El Conquistador

      The El Paso County Historical Society (EPCHS) announces its third annual Appraisal Fair to be held on Sunday, February 21, from 12 noon to 4:30 p.m. at the El Paso Woman's Club, 1400 N. Mesa. Expert appraisers will be on hand to evaluate items including antiques, collectibles, firearms, jewelry, artwork and personal items. Only items that can be hand carried will be appraised. Verbal appraisals will be available at $20 for the first two items and $10 per item after that.       Scheduled appraisers include Joel Jones, Rod Davenport, Richard Worthington, Adair Margo, Cita Schuster and Susan Eisen, Some appraisers will appear on the Leon Metz Show on Saturday, February 20, to discuss their areas of expertise. The show airs every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon on KTSM 690.       On Saturday, February 13, at 8:00 p.m., KCOS Channel 13 will air a half hour program of the 2009 Appraisal Fair. "El Paso Appraisal Fair 2009" shows professional appraisers as they give verbal descriptions and values for many different antiques and collectibles that people brought to the Appraisal Fair in May, 2009. There are some unusual firearms, which was a new category in 2009. There are books by famous El Paso authors, some with personal messages. There's a rare Egyptian-theme art deco lamp, and a painted "jockey" lawn ornament that has some unusual history about it. Also there are several paintings and jewelry items that are appraised on this program, some with unique histories.       Free parking is available across the street from the Woman's Club. So bring in those family treasures and garage sale finds. Chairman Keith Ericson promises an entertaining and educational experience for all.

Dear Society Member,

      This is the beginning of a new decade, a new year and the second year of my administration. I want to thank you for the continuous support you give to the Society.

      There are quite a few events this month that I would like to share with you. We are approaching our third annual Appraisal Fair on Sunday, February 21, 2010 at the Woman's Club of El Paso, from 12:00 noon to 4:30 p.m. Save the date and bring your treasures to be appraised, your family and friends to this exciting event. KCOS will air last years' Appraisal Fair on Saturday, February 13th, beginning at 8:00 p.m.. Keith Erickson and his committee are working extremely hard to make this fair another success for the Society and the Community. We need your presence.

      The University of Texas at El Paso will sponsor National History Day on Saturday, February 20th. Volunteers are needed. If you are interested, please call the Burges House for additional information.

      The Quarterly Meeting is Sunday, February 28th, 2:00 p.m., at Radford School, 2001 Radford Street. It is one of our treasures in El Paso and worthy of a visit from our members. Please plan to attend.

      One of the Society's goals this year is to increase membership by 25 %. It is obtainable, with your help. Membership is the foundation of any organization and is very vital for growth. Carmen Stearns and her committee are doing a great job to help promote and recruit new members.

      The Texas State Historical Society convenes in Dallas, March 4-6, 2010. It should be an excellent Convention. Several Board Members will be attending. Next year the Convention will be in El Paso and your support is needed.

      Again, a special thank you to all of our volunteers and members for the super job you do for the Society.


            Lillian Crouch

Quarterly Meeting Scheduled

      The El Paso County Historical Society (EPCHS) announces its first quarterly meeting of 2010 to be held on Sunday, February 28, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Radford School, 2001 Radford. We will discuss the collections at the school. The building houses the Napoleonic Museum and Library and a collection of World War I posters. Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor attended Radford and there is some memorabilia concerning her.

      The El Paso School for Girls was founded in 1910 with a campus in Sunset Heights. In 1917, ground was broken for a new campus in Austin Terrace and on January 20, 1918, the residence and school were opened. In 1927, Dr. Lucinda de Leftwich Templin was appointed principal. Finding the school deeply in debt and on the verge of closing, she called upon her friends Mr. and Mrs. George A Radford for help. By 1931, the Radfords became owners of the school and the name was changed to Radford School for Girls. In the ensuing years, the physical plant and the school's programs were expanded. Boys were admitted in 1976, and the name of the school was changed to Radford School. For a more detailed history of the school, please refer to "Radford School: The First 75 Years of Excellence" by Laura Cramer which was featured in the 1985 Fall edition of Password (Volume 30, No. 3). The information above was taken from the article.

History Day

      TThe thirteenth annual El Paso History Day contest will be held on Saturday, February 20 on the UTEP campus. The theme for 2010 is "Innovation in History: Impact and Change". In 2009 over 276 students participated in the event.

Judges are needed for the event. Please contact Dr. Charles Martin at charlesm@utep.edu or Pat Worthington at the Society at 533-3603 if you are interested in participating. Past judges have stated that the judging is fun and interesting and not nearly as intimidating as it sounds. Categories to be judged include exhibits, documentaries, performances, interpretive web sites and papers.

El Paso History Day is a yearly event sponsored by the Department of History at UTEP and the El Paso County Historical Society. It serves as the regional qualifying event for Texas History Day which in turn sends its winners to National History Day in Washington D.C. National History Day is an educational program devoted to improving the teaching and learning of history in American schools.

Welcome New Board Members

      We would like to welcome the new board members of the El Paso County Historical Society who will serve from 2010 through 2012. They include Elias Bonilla, Mary Brock, Ellie Fenton, John Grost, M. D., Judge Bill Moody, Linda Rivera, and Claudia Rivers.
2008-2010 directors serving on the board are Bill Avila, Jed Becker, Keith Ericson, Kurt Goetting, Charles Mais, Jack McGrath, and A. C. Sanders, II. The 2009-2011, directors are Duane Coleman, Sanford Cox, Maceo Dailey, PhD, Rod Davenport, Jonathan Schwartz and Richard Worthington, Ph.D.
      Officers are Lillian Crouch, president, Mary Jo Melby, 1st vice-president, Mary Haynes, 2nd vice-president, Pat Worthington, 3rd vice-president, Steve Meador, recording secretary, Sandra Gibson, corresponding secretary, George O'Brien, treasurer, John B. Butterworth, accountant, Carmen Stearns, membership, Pat Worthington, curator, and Magda Flores, historian.
      Pat Worthington also serves as program chair and editor of Password. Bill Hooten chairs the Burges House Commission.
      Board meetings are held the first Tuesday of the month. All members are welcome to attend. Minutes of the board meetings are available at the Society's office.

Sunset Heights Neighborhood Association Plans Tour of Homes

      Nine homes are scheduled on the Sunset Heights Neighborhood Improvement Association's annual tour of homes from 12 noon to 5 p.m. on March 13, 2010.

      The Burges House, home of the El Paso County Historical Society, will be on the tour. Some of the other homes included are the home of Hal Marcus, the Borron Home, 1026 Upson, the McDonald and Lowder Home, 904 Upson, the Aguirre home, 1011 W. Yandell, the Gomez home, 1025 Upson, the apartments at 1124 N. El Paso Street, the Fitzmaurice Home, 603 Upson, and the Osborne home at 1217 N. El Paso Street. No transportation will be provided.

      If you are interested in volunteering at the Burges House, please call the office at 533-3603.