Trementina, New Mexico
by Henrietta Martinez Christmas
The evolution of Trementina is
somewhat complex in that various obstacles kept stepping in the way to the folks
who eventually settled here. The
water was being contaminated by the wool-washing and the pickling of railroad
ties in the Las Vegas area. Water was unfit to drink and scum was left on plants
which were affected after irrigation. The
usage of communal land was being fenced off and the land grants were being sold
to outsiders. Making a living
became quite difficult as they could not grow enough crops nor raise their sheep
and cattle on such little land. Their
conversion to Presbyterianism was also a roadblock to their happiness at Los
Valles.
Trementina sits on what would be
considered public domain. So when these settlers from Los Valles couldn’t make
a living there, they drove their sheep east following the river and started
grazing in this area. As this
practice continued year after year, the men started bringing their families, and
soon a village emerged.
In the meantime, in the village of
La Aguila, a Miss Blake and Evangelist Teofilo Tafaya would come during
Christmas. Miss Blake taught at La
Aguila, but that would soon end. In July 1901, she opened the first Trementina
school. She was not alone as these
pioneers had come from Los Valles de San Agustin and had built a school there.
Four of the founding members had been ordained in Los Valles in 1887;
they were Pablo Madrid, Noberto Jaramillo, Abran Salzar and Romulo Blea.
All four lived long lives and were the mainstays of their families.
Miss Blake felt they strengthened the Protestant movement.
Later a younger member, Cecilio Valverde made a difference in this
community.
La Aguila: the
Francis Ray Mission was opened in 1889. This small town was situated on the Antonio Ortiz Grant. Due
to the sale of land, La Aguila became deserted rather quickly after the turn of
the century. Miss Blake came to La
Aguila in 1887, the school was closed in 1902.
She was asked to divide her time between here and Trementina; never
returning to La Aguila.
Homes and buildings:
Flagstone is so plentiful in Trementina that you are never
without building material. All the
homes are flagstone with plastered mud inside and out. The corrals, outhouses, dispensas, churches, etc are all built the same. Wood is plentiful on the mesas
and were used for vigas, latillas, and poles around corrals.
A bell for the church was a gift and from the crate they made a desk for
Miss Blake. The
Jaramillos were excellent stonemasons and could put a home up in three days.
Church:
The church was built by Reverend Jose Emiterio Cruz, he was
a master carpenter and builder. He had previous dealing with Miss Blake in Buena
Vista. The church seated 150 and
was started with $300. The church
was also the schoolhouse. In 1916
the church/schoolhouse burned down. Because it was built from flagstone, large
portions were reusable. This
second reconstruction was done and soon the church was dedicated to Santiago and
Juana Blea.
Medical care:
In those days, medical care most heavily relied on the
mother or curandera of the day to remedy the ailments.
Miss Blake taught the Trementina folks about sanitation and hygiene,
basic first aid and mid-wife duties. Malaria
and tuberculosis were constant scourges. In October 1905 the small town was hit
by diphtheria. A doctor was sent for
in Las Vegas and he came and administered anti-toxin to 36 persons; Miss Blake
would also catch this dreaded disease, but recovered.
In 1910 typhoid fever broke out, the folks began boiling
their water. Later a community well
would be constructed with a windmill. They
understood why this was important and kept the well under good repair.
Infirmary:
A two-bed hospital was erected across from the church. Now
folks were more readily treated and communicable diseases were isolated.
Doctor’s traveled here to treat the seriously ill.
Mission house: This is where Miss Blake eventually lived.
It consisted of a fellowship hall, audience or parlor room, 2 classrooms
and a kitchen. Again Reverend Jose Emiterio Cruz was asked to return and help
with the construction.
Laundry:
Trementina can boast that at one time there was a community
laundry.
Schooling: Almost all the children of Trementina attended school at
one time or another. The class room was one roomed and taught by Miss Blake.
By March 1902, 40 kids were enrolled. Very early in their childhoods,
these kids learned English and maintained their native language of Spanish.
Around 1919, a community school had been built about 4 miles from town.
Here the upper classes were maintained to 8th grade.
The school children would graduate from here and then move on to high
school in Albuquerque or Santa Fe, respectively, Menaul or Allison-James.
Gym and saloon:
Although some records mention a gym, it was never built.
As for the saloon, none was ever built in the town, but one old-timer
mentions a man living on the mesa who sold moonshine.
Location: Trementina is east of Las Vegas on NM 104/65, probably
around 50 miles. When one drives
east from Las Vegas, you can see the mesas and the vast open land.
These landscapes were home to the buffalo, Comanche and Apaches.
The elevation drops about 1000 feet and you are now in a more dry desert
part of New Mexico.
WWI and WWII: Many of the Trementina boys enlisted and served their
country well. Some did not return
but many did. After WWII, the town
became somewhat sparsely populated as these men who returned took their families
to the cities to make a living.
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First Settlers: First Settled about 1870. Sheep ranchers grazed
in the area from other settlements near Los Valles de San Agustin, Chaperito and
La Liendre. The first settlers were Presbyterians running from religious
persecution. They had fled two other settlements, Los Valles de San
Agustin and La Aguila. They eventually built a prospering community,
church and schools within Trementina.
Census: Look in San Miguel County starting around 1880.
Trementina Precinct 48.
Ghost Town: Trementina has been a ghost town since the Korean
War. After WWII, several families left to the city to make a living.
The ranchers and farmers that stayed behind left descendants that still live in
outlying areas.
Ancestors: If you have ancestors in Trementina, they probably came from
Chaperito, Los Valles de San Agustin, Anton Chico, San Miguel del Bado or Las
Vegas. These are located within San Miguel County.
Church Records: Visit the Catholic Church of Chaperito- San Isidro;
Nuestra Dolores - Las Vegas, Anton Chico and San Miguel del Bado churches.
The Spanish Presbyterian Church located in Las Vegas also has
records.
Cemeteries: there are at least a few cemeteries within the area.
One is Presbyterian and located over the hill from Trementina, the other is in
the opposite direction and is Catholic. Other nearby cemeteries are at
Arroyo de Las Conchas and Variadero.
Post Office: In 1901 the post office was established, the first
postmaster was Martin Gurule.
We are starting to gather death records and obituaries from prior Trementina
Descendants. They will be added to as we come upon them. Records
and Obituaries