This home, built in Pueblo and Spanish Colonial style,
was preserved by the Harwood Foundation and is now known
as Las Palomas. Guests still come to participate in the
arts and self-help events and seminars.
Spud Johnson was a contemporary and friend of these folk,
and is remembered for his contribution to local journalism.
He had a regular page of commentary in El Creprisculo, the
local paper known as the Horsefly. A sometimes contributor
to the Horsefly was Doughbelly Price, a colorful former
cowboy who dealt in real estate, and is reputed to have
gotten his name because of a misadventure mixing gin with
the baking of biscuits.
Long John Dunn, also known as Juan Largo, drove a stage
line to and from Taos to the old Taos Junction to meet the
Chili Line, a former Denver and Rio Grande railroad spur
line. He also had a toll bridge at Arroyo Hondo, and is
said to also have built a small hotel at the confluence
of the Rio Hondo and Rio Grande. Dunn liked gambling, and
among artists and locals is reputed to often frequent barber
Max Padilla's private card game room in a plaza barbershop.
A Taos artist whose earthy style has probably done more
to bring recognition to 20th century Hispanic folk and sauto
artists is Patrocinio Barela. Originally from Arizona, Barela's
father relocated his family to Taos, where he found work.
Without formal training and unintentionally, Barela started
a local style of creating images in harmony with the natural
shapes of wood. His was a style appreciating and incorporating
the contours of how the wood had grown. Barela's genius
was cut short when he died in middle age in a fire in his
workshop. Some say he fell asleep with a burning cigarette
that ignited piles of wood shavings.
In modern times, locals remembered and honored for exemplary
lives are Tony Reyna, Jack Boyer and Lawrence Santistevan.
Reyna, a Taos Pueblo native, is one of very few surviving
veterans of the World War 11 Philippine campaign and Bataan
Death March. He has served Taos Pueblo as governor, instituting
progressive changes, and is active in tribal government.
A family man, Reyna runs his own business, a visitor's store
near the entrance to the Pueblo. Tony Reyna's Indian Shop
celebrated 50 years in business in May.
Boyer had also served as one the commanding officers of
the Taos National Guard Unit, who lost many local sons during
the war. Returning home he raised a family and managed a
plumbing supply business. Boyer, ever interested in history,
was instrumental in the preservation of many local historical
sites.
Santistevan, perhaps best remembered as one of the friendliest
postal workers in Taos history, greeted everyone on a first-name
basis. Santistevan was appointed mayor while on the town
council in the mid-1980s when incumbent mayor Phil Lovato
died. Santistevan, also a career officer in the New Mexico
National Guard, helped finish projects begun by Lovato and
brought about the creation of the Taos Civic Plaza and Convention
Center, and initiated the building of a new town hall, along
with renovations for the fire department and a new location
for the town police department. His widow, Tomasita, still
lives here. These three individuals will be remembered in
a good way in future Taos history.
