Southern New Mexico Travel and Tourism Information: Activities, Attractions, History, and Culture - Articles - Curry County

Clovis Community College (CCC), Cultural Arts Calendar: 2006-2007

no@spam.com (Stephanie Spencer) — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 23:17:20 PST

The Cultural Arts Series at Clovis Community College in Clovis, New Mexico begins its sixth year of “Bringing the World to You.” This year’s theme, “Connections” focuses on our desire to connect audiences with the arts through world class performances and important educational outreach.

Living in Clovis - from thunderstorm to snowstorm

no@spam.com (Mary Girsch-Bock) — Sat, 11 Jan 2003 23:42:37 PST

It’s my first night in Clovis, New Mexico, and there’s a storm brewing outside. How appropriate, since there’s one brewing in my head as well. My husband and my six-month old son and I have just arrived here, after driving from Las Vegas, Nevada. I’m tired, cranky, and already beginning to panic, even though we have been in this town less than three hours. But as the sun sets on this attractive, high-plains community of approximately 35,000, and the wind begins to blow, rustling the leaves on the old oak tree out front, I feel my spirits rise. In my mind there is no problem that a good storm, particularly a thunderstorm, can’t cure. And in Clovis, in the summer, thunderstorms can be a regular occurrence.

Melrose, St. Vrain, Grier, Portair, and Texico - all in Curry County along Route 60

no@spam.com (Phyllis Eileen Banks) — Mon, 30 Dec 2002 22:03:07 PST

Melrose, at 4,599 elevation and a population of 877, is a viable town, 18 miles east of Tolar. However, it was known as Brownhorn in 1882 because it was located between the Brown and Horn ranches. When repair shops were built for the Santa Fe Railroad, its officials named the town Melrose - supposedly after Melrose, Ohio. Ranching is the economic mainstay of this region, with its sprinkler farming and livestock grazing. Cannon Air Force Base, 21 miles to the east, uses the Melrose Bombing Range for practice bombing and strafing. St. Vrain is eight miles further along Route 60, and came into being in 1907. The community, though small, believes the town was named for the early guide and explorer Ceran St. Vrain. He was also a Colonel in the First New Mexico Volunteer Infantry. All that remains of Grier, five miles from St. Vrain, is a grain elevator and a few houses. Another of the farming communities that sprang up overnight when the railroad was being constructed, it had a post office from 1921 to 1956.

Bellview, Broadview, Grady, and Pleasant Hill - eastern New Mexico settlements

no@spam.com (Phyllis Eileen Banks) — Mon, 30 Dec 2002 21:50:47 PST

Though it has a small sign to indicate its location, Pleasant Hill no longer has a post office. Located on NM 77, only one mile from the Texas border in Curry County, it was organized in 1910. Originally it was a part of two ranches, the Brown and Shenault. Lee Barnes was fond of Pleasant Hill, Texas, and suggested that name at a meeting of local residents. During the early part of the 20th Century, this section of New Mexico was settled with hopeful homesteaders who sometimes paid only 10 cents an acre for land. Ranching is still the economic base.

Field, Floyd, Elida, Elkins, Kenna, and Ranchvale - settlements in a sparsely populated land

no@spam.com (Phyllis Eileen Banks) — Mon, 30 Dec 2002 21:05:18 PST

These six settlements lie within a 100 mile area, although few and far between. The Llano Estacado, the Staked Plains, beckoned many people to come west and homestead in the early years of the 20th century. Little remains of Field, created by the consolidation of three rural schools. Located at the junction of NM 288 and 224, it isn't even indicated on the most recent map of New Mexico. The post office existed until 1924, but the mail now goes to Melrose.

Clovis - city of the plains

no@spam.com (Phyllis Eileen Banks) — Sat, 21 Dec 2002 05:31:37 PST

The city's history goes back thousands of years earlier to the "Clovis Culture." In 1932, A. W. Anderson of Clovis first discovered evidence of human occupation about 11,000 years ago at the Blackwater Draw site. Now the Blackwater Draw Museum presents evidence of the remarkable "fluted" points (a New World invention) and other stone and bone weapons. They occur in association with extinct Pleistocene age megafauna such as mammoth, ancient bison, horse and large turtles. Recovered bones of these mastodon are also on display. A state museum, it is under the direction of Eastern New Mexico University at Portales and is located 12 miles southwest of Clovis on U. S. Highway 70.