Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy
Santa Clara 150th birthday 101318
Santa Clara 150th birthday 101318
Jack Lalio, who is Zuni, as Xochiquetzal, with Eilene Kingsley at the celebration
Santa Clara 150th birthday 101318
Dr. John Bell at the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society booth
Santa Clara 150th birthday 101318
Some of the vehicles in the car show, which was part of the festivities
Santa Clara 150th birthday 101318
Mariachi Plata of Western New Mexico University performs for the crowd
Santa Clara 150th birthday 101318
A Mariachi Plata soloist sings
Santa Clara 150th birthday 101318
Donations are sought to build a village library
Santa Clara 150th birthday 101318
Robert Padilla shows the back of his Action Committee T-shirt.
Santa Clara 150th birthday 101318
A birthday celebration wouldn't be complete without the cake (and cupcakes).
Santa Clara 150th birthday 101318
Three members of the Action Committee, Village Clerk Sheila Hudman, Padilla and Trustee Rocky Hildebrand
Santa Clara 150th birthday 101318
Dillon Stone, whose grandmother was born in Santa Clara in 1885, talks to emcee Raul Turrieta
Santa Clara 150th birthday 101318
Linda Stone McGee looks on as Mike Stone and their mother talk to Turrieta
Santa Clara 150th birthday 101318
Magdaleno Veltri makes the bucking bull look easy.
Music, food, a car show, booths and vendors, filled the street at the Santa Clara 150th birthday party on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. Village residents and community members from all over the county gathered and visited with friends in Santa Clara on Saturday. History was also part of the day.
Linda Stone McGee said a member of her family has lived in Santa Clara for most of its 150 years. Her mother Dillon Stone, was a student in Central (the village's name prior to becoming Santa Clara again) and then was a teacher at the local school. Linda's brother Mike Stone said as soon as he left, the village got better, but he has returned to the area to live.
Dillon's great-grandfather Wiley and their great-grandmother Emma Wiley started the family in Santa Clara. Emma was born there in 1885. They had two daughters, Viola and Gertrude, who ran the hotel. Linda's father Jimmy Stone and his brother Brub continued to live in the village. Viola married Benjamin Hatchett Stone, who was being treated for tuberculosis at Fort Bayard.