Socorro, New
Mexico Tour Leader, Bob Spude June 8, 2023
PHOTO GALLERY 2
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The
next stop on the tour was the Garcia Opera House.It opened in 1887.In
addition to theatrical and musical performances, it was used for a variety
of community events.It is a
National Historic Landmark. The rather plain exterior belies the more ornate
interior.
The raked stage is slanted forward to give the audience
a better view. This was important becaue of the long footprint of the
building.The stage is flanked by
fluted columns and is surrounded by ornate decorations.The Opera House was restored in 1985.
The
34 inch-thick adobe walls were curved to give good acoustics.They supported the 40 foot wide roof trusses.
The
walls of the Opera House display many of the playbills advertising
future attractions.Check out
those ticket prices!
(Above)
Our guide for the Opera House, Cindy Lam, welcomes us to the First State
Bank of Socorro.The bank
has an extensive collection of paintings and historical photographs of
Socorro.
(Right) Mining relics adorn one of the downtown storefronts.
Our leader, Bob Spude, describes the Val Verde Hotel building
dating from 1919. Its Spanish Mission Revival architecture made it
popular with tourists and locals alike.
The hotel had an attractive courtyard and fountain.After the hotel closed, it housed a variety of businesses,
apartments, and other establishments.
Crossing Manzanaras Avenue on their way back to the Plaza, the
MHAers head for more of the remaining downtown historic buildings dating
from the 1880s to 1930.
The
Knights of Pythias Hall occupied the second floor of this historic
building with an attractive modern addition.It is a State of New Mexico Registered Cultural Property.
Click Here for the Historic Marker.
Click Here for a close-up view of the Owl Cigar sign.
Returning to the Plaza, on its south side is Isidro Baca Park.At its entrance is an historical marker and piece of Jumbo,
the structure used at the first atomic bomb detonation on the
Trinity Site located
about 36 miles as the crow flies southeast of Socorro.
Thankfully the residual radioactivity has dissipated and
none of the MHAers experienced a “glow”
after their visit to the park.Only a few sightings of infamous
Socorro Aliens were reported by the MHAers on the tour.
(Left) the park contains a Veterans Memorial and honors local men
and women who served in the armed forces.The park is named for U.S. Marine Pfc. Isidro Baca who was
the first Socorro soldier to die in the Vietnam War.
(Above) At the far end of the park is the Socorro County Court House
built in 1940.
There is lots more to explore in Socorro.The City of Socorro Visitors’ Center has an excellent “Historic
Walking Tour” brochure that covers many historic homes and other sites not
seen on the MHA tour.
Photos Courtesy of Susan Canty, Pat and Mike Kaas, Cathy Spude
