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Socorro County Historical Society
Socorro, New Mexico, USA
San Marcial, NM
Pre-1929 Flood Photos of San Marcial
Photo
Gallery
Links:
0810/20b
Miss Esther Comstock
with her camera
Esther Comstock and family lived in San Marcial in the early 1900s. Her father was an AT&SF railroad locomotive engineer at San Marcial. As a young woman by the 1920s, she developed an interest in photography taking photos of San Marcial,
Click on photos to enlarge
Esther Comstock
waiting for the train at the San Marcial depot
Photo: SCHS/Comstock Collection
The Comstock home in San Marcial
Photo: SCHS/Comstock Collection
The Comstock family's new car in 1923. Price $1,433
Photo: SCHS/Comstock Collection
A distant view of New Town San Marcial and the mesa
Photo: SCHS/Comstock Collection
Esther captured the best known photo of the San Marcial Bank
Photo: SCHS/Comstock Collection
Harvesting hay in Valverde
Photos: SCHS/Comstock Collection
The highway bridge north of to Valverde across the Rio Grande. It was completely
destroyed in the 1929 flood and never rebuilt.
Photos: Correa/McInnis collection
Parade in San Marcial
ca. 1890s
The McInnis family lived in Rosedale working at the Rosedale mine, while others members of the family lived in San Marcial
working for the AT&SF railroad. "Aunt Hattie" McInnis was the family photographer, capturing many one-of-a-kind photos of the
family cabin, the town, the Rosedale mine, and a few of their visits to San Marcial. The photos were graciously contributed to SCHS
by the Correa family, descendents of "Aunt Hattie."
The Rosedale photos are here.
San Marcial train yard looking north with AT&SF depot and district offices on left and Harvey house in distance.
San Marcial train yard looking south at Mesa del Contadero with coaling bins and water tank; crews quarters on right.
Photo: Correa/McInnis collection
Visiting the AT&SF railroad bridge across the Rio Grande. Bridge was destroyed in 1929 flood and
rebuilt – still in use today.
Bob Thornton has been researching San Marcial, the AT&SF railroad and the Harvey Houses for years in preparation for authoring
a book or two. He donated many of his collected photographs, railroad artifacts and other items to SCHS, many of which are very rare
items. Some of his photos are presented here. Many thanks to Mr. Thornton for his donations.
Photo: Thornton collection
Earliest known photo of San Marcial in 1885
Photo: Thornton collection
Early street scenes of San Marcial, ca. 1900 along Railroad Avenue
Photo: Thornton collection
San Marcial was the district headquarters for AT&SF in southern NM. District offices were
on the second floor of the San Marcial depot.
Photos: Thornton collection
Typical engines used on the AT&SF main line through Socorro and San Marcial 1900-1930s. Photo
on right is a special express train on a stop at San Marcial
Photo: Thornton collection
San Marcial School, class of 1896
Photo: Thornton collection
San Marcial Flour Mill built by J.N. Browers
in 1895
Rosedale (where they had a summer cabin) and other areas. She also took many photos during and after the 1929 flood. After the flood, her father was sent to Albuquerque, where Esther lived the rest of her life. Some of her photos were graciously shared with SCHS by the Gabaldon family.
Waiting for the train at the San Marcial depot in their "Sunday best."
1898 Sanborn Insurance Maps
of San Marcial, New Mexico
Photos: Thornton collection
Two rare photos of the San Marcial Harvey House. Hotel registration counter on left; restaurant lunch
counter on right, 1901
Photos: Thornton collection
A picnic with some Harvey Girls at Fort Craig in 1901. Photo on right an enlargement showing the guest
of honor: Capt. Jack Crawford, the man on the left (marked #10).
Photo: Thornton collection
A 1915 order to the Illinois Brewing Co in Socorro for an order of cut ice from the Wigwam Saloon in
San Marcial. The ice plant at the Illinois/Hammel Brewery was delivered all along the Rio Grande daily by train.
Photo: Thornton collection
A 1920 order to the Illinois Brewing Co in Socorro for 400 pounds of ice from S.G. Hanna, one of the
major mercantile and grocery businesses in San Marcial.
Ralph Lane grew up in San Marcial and provided SCHS with some nice historic photos. A few of his pre-flood photos are here.
His 1929 flood photos are here. Photos submitted by the Powell family.
Photo: SCHS Lane collection
San Marcial AT&SF depot and district headquarters
Photos: SCHS Lane collection
AT&SF freight
yards, ca. 1912
AT&SF maintenance shops, round house and power plant, ca. 1912
Photo: SCHS Lane collection
San Marcial school,
date unknown
Photo: SCHS Lane collection
Pulling engine tender #1107 out of the turn table pit 1916
Photo: SCHS Lane collection
Wreck of engine #1477 after it rolled over on a muddy track. Purchased by AT&SF
1909
Photos: SCHS Lane collection
Train derailment and wreck at San Marcial as a result of a washed out track due
to the 1919 flood.
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