Tucumcari Historian Details Lost Population and Highway Impact
Stratton explains how a 1970s hollowing of Tucumcari to fit a mall, along with declining rail service and bypassed Route 66, shrank the town. He highlights Eisenhower’s Interstate vision inspired by Autobahns and notes Dawson once rivaled Tucumcari before fading. Stratton, 95, reflects on his book Tucumcari Tonite and hopes it educates residents and former locals.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pecos River
Texas Line
Stratton
Tucumcari
Washington, D.C
San Francisco
Dwight D. Eisenhower
United States
Japan
Pearl Harbor
Eisenhower
Germany
U.S
Army
Dawson
Phelps Dodge
Lawmakers debate HB 48 veto and potential special session
Rep. Crowder recalls vetoed items in HB 48 including 94000 for Clovis welding program and 180000 added faculty plus 125000 cardio equipment and 55000 drainage work. Zamora and Chatfield discuss veto impact and possible return to Santa Fe for adjustments. Ingle predicts a brief session with election reform concerns lingering.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chatfield
Martin Zamora
Santa Rosa
Zamora
New Mexico
Crowder
The
Roundhouse
Santa Fe
Clovis Community College
CCC
Clovis
Stuart Ingle
Tucumcari Commission Advances Tasers and Street Projects
City commissioners approved a 60 month Axon Enterprise Tasers contract for 37 650 58 using state funds for a down payment and training. They also authorized a 303 531 70 Stantec engineering agreement for Barnes Gamble Addition street work and a 182 558 60 Bixby Electric contract for Second Street lights.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Axon Enterprise Inc
Scottsdale
Arizona
Pete Rivera
Stantec Consulting
Tucumcari
Second Street
Lopez
Bixby
Tucumcari Main Street
Hoover
Neon signs drive a Route 66 Suite in desert set
Composer Stolz describes the Neon Dreams movement drawing on Blue Swallow Motel and Tee Pee Curios signs to craft a cacophonous Route 66 Suite. He plans a 45 minute to hour work, with a focus on authentic road experiences and towns along Route 66 for a 2026 centennial showcase.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Blue Swallow Motel
Tee Pee Curios
Quay County
Stolz
Las Vegas
Texas
Also Mentioned on This Page
Ree As
Tucumcari Mountain
Cod
County Health Council
Randal
Bixby Electric of
Albuquerque
Doug Quarles
Mark Martinez
Tucumcari Historic Research Institute
Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
Martinez
Koa
Tucumcari Greater Economic Development Corp
Patrick Vanderpool
Commission
Vanderpool
Tucumcari Convention Center
Moya
Rivera
Cherry
Route 66
Odeon
Canal Drive-In
Robert Lopez
Christy Dominguez
Flagstaff
Tulsa
Associated Press
Modisette
Fred
Hayden
Mesa
Libby Modisette
Wanda Modisette
Wanda
Modisettes
Saint Jude Children’s Hospital
Ogallala
Dimmitt
Methodist Church
Ogallalaquilters.org
Nature
God
John
Christ
Allison Martin
Tucumcari Church of Christ
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!