|
Oftentimes we experience the impact of historical events while
unaware that we the people are what history is made of, whether these
events are minor or major. As we often say, "History will be the judge,"
depending on the importance or perspective given to an event after it
happens. However, if not recorded, many important memories just fade
away. It is fitting that the memories of Historic Route 66 through New
Mexico be celebrated in the continuity of American history.
When I was growing up in Bernalillo, one of my older brothers,
Philip, would ask me, "Do you realize that if someone from New York
wanted to drive to California, or to drive from Canada to Mexico during
the 1920s or 30s, he would have to drive through Bernalillo?" I would
dismiss this talk as some silly riddle or exaggeration. After all, he
was the same one that almost got kicked out of school for arguing with
his teacher that Napoleon was Italian by birth, "Because my father told
me so." Not the great French Emperor?
Not until I grew up did I realize that my brother was correct. I
learned that the only major continuous route connecting the East with
the West was mainly U.S. Highway 66, which did come through the main
street, now Camino del Pueblo, in Bernalillo.
Astonishingly, the only route connecting Canada and Mexico
during most of the same period was historic Route 85 (now N.M. 313),
which also came through Bernalillo. In essence, the routes crisscrossed
from all four compass points. And to make this bit of historical fact
more amazing, both U.S. 66 and U.S. 85 shared the same road bed through
the main street of Bernalillo (which was once the main trading route
from Mexico, the Camino Real)!
Historic Route 66 wended north from Bernalillo to Santa Fe over
the grueling La Bajada hairpin trail. Traveling this stretch mostly
through Indian lands was an adventure in itself.
|
|
According to anthropologists, archaeologists, and other
historians, we have evidence of pre-Columbian early American established
migration and trade routes for thousands of years along the same routes
later established by Europeans. Exotic tropical bird feathers and
varieties of seashells and minerals are commonly found here in
archaeological digs at great distances from their sources.
The town of Bernalillo chose its motto, "The City of Coronado."
Its roots go back to September 8, 1540 when General Francisco Vasquez
deCoronado established the headquarters for his army of exploration
along along the Rio Grande.
From here Coronado explored this wild country into Texas, Kansas
and other Plains areas that were then in the embryonic stage of what was
to become the now continental United States. Since the Spanish army of
Coronado was comprised of single men in their 20s and 30s, without
European women in the expedition, many took Native American wives.
Spanish law and Church rules forbade fraternization with
indigenous people. Several thousand miles from Spain and hundreds of
miles from Mexico, these soldiers choose a different path. The records
indicate at least 60 of these soldiers petitioned to stay and making a
living here. Children born to this union of European Fathers and Native
American Women would eventually establish a community of so-called
mestizos.
This author believes that this group of mestizos would comprise
the first community of European progeny in this country. A community is
not buildings and machines, nor is it established by authority of Kings
or Governors, nor is it a written contract of purchase or conquest Ð it
is people.
Editor's note: see Route 66 map of Bernalillo on Page 5 for more
information. A new map and brochure of Bernalillo's local Route 66
history may be obtained by writing to the Town of Bernalillo, attn:
Tourism, Box 638, Bernalillo, NM 87004.
|
Summer 2000
