tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post1459936964355248632..comments2024-03-26T10:17:21.693-05:00Comments on CITY OF DUST: Getting Less Kicks: Newkirk, New Mexicojmhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07470407787311078380noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-48648823990434791012018-09-26T21:21:12.810-05:002018-09-26T21:21:12.810-05:00And I'm one of those 7 people here in newkirk ...And I'm one of those 7 people here in newkirk nm me and my husband bought a little rock house here we bought it from the guy who runs the gas stationAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02814688876099897513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-61328729030888391152018-02-01T00:18:31.668-06:002018-02-01T00:18:31.668-06:00Good to hear from you, Karin! And thank you very m...Good to hear from you, Karin! And thank you very much for your wonderful firsthand account of Newkirk. It's poignant and insightful and a window into life in the area that one doesn't often get the chance to look through. It's a valuable addition to the original piece on the history of Newkirk and I'm pleased to have your words included here.<br /><br />Thank you again! JMjmhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07470407787311078380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-18403247720580625502018-01-30T11:35:21.411-06:002018-01-30T11:35:21.411-06:00I lived in Newkirk over two decades and wouldn'...I lived in Newkirk over two decades and wouldn't give up the experience for any thing in the world. There once was a horseback traveler on Rte 66 that traveled around the world on horseback and camped out opposite my home with his horse. He was from Germany and headed east until he made it to California and the the route 66 trail. My husband and I were in awe because we liked Newkirk in the days we owned and rode horses. Shelby purchased from the Bell Ranch and Thunder purchased from Colorado and Shelby's stallion named Lighting that was born in our horse coral. There was a time we rode everyday along Rte 66 in Newkirk. We both loved the congeniality of rural country living and built many friendships. We were both leary of strangers but had our social group. It is still part of cattle country and we were fortunate enough to know a Wagon Boss cowboy from the Bell Ranch. We both love Newkirk for our land and friendships and wouldn't move or sell our land because it is the breath of our lives. Old and a ghost town Newkirk is and definately a city of Dust and I can still see the ghost memories of the animals we had on our land and enjoyed raising. The storms we survived and the beauty of the ever changing active sky. We were helpful to most and leary of some because vagabonds are unpredictable. Also a man walked from California to the east on Route 66. The folklore about Route 66 travel still brings a stranger to your door knocking and asking about this area of the country. Do like and love Newkirk, NM but rarely speak to strangers. The is a lot of truth about unpredictable upsets that can scare someone away. Mostly though, if you settle and meet and befriend the right people life is very enjoyable in cattle country the city of Dust in Newkirk NM --KarinKarinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01009715367423896288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-83532133294585689472017-11-06T00:29:46.126-06:002017-11-06T00:29:46.126-06:00Well now. I didn't actually know that Newkirk ...Well now. I didn't actually know that Newkirk was the least-populated town in New Mexico. And it's not the one I would've guessed to hold that title. But, that being the case, I'm glad I've covered it. I'd hate to have missed someplace that...small.<br /><br />Thanks for the info, Judith! JMjmhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07470407787311078380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-82342681990025564412017-11-04T12:24:58.987-05:002017-11-04T12:24:58.987-05:00According to the internet, Newkirk is the least po...According to the internet, Newkirk is the least populated town in New Mexico with a population of 7. I was looking at the smallest towns in the U.S. and came across this. Might have known you had been there and written about it. Good work John.<br />Judith Bowersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-31442305948692108272015-08-24T11:45:02.539-05:002015-08-24T11:45:02.539-05:00What an incredible scene you depict, Anonymous. It...What an incredible scene you depict, Anonymous. It's almost hard to imagine all the worldly possessions tied to the car roofs and then traded for gas and food as the migrants went west. It had never occurred to me that it would've made sense to travel at night in those days before A/C because it was cooler. Of course, then it would've also made sense to keep gas stations open 24 hours a day.<br /><br />Those are astonishing recollections of Newkirk and Route 66 during the Dust Bowl. Thank you for posting them here at City of Dust. JM jmhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07470407787311078380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-2793406801035054242015-08-23T19:31:54.608-05:002015-08-23T19:31:54.608-05:00Very interesting. I am now 84 years old. I lived i...Very interesting. I am now 84 years old. I lived in Newkirk when I was 5. My dad built and operated a Rio Pecos service station facing north against Hiway 66, then just a graveled road. It was during the height of the migration from Oklahoma to California- dust bowl times. I recall the people coming through with as many as 10 people in a car, with all manner of things--chicken coops, mattress, etc--tied atop the cars. My dad kept the station open 24 hours a day, as many drove through the night when it was cooler. Some of them traded possessions for gasoline. The railroad was fairly close behind the station, and hoboes came by, too, asking to chop wood, etc., in exchange for biscuits my mother made. My uncles worked for my dad. There was a great deal of activity then, with the Conchas Dam under construction not far to the north. I can remember going into Santa Rosa two or three times to the movies. I hadn't started to school. We only stayed there three or four months, then my dad took us to Encino, where he built a new Rio Pecos station facing onto Hiway 60. That was where I started to school. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-85289086899279048822015-03-22T00:55:44.286-05:002015-03-22T00:55:44.286-05:00No, thank YOU for all the great posts. Gives me so...No, thank YOU for all the great posts. Gives me some ideas on where to go. New Mexico is really beautiful and I don't think it gets enough credit. I'm only spending 2 days there, but that's better than the quick drive through we normally do. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-62534667615307777122015-03-21T23:34:02.799-05:002015-03-21T23:34:02.799-05:00Glad you are finding inspiration on City of Dust, ...Glad you are finding inspiration on City of Dust, Anonymous! There are some interesting things to see along that stretch of old Route 66, to say the least. Please let us know what you find out there! And give the dog a pat on the head for me.<br /><br />Have a great trip and thanks for your comment! JMjmhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07470407787311078380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-7973404261003477542015-03-21T17:45:27.696-05:002015-03-21T17:45:27.696-05:00I'm so glad I accidentally stumbled upon your ...I'm so glad I accidentally stumbled upon your site. We road trip every year and usually breeze through NM. This year will be different, and we will be spending some time there exploring and being touristy. That being said, the Newkirk 66 gas station was my favorite pit stop because of the dog. I can't even tell you the lengths I went to try to figure out where in the world this gas station was when I was planning our 2nd trip. We're about to head on our 3rd trip and will make it a point to stop there again. This time, I will have more time to take in the forgotten towns along the way. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-36553166729201961472015-02-19T11:22:57.776-06:002015-02-19T11:22:57.776-06:00It is kind of like stepping off the earth, Tom Gau...It is kind of like stepping off the earth, Tom Gauss! Oddly enough, I sort of enjoy that feeling.<br /><br />Thanks for the comment! JMjmhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07470407787311078380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-12548806447861926132015-02-18T18:33:49.012-06:002015-02-18T18:33:49.012-06:00I stopped there for gas while on a motorcycle trip...I stopped there for gas while on a motorcycle trip. It is like you stepped off the earth. I will go back when I have time.<br />Tom Gaussnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-8966765720033560282014-11-01T15:27:43.331-05:002014-11-01T15:27:43.331-05:00Thanks for your comment, Anni! We haven't hear...Thanks for your comment, Anni! We haven't heard from many people with connections to Newkirk, so your comment is doubly appreciated.<br /><br />I wish I'd had a chance to photograph the Red Mesa, but I suspect it's long gone. You wouldn't know anything about the ruins of the bar just down the road in Montoya, would you? The one with "COLD BEER" on the side and the bullet holes? I'm very curious about the history of that establishment.<br /><br />Thanks again! JMjmhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07470407787311078380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-4933007832738524392014-11-01T01:51:08.019-05:002014-11-01T01:51:08.019-05:00As a kid I spent a lot of time there. That's w...As a kid I spent a lot of time there. That's where we would get gas or a snack before a long day of horse back riding and gathering cattle. I can still remember buying cokes in a bottle and having to pull it out of the machine. It seemed like they had everything in that store. My dad used have the guy who ran the shop next to the store fix his truck. There was a bar down the road from the post office called the Red Mesa it's where I learned to play pool. There's only a couple of the old timers families there anymore. It's mostly people who came from far away that live their now and they aren't all that nice. Almost like they have something to hide but out want like that when I was growing upAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00483170941074679871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-7031492362670443652013-08-29T20:14:42.257-05:002013-08-29T20:14:42.257-05:00This is great!This is great!Terrellhttp://besttreadmillforhomes.us/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-79979307754732155162013-08-21T22:37:34.868-05:002013-08-21T22:37:34.868-05:00Thanks for the kind words, Summer! They're muc...Thanks for the kind words, Summer! They're much appreciated. <br /><br />Good luck with the job hunt. I've been a plant ecologist (mostly) for 17 years and know the temp job/soft money lifestyle very well! JM jmhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07470407787311078380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-18227771778943057222013-08-21T18:06:24.196-05:002013-08-21T18:06:24.196-05:00Hello! I stumbled across your blog by accident and...Hello! I stumbled across your blog by accident and I just want to say, it's fantastic! I have a soft spot for ghost towns/historic architecture, and everything on here is absolutely fascinating. Thank you for sharing, I'll definitely stopping by again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-39929593529089505642013-08-12T14:42:20.102-05:002013-08-12T14:42:20.102-05:00As always, thanks for stopping by, Julie! Newkirk ...As always, thanks for stopping by, Julie! Newkirk is a fascinating place, but, as I mentioned, the vibe is a little heavy sometimes.<br /><br />Hope all is well in AZ! JMjmhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07470407787311078380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921005.post-62933834346166341852013-08-12T14:31:23.731-05:002013-08-12T14:31:23.731-05:00Thanks for the photos and story about this small f...Thanks for the photos and story about this small forgotten town. I would love to visit and take photos of the abandoned structures.Julie Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10460274888229792456noreply@blogger.com