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The Chronicles of Grant County
This column will feature items that relate somehow to Grant County - the name of a street in the case of the first one, and maybe other streets, or the name of a building or whatever catches the fancy of the contributor, Richard Donough. Readers are encouraged to send him topics of interest to them, so he can do the research and write an article.
The Chronicles Of Grant County
Mexican Wolves
Part Two
Depredations Of Livestock – Catron County
A Mexican wolf is seen west of Luna in northwestern Catron County, New Mexico. "The wolf was carrying a beef calf's head in its mouth," stated Jess Carey, Catron County Wildlife Investigator. "If you look to the right of the wolf's left front foot there is the calf's head it dropped to pose for photo." (Photograph was provided courtesy of Jess Carey, Catron County Wildlife Investigator, April 24, 2107.)
Nature can be wonderful to experience.
Nature can also be quite cruel in practice.
It's important to understand the distinctions of how wild animals survive. Some only eat grass, while some only eat certain types of plants. Some animals eat other animals. Still others eat just about anything – plant or animal. A few are scavengers – only eating animals that have already died. These dead animals can include ones left by other animals that killed their prey for food, animals that have been hit by motor vehicles, and animals that have died due to natural causes.
The Chronicles Of Grant County
Mexican wolf pups huddle in a den. (Photograph was provided courtesy of United States Fish and Wildlife Service.)
Mexican wolf pups may look so sweet as they nuzzle each other in the photograph above. Yet, it would be unwise – extremely unwise – to consider these wild animals to be pets. Resist any urge you might have to pick one up and hold.
This is especially true since a momma Mexican wolf will likely be somewhere nearby. She is unlikely to welcome your attention to her little ones.
For more than twenty years, since 1998, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has been re-introducing Mexican wolves to areas of Arizona and New Mexico. The lands of Grant County are included in two zones utilized by the USFWS to manage the Mexican Wolves in the region: Wolf Management Zone 1 and Wolf Management Zone 2. Note in the map displayed below that Management Zone 1 is in two separate pieces within Grant County. In between the two sections are houses and other privately-owned properties.
The Chronicles Of Grant County
Hachita is served by its own post office at 26 B Street in Hachita. (The photograph was provided courtesy of Tom McLaughlin, January 15, 2013.)
Among the road names in Grant County, the sources of the names of the streets of Hachita are likely the most simple to understand. This rural community is located at the intersection of today's New Mexico State Road 9 (Railroad Avenue) and New Mexico State Road 81. South of Railroad Avenue is, in descending order, Avenue A, Avenue B, and Avenue C. These streets were named after the letters of the alphabet. Five blocks west of New Mexico State Road 81 is 1st Street. From that first roadway to that state route are the numbered roadways of 2nd Street, 3rd Street, 4th Street, and 5th Street. These streets were named after the numbers we use in everyday life.
The Chronicles Of Grant County
Railroad In Southern Grant County
The red circle highlights the route of the El Paso And Southwestern Railway in what was southern Grant County in 1910. The lands that compose Hidalgo County today had not yet been separated from Grant County. (The image was published in Transactions Paper No. 1170 – The Water Supply of the El Paso and Southwestern Railway from Carrizozo to Santa Rosa, N. Mex. and was provided courtesy of the American Society of Civil Engineers, 1910.)
When Hidalgo County was created from the territory of Grant County in 1920, leaders of Grant County negotiated the borders of the new county so that Grant County retained a portion of its existing southern territory. It was deemed critical by local leaders that Hachita remain within Grant County. That small community included the links between the main railroad serving Silver City and the railroad connecting Tucson and El Paso.
The Chronicles Of Grant County
Lost Portion Of Grant County
A view of the Eastern Foothills of the Pyramid Mountains in Hidalgo County. (The photograph was provided by Patrick Alexander through Flickr, January 9, 2013.)
Grant County used to have a border Mexico. That is before this county lost the southwest portion of its territory.
Have you ever heard of Pyramid County?
How about Steeple Rock County?
How about Leahy County?
That's not a surprise. These names were among the names considered for the county that is now known as "Hidalgo County." According to the government of Hidalgo County, this county "…was named in honor of Miguel Dolores Hidalgo, who led the revolution in Mexico in 1810, which eventually led to its independence from Spain."
The Chronicles Of Grant County
Georgia Street
The Azalea is the official wildflower of the State of Georgia. Azaleas come in a variety of colors from purple and red to orange and yellow. (This photograph was provided courtesy of CHIHYUNG through Pixabay, 2021.)
Georgia Street received its name from the State of Georgia. The American state itself was named after King George II of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland (the two countries were separate entities at the time) when it was initially established as a British colony in North America. In its early days, Georgia included its current territory as well as the bulk of the States of Alabama and Mississippi.
This roadway is one of several in Silver City that gets its name from a southern state. Others include streets named after Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia.
The Chronicles Of Grant County
A fawn on the edge of woods. (The photograph was provided courtesy of diane616 through PIxabay, 2014)
Three roadways north of Silver City get their names from animals found in the wild. Fawn Court is named after young deer, Lynx Lane is named after the animal, and Wildcat Trail is named after wild cats like the lynx. These streets are located off of Old Little Walnut Road.
Deer are among the wildlife found in Grant County. Just north of this housing area is the Gila National Forest where deer can be seen in their natural habitat. In a news release from June 3, 2019, (a news release as valid today as when issued by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish): "Please remember – young wildlife that people discover are simply hiding while awaiting their parents' return from foraging nearby."
The Chronicles Of Grant County
Rio De Arenas and Arenas Valley
Arenas Valley has also been known as "Whiskey Creek." (The photograph was provided courtesy of Steve Douglas, March 1, 2010.)
Arenas Valley is named after the Rio de Arenas – the "River of Sands." This local stream is also known as "Whiskey Creek." According to a news article dated March 22, 1912, in the El Paso Herald, the stream was originally named the "Rio de Arenas" by "...Spanish and Mexican settlers because of a large body of sand north of where the old Santa Fe road crossed the valley." That valley then became known as "Arenas Valley."
