From left back are Soledad Sandoval, Zyke Ramirez-Arambula, Alyssa Arsola and Jeremy Sosoya. In the front row, from left are Zaylene Chavez, Maricella Corral, Luke Montoya, Harley Villines and Rocky Hildebrand, supervisor.

Photo and article by Mary Alice Murphy

Fort Bayard National Landmark is getting a clean up to cut down grass and brush to make it look better and prevent a fire destroying the whole place, according to Rocky Hildebrand of Santa Clara, who is leading the Youth Conservation Corps group, along with two crew leaders.

"They were brought on to establish trails by the old hospital foundation, and to locate to do research on the foundations," Hildebrand said. "They are going to try to find pictures and write a blurb to let people know what the old fort was like."

He said the youths ha been doing a lot of weed-eating, mowing and cleaning before the main onset of fire season. They are also looking for a flat spot for a bench for visitors to the site.

"We have 10 in the crew, with two leaders and eight workers," Hildebrand said. "They are picking up a lot of the sticks and rocks so they can mow without damaging the equipment." Two of the crew were absent the day of this interview.

The two leaders, Alyssa Arsola and Luke Montoya, talked to the Beat first.

"There is a lot of history here," Arsola said. "We need to keep it up, so it looks like a national landmark. They should fix the houses so people can live in them again. I've been here for Fort Bayard Days, and it's always green and beautiful."

She said they had found some old foundations, including what they believe is the first post office. "We are doing research for tours."

The crew members range in age from 15-19 years.

"I grew up in Silver City," Arsola said. "I ran cross-country, so we used to run out here a lot. It's sad to see the old hospital go."

Montoya said he likes the history and finding parts of old foundations. "My dad was from Central, but we have a section now in the Mimbres."

He said: "Cleaning up Fort Bayard makes it look decent." They spent last week at Fort Bayard working. He said on the second day they were looking for foundations and found the old incinerator.

Montoya said he has gotten to know the team members. "We will work until the end of July."

Hildebrand said they think they have found parts of the old road that went through Fort Bayard. "We think the poles we've found were put up by Black Jack Pershing for the telegraph."

Zyke Ramirez-Arambula said he lives in Central, although he is originally from Lordsburg.

"I like being near the museum and how it looks nice compared to the other houses," Ramirez-Arambula said. "My great-grandmother and great-grandfather lived at the old hospital. It feels good to be helping (Fort Bayard) look good and not so crummy."

Jeremy Sosoya said he is from Bayard, but moved there from Arizona. When asked about what he liked about what he was doing, he said: "It's like being on a field trip every day. It's so nice out here. We have a good team, a good group of people."

Maricella Corral said she lives in Central. "What I like most about the work is finding all the foundations of the old hospital. I didn't know it was the old hospital until Rocky told us what it was. I used to come out here walking with my parents. It's sad they are tearing down the old hospital. It was a reminder to me of Fort Bayard Days that I used to come to. My mom used to work at the hospital, too."

Harley Villines said he lives near Bayard. "This work gives me something to do and keeps me busy. I was surprised at a lot of history that used to be out here; finding the unmarked buildings that used to be here. The job makes it fun, because we know each other and get things done faster."

Soledad Sandoval said it was a good opportunity to meet new people and good experience to do this work. "My grandma would bring me out here. It's sad they're tearing down the hospital. A lot has surprised me. I do some yard work with my dad, but this type of cleaning is so new to me. We are outside so long, that it's tiring, but I enjoy it. I enjoy being out here making memories. It's sad what they're doing here, instead of making it about what it used to be."

Zaylene Chavez is from Bayard. "I enjoy just seeing the history. Cleaning up (Fort Bayard) makes me happy for the community. I was surprised when we found the foundations. I would like to see the whole place as a museum, but we need something for teenagers, too, maybe an amusement part." She said she attended Fort Bayard Days once.

"If the state would give me permission to do more out here, we could do a lot more," Hildebrand said.