“Spirits of New Mexico’s Past”—Halloween Event
Saturday, October 24, 2020
Time: 5:00pm–9:00pm
Adult Admission: $8
Seniors (62+), teens (13–18): $6
12 and under: FREE!
Meet the ghosts of history who lived and died in the land of enchantment! Step back in time and encounter a diverse assortment of characters from New Mexico’s illustrious and often little known past. Listen to their amazing stories and experience intriguing bygone events. Lit by lantern light and campfires, our wondrous historic site takes on a family-friendly but spooky Halloween atmosphere.
We have a fun spooky night planned for you and all the roaming Spirits of New Mexico’s Past!
Traditional New Mexico Folk Music at the door and throughout the evening by Julian Prada
5:00–9:00
Spooky medallion tin stamping with LG volunteers
Face painting by Lisa Cisneros
Curandera Veronica Iglesias
Visit the Spirits of NM’s Past: Marion Sloan Russell, Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, Vicente Silva, William Llewellyn & Manuel Baca!
5:00–9:00
Marion Sloan Russell—Even though she was born in the midwest, her heart always resided in New Mexico, and mostly her beloved Santa Fe. She traveled the Santa Fe Trail five times, always with her mother and sometimes with her brother. She grew up in Santa Fe and met her future husband at Fort Union. After her husband mustered out of the Army, they owned a general store in Tecolote, just south of Las Vegas. Their partner absconded with much of the money and Marion and her husband decided to pursue his dream of being a cattle rancher. Instead of going to the San Luis Valley, they settled in Stonewall, Colorado. Marion had nine children with her husband over the years. A few years later, her husband was killed in the Maxwell Land Grant dispute. Marion had many thoughts and ideas about what she saw and the people she met over the years: many, many Natives, Colonel Carson, Bishop Lamy and many others who are not famously known.
Billy the Kid was born William Henry McCarty Jr. on November 23, 1859, in New York City. Little is known of his youth, but early on he entered a life of thievery, eventually heading west and joining a violent gang. Billy was captured and sentenced to death for the murder of a sheriff, but escaped after killing guards. The legend of Billy the Kid was created by his killer, Sheriff Pat Garrett.
Pat Garrett was born in Alabama in 1860 and headed West at an early age as a hunter, adventurer, rancher and lawman. He was a sheriff (noted for killing Billy the Kid at Fort Sumner, NM) and subsequently a US Marshal and Customs Agent appointed by Teddy Roosevelt. He was killed in 1908 on the road between his ranch and Las Cruces under circumstances still not fully understood.
Vicente Silva, known as the “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of New Mexico.” During the day Vicente was a respectable business man giving to the poor, church and elderly. At night Silva and his gang of 40’s activities would shock the devil himself. At times the citizens of Las Vegas, New Mexico would wake up with bodies strung along the community bridge. Silva, the “model citizen” of Las Vegas was not suspected. Yet people keep disappearing including Silva’s wife and brother in law.
William Llewellyn, Las Cruces (1851–1927). As a company commander of the famed Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War, he made a decision that changed the course of American history. He became a friend of his Rough Rider commander, President Theodore Roosevelt, and was a frequent White House visitor. An attorney, Llewellyn was frustrated he could not implicate the corrupt Albert Fall in the murder of Albert Fountain and his young son, since Fall became one of New Mexico’s first senators and under President Harding, became the first cabinet officer in U.S. history to be convicted and sent to prison. Llewellyn was also a legislative leader who helped achieve statehood for New Mexico.
Manuel Baca y Delgado, born around 1824, was from a well-to-do family and lived at Las Golondrinas! He was involved in the sheep and mercantile business and was an influential figure in Santa Fe. He served as a captain in the 2nd Regiment of the New Mexico Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, fighting at the Battle of Valverde in 1862. Later in life he was referred to as Don Manuel, a testament to his standing in the community.
Spooky Storytelling by Joe Hayes
Joe Hayes an award-winning author and nationally recognized teller of Southwestern tales from the Hispanic, Native American and Anglo cultures. His bilingual Spanish-English tellings have earned him a distinctive place among America’s storytellers. He has told stories in Spain and 8 Latin American countries. He has published over twenty-five children’s books, many in both English and Spanish. Joe has visited more than 3,000 schools and has been the resident storyteller at the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian in Santa Fe for 37 years. A whole generation of Southwestern children has grown up listening to his tales.
Joe’s books have received the Arizona Young Readers’ Award, two Land of Enchantment Book Awards, theSouthwest Book Award, and The National Storytelling Association Oracle Award. He won the Texas Bluebonnet Award for his bilingual book Ghost Fever.
For his storytelling he received the New Mexico Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and has been designated New Mexico Centennial Storyteller.
Lightning Boy Hoop Dancers (Lightning Boy Foundation)
Pablita’s Haunted Doll House, presented by Larry Marken
Hear the tale of La Llorona as told & performed by Brenda Marley
Food & Treats
Hot cocoa, cider, posole, green chile stew and s’mores kits available from YouthWorks!
Hard Cider & Local New Mexican Beer by New Mexico Hard Cider
Thanks to our proud sponsors:
