SENATE MEMORIAL 91

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 7, 2018 "GUADALUPE COUNTY DAY" IN THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, the Pecos river flows through the hills, mesas and rolling grassland of Guadalupe county; and

     WHEREAS, creating a fertile oasis wherever it flows, the Pecos river crosses the county from northwest to southeast before flowing into Sumner lake just south of the Guadalupe-DeBaca county line; and

     WHEREAS, throughout the history of Guadalupe county, from the trails followed by Spanish settlers and Texas cattlemen to the railroads and route 66, people have followed the path of water; and

     WHEREAS, in 1848, the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo brought an official end to the Mexican War, with Mexico ceding its territories that were part of the American southwest; and

     WHEREAS, under the compromise of 1850, the United States congress granted statehood to California, and New Mexico became a territory; and

     WHEREAS, in 1891, Guadalupe county was created by the territorial legislature, over the objections of territorial governor L. Bradford Prince; and

     WHEREAS, on January 1, 1893, Guadalupe county officially came into existence, and the county seat was located in Puerto de Luna; and

     WHEREAS, Guadalupe county would share the name of the virgin of Guadalupe, also known as the "patroness of the Americas", with the treaty that ended the Mexican War; and

     WHEREAS, Guadalupe county contains whole, or parts of, several previous Spanish land grants, including the Aqua Negra, Jose Perea, Anton Chico and Preston Beck land grants; and

     WHEREAS, the railroad came to Santa Rosa in 1901 and bypassed the county seat, Puerto de Luna, with Santa Rosa quickly outpacing Puerto de Luna in population; and

     WHEREAS, in 1903, Guadalupe county ceased to exist and was renamed Leonard Wood county, with Santa Rosa becoming the new county seat; and

     WHEREAS, in 1905, the residents of Leonard Wood county petitioned the territorial legislature, and the name of the county was changed back to Guadalupe county; and

     WHEREAS, a courthouse for Guadalupe county was approved in December 1908, and it took less than nine months to complete, with the board of Guadalupe county commissioners inspecting the completed project in August 1909; and

     WHEREAS, Guadalupe county residents helped New Mexico celebrate statehood with a ceremony held on July 4, 1912 on the courthouse grounds, and it was truly a gala day in Santa Rosa; and

     WHEREAS, because a state law prohibited the expenditure of funds for the remodeling of courthouses, Guadalupe county built a new courthouse, which was dedicated on September 21, 1948; and

     WHEREAS, in 2009, the centennial of the old courthouse was celebrated in a newly remodeled courthouse complex that included the old courthouse and the new courthouse; and

     WHEREAS, the new courthouse complex was completely landscaped with a sodded lawn surrounding both courthouses; trees were transplanted; and a new gazebo was built on the southeast corner of the complex; and

     WHEREAS, a centennial dedication ceremony was held in downtown Santa Rosa on September 19, 2009; and

     WHEREAS, the Guadalupe county correctional facility is located on the outskirts of Santa Rosa, providing local jobs and bolstering the economy; and

     WHEREAS, today, Guadalupe county is a popular recreational area with many spring-fed lakes offering fishing, scuba diving and many other popular recreational activities; and

     WHEREAS, residents maintain a strong sense of civic pride and appreciation of Guadalupe county;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 7, 2018 be declared "Guadalupe County Day" in the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the board of county commissioners of Guadalupe county.

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