And Now for Something Completely Different

[Jim Hunter]

My girlfriend's grandparents owned and operated the Estancia News Herald newspaper in Estancia, New Mexico for many years beginning in 1912, as well as the print shop where the newspaper and many other items were printed. The equipment from that old print shop is now on display at the Palace of the Governors Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Shortly after moving into a new house a few years ago, we were going through some boxes that had belonged to Lyn's mother. One of the more interesting items that we came across were a number of old, copper half-tone printing plates that had originally come from that print shop.

The most interesting of these, at least to me, was a plate made from a photograph of Mission La Purísima Concepción de Cuarac, now known as Quari, which is now a part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument near Mountainair, New Mexico.

Adolph Bandelier took a very similar photograph on December 28, 1882.

According to the book "In the Midst of a Loneliness" The Architectural History of the Sal... excavation and stabilization began at Quari on June 1, 1934 and around July 31, masons rebuilt the entrance doorway and reconstructed the sides of the door. This image taken in the fall of 1937 shows the re-constructed doorway from inside the church.

The photograph on the copper plate must have been taken sometime prior to the doorway being rebuilt in 1934, but there is no date indicated anywhere on the plate or backing. We also have no idea at this time who the photographer was.

[Adelita]

This is sooo cool! Thanks.

[Alexis]

That is super cool - thanks for sharing.

[Izquierdo]

This is extremely interesting, given the fact that the state and later the National Park Service did so much restoration work on Quarai and its sister churches, Gran Quivira and Abo. The contrast is interesting. Restoration is a necessity, of course, but a restored object is not original in many ways, therefore not as valuable, just like a Rembrandt knock-off may look as good but it is, in fact, a fraud.

[Raine K.]

Awesome image! Thanks for sharing it, and the history around it.

[Richard Malcolm]

Cool!

There is a State Photo Archive in Santa Fe at http://www.palaceofthegovernors.org/photoarchives.html and a City (ABQ) archive at http://www.cabq.gov/museum/history/oldtown.html .

Either one may have some interest in your find, and/or may be able to help you learn more about what you've got.

[Johnny_Mango]

Nice.

[Brendan]

Wow, that's a neat plate! I took a picture on a 4x5 from a similar vantage point around 2000. They did a nice job fixing the entrance- I had not realized it was new! A few years back there was a Celtic choral concert in the ruins- great accoustics. When the light turned golden near sundown it was a magical place. Thanks for the post.

[Izquierdo]

I believe the restoration work was done in large part for safety rather than cosmetic reasons -- the walls are very tall and weak and posed a danger to visitors.

[Sarah Anonymous]

I was there just a few weeks ago, I didn't realize how much of the structure had been rebuilt.

[Carolyn]

As the owner publisher of the subsequent Torrance County and Estancia Valley Citizen in Torrance County from 1990 to 1999, I was so pleased to see this post. I would love to connect with Jim Hunter's girlfriend to learn more about her grandparents. The Estancia News Herald morphed into other newspapers in the Estancia Valley and eventually became the Torrance County Citizen which became the Estancia Valley Citizen. The role of small community newspapers was and still is vital to maintaining a sense of community. It is sad to see so many media outlets being owned by big corporations. I will definately be going to Santa Fe to see this exhibit!