in shark conservation efforts. The documentary format featured on-camera experts who would explain the footage, dispelling misconceptions about sharks. Later on, however, the programs focused more on entertainment and less on science. In 2013 the network aired Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives, which turned out to be a fraud.

The Discovery Channel did include some disclaimers, but the emphasis was on sensation rather than the fact. There was a huge backlash and The Discovery Channel had to admit its part in perpetuating the fraud. The damage, however, was done. According to some sources, a large percentage of viewers of the program believed that they were watching a documentary with scientific content.

It reminds me of Orson Welles’ 1938 radio broadcast of War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells, which caused a panic.

Because many listeners did not hear the disclaimer at the beginning of the program, they did not realize that they were listening to a radio dramatization and not an actual news broadcast. As Christopher Klein writes, “Fear and anxiety had become a way of life in the 1930s, and it took little to rattle jittery Americans.” The listeners, who were accustomed to getting breaking news on the radio, were easily duped into believing that New Jersey had been attacked by Martians.

In much the same way, viewers, who were used to watching documentary programs on The Discovery Channel did not realize that much of the content, including the on-air “pseudo-experts” in Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives, was not real. There is a danger in mixing conjecture and dramatization with scientific content. Our exhibit contains a section that focuses on “Megalomania,” the cultural phenomenon. The exhibit features examples from popular culture —movies, magazines, books, jewelry, emblems, and motorcycle paraphernalia. Another section concentrates on “Megalodon Myths”— the urban myths that circulate, especially on the internet.

Megalodon: Largest Shark That Ever Lived was produced by the Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, with support from the National Science Foundation, and has a lot of factual material about this prehistoric creature. While the Museum is still closed to the public, we have been posting a lot of interesting information on our website and our YouTube channel, and on our Facebook page.

Klein, C. (2013, October 30). Inside "The War of the WORLDS" radio broadcast. Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://www.history.com/news/inside-the-war-of-the-worlds-broadcast

"Virtual" Classic Films

Black History Month

 

Valentine's Day

 

The Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame is excited to present the Santa and Friends Drive Through in the Museum parking lot on Saturday, December 5, from 5-8pm.  Come on out to the Museum to see lights, almost 50 inflatables, and live characters.  Santa has many friends so you never know who might show up.

You're invited to drop off your letter to Santa at the end of the drive through.  No postage needed since he'll be on site!  As an added treat, tune in to KNMJ 100.9 for a radio program designed specifically for this event.

Logistics:

The drive through line will queue up going clockwise around the circle of New Mexico Junior College.  You'll go up the hill on the South side of the Museum and the event will start in the Museum parking lot.  There will be signs, traffic controllers, and lead cars to make sure you're at the right spot.

Drive slow and pay attention to the car in front of you.

Santa and his friends will be leaving at 8pm, but you can still check out the lights and inflatables until 10pm.

Special thanks to NMJC, KNMJ, the Community Players of Hobbs, and the Museum volunteers.

Christmas Cancellations

 

The Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame is sad to announce that the annual Christmas Traditions from Around the World event will be canceled this year.  “We know it has become the kick-off event of the season for many people,” said Erin Anderson, Executive Director of the Museum, “but there’s no way we can have an event that normally sees more than 600 people through the door in one night.”  There are plans, however, for an outdoor drive-by event in December.  More details on that soon.

 

The Christmas Family Fun Day will also be canceled, but you can come out for the Second Saturday Take and Make on December 12 from 10am-1pm and take home some Christmas crafts.  “We always have such a great time during Family Fun Day,” explained Mary Lyle, the Director of Education.  “We wanted you to be able to take some of the fun home.”

 

The Museum is currently closed for renovations, which means no Christmas trees and no Bonnie Moran’s North Pole Village.  “This will be the first time in my 12 years here that we don’t set up Christmas inside the Museum,” stated Anderson.  “It’s always such a magical time, but between COVID-19 and the renovations we decided this was our best option.”  The annual viewing of The Polar Express is also canceled.

 

Be on the lookout for more information about the December events, the renovations, and more exciting news for 2021.  Follow the Museum on Facebook and at their website.

 

 

VM Chambers

 Sylvester “V.M.” Chambers

 

Born:  February 10, 1868

Birthplace:  McKinney, TX

Parents:  Jasper Newton and Sarah Eleanor Chambers

Spouse:  Mattie Posern

Children:  Mattie Field and Daisy Clayton

Died:  December 31, 1957

 

Sylvester Chambers, also known as “V.M.”, “Vester”, and “Fessor”; grew up in Texas during the time of the Open Range Days.  He worked breaking horses in the “Indian Territory” and as a cowboy on numerous trail drives and for the C Ranch on the Canadian River.  At the age of 22, V.M. decided to further his 2^nd grade education, eventually earning a college degree.  Making his way “out west” to the Llano Estacado, V.M used his education and ranch hand abilities to cowboy or teach at the various locations he stopped.

 

V.M. arrived at what is now Lea County in 1897.  He filed on several claims and taught school at Murphy’s Chapel, Midway, and Plainview.  He was affectionately called “Fessor” by his pupils and friends.  V.M. married Mattie Posern in 1913 and took three trips back and forth to Texas before moving his family to Lea County.  In 1920 he bought two sections of land, three miles north of Plainview.  Within a few years he bought more land and stopped teaching, stocking his land with sheep and cattle.  V.M. had great pride in continuing to develop better strains of sheep and cattle.  He often expressed himself on what he believed to be the wonderful future of Lea County, and the many opportunities which could be available for future generations.  He loved New Mexico and often remarked, “if we take care of the land, the land will take care of us.”  He was a member of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association and the New Mexico Wool Growers Association.

 

Although he spent most of his time ranching, he kept a life-long interest in promoting better educational opportunities for the youth of Lea County.  He was a promoter of the early day school bus for country children and encouraged and helped many students further their education.  V.M often said, “Opportunity may knock but once, and it is important to recognize when it’s knocking and respond.”

 

V.M. believed in the dignity of an individual and was always willing to lend a hand.  He was quick to perceive change in the social and economic environments and was able to adapt and succeed.  As he grew older, the hardships of his early life became humorous conversation for young listeners, told with his special sense of humor.  The latter part of his life were years of contentment.  The trip “out west” had been worthwhile and he had done his part to make it that way.