The Lyon Letters- Arrival in Albuquerque

Finally back on track! Thanks for your patience-

Today: Lyon in New Albuquerque, the Armijo House, Henry Forrester and the Armijo Addition

The Lyon letters are an on-going series on Albuquerque/New Mexico history as related through the letters of William B. Lyon to his fiancé Corie Bowman.

On March 1st, 1882, four months after he began the courtship of Corie Bowman in La Mesilla, NM, Dr. William B. Lyon arrived in New Albuquerque. It is impossible to say exactly how he spent his time in the bustling railroad town, but it is clear that he met up with the Bowmans' family friend, the Episcopalian minister Henry Forrester, very soon after stepping off the train.


If we can allow ourselves a momentary license, it is easy to envision Forrester whisking Lyon through the bustle and chaos of New Albuquerque's busy center... [continued at the Examiner...]

Two in a row

Well, that's two "please hold" messages in a row. Just too busy this week with catching up after our trip, I'm afraid. Should have one up for next tuesday, though, if all goes as planned!

Nothing new today

Just got back from a week in D.C., so I'll spend today recuperating. Check back on Thursday!

The first business in Albuquerque

When the first train pulled into the area that would soon become New Albuquerque, there was nothing, literally nothing besides the converted boxcars that served as a makeshift depot, there. The Villa de Alburquerque, where people lived, where saloons and inns and the post office were located, lay a mile-and-a-half to the west of the rail line, and only a rough winding road traversed the empty, sand flat between them.

Within a day, that had changed. On April 23, 1880, an enterprising ne’er-do-well named Peter “Shorty” Parker (no relation) dug a hole in the ground... [continued at the Examiner]

The Lyon letters- On the road to New Albuquerque

Today- An omnibus north, a midnight meeting with Pat Garrett, the shysters of Socorro.

The Lyon letters are an on-going series on Albuquerque/New Mexico history as related through the letters of William B. Lyon to his fiancé Corie Bowman.

Once Corie Bowman had accepted his proposal of marriage, which occurred sometime between January and late February of 1882, Dr. William B. Lyon was ready to start a new life for himself and his imminent family. However, prospects for a successful physician's practice were dead in the water in the tiny town of La Mesilla, New Mexico, where he had lived for the past three years since retiring from the army, and where his bride-to-be's family resided. Lyon was ready to strike out on his own and make a success of himself in the frontier economy of the New Mexico territory, and in 1882 there was one obvious path for doing so: follow the railroad. [continued at the Examiner...]

Slightly Busy

A bunch of stuff going on this week has put a slight delay on the Lyon letters series. Check back next Tuesday!

The Lyon letters- Corie's answer

This is part of an ongoing series on Albuquerque history, based on the experiences of Dr. William B. Lyon and his fiance Corie Bowman, as related by them in letters sent in the years 1881-1882. Today's article features the resolution of their courtship, just prior to William Lyon's departure to New Albuquerque.

William Lyon had a hard time waiting for Corie Bowman's decision. She had told him that she would give an answer to his implicit marriage proposal “by spring". In the intervening months she discussed the matter with her parents and minister. William continued to visit the Bowman household during the month of December, but now his arrival caused consternation for not only Corie, but also her mother and father. [Continued at the Examiner...]