https://voicesofignacio.cvlcollections.org/files/original/87f1b0aac833288a878c0fbda430424d.pdf 8f4a4823eb19e03b7e5f618d34bd0dcc PDF Text Text ~ ~ ' ' ' ' ' , , , ) ) ) ) ' -) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) J _) __) ...) J J J J ._) ..) ._) ._) ._) TOM and ESTEFANITA (Rodriguez) GARCIA Jose Francisco Tomas Garcia came running along the ditch, then plopped onto his stomach under a pinon tree to watch the ditch water pound the waterwheel slowly and relentlessly round and round. Tiny boats made of wood shavings and sticks glided along in grand disregard for their danger, bounced down the waterwheel and disinterested in the churning pool. At nine years of age Tomas was old enough to give his grandfather some help in the flour mill, but like today there were slack times, too. Time to sail boats, time to watch clouds in the blue New Mexico sky and time to listen to the wind in the junipers. Today the hot weather sound of grasshoppers singing accompanied the measured splashing of the wheel, and underlying all was the steady, patient, low monotone of stone turning upon stone. Tomas and his mother, Nepomucena, divided their time between Grandfather Garcia's farm and flour mill and Grandfather Montoya's ranch near Espanola. Tom's father came home as often as he could, but worked on a ranch in the Animas Valley just below the Waterfall Ranch. Tomas, the first of seven children, was born October 4, 1880, at Mesilla, New Mexico. He was nine when he started to school. Everyone, including the teachers spoke Spanish. "We didn't have shows or ball games, but we played with tops, made our own bows and arrows and shot some good marble games." On his tenth birthday, Tom got a present he still remembers. While attempting to hitch a couple of horses to a wagon, he received a severe kick in the head. The blow was stunning and painful, but no permanent injury was done, except for a mark still visible on his forehead. Tom watched the horses more closely after that. Some of the most exciting days of the year during Tom's boyhood were the days of the cock races. A rooster, the target of the race, would be buried in loose earth with only its head and neck exposed. Two teams of horseman, or horsewomen, would line up at the starting point and ride off like thunder at the shot of a gun. Members of each team would lean precariously f rom their saddles attempting to grab the chicken and uproot it from the earth as they rode by in full gallop. Sometimes several passes were required with much jostling and shoving between the teams before either succeeded. Once the rooster was in hand the team possessing it attempted to ride to a designated goal and back to the starting line. The rooster, squawking and kicking, usually changed hands many times being captured and recaptured by each team in a wild, horseback free-for-all. If eyes were blackened, horses were tripped and grand fist fights broke out, that's what was expected. Spectators took a frantic interest in the outcome partly because it was an exciting sport and partly because betting on the winner assumed high stakes. Most of the time there would be a women's race and then a men's race. In the evening the losing teams were required to sponsor a dance and reception with refreshments for the winners . Tom says the last cock race he recalls took place about 1900 in New Mexico. In the summer of 1890 Tom's father, Jose, moved his family to the Animas Valley north of Durango. Tom was promptly hired to operate the horse drawn hay-baler, even though he was only 10 years old. For two years Tom went to school in Durango and learned a lot of English . ._) J ._) .J J 59 �By 1893 Tom's father had saved enough money to buy farmland near Blanco. Tom took great pride in acquiring his own pony at this time and had fun playing Spanish Explorer in the hills. In 1905 when Tom came to the Pine River Valley to visit his cousin, he did not plan to make his home here. No town existed. All that was here at the lime was the train depot, a few homes of Tribal Members, the Indian Agency and the trading post where Tom's cousin worked. While Tom was here, one of the employees at the post quit and the Hall brothers gave Tom the job of clerking and delivering. The two Hall brothers who owned the trading post lived at home with their mother. One of them was never married and the other was a widower with several children. Employed to care for the family, keep house and cook was a young lady named Estefanita Rodriquez. Estefanita was small, quick, efficient and very pretty. Since Tom was assigned to milk the cow for the family and lo eat his meals with the Halls, he met Estefanila over the milk pail and quickly acquired a taste for her cooking. "We got acquainted pretty fast," Tom admits. They were married in 1906. Tom continued to work at the post for a while; then they moved to Bayfield where he got a job with the Postal Service delivering sacks of bulk mail from the Ignacio Depot to Bayfield and then from Bayfield back to Ignacio. "There weren't any roads then, just trails. I drove a spring wagon along a trail by Buckskin Charlie's place." Tom liked his job because he got to keep on the move and meet people, but when Hans Aspaas bought the Agency Store, Tom went back to work in his old job. The Halls had bought John Taylor's land located between the present day Bank of Ignacio and the Catholic Church. Aspaas bought a large piece of land south of the bank and together they started platting the town of Ignacio. Tom and Estefanita worked hard and saved their money till in 1913 they hired Mr. Manzanares to build a house for them. Tom's house was one of the first large homes built in Ignacio. Due to its thick adobe and solid wood construction, the house is still sturdy and attractive. Of their eight children, five were boys and three were girls. Filbert died at the age of eighteen. All the others survive. From 1922 to 1940 Tom rented a farm 2 miles east of town. He raised wheat and hay and kept a few cattle. During those years Tom got involved in politics. "I liked it. I worked for the Democrats," Tom said. He took an active part in campaigns, contacted and influenced people and made many speeches for the candidates he thought were good people. The large adobe building on Goddard Avenue, presently used as the school repair shop, was built by Ignacio members of S.P.M.D.T.U. Tom recalls with a laugh that those six letters appeared in large size across the front of the building and that some local residents would sometimes tell strangers they meant "Some Poor Mexicans Die Tied Up". Actually, S.P.M.D.T.U. stands for the Sociadad Protectora Mexicana de Travajadores Unidos, a lodge devoted to protecting and improving the working conditions of Mexican-Americans. Tom as an active member occasionally traveled to Alamosa for regional meetings. For many years their building was used by various groups for meetings, parties and dances and otherwise served as the major social center in town. Estefanita's house and yard were always showplaces of flowers. She grew every kind of fruit and vegetable she could crowd into her garden. She sold eggs, produce and cream. 60 �,, ., ,, ., J J J , , ) ) J ) ) ) ) ) ) Both Garcias were hardworking all their lives. They provided well for their family and encouraged them to get as much education as possible. In spite of the obligations of a large family and a lifetime of hard work, Tom and Estefanita were aware of the needs of Their neighbors. Those who know them remark that the Garcias always remembered the poor and offered help wherever grief or sickness or trouble occurred. Estefanita suffered several periods of Illnesses during the summer and fall of 1973. She died in mid December. Today when Tom has visitors, he may get a mischievous look in his eye and inform them that the happiest hours of his life were spent in the arms of another man's wife. Before his guests are too shocked he explains that he's talking about his mother. Tom is now 93, looking for his 94th birthday in October. 'He doesn't get around too well now, but his mind is alert and his memory is good, especially regarding the distant past. When the days get warmer, Tom will spend many hours in the sun on his porch enjoying his life on that day and remembering the good and the bad, the grief and the joys, the mistakes and the successes of 93 years. If you're going that way and can stop for a few minutes, he will enjoy your visit, but more than that, you may learn a thing or two. ) March, 1974 -- Shelby Smith ) ) ) } ) _) ) ) .J ) ...) ...) .J ...) .,_) J -...J _; J -...J -...J .J .J ._) 61 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shelby Smith Interviews Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource https://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-NC/1.0/?language=en Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1973-1980 Subject The topic of the resource Ignacio; Southwest Colorado Description An account of the resource Collection of biographies, predominantly of residents from the Ignacio Senior Center, based on interviews conducted by Shelby Smith from approximately 1973 to 1980. The abridged interviews were originally published as individual entries in The Thoughtful Years newsletter, published by the Ignacio Senior Center, beginning in 1973. They were later published as a whole in Smith's book: Oral Histories of the Southern Pine River Valley, from which the original scans in this collection have been derived. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smith, Shelby Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Tom Garcia and Estefanita (Rodriguez) Garcia Biography Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1974-03 Subject The topic of the resource Garcia, Tom; Garcia, Estefanita (Rodriguez); Ignacio, Colorado; Southwest Colorado Description An account of the resource Biography of Tom Garcia and Estefanita (Rodriguez) Garcia based on an interview conducted by Shelby Smith. Originally included in the March, 1974 issue of "The Thoughtful Years" newsletter published by the Ignacio Senior Center. Later included in the book "Oral Histories of the Southern Pine River Valley" by Shelby Smith. Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. Ignacio, Colorado; Southwest Colorado Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Garcia, Tom; Garcia, Estefanita (Rodriguez) Extent The size or duration of the resource. 3 pages Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NKC/1.0/ Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smith, Shelby