Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Pecos; Witness to an Historical Procession

Trail at the Pecos National Historical Monument


Herbert Eugene Bolton, an authority on Spanish American history, had this to say* about Pecos:

[Pecos] was the gateway for Pueblo Indians when they went buffalo hunting on the Plains; a two-way pass for barter and war between Pueblos and Plains tribes; a portal through the mountains for Spanish explorers, traders, and buffalo hunters; for the St. Louis caravan traders with Santa Fe; for pioneer Anglo American settlers; for Spanish and Saxon Indian fighters; for Civil War armies; and for a transcontinental railroad passing through the Southwest.

It is no wonder that, to me, the silences of this very still place are amplified by the sensation that thousands of voices have, just the moment before, stopped talking, laughing, singing, crying out, and shouting.


Looking out from the Pecos Mission ruins

* Source for the Bolton quote: Pecos, Gateway to Pueblo and Plains; The Anthology. Edited by John V. Bezy and Joseph P. Sanchez. Tucson: Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, 1988.

2 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Such an interesting post, Clairz! And fun for another reason -- I grew up close to another Pecos -- a very, very small town in west Texas. Interesting to learn the history of the one in New Mexico!
Hope your week is going well. Thanks for your kind comments on my blog -- always appreciated!

Jean (aka Auntie Bucksnort) said...

"It is no wonder that, to me, the silences of this very still place are amplified by the sensation that thousands of voices have, just the moment before, stopped talking, laughing, singing, crying out, and shouting."

Your writing is so beautiful, Princess Bluebird. This quote is sheer poetry. It's such a pleasure to read your blog. Thank you.