Union County NM Archives History - Books .....Full Text Of The Grenville New Mexico Story 1969
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Book Title: The Grenville New Mexico Story


The Grenville New Mexico Story.
by
F. Stanley

(LIMITED TO 400 COPIES)
December - 1969
P. 0. Box 107
Nazareth, Texas 79063


The Grenville Story.

If anyone in the whole country should know who Grenville, New Mexico, is named
for that man is Dr. Monroe of the Clayton Abstract Company in Clayton. A
scholar, historian and public speaker, he searched the courthouse records and
brought plats, abstracts, old files to the attention of the author. It was long
the contention that he town was named for an old settler but no one seemed to
know much about the settler. Dr. Monroe is definite that the name honors
Grenville M. Dodge, soldier, politician and promotor turned railroad man. He was
always referred to in the early days as "a small, ordinary man", but his
exploits make him out to be anything but small. He was five ft. eight and a half
inches tall, not really small, but bigger than Napoleon. He married Ruth Anne
Brown on May 29, 1854 in Salem, Mass. The following year he was in Chicago
discussing railroad matters. He really belonged to Nebraska, and was a pioneer.
His wife was from a banking family interested in spreading capital westward.
Before long Dodge found himself in the banking business. The depression of 1857
proved uncomfortable [sic] for Grenville. Despite financial troubles, he opened
a general store in Council Bluffs and sold groceries, books, caps, clothing,
liquors. He met a man named Abraham Lincoln, and the talk was of railroads.
Although Grenville bragged a lot he somehow managed to become colonel when Fort
Sumter brought the impending conflict into the open. After the war he gained
some reputation as an Indian Fighter. He kept up his political and railroad
connections. As a congressman he was also associated with the Union Pacific.
After the death of E. M. Hoxie (there is a community between Springer and Raton
named Hoxie) Grenville decided to turn his engineering and managerial skill to
completing the railroad dear to the heart of the ex-marshal. He pushed
construction of the Fort Worth & Denver. The last spike was driven two hundred
and eighty miles from Denver on March 14, 1888. Without going into particulars
suffice it to say this road after changes in names, titles, partnerships and the
like became part of the Burlington system. It's section from Clayton to the
Colorado line is historic. General Dodge received recognition in the town
Grenville.

    The fact that the plat for the town was not filed with the Department of the
Interior until July 19, 1888 is convincing enough that there was no oldtimer
around named Grenville for whom the town could be named. Railroad people gave
Grenville life. Here is how the report in the Department of the Interior reads:
"Grenville on the D. T. and F. W. in the W 1/2 Sec. 11 T. 27 North of Range ZIE
Territory of New Mexico being on public lands and over ten miles from any other
station on public lands filed with the Department of the Interior on July 10,
1888." Railroad advertising inducing homesteaders to file on the land was very
much like the promotion posters in and around the theatre district of New York
after World War I spelling out the benefits of Miami in Florida. There wasn't
one settler coming to Grenville that didn't think he was moving next door to
paradise. Sometimes you had no choice but to remain once you realized you were
even a bigger dreamer than the townsite promotors, and you were very broke
indeed. For a time the man with the lumber yard, the grocery store, the
furniture store, the hardware store, livery stable, blacksmith shop came out
ahead, but these depended on the harvest as did the farmer. Drought, bugs, hail,
sand, wind, rust, blight — so many things made it difficult to stay put.

So the store had to extend credit. With all your money gone it was impossible to
pack up and return home. Some did simply throw the chairs, beds, tables back
into wagons and head off somewhere else as if this were Grapes of Wrath country.
Some found steady employment during the winter months and used the other time
for planting, cultivating and harvesting if there was anything to harvest.
Finding water was also a drawback. The new town was close enough to Clayton for
supplies, Saturdays in the big town, for medical care, and education. Soon the
town had its own school but the boom failed to click. Perhaps too many towns
were starting. All along the right of way at certain intervals a town was
planted so that the area was beginning to know people rather than cattle,
jackrabbits, antelope, deer, coyotes, skunks, rattlers, and prairie dwellers.
The trek from Grenville to Des Moines, Capulin, Raton always seemed as long as
to Kansas City.

    During the early days Springer was the county seat. Later Raton was made the
county seat so that when Elisha H. Coigny was named postmaster of Grenville on
November 10, 1888, he was under the direction of the postmaster at Raton.
Meantime the little town joined hands with Clayton, Des Moines, Folsom to cut
away from Colfax county for the new Union county. Here again some difficulty was
experienced since Clayton and Folsom decided to put on the gloves and battle it
out for county seat honors. Clayton came out ahead and Grenville was much closer
to the new county seat than before. The post office was closed and a new
petition sent in for a postoffice in the new county. The post office opened
again on December 24, 1888 with the same postmaster the mail now coming in by
way of Clayton. There was little or no expansion during the years until 1916
when it was thought that black gold flowed underground and Grenville would boom
as an oil town. Boom it did, with an impact it has not known since. All roads
terminated in Grenville. So it seemed. There were the years of prosperity from
1916 to 1923. Tomorrow the well would come in. Every day they said that.
Everyday there was a certainty that tomorrow Grenville would be the oil center
of New Mexico. County officials at Clayton wrote to the Department of the
Interior for any and all papers relating to Grenville. Government officials
obliged and wished Grenville luck with its new boom. Property values rocketed
overnight. Before the boom you could practically name your own price for a lot
but now with oil ready to flow it would cost you plenty to live in Grenville.
Oddly enough with the influx of new townsmen no one brought along a printing
press. It is likely that no newspaper man wanted in until he saw the oil soaring
skywards. Curren at Folsom would have come to Grenville had he any vision of the
prosperity that would flow with the oil. The promotors failing to put the oil
where their mouth was convinced him that Clayton was the place for his
newspaper. He had many experiences with promotors at Kingston, Hillsboro, Lake
Valley, in Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico. He founded more newspapers than any
other person in the Land of Enchantment.

    "W. R. Gibson—being duly sworn in—says he is the chief engineer of the C.T.
& F.W. R. R. — on the regulations under Act of Congress approved March 3, 1875
granting to the railroads the right of way through public lands of the United
Stataes — surveyed twenty-nine acres (for the townsite of the town to be known
as Grenville.) He was sworn in before the justice of the peace and before James
M. Palmus, notary public, and Sidney Dillon, president of the D.T. & F.W. passed
on this April 23, 1888." (Court house papers) A section of the paper in Clayton
was devoted to Grenville and was in effect the GRENVILLE DEVELOPER. Readers
received this every week to learn about the various events taking place in and
about town. Fortunately the editor of the CLAYTON NEWS found a willing and able
correspondent to send in the news each week which proved beneficial to both the
townspeople and the historian or recorder of the town's early days.

    "Howard L. Meyers went to Trinidad last week. Mr. and Mrs. Beecher of the
Patterson community were in Grenville Monday. Mrs. N. C. Light has been very
sick the past week, but is better at this time. Last week the mail car driven by
Edward Oldham on the Sofia route caught fire and was completely destroyed. Two
mail sacks and their contents were lost. Mrs. Matthew Tait made a business trip
to Clayton last week. Frank Torres returned home Friday from military service in
France. He brought with him the gas mask used by him in battle. Mr. and Mrs. E.
U. Scott and Mr. G. W. Scott went to Clayton Monday. The bean cleaner in the new
warehouse in Grenville is now installed and ready for business. B. C. Froman, of
Patterson, who is doing the carpenter work on the Harry Goodall home is spending
the weekend at home. Url Harman, who has been employed at the Grenville garage,
for the past two years, left Thursday for Denver. He expects to take an
electrical course there. Mr. Harman is one of Grenville's best young men.
Charles Atchly, of Patterson, is now employed at the Grenville garage." (o.c.
Feb. 22, 1919)

    "A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Jones September 20. Miss Greason
(the school teacher) was absent from school Friday and Ruby Howell substituted
for her. The Snorty Gobbler Oil Company will give a bar-beque and a general good
time to all present at the derrick Thursday, September 9. Special excursions
will be run into Grenville. Mr. Cushion had his hand badly crushed Tuesday. Dr.
Mumey dressed the wound. (Dr. Mumey was a young man recently out of medical
school, and was so impressed with Grenville that he started plans for the
Grenville General Hospital. All seemed to be working nicely until failure to
obtain oil as well as crop failures disheartened so many people that they moved
to other parts. The doctor himself later moved to Denver where he became widely
known not only as a medical man but also as a collector of Americana, a
publisher and writer. He interested himself in Southwestern history and in the
Denver Westerners Posse serving as editor and in various other offices. His
hobbies proved so interesting that he often published some rare finds long out
of print. His works are collectors items and are known to historians all over
the nation. Although long gone from Grenville he never lost interest in the town
and in New Mexico. Had Grenville been fortunate enough to boom and prosper as an
oil town he many [sic] have come up with a large medical center. He still speaks
with affection for the town) Miss Rose Smith gave a box and pie supper at
Staunton school Friday evening. Proceeds amounted to forty dollars. Dr. Mummy
[sic] vaccinated seventy-four children at Grenville Monday and sixteen at
Prosperous Valley on Wednesday. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Carder. The
patrons of the Prosperous Valley School District met at the school house Friday
afternoon and gave the building a thorough cleaning which was much needed. There
will be a pie supper at the Prosperous Valley school house Friday, October 17,
the proceeds will go for articles for which there is no money. (The supper
brought in $89.71) Ed Huffine is installing a telephone switch board in the
Cogdill building, with Mrs. Myrtle Stoltz as central. George Huffine sold out
his interests here and is moving to Oregon. Mr. Ellis, formerly of Pasamonte, is
installing a feed mill and a garage in Grenville. August Henrick moved to
Umatilla, Florida, for his health. Mr. Allen died. He left one daughter, Mrs.
Kirk Howell. The Annual Boys & Girls Club Fair is to be held in Grenville school
house on October 22, 1919." (o.c.)

    "The Snorty Gobblers are drilling toward the center of the earth and have
finished using the twenty-four inch casing, being now ready to make an eighteen
inch hole. The many friends of Mrs. Bert McGee will be pleased to know that she
has returned to her home in Prosperous Valley to convalese from a recent
operation which was performed by Dr. Mumey. The program at the Staunton school
house on Friday evening was well attended and much enjoyed by those present. A
one-act comedy entitled Mr. Box and Mr. Cox given by three of the school
children, Lynn Ryan, La Varr Smith, and Joe Goesling was a decided success, and
their teacher, Miss Rose Smith, is deserving of much credit. A literary society
was organized to meet on alternate Friday evenings, not to conflict with the
Prosperous Valley meetings. The following officers were elected: Mr. Cassion,
president; Mrs. Cudd, vice-president; Ota Smith, secretary. A cousin of Mr.
Cudd's is visiting him and helping him to get out his corn. The Christian
Meetings held at the school house by Misses Gerlach and Leighty are growing more
and more interesting each day, and will continue each evening throughout the
week. Dr. Mumey operated on Mrs. Fisher of the Fisher-Davis Music Company in
Clayton this week. Mr. Walter Stalder, our implement merchant, sold a wagon to a
farmer near Grenville at a figure thirty-five dollars less than he would have
had to pay in Clayton. Rev. Dawn conducted his regular service at the school
house Sunday morning. Mr. Lyons who lived eight miles from town is building a
home in Grenville. About twenty friends of little Maurine Nesbit helped her
celebrate her seventh birthday. Professor Charles McClure and Mrs. Charles
McClure went to Socorro where he is now superintendent of the high school and
she is principal. Mrs. Myrtle Stoltz sold a corner lot last week for five
hundred dollars. The purchaser hopes to put up a bank."  (o.c.)

    Mrs. E. T. Stone was one of Grenville's early citizens. She was Mamantha A.
Rogers, born in Hall county, Georgia, July 1, 1849. She married in November of
1871 moving to Texas. She had eight children. The family came to Grenville
shortly after the town was founded. She died there on December 13, 1919. Another
oldtimer was James Buchannan Smith and his wife the former Annis Rosetta Guess.
She was born at Atalla, Mississippi, July 27, 1858. She married on December 29,
1880. The Smiths had ten children. Later in life Mrs. Smith moved to Des Moines
where she died.

    "Vida Revis won a $350 piano given away by the CLAYTON NEWS. The
Fischer-Davis orchestra of Clayton furnished the music for the dance at
Grenville. Dr. and Mrs. Nolie Mumey are looking for a building for a hospital in
Grenville. The Staunton School and the Prosperous Valley school gave dances to
help raise funds for the new hospital. Grenville will have a Chautaqua from June
22 to June 26, 1920. A red letter day in the history of Grenville took place
July 5, when the Grenville citizens celebrated the nation's birthday.  It was
estimated that about 3,000 people were present. The program arranged for the
forenoon was late on account of the speakers not all being present, but was very
much engaged. The program consisted of addresses by Judge Toombs and H. H.
Errett of Clayton, Dr. Nolie Mumey of Grenville. Music by Mr. Clive of
Grenville, and a recitation by Roy Holtzelan. One very interesting feature was a
flag drill given by twelve girls who were drilled by Mrs. Elsie Myers. The
youngsters showed their patriotism in their efforts to do their part well. A
ball game with the honors going to Dedman (present Capulin) followed dinner,
then came the horseraces. The winning horse was Payroll, entered by Will Page of
Des Moines; second was Signa, entered by Dick Carson of Clayton; the third was
Baby, entered by Will Jones of Grenville. The raffle of the Overland Four,
Mystery Car, took place at midnight. E. C. Zickafoose of Grenville being the
lucky man. The committe conducting the raffle was composed of Mr. Cooper of
Sofia, Mrs. Roy Scarlott of Mt. Dora, Will Atchley of Patterson, Mr. Dunn of Des
Moines. Little Hazel Dodson drew the lucky number—2929—for Mr. Zickafoose. She
was the proud recipiant of a five dollar bill. The dance was very well attended,
the music was furnished by Mr. Cline, Mrs. Bushnell and Mr. Herztein. The
hospital association paid for their car and realized a neat profit besides." (o.c.)

    "There is such a general interest in this county of the affairs of the
Snorty Gobbler Oil and Gas Company that I (editor of the DES MOINES SWASTICA)
decided to inform readers since I was appointed receiver in early August. When I
(Frank Mangum) took charge I found that the company had sold $89,000 of stock
and that there was no money and a pressing indebtedness of around $16,000.
Indeed, there was a mortgage on the equipment and also five liens against it.
Furthermore, drilling had been suspended, and not only had the officers been
away from the company's premises for many months, but they were not spending any
money whatever. From January 1st of this year (1920) to July 1, these gentlemen
sold $33,000 of stock, of which amount $10,000 was for S. E. Lane personally —
stock that was voted to Mr. Lane as one of the organizers. Of the remaining
$23,000 the sum of $8500 was sent to the home office. The other was retained
either as commission or because the officers claimed the company owed them that
much money for cure drilling. To that end I sought to sell the company just as
it stood. Although I took up the matter personally with nearly all of the
leading oil companies and promoters of Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Colorado, I was
unable to interest a single party or concern. Finally I had one bid, which I
accepted, and those people were then unable to raise the money. Eventually, the
officers of the company returned from the East and made the proposition that
they would take over the company again with the court's permission, and pay all
the indebtedness. I accepted this, but they could not raise the money, later on,
they said they could set a drilling contract, and agreed to furnish that, and
also the sum of $2800 toward the payment of the indebtedness. I agreed to this
in writing on October 15; and it is the last I have head [sic] of the matter.
Then I made an offer to not less than fifteen companies that I would give them
the rig complete and all the leases free of debt, if they would only drill. Only
one company was interested, and it eventually turned down the proposition
because the geologist reported that Grenville territory was not an oil
structure. Mr. Don Vincon, vice-president, and Mr. L. L. Travis, secretary of
the company, have both stated to me that they can buy plenty of rigs complete
for less than six thousand dollars, and when they were figuring with me on
securing a drilling that is the valuation they placed on the Snorty Gobbler
outfit. Only this week in Clayton in the presence of several witnesses Mr.
Travis stated that any price above six thousand was a might good price. I
accepted every proposition ever made me by the former officials but they were
unable to live up to a single one — for reasons that they could not raise the
money. As a matter of fact the wildcat oil game is at a very low ebb, and nobody
knows that any better than the former officails of the Snorty Gobbler. Stock
selling is well night impossible after it became apparent to both men and to
Judge Lieb that it was seemingly impossible to sell the company, or even give it
away, for a drilling we had to offer the rig. That came from M. A. S. Palmer, of
Clayton, representing some Illinois speculators who are going to drill six miles
from Pasamonte. At the time they could have bought the rig for $6000, but they
had to have one speedily because they plan to drill not later than January 1st,
and for this reason I was able to get as much as $9000 out of them. This sale
was approved by Judge Lieb after giving it due consideration. The sale was
ordered three weeks after the former officials of the Snorty Gobbler had made me
an indefinite proposition and after they had left the state, for their
whereabouts was unkonwn to me, and without saying anything else in the matter.
The good people of Grenville have been so enthusiastic that the trend of events
has keenly disappointed them, and I feel that it is owing to them that they
should know the real facts. I think, too, that oil was never struck in the
Snorty Gobbler well. If any oil came out of that well it was poured in—and I can
prove it. I think also that they should remember that the company was
capitalized for $100,000 and nine-tenths of the stock was sold and only a depth
of 568 feet was reached, and then the company was in debt for $16,000. However
Grenville is a plucky community and the failure of the Snorty Gobbler will not
retard the development of a town so progressive and so determined. There is
going to be at least one more drilling in Union county, and if oil is brought
in, it will benefit Grenville just as much as any other part of the county." (o.c.)

    With any hope for oil fading as time went on Grenville settled back to the
purpose for which it was founded—ranching, farming, live stock raising, grazing,
community living as citizens of a town that refused to die when the boom leveled
off and "the get rich quick" were separated from the "roll up you sleeves and
work" group. Routine notices were sent to the Clayton paper. "Receipts were full
at the pie counter supper held at the Grenville school house Thursday night
October 18 for the benefit of the athletic association. Attendance was not what
was expected but the pies sold exceptionally well, the highest price being paid
for one pie being $6.75. Funeral services for Mrs. Rod D. Brown, who was
accidently shot while asleep in her home here, were held Wednesday afternoon
from the family residence. Mr. and Mrs. A. Rose, of El Dorado, Kansas, parents
of Mrs. Brown, came to Grenville for the funeral which was attended by many
other relatives of both Mr. and Mrs. Brown and a host of friends. Interment was
made in the Grenville cemetery. Next Saturday the Grenville football team will
play Solano at Grenville. Grenville defeated Solano earlier in the season by a
score of 51-0. Boise City tied Grenville in the first game of the season by a
score of 6-6. (When the Solano game was played Grenville came out with a 71-0.
The Strange Brothers accounted for ten of the touchdowns. Weber, the fullback,
also made a touchdown.) In the next game Raton beat Grenville by a score of
20-0. The Grenville team was composed of H. Strange, Weber, Atchley, Raught,
Jordan, Adams, Thorn, Longford, and Strange." (o.c. Oct. 22, 1928) Later
Grenville lost to Tucumcari and to Dalhart. Grade school teachers in Grenville
at this time were Margaret Davis and Elsie Myers (or Meyers).

    Students making the honor roll in 1929 were Seniors Carey Strange, Ruby
Schrish, Hattie Johnson, Lucille Earp, Myrtle Allen; Juniors Lorene Douglas,
Evelyn Douglas, Roy Leverett; Sophomores Frederick McKelvey, Carl Clement, James
Carder; Freshmen Luz Martinez, Frank Smith, Edward Weber. Several denominations
built churches although most ministers came from Folsom and Clayton on Sundays.
Catholics had services during the week, on a Wednesday or a Saturday for no
pastor was ever stationed in the Catholic church at Grenville. Most of what is
recorded of Grenville's history today comes from the town's own historian Mrs.
W. J. Sink who sent news to Raton, Clayton and any paper wishing to accept it.
Glimpses of Grenville's more modern history are available to us because of her
diligence. "Fifteen people turned out for church services at the Methodist
Church. The roads were icey and there were five inches of snow on the ground. It
snowed all day Thursday and Friday with six inches on the ground, and no school.
George Belcheff celebrated his 81st birthday Sunday. His children had planned to
see him but owing to the snow and bad roads they could not come. Mitzey and
Leslie Turpin gave a slumberless party after school Thursday. Migon Sink, Ann
Profitt, Virginia Pruitt and Miss Fager enjoyed keeping each other awake until
the wee hours of the morning. We were sorry to head [sic] Mrs. Jim Drake lost a
brother and sister the last week in January. While Rev. and Mrs. Drake lived in
Grenville Rev. Drake lost his father and brother, Mrs. Drake lost her mother.
These two deaths make five of their family taken in the last six years. Rev.
Drake is pastor of the Methodist church in Springer. Tuesday the WSCS women gave
a tea in celebration of the twenty-five years of the organization. Five churches
were united into one church. The Missionary societies were reorganized in May
1939. Mrs. Heckert gave the history of the work from the time the plans were
made and the success of the organization since. Eight members were present. The
Grenville WSCS women gave a birthday party for the pastor's wife, Mrs. Heckert
Tuesday afternoon. Marie Colyer was hostess to the Extension Club at the Frieze
ranch Thursday. Six members were present. Mrs. Frieze, Mrs. Colyer, Mrs. Hall,
Mrs. Turpin, Mrs. Haisten, Mrs. Irvin and the leader, Mrs. Crites. Mrs. Talma
At-wood, Vera Hall, Lily Mae Mahannah, Fern Weese, Ella Frieze, Sylvia Steele
and Clyta Wiseman set on the election board at Grenville Tuesday. Fifty-three
people voted. Many folks from Grenville attended the funeral of Mrs. Lora Colyer
held at the Kilburn Funeral Parlor in Clayton. Mr. and Mrs. Stalder, with the
help of friends and neighbors, prepared a supper for the Colyer family and their
friends Wednesday night in the Stalder and Weber apartments. The 4-H Club met in
the Haisten home Monday evening. All club members were present including the
Vaughn, Thigpen, Colyer, Haiste nand Turpin families. Grandma Worley passed away
in Oregon this past week. Burial was held Saturday at the Grenville Cemetery by
the side of her husband and daughter. Mrs. Sink is collecting donations for
repair work to be done at the Grenville Cemetery. The Memorial Day service at
the Grenville schoolhouse Sunday was well attended. A pot-luck dinner was served
after the service. Some of the women of the Sofia community met at the home of
Mrs. Etha Atchley Thursday afternoon to visit and play various games. Those
present were Mrs. Thelma Dimitroff, Mrs. Linda Biffle, her daughter Mrs. Gene
Atchley, with her daughters Dirga, Janelle, Le Ann, Mrs. Clara Belcheff, Mrs.
Carl Hart and daughter of Dallas, Texas, Atchley and daughter of Albuquerque,
Mrs. Jim Dixon and boys of Santa Fe. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Steele of Yakima,
Washington, visited Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Sink Thursday afternoon. Mr. Steele's
parents left Grenville in 1929, and this is his first trip back to Grenville for
Ray. Funeral services for R. L. Thomas were held in the Grenville school Sunday
afternoon. Rev. Jim Drake of Springer, and Rev. Dan Heckert, home pastor, were
in charge of the services. Nancy Haisten is home for the Easter vacation. She
has been in Tucumcari doing practice teaching, as a student teacher for some
time. Mr. and Mrs. Larry Wingo are living in Des Moines now. He is working at
the filling station, and they have their trailer in Shorty Hurson's trailer
park. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Campbell moved into the Maulsby home. The board members
of the Grenville Methodist church met with Des Moines board members Friday.
Pastor Rev. Dan Heckert left for the annual conference in Las Cruces. Roscoe
Vaughn passed away on December 8 after suffering a second heart attack. He was
buried in the Grenville cemetery next to his wife. Mr. and Mrs. John Daniels of
Guthrie, Okla., visited with Mrs. Sink Sunday afternoon seeking information
about the cemetery. The Daniels family lives in Grenville years before moving to
Oklahoma. Friends of Pavela Colyer honored her Saturday evening at the home of
Ella Frieze on her birthday. The group held a picnic in the back yard. When the
part was in full swing they all surprised Ella Frieze with a large birthday cake
decorated with candles and various decorations. A night of surprises for both
honorees. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher Owens and daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Welch and grandchildren, great grand children, nieces and nephews and
their families all gathered at the Grenville school house for a big family
runion. Fletcher is the son of the Rev. D. Q. Owen, former pastor in Grenville
from 1924-1928. Mrs. Clyde Haisten is taking care of the postoffice this week
while Mr. and Mrs. Vince Steele are vacationing. The Legion Auxiliary met with
Mrs. Frieze on Thursday afternoon. Five members were present and one guest, Mrs.
Sink. Ronnie, Lonnie, Barbara and Viola Wiseman were also present. Nancy Haisten
graduated from college. She will leave for Moriarty soon where she is employed
as teacher. The Morgan family held their annual 4th of July get-together at the
old Morgan homestead over the weekend. Among those dropping in to visit and
recall old times Sunday afternoon were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Thomas, Mrs. Minnie
Boyd, Mr. and Mrs. Mae Mobley, Jay Bass, Ella Frieze, Steve Frieze. Alfred
Padilla of Ohio, former Grenville resident, visited at the Erwin ranch
Wednesday. Bill Wiseman married Mary Lynn Mahannah. Rev. and Mrs. Marcus Barnett
and three children drove to McCallister, Oklahoma, to spend the Christmas
vacation with his parents. Mr. George Larkin passed away in the Raton hospital.
The Repubican Women's Club met in the Raton hos- [sic]  Mrs .Ella Frieze Friday
afternoon. The American Legion boys gave a dance in Grenville Saturday night.
The Auxiliary women served the lunch. Marie and Pavela Colyer have been staying
in town for a few days because of the high water. The lakes have run together
out that way. Bill Sink celebrated his 84th birthday this week. Esther Miller,
former resident of Grenville, visited old friends. The Fourth of July was
celebrated in Grenville with a picnic supper, campfire and fireworks on the
corner where the drugstore used to be. Approximately forty persons were present.
Mr. and Mrs. C. Hibler and children spent the weekend with her parents at the
Irwin ranch.

    Bob Fulkerson married Lorraine Dimitroff. Mrs. Beverly Atchley gave a party
recently in honor of George Vaughn, their mail carrier for some time. All the
Sofia Valley folk sattended. George will leave soon to serve in the armed
forces. Guy Elam died. On Monday afternoon, July 25, Mrs. Beverly Atchley gave a
birthday party in her home honoring her mother Mrs. Harold Sebring. Dir-ga,
Janell and Lee Ann helped make it a complete surprise for their grandmother. A
sister-in-law, Mrs. Nell Jaunke of Junction City, Kansas, was present with old
friends and neighbors of Sofia Valley. Mrs. George Belcheff, Mrs. Mary Montoya,
Mrs. Rodney Rae Dimitroff, Mrs. Etha Atchley and the hostess. The Missess Maxine
Montoya, Lee Ann Atchley, Brenda Dimitroff assisted with the gifts. Mr. and Mrs.
George Chatfield and two children drove up from Lubbock, Texas, to spend the
weekend with her sister, Leona Lockhart, and other relatives. She will be
remembered as Phyllis Lockhart. The Chatfields have been living in New Hampshire
several years. The WSCS sponsored a baby shower for little Roger Douglas Sink,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Levon Sink, at the home of Mrs. C. B. Irwin, on April 22.
There were twenty-two ladies present, some coming from Eaton, Calyton and Sofia.
Mrs. C. L. Atwood was pleasantly surprised and honored on her birthday Wednesday
when a group of Grenville friends gathered at the home of Mrs. George Hall to
celebrate the occasion. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Wilkins, Sr., and Miss Gertrude
Spencer of Raton were visiting old friends and neighbors in Grenville Sunday.
The Wilkins managed a lumber yard in Grenville before moving to Raton. Miss
Spencer taught in the Grenville schools for twenty-three years, and has many
friends here."

    While a town as close knit as Grenville was proud of its school and churches
very little was ever in the news about either. How many high school graduates
attended Des Moines and how many elsewhere is not readily found. Nor is there a
list of the teachers through the years. Such items would definitely enhance the
permanent record of the town's history and heritage. A Grenville Hall of Fame
can only be made available to future historians if pictures of graduations and
such events were made public. No one passes the town which is to the left of the
driver as he comes from Clayton to Raton, without wondering how the town got
there, about its churches, schools, activities. It is rather isolated there in
the strong New Mexico sunshine, a part of the scene yet aloof. There is much of
New Mexico about it, and also something of towns out of the state as if some
residents who homesteaded here wanted to keep the customs and homes they left.
So there is the admixture of adobe and non-adobe. The grain elevator is a
landmark. Grenville has a population not exceeding two hundred and fifty and
everyone of the residents knows about the good fishing at Wetherly Dam some ten
miles west of town. Cow Mountain, about half that distance from town, has the
Grenville Caves which is a place to visit. The second cave is about a half mile
long and more interesting than the first. Unquestionably these caves are the
result of the lava flow from Mt. Capulin when it was an active volcano many
hundreds of years ago. Some people think that Mt. Dora about eight miles, from
Grenville is a little larger town. This is hard to prove possibly because the
Grenville homes are clustered close together. Grenville is a little off the
highway which is unusual. Capulin and Des Moines are directly on the highway
which is surprising. Capulin and Des Moines however have fared no better in
growth. The railroad helps as a shipping point for ranch and farm products. It
is not conducive for passenger service since trains and buses are not that
frequent. One is certainly better off traveling to Clayton or Raton by car. The
people are industrious and realize that as the children are educated and marry
they must move to other towns for employment unless they want to work in the
fields or as ranch hands. With new horizons in engineering, chemistry,
electronics, medicine and teaching most of the graduates live where their work
takes them usually coming home for family reunions, Mother's Day, Father's Day,
Christmas, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and such days if the distance is not too
far. This is indeed possible if they live in Clayton, Raton, Springer, Des
Moines. Visits are not as frequent if they live in Albuquerque, Socorro, Santa
Fe or out of state. Meantime they keep up with the town through the news as Mrs.
Sink reports it and through letters. Seeing things happening through the eyes of
Mrs. Sink they keep up with events as if they never left. "Mrs. Gorge Belcheff
and Mrs. Mary Montoya, among several others from the Sofia community, attended
the funeral for Emma Peal Boyett Farr in Clayton, Saturday, May 1, (1965). The
Boyettes lived in both Sofia and Grenville years ago. Mrs. W. J. Sink was
dismissed from the Clayton hospital Tuesday morning but is in bed most of the
time with her back injury. She is slowly getting better each day. Jerry Hall was
up from Amarillo on vacation. He and his mother, Vera Hall, went to Albuquerque
for a couple of days to visit relatives. Claude Turpin was thrown from a horse
Saturday, injuring his hip slightly. The chiropractor straightened him out and
he is back at work again. Mrs. C. B. Irwin visited her son Jim and family in
Clayton. Mr. and Mrs. Levon Sink and children visited his parents Thursday
afternoon. The Haistens, Turpins, Vaughns and Mrs. Irwin attended the donkey
ball game in Des Moines. Robert Sink came up from Las Vegas Friday night so he
and family could attend his sister's wedding in Raton Saturday night. Gwendolyn
Sink is now Mrs. Wingo of Raton. Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Irwin drove to Las Cruces to
spend Mother's Day weekend with their only daughter, Delia Bell Hibler, and
family. Jack Wiseman was thrown from a horse last week. Tuesday afternoon, our
WSCS Ladies met in the home of Hazel Jones. We had a nice meeting with eleven
members present, even though it was foggy and wet. Mrs. Atchley has been nearly
down with a bad cold for several days. N. T. Biddle is in the hospital in
Clayton, suffering from a back ailment. Hattie has been staying part time with
her sister Vera Johnson. Vera Hall was surprised Tuesday evening when a group of
friends went in with a load of birthday gifts. Grandma Elam is visiting her son
Olen and family, also her daughter Dora Wiseman, and family. She will be driving
back to Taos in a few days. Mr. and Mrs. Kike Taylor drove in from Enid,
Oklahoma, Friday to spend the week end with his sister Mrs. W. J. Sink and
family. They all attended the graduation program of the Des Moines high school.
Robert Sink and family enjoyed a nice supper with his aunt Ella Frieze Thursday
evening. S. D. Mayfield helped W. J. Sink feed early Saturday morning. Mrs. C.
B. Irwin and Mrs. Homer Jacobs attended commencement in Des Moines. Raymond
Wiseman was setting up some markers at some graves in Grenville Cemetery this
last week. These are of his own making, but nice. Paul Ray Vaughn was in the
hospital a few days suffering from a foot injury. He was practicing high jump at
school. He will be wearing a cast for a while. Our new pastor, Rev. Kline, gave
his first sermon for us last Sunday. Everyone seemed to like him and his family.
He has had a wide experience as an Army Chaplain. Mrs. Elizabeth Gard of Clayton
visited Ella Frieze Wednesday. Homer Jacobs delivered a trailer house to
Amarillo on Thursday. Miss Dixie Anthony of Exeter, California, a niece of Mrs.
Robert Colyer, visited several days last week in the Colyer homes. As Dixie
returned home, Marie Colyer accompanied her as far as Albuquerque and visited
Rev. and Mrs. Green a few days, returning home Saturday. J. C. Irwin made a fast
trip to El Paso Wednesday night. He ate lunch with and visited his sister and
family, Dr. and Mrs. C. P. Hibler on Thursday, returning home Friday. Ronnie
Jacobs entertained his mother in honor of Mother's Day on Saturday evening. He
took her to dinner in Raton. The Grenville community will have a work day at the
cemetery on May 17. We hope everybody will turn out and bring their lunch. There
won't be any lunch at the school house as in previous years. Mr. and Mrs. Jack
Pagett and family spent Mother's Day with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond
Wiseman. Coke Wiseman and family from Clayton came to Raymond's Sunday
afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Levon Sink were in Raton Friday; She went to see the
doctor. As they came home they visited Levon's sister, Mrs. Ella Frieze. Mr. and
Mrs. Jim Drake left immediately after church services Sunday to attend the
Annual Conference at Alamogordo. Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Haisten, Reba, Ella Frieze
and Lora Irwin attended Bacalaureate services Sunday in the Methodist church at
Des Moines. Max Atwood of Wichita, Kansas, spent Mother's Day weekend with his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Atwood. Jerry Hall is moving from Oklahoma City to
Amarillo. He spent the weekend with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Hall. S. D.
Mayfield has moved from Denver to Grenville. Mr. and Mrs. Tovey Smith of Des
Moines spent Mother's Day with their daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Don Lujan on Bivens,
Texas. On the way home they stopped to visit the Jacobs at the Stalder Hall.
They enjoyed being shown through hall and apartments since they have been so
beautifully redecorated and furnished. The Smiths were in business in Grenville
for many years." (For a complete rundown on Grenville news through the years see
the Clayton, Roy and Raton papers. These are given to acquaint you with names,
people and events of recent vintage in Grenville.) Many native New Mexicans
called Grenville home. They were of Spanish descent for the most part and were
closely associated with church and school. They followed the general custom of
primicias and the annual fiesta on the fiesta of the patron of the church. They
are a friendly people and are always ready and anxious to have you as guest in
their adobe homes. They make fine tortillas and other Spanish dishes. The
pattern of life is free and easy going despite concern over market prices,
droughts, wind storms and insects. During the winter and spring snow and ice can
make road quite hazardous. There are times when school closes down due to
weather conditions. Late March and early April are times when a sudden snow
storm can move in with pent up fury so as to isolate communities like Capulin,
Des Moines, Grenville, Mt. Dora. The wind is sharp, biting and severe. People
have been known to freeze to death in this area at such times especially if they
are stranded in the fields. If you have ever experienced such a storm you will
never forget it. Driving at twenty-five miles an hour seems dangerous due to the
ice. The next day the sun dispels all vestages of the storm, and you wonder if
it really happened. With new cars and better pavement Grenville people do not
mind driving to Raton to visit doctors or buy groceries and furniture. Clayton
is closer but perhaps does not have as many stores as Raton. Whether Grenville
will ever boom again is anybody's guess but it will be around for a while.
Churches and school, garages, grocery store, post office, welding shop and the
like will continue to function. The rest is in the hands of God.



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