Editor:
The Rio Grande SUN reported its editor would commission former state historian Robert J. Torrez to write a history of Río Arriba County. Knowing the SUN’s commitment to the study of history, I would like to ask when this book is projected to be published? I can’t wait to read it.
On the topic of history, I ask if there are any organizations or historical societies based in the Española Valley?
I am aware of the Bond House museum and current plans Mayor Joseph Maestas has to build a Railroad Museum in Española. A common critique held by many is that many of the institutions in the Valley, for instance the Oñate Center, Convento and Bond House, is that although we have great buildings, historical programming is lacking in regard to interpretive permanent exhibits, and I stress the term permanent.
While the Oñate Center been a useful for the organizational space for Land Grant and Acequia meetings and conferences, if you went there to learn anything on any given day you would find at best a community center with a silent scared bronze statue.
Also I applaud the current work by Leroy García and the artists at the Plaza for the contemporary art installations. Many of the shows themselves have been historic. But seriously have you been to the Bond museum?
If Española’s history was to be represented by what is here you would get a collection of artifacts that have no storyline or cohesion to weave them together to make them understandable.
Don’t get me wrong. Each picture, newspaper clipping or medical tool is an invaluable tie to the past, but without the story attached to it these things, they become just like the mute statue of Oñate in Alcalde. The permanent Bond House collection is at this point only that, a collection, and an archive.
For instance you can walk into the Convento and ask what are the altar paintings about and nobody has any idea about them other than whom the painters are. Española needs storytellers or writers who can make these archives speak and to tell their stories beyond biographical information.
I don’t put blame on anyone but what we need is a cooperative to represent the various histories of the Valley not just the popular but also the silenced. I believe many of the youth would be interested in hearing, reading and learning these debates. Do you think these centers sufficiently represent the millennial history of the these lands that we belong to?
Returning to the topic of the Railroad Museum, is this center going to follow the lead of the Oñate Center, Bond House and the Convento: appearance over content. If there is no formal historical society in Española may the present letter serve as a call to interested parties in forming one. Also if you would like to discuss this more I have provided my contact information.
Pedro Urdemalas
San Antonio del Guache, New Mexico
Contact information available upon request. Contact Braiden Trapp at 753-2126 or mnged@riograndesun.com