ABQ: Windows of Old Town

ALBUQUERQUE

Photo journal of the Window of Old Town.


Sept. 2012

Route 66: Postcard 1942

 

 

ROUTE 66

 

Postcard 1942

 

Postcard reads: Looking East on Central Ave., with Sandia Mountains in the Distance, Masonic Temple is seen in Foreground at Left.

 

 

The Masonic Temple, with the white columns, has since been torn down. Likewise for the Hotel Franciscan pictured directly behind the temple on the left. The theater across the street, the El Rey, remains in business to this day. They host muscians, receptions, and even an evening church service.

 

 

While the Masonic Temple was typical of architecutre from back east that became popular after the railroads came to New Mexico, the Hotel Franciscan was a unique style of building called Pueblo Revival.

 

According to Wikipedia:

 

The Pueblo Revival style is a regional architectural style of the Southwestern United States which draws its inspiration from thePueblos and the Spanish missions in New Mexico. The style developed at the turn of the 20th century and reached its greatest popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, though it is still commonly used for new buildings. Pueblo style architecture is most prevalent in the state of New Mexico.



ABQ: Carnuel Fiesta

ALBUQUERQUE

Carnuel Road Parade & Fiesta, Sept 2012

View the photo journal of the Fiesta.


In September a parade and fiesta is held on the northern side of Downtown Albuquerque along Mountain Road. The event is named after the original road--Carnuel. For a great explantion about the history and a run down of the day, visit Barelas Babe's post at Duke City Fix.

The parade and fiesta evolved from local residents in Sawmill and Wells Park wanting to celebrate the area's cultural history and diversity. It brings neighbors together. Local organizations, such as Escuela del Sol school, the Harwood Art Center, the Sawmill Community Land Trust, the neighborhood associations of Wells Park, Sawmill, and the Downtown Neighborhoods Association (DNA), help sponsor and run the event.

The Rio Grande Down Syndrome Network not only helps sponsor, but also runs a Buddy Walk during the parade to raise awareness of Down Syndrome.

ROUTE 66: Freed Co

ROUTE 66

The Freed Co, Since 1920

The Freed Co. was an import merchandise store, located on Route 66 (Central Ave.), near the Kimo Theater. Some accounts list the store as opening in this location in 1920, while others credit the store to moving to this site in 1979.  It was run by two brothers--Philip and Max Freed. They were reported to have dressed alike and worked side by side, almost inseparable from each other. The brothers died within a week of each other in January of 1999.

Leba Freed runs the nonprofit Wheels Museum in Downtown, located at the historic Barelas Railyards.

The Freed Co. building is now used as a music venue.

Max Freed's wife, Marcia Hertzmark, was one of a small number of first women lawyers in New Mexico. According to the New Mexico Bar:

Hertzmark was one of the first women to graduate from the University of Denver Law School and was admitted to practice in New Mexico in1933. She finished first among those taking the bar in both Colorado and New Mexico. Hertzmark practiced law in Santa Fe and served as a law clerk for the New Mexico Supreme Court for a short time before moving to Washington D.C., to work for the National Labor Relations Board where she helped write labor laws. She had a hand in drafting the landmark Hatch Political Activities Act, which prohibits most federal employees from taking an active part in political campaigns. She returned to New Mexico in 1947 where she met and married Max Freed, of the Freed Co., and left professional life.

ABQ: PARK(ing) Day 2012

 

ALBUQUERQUE

PARK(ing) Day 2012

See the photo journal.

ABOUT PARK(ING) DAY

Providing temporary public open space . . . one parking spot at at time.

PARK(ing) Day is a annual open-source global event where citizens, artists and activists collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into “PARK(ing)” spaces: temporary public places. The project began in 2005 when Rebar, a San Francisco art and design studio, converted a single metered parking space into a temporary public park in downtown San Francisco. Since 2005, PARK(ing) Day has evolved into a global movement, with organizations and individuals (operating independently of Rebar but following an established set of guidelines) creating new forms of temporary public space in urban contexts around the world.

ABQ: Autumn

ALBUQUERQUE

Autumn

BioPark Gardens

“But then fall comes, kicking summer out on its treacherous ass as it always does one day sometime after the midpoint of September, it stays awhile like an old friend that you have missed. It settles in the way an old friend will settle into your favorite chair and take out his pipe and light it and then fill the afternoon with stories of places he has been and things he has done since last he saw you.” 
― Stephen King, 'Salem's Lot

ne structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show.

Andrew Wyeth

ROUTE 66: Kress Sign

ROUTE 66

Kress Sign

The Kress sign remains on Route 66 (Central Ave) in Albuquerque, along with curved plate glass windows and interesting architectural details, on an empty storefront in Downtown.

Kress department stores were a chain of Five and Dimes, similar to Woolworth's. They were in business from 1896 to 1981 and a precursor to modern day Kmart, Target and Wal-Mart. In the first half of the twentieth century Kress stores could be found on the mainstreets of hundred of cities and towns across America.

Samuel Henry Kress, founder of S. H. Kress & Co., used his fortune to amass the most significant collections of Italian Renaissance and European artwork assembled in the twentieth century. Works were eventually donated to 18 regional museums around the U. S.

Kress stores are noted for their architecture. Kress considered his buildings to be works of public art that would contribute to the cityscape. The Albuquerque store is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Due to its ongoing vacancy, it remains in nearly original condition.

Notes the Historic Register nomination form, filled out in the early 1980's:

The Kress Building in Downtown Albuquerque is an unaltered 1925 Kress store displaying a standard storefront design developed by the S. H. Kress Company in the 1920's. It is the only such storefront in New Mexico and as such is of both local and state significance. It is possibly nationally significant as a virtually unchanged example of a major chain store's early attempt to achieve quick public recognition through the use of standardized design. In Albuquerque it is an extremely rare unremodeled pre-depression retail building.
 

ABQ PLAZAS: Third Central Plaza

ALBUQUERQUE PLAZAS

Third Central Plaza

Visit the Photo Journal of Third Central Plaza.


Third Central Plaza is located, not surprisingly, at the corner of Third Street and Central Avenue in Downtown Albuquerque. Not much history is available about the building or site, although it's possibly a former graveyard.

An Odd Fellows building was located near here and apparently they used a now defunct cemetery, which was located between Central Avenue and Gold Avenue, and between Third and Fourth Streets. I'm not sure on the actual boundaries of the cemetery. I've seen this abandoned site labeled as Santa Barbara, although there is the Mt. Calvary/Santa Barbara Cemetery at 1900 Edith Blvd, which is a different graveyard. I'm not sure if the two names are being confused. The City of Albuquerque doesn't show the Railroad (Central) Ave and Third St site on their official inventory. The old Sanborn maps I've found show the area blackened out.
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On the outside of the plaza is a historical marker with a photo and description, which reads:

This photograph shows the 1898 Territorial Fair Parade passing along the 300 block of Railroad (Central) Avenue. Railroad Avenue was the main thoroughfare of Albuquerque's New Town, and it linked the the railroad depot to Old Town Plaza. Railroad and Gold were the principal commercial avenues of New Town. A horse-drawn trolley system, established in 1880, ran along Railroad Avenue tracks from the depot to Old Town Plaza. This eastward view, taken only 18 years after the barren lot of the New Town site had been surveyed, shows the amazing growth of the early New Town settlement.

 

STYLE: Window Displays

STYLE

Window Displays

View the Photo Journal of Downtown Albuquerque window displays September 2012.
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The Bon Marche department store in Paris, 1877, is one of the earliest examples of large scale window decorating. The store was transformed through structural architectural changes that allowed for wide open spaces, lots of light, and huge windows. Previously, glass had been limited to smaller openings and much smaller panes. The invention of big picture windows lead directly to the new art of window display.

In her book Retailing: Critical Concepts author Anne Findlay remarks that the large retail display windows "communicate festivity, vitality, beauty, and fantasy, revealing the signature of individual stores and the inner possibilities of store life."

Sadly, outside of the largest cities, window dressing has become mostly a lost art. In our modern era of chain stores, most companies rely on display photos hung like posters in a window, along with a few mannequins. Or some similar simple design that was fashioned at corporate headquarters to be uniform among dozens, if not hundreds, of locations across the country. They are assembled by low wage retail workers hired to staff the sales floor, not by designers or merchandisers trained in the visual arts.

Instead of reflecting local color, most department store window displays are stiff and corporate--at best.

Some exceptions still exist. Macy's, at their flagship Herald Square store in mid-Manhattan, is most famous for their holiday display window which are unveiled in time for Thanksgiving and their parade in NYC. One set of windows usually features themes related to the movie Miracle on 34th Street, about Macy's and their now defunct rival Gimbels. A new theme is introduced each year in a second set of display windows. Department stores in the largest cities are still more likely to employ a window designer than the smaller locations around the country.

Another notable exception is Anthropologie. When I travel, I always enjoy seeing the variety at each store. Not two locations ever seem to look the same. According to Design Sponge, each anthro store has its own small team of artists who do all of the displays at their own location. Teams may include graphic designers, painters and sculptors. Rare is a chain store that gives so much attention, and resources, to each location.

There are still devotees of window decorating. The Window Display Blog is run by Kaisa, a visual merchandiser who is, in her own words, obsessed with store windows. She photographs and writes about displays in London.

However, walk around a smaller city like Albuquerque's Downtown and it's unfortunately difficult to find many decent displays of any type, regardless of chain or otherwise. The lack of properly decorated display windows gives the area an unfriendly vibe. Those few stores who are making an effort should be commended.

Many cities have addressed this issue with Phantom Galleries--displays of local artists in pop-up galleries to deal with vacant and undecorated windows, particularly in downtowns, to replace the loss of mainstreet retailers. This not only gives artists a venue to display their work, it also enhances the public space and provides interest.

ROUTE 66: Kimo Theater

ROUTE 66

Kimo Theater

View the Photo Journal of Downtown Architectural Drawings


The Kimo Theater, built as a picture palace, opened on September 19, 1927. The architectural style is known as Art Deco-Pueblo Revival Style, or Pueblo Deco for short, a short-lived fad of blending adobe style (rounded corners and edges), decorative motifs from indigenous cultures, and elements of Art Deco.

The theater is rumored to be haunted by a boy killed in 1951 when the water heater in the lobby exploded.

The Art Deco Society of New Mexico offers a self-guided tour pamplet in the central core of Albuquerque of Pueblo Deco buildings. It's easiest to follow when printed and folded vertically. The tour starts Downtown at the Kimo.

SECRET ABQ: Bosque Ponds

SECRET ALBUQUERQUE

Bosque Ponds


View the Photo Journal.

In Downtown along the Rio Grande there has been the Albuquerque Bosque Restoration Project. Many people are familiar with the Tingley Ponds recreation area now used for picnics, fishing, model boat racing and paddle boat rentals. The area is connected by the BioPark train, road, the bike path along the Rio Grande, and hiking trails throughout the Bosque.

Far fewer people are aware of the ponds located in the Bosque that are part of a wetlands restoration project. The ponds only have hiking trail access (from the bike trail), and people and pets not allowed in the water. They located just west and a bit south of the Tingley Ponds.

The ponds are part of a larger goal to restore three distinct wetland communities (deep marsh, shallow marsh and wet meadow) to the riparian ecosystem, as well as provide additional habitat for wetland dependent wildlife like amphibians, fish and waterfowl.

The entire Ecosystem Restoration Project in the Bosque would involve 26 miles, from Corrales to the Pueblo of Isleta. Because the Rio Grande isn't allowed to flood as it would do naturally, due to agriculture, urban development and flood protection, it is estimated that the riparian habitat has been decreased anywhere from 40% to 90%. The lacks of flooding and wetlands not only harms wildlife, it also creates a fire danger to the Bosque and the surrounding city.

The willows and cottonwood trees along the Bosque are reaching the end of their current life spans. They rely on new flooding to germinate. The restoration project will help replant the Bosque with native species.


View the Photo Journal.

ABQ: Autumn

ALBUQUERQUE

Autumn


“But then fall comes, kicking summer out on its treacherous ass as it always does one day sometime after the midpoint of September, it stays awhile like an old friend that you have missed. It settles in the way an old friend will settle into your favorite chair and take out his pipe and light it and then fill the afternoon with stories of places he has been and things he has done since last he saw you.” 
― Stephen King, 'Salem's Lot

ABQ: Aerial 1940

ALBUQUERQUE

1940 Aerial Photo

This is Downtown looking towards the river. It would appear there is flooding in what is now West Old Town and the Near North Valley.

Link to 1940 Census maps.

In 1940 Albuquerque had a Class C minor baseball team the Albuquerque Cardinals, named after their major league affiliated team of the St. Louis Cardinals. They played in the Arizona-Texas league at the Tingley Field ballpark, located in present day Barelas at 10th, Stover and Atlantic. The team started as the Albuquerque Dons, then the Cardinals, then Dukes while working their way up to AA, and eventually becoming the Albuquerque Dodgers, affiliated with the Los Angeles team, in the 1960s.

In 1940 the population of the state had increased about 25% from the previous decade, despite a declining birth rate and new laws restricting immigration. The total state population was 531,818.

Thousands of people flocked to New Mexico from 1880 through 1940 to seek a cure for tuberculosis. While many states began to discourage and even stop them from arriving, New Mexico welcomed "Lungers." By the 1930s New Mexico had nearly 60 sanatoriums to treat tuberculosis. Many more people came to find a cure in the sunshine on their own without official treatment. An entire industry arose around the health seekers, including a variety of newsletters.

The Health City Sun newspaper was established in 1929 and remains in print today. They now specialize in running legal notices.

ROUTE 66: Little Chief Lunch

ROUTE 66

Postcard of Little Chief Lunch

3101 East Central Ave., on Highway 66

While this postcard is from the UNM/Nob Hill area rather than Downtown, it typifies the "fast food" lunch stands that used to line the highways. The location is now Imbibe.

The postcard proclaims: "We serve nationally advertised foods." This would appear to be a mom-and-pop local variation of the White Castle hamburger chain, a concept unknown before the prevalence of automobile travel.

The postcard is dated 1906. However, this can't be correct. First of all, the architecture and car don't match turn of the century styles. More importantly, Highway 66 wouldn't run through Nob Hill until after 1937, when the alignment was changed from a north to south route from Santa Fe down to Los Lunas on what is now mostly Fourth Street in Albuquerque, to an east to west alignment going straight through Albuquerque on Central Ave. and by-passing places like Santa Fe.

ABQ: NotZozobra

ALBUQUERQUE

NotZozobra

View the slide show.


My neighbor Chris holds a NotZozobra party each year in late summer. (He's the guy in the slide show that looks like Santa Claus.) NotZozobra, like Burning Man or Zozobra in Santa Fe, is an annual Burning of a bogeyman. The Santa Fe fiesta dates back to 1926 and is said to have been inspired by the Holy Week celebrations of the Yaqui Indians in Mexico, who burned an effigy of Judas loaded with firecrackers.

My neighbor files all the proper permits with the city and invites the police and fire department. Good thing this year. The effigy-builders decided to skip the wire frame puppet and go with a Ziggurat constructed of wood frame and cardboard.

Don't try this at home.

We now know the traditional chicken wire frame serves the purpose of holding the construction together much longer, allowing for a slower flame, and retards the debris and embers from blowing everywhere. Luckily, the fire department was able to quickly get the blowing flames under control. Fun was had by all.


FLYER

Below is information about the event from the neighborhood flyer.

+NOTZOZOBRA 2012+

 

A Neighborhood Tradition for 14 Years

Saving Mankind from the End of Time -  September 7th

 

The Legend:

I received a mysterious e-mail from a Mayan Cacique who foretold the end of time on Winter Solstice of 2012. He told me that mankind's only hope was to perform a complex ritual which would kickstart time and thus save mankind. He told me that on the last dirt road in Downtown Albuquerque, in an old neighborhood, friends and neighbors should gather at the end of summer for an otherwise insane and pointless act of catharsis.

He told me to build a Ziggurat topped by a Plinth topped by a Chronolith to a total height of 4 Haunabs.(1) To which I replied, "Right... What's a Haunab?"

He told me to have people gather 'round, to yell, sing and dance, drum and generally cathart. He told me that the person who traveled furthest for the ritual should get to light the Zigguart topped by a Plinth topped by a Chronolith and burn it to ashes. To which I replied, "Right... What's a Ziggurat, or Plinth, or a Chronolith?"


Please join us. The building starts at 2:00 PM and the Burning is at 8:00. Times subject to change.

Bring something to share.(2) Bring bad thoughts, IRS notices, a picture of your Ex or whatever to stuff him, or write your bad thoughts on NotZozobra before we burn him. The Burning is a kid friendly event. The party afterwards is more adult friendly.

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1--With a tip of the hat to Bill Cosby, a Haunab is a real Mayan unit measurement of about 42 inches.
2--Food, drink, song, poetry, folding chairs, a winning Powerball ticket, whatever.


View the slide show.

STYLE: Jewelry

STYLE

Jewelry

A fun way to spice up outfits is to add jewelry. I'm a devotee of cheap jewelry to create instant trendy looks. A trip to the beach is made happier with a pair of large, dangle earrings.

In the winter sparkly pieces add cheer and light. Likewise, bird and plant-themed jewelry can welcome spring. In the fall bold, minimalist pieces can compliment a sparse, pared down look.

The proverbial little black dress can cover a range of functions--depending on the accessories. A classic blazer and strand of pearls can create a sophisticated business look, while the same dress with high boots and neon jewelry can be totally funky.

When someone dies, what heirlooms does the family argue over? Artwork and jewelry. Solid classic jewelry can last well beyond a lifetime.

If jewelry is valuable enough, like a diamond wedding ring, make sure it's covered by insurance. While a homeowner's or renter's insurance policy might cover burglaries (check for sure), what happens if the ring slips off the deck of a ship while on a cruise?

Photo and keep documentation of any high-priced jewelry. Make sure that documentation is stored either backed up electronically outside of the house or in a safety deposit box. You won't be compensated by your insurance in the event of loss if you can't prove that you owned the pieces. If valuable enough, jewelry should be professionally appraised periodically. A 20 year old sales slip, if it even still exists, might not prove the increased value over time.

Another reason to appraise is to determine the true quality of gem stones. Stories abound of stones being removed and replaced by lesser quality gems during cleanings. I'm not sure how often it really happens. But it's better to know what you actually own. Once again, it also proves the quality of the gem in case of loss. It's difficult to determine a gem stone value from just a picture.

Don't forget to clean quality jewelry once in awhile. A trick to keeping silver looking good is to buff it with car wax polish. Be careful to keep all cleaners away from stones, including amber.

Most importantly, have fun. Jewelry is a great way to change the mood of an outfit. There are wonderful pieces being hand-made by artisans around the country. While an original painting or a hand tailored suit might be out of your price range, an original piece of jewelry can be quite affordable. And you'll be able to wear it for many years to come.

STYLE: Hats

STYLE

Hats

I'm a big fan of urban living, particularly the idea of being able to walk or bike to work and for basics like groceries. It's what makes living Downtown so enjoyable. However, urban living also involves some different accessories than a lifestyle based on getting around by car. This may not be obvious to anyone who is used to hopping into a vehicle.

Some of the accessories of my grandparents' youth were more than fashion statements. Sturdy walking shoes, parasols and hats had practical functions when dealing with the elements.

Hats have enjoyed a bit of resurgence lately. I'm sorry they don't have an even broader appeal for summer weather.

Besides providing much needed shade when the thermometer climbs, hats protect expensive hair coloring and treatments. Hats can also instantly add style to an outfit when it's too hot for other accessories like a tailored blazer or scarf.

Well-made hats, like high-end shoes, can create a polished look. Inexpensive but fun hats can add a custom touch to an otherwise dull outfit.

While traveling I enjoy coming across a traditional Sunday dinner restaurant, complete with ladies in colorful outfits and their big hats. Nothing else looks the same as Easter brunch in all its finery. As more people return to urban lifestyles, I am hoping to see more hats.

ABQ: Crossing Signal

ALBUQUERQUE

Crossing Signal

View the Photo Journal of Downtown drawings. These were created from photographs of Downtown Albuquerque.