Celebrate a century of New Mexico

By S. Derrickson Moore / dmoore@lcsun-news.com

LAS CRUCES ? President and Mrs. Taft will be seen around town, New Mexico flags will wave in the breezes, museums and galleries will feature arts and artifacts from the Land of Enchantment, and you can expect to see Las Crucens showing up in everything from 1912 outfits to '20s flappers' fringe, '50s poodle skits, '60s psychedelic and extreme shoulder pads of the '40s and '80s.

Get ready to celebrate a century. The Mesilla Valley New Mexico Centennial Parade will wind its way through historic parts of downtown Las Cruces at 11 a.m. Saturday. Parade Grand Marshal will be actor Dale Liikala, portraying President William H. Taft with Las Crucen Judy Roscoe as First Lady Nellie Taft.

Liikala, an actor based in Ohio who tours nationally portraying the 47th president, said he plans to do some sightseeing here after his performances. "I appreciate the fact that Mr. Taft is exposing me to new points of history and areas of the United States."

He's also pleased, organizers say, that his parade vehicle will be a commodious 1962 Lincoln Continental Convertible.

Taft, who weighed in at more than 300 pounds, "made history when he got stuck in the White House bathtub, and I didn't want to make history by getting stuck in a vintage car in Las Cruces," Liikala told parade organizers.

The 100-minute, two-mile parade will devote about 10 minutes to each decade, commemorating 100 years of statehood and what it has meant to this part of the state, with cars, equipment, representations

of people and events, people born, and groups formed in each decade. The end of the final decade (2002 to 2011) will pass over the same spots as the beginning of the first decade (1912 to 1921), ending in downtown Las Cruces.

Those attending are encouraged to dress in period costumes.

The parade will start at the Loretto Town Center, travel north on Church Street, left on the newly opened roundabout, head south on Water Street, and back to the staging area. The reviewing stand will be in front of the old Las Cruces City Hall, 200 N. Church St., where there will be special opening ceremonies at 10:30 a.m.

After the parade, the "Tafts" will be escorted to St. Genevieve's Monument, where a 1 p.m. centennial ceremony will be conducted by Las Cruces Farmers & Crafts Market vendors.

Special guest will be parade participant Alvina Hallie, who was born in 1912. She and her family will share a 100-piece birthday cake. Liikala will also make a special presentation at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Branigan Cultural Center.

Here are some highlights of other weekend centennial celebrations.

Today

"At the Hour of the Signing: A Century of Statehood, Eyewitness to History: New Mexico Becomes a State," 11 a.m. to noon at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. Featuring professional actor Dale Liikala of Ohio as President Taft, the museum's living history program presents a dramatic reenactment signing of the proclamation making New Mexico the 47th state. Free. Info: (575) 522-4100, nmfarmandranchmuseum.org. Centennial luncheon: 12:15 to 1:30 p.m., New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. Dr. Jon Hunner of NMSU will speak about New Mexico's struggle for statehood. For tickets, at $25 call Lori at (575) 522-4100 or Deb Widger at (575) 646-4034. Info: www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org.

Centennial Ramble: The Downtown Ramble celebrates with special museum and gallery show openings, music, refreshments, and more from 5 to 7 p.m. today. Everybody is "encouraged to dress with a hint of vintage." Participants include Branigan Cultural Center, Las Cruces Museum of Fine Art, Branigan Library Terrace Gallery, The Main Street Gallery, Blue Gate Gallery, Southwest Environmental Center Cottonwood Gallery, M. Phillips Gallery, Rio Grande Theatre's El Paso Electric & Carolene Herbel de Mesilla Galleries, Gallery 309, Justus Wright Galeria, MVS Studios, Ono Grindz, The Quillin Studio & Gallery, SB's Late-Night Lunch Box. Info: Flo Hosa Dougherty (575) 523-2950. Map available at participating galleries or mphillipsgallery.com, click on Events and Art Shows.

New Mexico's Centennial of Statehood will be celebrated at the Historic Tulie Cantina in Tularosa, at 6 p.m. today and combined with a fundraiser for the Tularosa Historic Society's new museum.Attendees are encouraged to wear period garb and travel via period transportation to the Tulie Cantina, 313 Granado St. The celebration includes dinner, live music, dancing, door prizes, and more. Get tickets, at $25. at Studio 54@70 Gallery, 1201 St. Francis Drive in Tularosa, or, if available, at the door. Info: (575) 585-5470.

Saturday

Centennial Quilt: Be part of the celebration of New Mexico's Statehood Centennial and come decorate a centennial quilt square (no sewing required) at 10 a.m. Saturday at Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, 200 E. Picacho Ave. Squares and fabric markers are provided. Kids ages 9 to 12 pick an event in New Mexico history and make it come alive. The finished quilt will hang in Branigan Library during 2012. Info: Catherine Christmann at (575) 528-4085 or cchristmann@las-cruces.org

Centennial Cinema: Made In New Mexico: Film historian Jeff Berg will present portions of his "Made In New Mexico" film series, featuring clips and narratives about the history of New Mexico filmmaking from 1898 to the present, Saturday at the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Main St. Showtimes are 1 p.m. for "Westerns, Chapter 4" and 3 p.m. for "The Good, The Bad and the Curious." Admission is $5 and proceeds go toward continued renovation of the Rio Grande Theatre. Info: www.RioGrandeTheatre.com or (575) 523-6403.

"Sierra County: Spirit of the Past ? Eye on the Future" Celebration and Elephant Butte Dam Site Walk, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday: Meet at Dam Site Recreation Area. Vans will take visitors to walk across the dam, where tour guides, will tell about the dam's impact on Sierra County. The event features a flag ceremony, speeches, music, video interviews and historic photos. It's free.

Books, posters and postcards will be offered for sale and a $10 lunch buffet follows at Dam Site Recreation Center. From downtown Truth or Consequences, go to the stop light at Third and Date Streets and head east for about 4 miles to Dam Site Recreation area Info: Sherry Fletcher, (575) 430-3494, history@campoespinoso.org.

Traveling exhibits will be featured at Sierra County festivals throughout 2012, including the T or C Fiesta and Sierra County Fair. Oral history interviews of the region's oldest citizens are posted on www.campoespinoso.org.

Amador Centennial Celebration: The Amador Museum Foundation hosts a celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Amador, 180 W. Amador Ave., site of the southern statehood celebration in 1912. The evening will included hors d'oeuvres, wine, music and unveiling of five restored rooms. Tickets are $45 in advance, $50 at the door. Proceeds support ongoing preservation and restoration work. Info: (575) 522-1232, amadorfoundation.org.

S. Derrickson Moore can be reached at (575) 541-5450

If you go

What: The Mesilla Valley New Mexico Centennial Parade

When: 11 a.m. Saturday, opening ceremonies 10:30 a.m., post parade activities: 1 p.m. at Las Cruces Farmers & Crafts Market, 2 p.m. at Branigan Cultural Center

Entries: About 100

How long: 100 minutes, route is two miles

Where: Downtown Las Cruces

Parking: City parking lots

Info: Mesilla Valley Centennial Committee, www.mvcentennial.org.

Source: http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sunlife/ci_19686681?source=rss

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