Springer News-Bulletin from Springer, New Mexico • Page 5

HISTORY ten (Zmtrarrott Nona Cimarron. Mexico A Supplement of Springer News Bulletin vol. 6, No. 3 honej 505-483-5919 P.O. Box 396, Springer, N.M.

87747 July 8 1988 SANTA FE TRAIL INN OPENS TRAIL CHAPTER ORGANIZED FOR CUTOFF Gunman Clay Allison was CIMARRON The newest addition to the Cimarron business community is the Santa Fe Trail Inn, owned and operated by Henny and Donn Davies.hotel manager John Me CLAYTON An organization made up of chamber e4 fre ient 9 uests of Commerce and histor- at the National Hotel as he courted and later married the daughter of The Santa Fe Trail Inn is located on the old town plaza of Cimarron. The famous old structure has figures in more than 140 years of Southwest history. Through the late 1800s it was popularly known as the National Hotel, but its origins date back to the 1840s, when the caravans and pack strings of Missouri traders on their way to Santa Fe were frequent sights in the town plaza. The creaking of plains-dry wagon wheels mingled with the Cullough. Near the turn of the century an influx of gold seeks century and influx of gold seekers into the Moreno Valley brought need of public transportation and H.H.

Hankins, owner of the Moreno Valley Stage and Freight Company leased the National Hotel as a welcome stop for passengers on the rugged and dusty ride from the train depot in Springer to the gold regions. Early in the twentieth century, while Cimarron was a prosperous ical society representatives in Union Courtty, N.M., Cimarron County, Morton County, and Baca County, and other interested residents of the four-state area, has been officially designated as the Cimarron Cutoff Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association. Action on the part of the association was taken during its annual meeting on June the chapter, reports this group received the honor of bieng the first to be accorded recognition as a Santa Fe Trail chapter. A group of Santa Fe enthusiasts in Amarillo, were also awarded association chapter status at the Ft. Lamed convention.

The purpose of the Cimarron Cutoff Chapter is to emphasize the im- with the Santa Fe Trail and other historic sites. It was the decision of the association to encourage the formation of other trail chapters and that the association's major task of locating important trail points and where possible to have interpretive signs installed. Union County's representatives include Diana L. Callis for the portance of the route which passes through the Clayton-Union County four adjoining counties Chamber of Commerce in the four states. The and D.

Ray Blakeley 2, at the Santa Fe Trail chapter work will or the Union County -mi- so be to encourage de- Historical Society, velopment of the tour- Blakeley is serving as ist industry in the secretary-treasurer region in connection for the chapter. Center at Ft. Lamed, Kan. David Hutchison of Mexhoma, president of ding of oxen and the ungentle shouts of mule- little town boasting teers as these caravans two railroads, banks rolled by, virtually theaters, past the front door. field, The Maxwell Land Grant phone services, the and Railway Company, which controlled nearly two million acres of northern New Mexico and southern Colorad, ac- auired the original adobe structure, renovating and enlarging it into a refined home.

It served in 1371 as home to Henry Tinson, the WATROUS HAD FASTEST WAGON TRAIN baseball and water and ervices, National Hotel was owned as a private residence, first by Fred Whitney and then by Stuart Webster, both prominent developers in the growing community. A United States Vice- president and Army generals were among the celebrity guests of CS WATROUS, N.M. The ox-wagon train of the firm of Watrous and Tipton consisted of 20 large wagons or prairie schooners, each drawn by six yoke of oxen. Two heavy canvas sheets with enough inch rope to secure them, six yokes and bows, and five log or cable chains sonstituted the rigging of each wagon. there were very few brown, black or white ones, the predominant colors were dark and light red, red and white spotted and roan.

It was the best because Watrous gave the cattle the best care. It was his custom to ride his horse beside the train for back to camp. Under these conditions, the cattle were Joseph Bowman Watrous, about a third of L-W Jf Company's English secre- Ranch owner Ed Springer, Tinson called his home the Java House after the ship that had brought him from England, but wild Cimarron was a far cry from the civility of London as the Tinson family soon found. Lawless elements were commonplace and when highway Bandits made Tinson a target, armed men were called to guard the home. The National Hotel was established after departure and was popular for many years for its quiet and informal atmosphere.

who married Marie Web ster following Stuart's death. Today, nonn and Henny Davies own and operate their historic home as the Santa Fe Trail Inn. son of Samuel B. Watrous, was in charge of the freighting operation and boasted of being the "fastest ox- train on the Santa Fe Trail." The Watrous and Tip- Retaining the quiet com- ton freight wagons op- fort and western ele- erated across the gance of the past, this plains between what is beautiful blue and white now Watrous, New Mex- and Kansas City. adobe home with its ample guest houses provides lodgers with relaxed and personal accommodations Call for reservations, 505-376-2916.

Prices are reasonabJ and ac- ico and Kansas It was said to be the best, prettiest and fastest ox train on that route, which was essentially the Santa Fe Trail. It was the prettiest because among conmodtttions spacious, the 240 head of oxen the distance between camping places, noting the condition of the cattle as they traveled. Then, he would ride ahead to look for the best water grass near which to make camp. The oxen were all unyoked as soon as the wagons were circled in their camping place. The oxen were driven to water and then grass They were allowed to fill and rest.

Then they were grazed again before being taken Church at built around 1880. Courtesy Museum ol New Mexico content, rested, not hungry and were better able to do their jobs. Watrous knew his oxen and did not permit a lazy animal to remain with the wagon train. They were taken to the Watrous and Tipton ranch in La Cinta.