Remembering an Mentor

The Military Mail Station at Shakespeare Ghost Town.

As I was pondering just what the heck to write about this week, I realized I had several topics to choose from. There was that fateful day I 1994 when I signed out of the U.S. Army for the very last time.  There was also the anniversary of the first train arriving in El Paso.  Then I realized, and I was saying a prayer for some new found luck, that there was one anniversary I just had to discuss, the loss of a great lady, and her legacy.

I had the great honor and privilege of knowing Janaloo Hill for over eight years.  Almost from the start, she took me under her wing and shared her knowledge of history and western lore, as much as would actually soak through my thick skull.  And it is thanks to her that I can claim to actually be a cowboy.  I may not be much of a hand, but I earned my spurs working the Lazy FH herd. 

It was April of 1997 (Alright, so I actually typed 1897 the first time around).  The great fire had just  destroyed her home and most of her personal processions, but there was Janaloo, despite the trauma and grief, giving the tours as if nothing had happened.  That was Janaloo.

Throughout the time that I knew her, Janaloo was always the Lady.   Even in work clothes, riding out to hunt down a sick cow, she remained that mythical creature so rarely seen these days.  I knew of only two things that would get her to curse.  It’d take a politician, or a stubborn, ornery cow to get Janaloo to mutter a single, solitary “Damn.”  She didn’t tolerate fools lightly, but she could bring out the best in everyone one around her.

I remember those last few days all too well.  In April she informed us that the Chemo wasn’t doing the job, and it was just a matter of time.  I packed up and headed to Lordsburg in early May.  The game plan was to find a job and a place for the new bride and I to live, before Janaloo got too bad.  As with any great plan, that went out the window as soon as I arrived.  Janaloo was bedridden.  So as Manny stayed at her side to care for his wife, I manned the gate to keep out the riff raff, and allow in the friends and nurses.   Come the 25^th, I headed back to El Paso for a dentist appointment and to pick up the Prairie Flower.  We returned to Shakespeare the afternoon of the 26^th to find Janaloo had taken a turn for the worse.  I did the evening chores and sat on the bunkhouse steps fretting and worrying.  Along about bedtime, the Prairie Flower and I lock up the town for the night, shut down the windmill, rotate dogs, and feed the cats.  We reported in to the main house as usual to report everything was secure for the night.  I’d no sooner sat down and fired up a cigarette when the exterior lights switched on.  Janaloo was gone; she had waited for the day’s chores to be completed before she left. That was back in 2005.

In the years since we lost the soul of Shakespeare, a lot of work has been done, mainly under the direction of her husband, Manny Hough, to keep Janaloo’s dreams and hopes alive.  2010 saw the Hill Family Museum/ Visitor Center built, and the Dance Studio refurbished and opened to the public.  Work has been done on both the General Merchandise and Stratford Hotel.  Manny and many others are still striving to preserve the ghost town of Shakespeare, and research her history.  In a small way, I’m doing what I can to help.  But we all still miss her very much.

 Until next time, take care, may God bless, and keep your powder dry!

Catching Up; Yet again

Deen and Ham Underwood at the dedication of the new General Bravo

 

marker

Well it's another Saturday morning, and as usual I seem to be behind the power curve. 
For those that have not heard, our own Deen Underwood had a fall last week end and broke her hip.  Right there and then the Doc's replaced her hip, and she's recovering as well as can be expected.  From last I heard, Deen will be recovering for several weeks before they start rehab.  Our prayers and thoughts are with her.  There was some good news to go along with this though.  A friend of the Underwoods made a $1000.00 donation to their efforts to place and replace markers at Concordia Cemetery.  With the arrangements the Underwoods have made with Sonny Zambrano, that means at least 5 additional markers that can be set.  I do find it ironic that the Underwoods have done more to replace missing or destroyed markers at the cemetery than the Concordia Heritage Association in the past year.

Amongst other news, Had guests Tarna Blackhelm, and Billy Murray onboard this morning's OWEP-Radio show, discussion history and paranormal investigation.  Now folks might ask why I considered this.  Well.... Any good paranormal group researches the locations of their investigations, leanring as much as they possibly can prior to the actual "hunt".  And along the way, they build up a considerable data base of local history.  And after the little incident at Commissioners Court Monday, I thought it'd be a great idea to bring on the folks from GHOST-EP. 
Didn't hear about or see it?  Well GHOST-EP through Facility Manager Monique Aguirre went before Commissioners Court  seeking permission to conduct an investigation inside the court house after hours.  As the Commissioners were leaning towards denying permission, the lights in the court room, lobby and a good portion of the court house went out.  Once they realized it wasn't a joke or a trick, the request was approved unanimous.  That's when the light went back on.   I'm going to attempt to link the County's video archive here for those that wanna watch.  Is kinds trippy!

So for the time being, Take care, may God Bless, and Keep your powder dry!

Here we go again....

5 May 2011

Been a long week or so, had a lot going on.  And as you read this, the Prairie Flower, Buckaroo, and I should be up in Shakespeare; doing our thing.

Last week end, April 30^th, Jimmy Portillo and Chris Shatan were on hand at the El Paso Museum of History for the premier  of issue #5 of “Hell Paso: The Dallas Stoudenmire Story.”  I admit, I haven’t had a chance to read through #5 from cover to cover yet, but glancing through it remains a crisp new approach at a major series of events in El Paso’s Old West history.  Was a pretty good turnout, 50 or so folks, to look over the books and purchase the series.  Chris did a free sketch for anyone buying all 5 at the museum that day.

14 May 2011

The tours at Shakespeare went well. Had a good group of folks come visit.    Work is going along slowly, but steadily.  The April Living History Tours saw the first opening of the Dance Studio to the public.  Kay Shannon conducted that portion of the tour.

May 21^st will see the second episode of OWEP Radio to feature live guests.  Chris Medina and the crew from GHOST-EP be on hand to discuss how history plays an important part of ghost hunting.  It ought to be an interesting show.

So until next time. You all take care, May God bless, and keep your powder dry....