THE PAST 100 YEARS

From the Santa Fe New Mexican:

May 15, 1919: The auto people are at last going to organize in Santa Fe — and it’s going to mean a lot for the good roads movement. A meeting for organization will be held May 21, in response to the following letter sent all motor owners: “Fellow Owner: “The records shot that you are an owner of an automobile in this county, and we have been wondering whether you ever thought of an organization for the betterment of our cause in the city, county and state.

“If all owners of gasoline buggies would become a member of an automobile club, very gratifying results might be had along many lines, such as better streets and roads, better ordinances governing the operating of cars and also a good fellowship function of value to us all.”

May 15, 1969: TAOS — The historical Fiestas de Taos have been called off this summer by Mayor Rumaldo Garcia at the request of local organizations, including the Taos Chamber of Commerce.

In a statement to the Taos Town Council and the people of Taos Tuesday evening, [the fiestas have been put off this year] because publicity on the “so-called hippie situation” might attract an “influx of undesirables” to Taos during the three-day event.

May 15, 1994: POJOAQUE PUEBLO — Jacob Viarrial sits uneasily behind his new desk, which is so unusually large that it dwarfs the burly governor of Pojoaque Pueblo.

The glare of muted sunlight bounces off its uncluttered surface, casting a glow upon a 48-year-old tribal leader. The giant office is stark and mostly vacant, but Viarrial’s presence is warm and unintimidating.