THE PAST 100 YEARS

From The Santa Fe New Mexican:

Sept. 1, 1921: During the long life of the “City Different” many distinguished persons have visited Santa Fe, but the most interesting are those who came over the trail in the early days and helped make history. Many of these soldiers, churchmen and pioneers, will be represented in the pageant “The Commerce of the Prairies,” on Sept. 8. Don Fecundo Melgares, last Spanish governor, will be impersonated by Herman Baca, department adjutant of the American Legion: Don Francisco Xavier, the first Mexican governor, will be impersonated by the Hon. Manuel Martinez, and the Right Rev. Juan Felipe Ortiz, who contributed so much to the conversion and education of the Indians and natives will be impersonated by Father Theodosius. Charles M. Conklin will represent his father, James Conklin, the first American to make Santa Fe his home. General Manuel Armijo, the last Mexican governor, will be represented by R. L. Baca.

Sept. 1, 1971: New Mexico will initiate a professional statewide Medicaid claims review system today during a formal ceremony at Dikewood Corp. in Albuquerque.

Gov. Bruce King will cut a magnetized computer tape signifying the start of the new system, the first of its type in the nation.

Sept. 1, 1996: The image is of Don Diego de Vargas, cloaked in velvet, riding gallantly into the Plaza, flanked by his men. Behind him in procession are the Franciscans, the faithful swathed from head to foot in solemn brown robes. La Entrada, commemorated each year at Fiesta de Santa Fe, is an awe-inspiring image.

The only problem is that the depiction of de Vargas and his cuadrillo isn’t completely true according to state historian Tom Chávez.