Wednesday, June 10th, long-time Silver City resident Susan Berry to present "Coming of Age," A 50-year Retrospective on Silver City Life
Silver City -- Susan Berry, long-time Silver City resident and former director of the Silver City Museum, will present "Coming of Age," a 50-year retrospective on the development of key social, cultural and economic aspects of Silver City life, reaching back in time to the 1970s. This presentation is part of the museum's ongoing Community Conversation Series, and takes place from noon to 1 pm on Wednesday, June 10th, in the ABC Room of the Besse Forward Global Resource Center on the campus of WNMU.
"It all started with the realization that the gazebo in Gough Park will be 50 years old on July 4th," Berry said, recalling that the idea for the structure was born in the museum in 1975 when she and beloved artist, community activist and curator Harry Benjamin were its only staff.
"We both dreamed of a Victorian-style bandstand, and the town approved it as a Bicentennial project," she recalled. "It's always been known as the gazebo, not a bandstand, but its origin is a small aspect of Silver City life that most people don't know about."
From Berry's memory of the gazebo/bandstand project grew the idea to trace the evolution of Silver City as a community over the past 50 years. Her discussion will include key aspects of daily life, from local arts and cultural entities, to education, environmental awareness, historic preservation, downtown revitalization and tourism, all from the vantage point of their humble beginnings half a century ago. Many of the cultural and societal institutions, ideas and values that shape modern life in Silver City began with the efforts of small groups of citizens, she said.
"When Silver City's beautiful old Mission-style depot was demolished in 1975, many people were in an uproar," she said. "That loss led to the start of local historic preservation efforts." Other examples include the founding of the Silver City Food Co-op, creation of the Big Ditch Park, as well as interest in solar power, recycling and in the development of Silver City as an artists' community.
"I hope to explore the 'gee whiz' aspects of these things," Berry said, "and trace changing attitudes in Silver City over the last half century."
From Berry's vantage point of arriving in Silver City in 1962 as a young child, when her father became a chemistry professor at WNMU, she will share fun tidbits of history gathered over a lifetime of community engagement, a deep love and appreciation for history and historic preservation, volunteerism and keen observation of Silver City life.
Berry directed the Silver City Museum for 27 years, and is the co-author of Built to Last: An Architectural History of Silver City, New Mexico, and author of Chapter One of Unpacking Silver City: Revealing the Rich Tapestry of a Historic Town," available for purchase at the museum store. Berry also serves on the Historical Society of New Mexico Board of Directors, and was recently named an honorary member of the Friends of the Silver City Museum Board.
The Silver City Museum's Community Conversation Series is free of charge, and presented in partnership with WILL, the Western Institute for Lifelong Learning. To attend via Zoom, use the following link: https://wnmu.zoom.us/j/8818268280 .
For more information about the series, please contact Ana Trinidad, events coordinator, at (575) 597-0227, or
