The first Catholic church was built in 1868. The adobe ruins between the
homes of Miss Ashton and Mrs. Strachbein may have been it. There is a
record of Fr. Francis Bernal having visited the camp in 1869 where he
baptized several children, one of them being a sister of Francisco
Grijalva. At the time Mesilla was the center of the diocese and priests
from there visited all ranches and small communities at least once a
year, baptizing all children born during the year, hearing the marriage
vows of those couples who had decided to live together since his last
trip, and saying masses for those who had died. These hardy and devoted
men were welcome everywhere, for not only did they represent the church,
but they brought news of the outside world and gossip regarding persons
and places in southwestern New Mexico. They had many adventures, some
tragic, some comic and not always in keeping with the precepts of the
church.
Many years ago an Irish-Catholic, whose given name was Martin Luther,
lived here. He said his family had lived on a small ranch in a remote
section of the country where the priest came but once a year, and that
always there was a new baby when he arrived. One blustery and cold March
day the good father appeared and after his mule had been cared for, he
turned to the rancher and said, “Well, Mike, I suppose there’s a young
one”. “Yes,” said the father, “A boy and I want him christened Martin
Luther”. The good padre threw up his hands in holy terror. After a good
meal of mutton, frijoles, tortillas and coffee the priest had not been
softened and the father insisted that “Martin Luther” be the name. The
priest had to leave early next morning so the baby had to be baptized
that day but hours went by in talk of various matters, frequent nips
from the little brown jug and back to the argument. The warm fire, good
meal, and apple jack had made the two men drowsy. The priest asked that
the babe be brought out for the rites and when he said, “With what name
do I christen this child?” the father replied, “Martin Luther”. The old
priest bowed his head, dipped his trembling fingers into the holy water,
tenderly placed them on the baby’s head, and blessed “Martin Luther”.
The Church of the Holy Cross was built on land donated by Mr. Frank C.
Bell (father of James H. Bell) on what during the ’60’s had been the
dueling ground. It was blessed on July 17, 1888, in honor of St. Alexis,
the Confessor, and has always been served as a mission of St. Vincent De
Paul Church in Silver City. Ever since the cross was erected on the
mountain by Sr. Santiago Brito in gratitude to God for deliverance from
the Indians and in honor of Saint Helena, May 3rd has been observed as
Patron Saint’s Day. In the good old days miners would sneak sticks of
dynamite, every now and then, into their pants or lunch buckets and
hoard them for the celebration. At sunset fires would be lighted near
the church and around the cross on the mountain. Blasts would rattle the
windows throughout the town. This might go on all night if the miners
had had a successful year. Old women told the children it was to scare
the devils away. On the morning of the third, mass was said, after which
a procession climbed to the cross as an act of penance. Now the day is
observed as a feast day with a dinner to which everyone interested is
welcome, then mass, and a pilgrimage to the cross as an act of devotion.
The Protestant churches of Silver City sent their ministers to hold
services in the school house or in individual homes during the ’70’s and
’80’s. Early in the ’90’s a regular Methodist minister, a Mr. Ruoff, was
assigned to Pinos Altos and Central. He made his home here and succeeded
in interesting the people in building a church under the auspices of the
Methodist Extension Board. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bell donated a part of the
Good Enough mining claim which they owned and had patented, for the
site. The ladies gave box suppers, socials, bazaars to help raise money
and the men promised regular contributions from their wages. The Hearst
Interests were bringing in more men and more money, so a building seemed
assured. Mrs. Phoebe Hearst visited the property at this time and became
interested in the project, but she withheld her donation until the
church board and the minister agreed to have a reading room for the
miners in connection with the church, she paying the expenses. As a
matter of economy, no extra room was added but the part near the front
entrance was equipped with the necessary tables, chairs and stands, on
which were placed local newspapers, and such magazines as the Review of
Reviews, McClures, Scribners, Argosy, the old Life and Judge or Puck.
Quite a diet for miners. Not one magazine for women or children. Mr.
George Lincoln was in charge. At first the room was not popular. When
Mr. Lincoln learned that the reason was that Catholics were not allowed
to use a Protestant church, he suggested that the Ladies Aid make
curtains that could be hung between the part used for the reading room
and a part used for worship. This was done and the result was amazing.
It was a very popular place until the Hearst people sold and Mrs. Hearst
withdrew her support. There was a change in the camp. Many men in the
more important positions and many miners followed Mr. Benjamin B. Thayer
to Santa Rita, and the Comanche Company brought in their own men. It
affected church life.
The Gold Avenue Methodist Church was dedicated on May 18, 1898, with the
retiring pastor, Rev. Ruoff and the new pastor conducting the service.
Rev. Henry Van Valkenburgh (now retired and living at Radium Springs)
was the first pastor. He, too, served Central as well and was very
popular in both towns. Everyone called him “Brother Van”. He was
followed by Mr. Templin and Mr. Mussell. After them the Methodist,
Presbyterian and Episcopal ministers came up for early morning or
afternoon services. Even after regular preaching services were
discontinued the building was used as a community center; the school
held entertainments and programs there, the Forest Service showed films,
a lecturer or a troupe of entertainers was welcome to use it. A few
years ago an effort was made to use the building as a museum but the
proposal came to naught. It has been sold to the Baptists who are using
it for Bible School during summer months and for Sunday School
regularly. It was feared that the bell would fall through the rotting
platform on the tower so it was given to a rural church near Mountain
Park, New Mexico.
Sunday School had been organized on Easter Sunday, April 21, 1889. The
minutes of that meeting record that Mr. F. J. Davidson presided, Mr. W.
H. Decker was elected Superintendent, Miss Lillie Stephens, secretary,
Mrs. Stanley, treasurer. Mr. Davidson was chosen teacher of the Bible
class, Mrs. W. E. Watson of the intermediate, and Miss Zella de Hymmel
of the “Buds of Promise”. There were thirty-six in attendance and a
collection of $3.20 was taken.
Twenty years later a special Easter program was given to observe its
birthday. Names of the children who appeared in that program and who are
still living nearby are Mary Jackson (Shotwell), Helen Hunt Jackson,
Dorothy Davidson (Gray), Susie Frantern (Kern), Jennie Frantern
(Christian) and Fred Stephenson.
As a concession to the Presbyterians a Christian Endeavor Society,
rather than an Epworth League, was organized for the young people at the
time the church was built. That and a Sunday School continued for many
years. Music was a very important part of every service as there were
many fine voices in the community. People lost interest in church
affairs when mines closed and so many prominent families moved away.
Then, too, the general use of the automobile and popularity of the
movies furnished excuses for going to church in Silver City or to seek
diversion and entertainment of other sorts.