Tuesday, March 01, 2016

A Tale of Two Towns: Acme & Frazier, NM



Those of you who are fans of the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote might be excited to hear that there was once a town in New Mexico named Acme. However, the corporation which lent its name to the place made cement blocks not jet-propelled unicycles. In the early 1900’s, the Acme Gypsum Cement Company built a mill slightly south of the Clovis Highway (supplanted by present-day U.S. 70), 17 miles northeast of Roswell, where aliens would later badly botch a saucer landing.

In 1907, the Acme School commenced lessons from inside a tent. Later, a one-room frame and plaster school was built on the western edge of town, placed so as to keep the students away from the dust and smoke of the mill. Grades 1-8 were taught and kids had to bring their own books and supplies, along with their lunches.



Acme boasted a hotel, large horse barn, general store, depot, and some company houses for workers. Its post office opened in 1906 and closed in 1946, by which time the Acme Gypsum Cement Co. had been out of business for ten years. When the mill closed, it was estimated that there were 30-40 people in Acme, of which 20 were children. Now there is nothing left of Acme at all, except for the cemetery, which is north of U.S. 70, half a mile away from where the mill once crunched gypsum.

One hundred meters from what doesn’t remain of Acme is the photogenic ruin of the Frazier School. So close together that some people seem not to distinguish between Acme and Frazier, their existence overlapped slightly. Frazier was established later and survived longer...but not too much longer. Frazier’s post office opened in 1937, a year after the Acme mill closed. That same year the Frazier School was built. Funeral services were also held in the school since the Acme Cemetery was nearby. I assume that anyone who died in Frazier was also buried in the Acme Cemetery. I also assume funerals weren’t held during class, unless mortuary science was on the curriculum.



Now, Frazier was a community of folks trying to make it through the ongoing effects of the Great Depression as best they could. Many of those who worked at the Acme Gypsum Cement Co. had moved on and almost the only employment in the area was to be found in the dusty, meagre soil of the eastern plains. Some ranchers did have cattle, and one enterprising rancher is said to have herded turkeys as if they were sheep. Coyote skins could be sold at Bond-Baker Wool and Hide Co. for $1.50-$5.00 per pelt, and the meat of a cottontail rabbit might be worth $1.00. Still, many families lived in dugouts or other similarly challenging shelter.

Yet these homesteaders wanted their children to receive a good education. So, it was C.M. Martin, the Chaves County superintendent, who designated that a new school, larger than the one in Acme, be built on land donated by Otis L. Shields. Then Lake J. Frazier secured a contract with the Works Progress Administration for construction, and thus both the school and the community were named for him. This would be the last one-teacher school built in Chaves County.



Stones were gathered from the area for building material, and black volcanic rocks framed the windows and doors. White rocks were used to create a five-point star above the front doors, and a steer’s head with longhorns was set in the eastern wall. There was one double-size room with a smaller room on each side partitioned by double doors. There was no electricity, but six large north-facing windows let in lots of sunlight (see photo above). Nor was there running water, but a stone tower out back contained a cistern on top, as well as coal storage below. “WATER” was spelled-out in volcanic rock along the tower’s top (see photo below). Mesquite roots augmented the coal supply when it came to providing heat. Teachers were required to check the route for rattlesnakes before allowing a child to use the outhouse.



As soon as it was completed, pupils attending the Acme School moved to the Frazier School, as did their teacher, Margaret Harrison. There were 24 kids that first year and Mrs. Harrison boarded with the family of Mac Smith, who ran a store and gas station, as well as the post office. Some students walked to school, but those on ranches were picked up in a car. Horse-drawn implements were used to finally make roads suitable for busses. Mrs. Harrison had already moved to another school by 1938 and teachers came and went frequently in Frazier.

Frazier was an active community through World War II, but, after the war, enrollment in the school dropped below the mandatory eight pupils and it closed in 1945. Students in the area were then sent to Roswell. For a time the school was used a community center, but eventually even the need for that withered. Now, not a soul remains in Frazier and the ruins of the stone school, once the pride of many, are all that marks this place.



Most information for this post came from The last one-teacher school is special to many, in the December 27, 1996 edition of the Roswell Daily Record, as well as Acme’s heyday was from 1905 until late 1930’s, in the November 29, 1996 edition of the same. Both articles were written by Ernestine Chesser Williams and can be found in her collection, “Chaves County Schools 1881-1968: Treasures of New Mexico History.” The only place that has copies for sale is the Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico in Roswell. As usual, Robert Julyan’s “The Place Names of New Mexico” provided some detail, but Williams reported details available nowhere else.

Incidentally, Williams’ little homemade book seems to have debunked at least the location of the reputed Billy the Kid “croquet” photograph as her drawing of the original Flying H School looks nothing like the building in that photo. Pretty cool.

32 comments:

Linda said...

Fascinating post and great photos. Thank you so much for sharing.

jmhouse said...

Thank you for your comment, Linda. I appreciate your interest! JM

Unknown said...

Is the land that the ruins of Frazier and Acme ruins are located BLM or private? My daughter and I were just there poking around today and we were approached and told that it was private ranch property. I didn't see any posted signs anywhere around any of the ruins.

jmhouse said...

Jerry Gregorcyk, my New Mexico Gazetteer shows Frazier to be at a point where BLM land is to the south and private land to the north. That's within a mosaic of private, state, and BLM property. You do need to cross a small strip of that private land to get to the school, but whether the school itself is private or BLM I can't say at the scale I've got. It's very close, that's for sure. Maybe somebody else will be able to fill us in.

Best, JM

J Winkler said...

My great-grandparents are buried in this Cemetery. Thanks again for the history.

Anonymous said...

My Name is Bryson H. Frazier, and I am the great-grandson of Lake J. Frazier, whom you mention in your blog. What an interesting story. I knew he was a local lawyer, probate judge and mayor of Roswell, but had no idea there was a town and school named after him.

Thank you so much for sharing. I can't wait to share this story with my dad (Lake's grandson).

jmhouse said...

I am really thrilled to hear from you, Bryson! It is not well-known that Frazier, NM was named for your great-grandfather. In fact, the information I cite does not even appear in "The Place Names of New Mexico." However, you will find reference to Lake J. Frazier in “Chaves County Schools 1881-1968: Treasures of New Mexico History,” which I ordered through The Historical Society of Southeast NM. It might be worth tracking down a copy for the family archives!

Thanks very much for your comment! JM

Unknown said...

There are remnants of both the Cement a Block factory on the south side of the highway, and also of what is believed to be the general store, further to the east. I was just out there today. There are also remnants of the concrete base of what must have been a loading platform right by the railroad....I wish I could post pictures.

jmhouse said...

That's cool, Linda Neel! We're talking Acme, right? Obviously, I've not seen those ruins! It is unfortunate that you can't post photos here in the comments, but if you send them to the e-mail address associated with my profile in the upper right of this page I can add them to the post itself. Just let me know if that might work. I'd love to see 'em!

Thanks very much for your comment! JM

Anonymous said...

Both Frazier school and remains of Acme are on private property according to on hunt X maps.

Unknown said...

My number is 5052392190 can you send me pictures please

Unknown said...

We are talking the Acme Brick Factory. I think the store may have neen High Lonesome.

jmhouse said...

Hi Joshua Barnes,

I don't have many more photos than what are posted here, but I may have a few outtakes. Do you have an e-mail address where I can send them?

Thanks for stopping by CoD! JM

jmhouse said...

Thanks for the info, Linda Neel. Is that the general store you're referring to? "The Place Names of New Mexico" doesn't provide a specific location for High Lonesome. It's just listed as "overlooking the Pecos River on Highway 70" with the note that "only foundations are left here, but the site remains conspicuously high and lonesome." However, that would certainly put it in the ballpark!

Thanks again! JM

Unknown said...

Was just there in late October 2018....school looks like it could have life again. Cemetery well maintained still. Visible from Hwy 70.

Winston Cox said...

My dad Winston H Cox and sisters attended Frazier in the 30's when his father, Holland, was foreman at the Melena railroad section a few miles south of Acme. He returned there in 1954 as section foreman with his family. I was bussed to Berrendo school in 55-56 and driver was Carl Cooper who lived several miles upriver from Frazier.
Wonderful memories!

Christeen Wade said...

Hello Winston. Do you remember Johnny Watson and his Sister Jannie that lived across the highway from Melena? We went to Berrendo School with you and your sister Judith. My family went to Saturday evening gatherings and Sunday morning Church in the schoolhouse. My Grandfather, Jim "Watson, is buried in the cemetery behind the schoolhouse. I have a picture of some of the church members on the front steps of the building. My family new Carl Cooper's family. Leta Fern Married George White.

jmhouse said...

Thank you for sharing your family history in the Acme/Frazier area, Christeen Wade. I'm very pleased to have it included here! And I'd sure be interested in seeing that picture of the church members taken outside the schoolhouse! I'm not sure if you've got it digitized, but, if so, and you're willing to pass it along, you can always email me at the address associated with the "View My Complete Profile" link in the above right of this page. Just had to put that out there!

Thanks again! JM

Winston Cox said...

For Jeannie Watson this may be a repeat as I submitted in the fall of 2020 as I had not returned to the site for many months after your posting. Anyway, greetings long time ago Melena neighbor. My how time passes! No corona virus in the early '50's, just snakes and no water or indoor plumbing. We were tough and our parents were super tough. Now in December of 2020 we are in virus hiding east of Albuquerque. Would be safer in Melena. Best wishes to you and yours and if a Grand Me!DNA Reunion, see you there. Winston Cox and yep, now 79 and holding.

Christeen Wade said...

Hello Winston Cox. I am happy to see your reply. Yes, it has been a very long time since we were in Melena and attended Berrendo school in Roswell. My brother said the old school burnt down and they built a new school....Same name. We are hiding from the virus in El Paso, Tx. Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year and hopefully an end to the virus in the new year. I will be 79 in February so yes you was a grade ahead of me in school. Did you see the picture JM House posted on his Facebook page? I think you might recognize some of them. Take care and Stay Safe! (Jannie Watson) also known as Christeen Wade.

Anonymous said...


The article was very informative and interesting. Great research went into this article so that I could enjoy it. Thank you. Shirley M.

Unknown said...

I looked closely at the tombstones at the cemetery and it seemed to tell a heartbreaking story. There is a series of graves of infants with the same last name and a man and a woman also with the same name who died shortly there after. But there graves were well maintained so maybe a child or two survived. Anyone with the rest of the story?

jmhouse said...

Thank you for your comments, everyone! I appreciate hearing these stories and memories. Winston Cox, I thought I would provide you with direct links to the Facebook posts that Christeen Wade referenced. Then you won't have to scroll all the way down to November 29 on the City of Dust Facebook page.

Both photographs are wonderful historical shots Christeen Wade generously provided. The first is a photo from 1956 taken outside the Acme School. This is the shot which may have some faces you'll recognize. You can find it HERE.

The second photograph, taken in 1939, includes Christeen's mother and father, as well as a man named James D. 'Jim' Watson that's buried in the Frazier cemetery. That one is HERE.

Okay, I hope everyone is still saying safe out there. We're almost a year into hiding out from this virus, which is hard to believe. So here's to hoping we won't have to be hiding much longer!

Thanks again, and take good care! JM

jmhouse said...

Unknown, I'm afraid I can't supply any information about those sad graves. In fact, for some reason I can't explain, I never visited the cemetery. That was a real mistake.

Anyway, perhaps someday someone will read this page and be able to provide a little information. Were there any dates on the gravestones? These days one can't help but wonder if the deaths were the result of a contagious illness, perhaps even the 1918 influenza pandemic.

I have seen many similar plots containing entire families--or nearly entire--and one can't help but imagine the terrible sorrow that comes with such tragedies. It's a further tragedy that, like virtually all the others I've seen, the story of those graves in the Acme Cemetery remains untold. At least for now.

Thank you for letting us know what you found, Unknown. JM

Unknown said...

My father,Albert Pruitt Foster, along with his twin brother Charlie Joyce, and younger sister, Florence Elizabeth Belle, were born in Acme..father and brother in 1909, and sister in 1911 or1912. Along with 5 other siblings and their mother, Artie Mincie Poteet Foster...buried their father, Fredrick Wilson Foster. Albert was nicknamed Ben, and Charlie was nicknamed Hodge. I'm sure he majority of children in that school were the Foster kids. Shortly thereafter, mother and kids moved to Ft. Thomas Az. I really appreciated the writeup on Acme.

jmhouse said...

Thank you for sharing your family history, Unknown! It's wonderful to hear from someone with such a connection to Acme! You might be interested in seeing THIS GROUP PHOTO shot outside the Acme School, although it was taken a little later, about 1956.

Thanks again, and I'm glad you enjoyed the post! JM

NMcowboy said...

My Brother in Law's mother taught school out there. She used to tell me many stories about that school. There is also an old graveyard out there.

Linda Neel said...

The graves in the cemetery do not coincide with the Spanish Flu era. They are dated later…

jmhouse said...

Thank you for the info, Linda Neel! Sometimes my speculation goes awry! Maybe someday I can finally see that cemetery for myself.

Thanks again! JM

Anonymous said...

We went hunting for rabbits out their the school is by the road and no signs or gates by it it’s not on private land

Raj said...

My elementary school principal, Mr. Green, was from Acme. This was in the early 90’s at Del Norte Elementary in Roswell.

Patricha White Lacasse said...

My birth certificate says I was born in Fraizer, N.M I was born 2-16-1939 I am ooo excited to see this posting about the town that has not existed for many years. My parents were Lineol & Sara White