Month: April 2016

Dead Reckoning: Where Were El Paso’s Earliest Cemeteries?

By Mark Cioc-Ortega Concordia Cemetery opened in 1884, Evergreen in 1893. The Smelter Cemetery was supposedly established in 1882, but was not used much before the 1890s. So, where did El Pasoans bury their dead before that? The answer, it seems, is “just about anywhere they wanted to.” Back yards, empty lots, hillsides. The population […]

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El Paso’s Own Mona the Elephant

Mona was the first Asian elephant to be bought to the El Paso Zoo in November 1956. Mona was born in the wild in 1954. When she first came to the zoo she weighed 7oo pounds. During the 1950s, the El Paso Zoo collection of animal began to increase and the zoo begin to develop. […]

Event: History of Agriculture in El Paso, April 23

On April 23, 2016, 10am, at the Burges House, 603 W. Yandell, master gardener Bill Hooten will give a talk on early El Paso agriculture and what can be grown in El Paso followed by a Q & A about keeping your garden looking its best this spring and summer. Light refreshments will be served, and […]

Aultman Scrapbook, Pancho Villa

Photos: Otis Aultman Scrapbook

Among the many treasures at the Historical Society is a scrapbook by photographer Otis Aultman. Aultman came to El Paso where he first worked for Scott Photo Company, was later in partnership with Robert Dorman, and eventually owned his own studio.

By 1911 El Paso was a gathering place for many of the main personalities of the Mexican Revolutionqv-Francisco Madero, Francisco (Pancho) Villa, Pascual Orozcoqqvand after the shooting began, many American newsmen also flocked to El Paso to cover the event. Aultman was a man in the right place at the right time. He photographed the battle of Casas Grandes, the first battle of Juárez in May 1911, and the Orozco rebellion in 1912. He was a favorite of Pancho Villa, who called Aultman “Banty Rooster” because he was only 5’4″ tall. Aultman worked for the International News Service and Pathé News and experimented with cinematography. In 1916 he was one of the first photographers to arrive at Columbus, New Mexico, after the famous raid on that town by the Villistas.

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Alligators at San Jacinto Plaza

With San Jacinto Park opening on April 16, the alligator will still be a part of the identity of our Placita. This is an undated photo of an alligator at the San Jacinto Alligator Pond. If you find this interesting and want to see more of theses photos, please call the El Paso County Historical […]

To Live and Drink in the Borderland, Part II

As many of you know, we hosted an event titled “To Live and Drink in the Borderland” back in September highlighting El Paso’s rich and varied history as it pertains to the brewing of beer. Because of the success of that event, we held Part II on St. Patrick’s Day. It was also a hit! Featured are some photos of the event.