EDWARDS FINER FOODS MOVED TO THIS BUILDING ABOUT 1937/38 FROM THEIR OLD LOCATION NEXT TO HILTON DRUG. WHEN MR. AND MRS. RILEY EDWARDS RETIRED AROUND 1946 BEN ZIMMERLY A LONG TIME EMPLOYEE OF MR. EDWARDS BOUGHT THE STORE. IT BECAME BEN'S FINER FOODS. THIS CORNER HAS BEEN A ZIMMERLY ENTERPRISE FOR OVER 60 YEARS.
AS I RECALL THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT BY MR. AND MRS. BROWN. IT WAS DIVIDED INTO THE TWO PROMINENT BUSINESSES, EDWARDS FINER FOODS AND BRASS FURNITURE AND BEDDING. THE
FURNITURE STORE IS NOW HOME TO A PAIR OF GIFT SHOPS.
THE BALDWIN CURIO SHOPPE WAS NEAR THE WEST END OF THE BUILDING, SECOND STORE EAST OF THE CORNER. IT WAS RATHER NARROW AND WAS OPERATED AND MANNED BY THE ELDER MRS. BALDWIN AND ON OCCASION HER DAUGHTER NANCY BURKES. SON BOB BALDWIN LATER CONVERTED THE SHOP TO HIS INSURANCE AGENCY. THIS LITTLE CURIO STORE WAS REALLY A TREASURE TROVE OF SOUTHWEST MEMORABILIA.
AMONG THE BEST ITEMS WERE NAVAJO SADDLE BLANKETS OFTEN USED IN THE SOUTHWEST FOR PIANO BENCH COVERS BESIDES IT'S ORIGINAL INTENT, SADDLE BLANKET.
NEXT DOOR (WHERE THE DOOR IS NOW) WAS A SHOE REPAIR SHOP. MR. ADAIR NOT ONLY RESOLED SHOES AND BOOTS BUT WOULD TACKLE NEARLY ANY LEATHER REPAIR JOB. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPRENTICE UNDER HIM FOR A BOY SCOUT MERIT BADGE, HE TAUGHT ME THE INTRICACIES OF SADDLE REPAIR AND MAKING.
Socorro Office Supply (Shirley Gerard's son Blake, owner) on the left and the Postoffice all facing the Plaza
THE STORE ON THE LEFT WAS CRABTREE LUMBER COMPANY. IT WAS THE LARGEST IN SOCORRO COUNTY AND MANY OF THE BUILDINGS AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED WITH SUPPLIES FROM CRABTREE'S. IT WAS LATER OWNED AND OPERATED BY MR CRABTREE'S SON-IN-LAW
ERNEST MOORE.
THE BUILDING TO THE RIGHT, "FITCH BUILDING" WAS AN OLD BUT WELL MAINTAINED OFFICE BUILDING. THE ORIGINAL OWNER WAS JUDGE JAMES FITCH UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT. IT'S MOST NOTEABLE TENANT WAS JUDGE CHARLES FOWLER. A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF SOCORRO AN ATTORNEY AND FORMER STATE JUDGE. CAREY ENLOE BECAME THE NEXT OWNER.
WHAT IS MISSING HERE IS GERARDS CAFE, THE EARLIEST OPENING CAFE ON THE PLAZA, SHORT ORDER BREAKFASTS A SPECIALTY. NEXT DOOR WAS THE STAPLETON STORE, BARBER SHOP, SILVER BAR. ALL GONE AND LEFT WITH A VACANT LOT, TOO BAD.
I HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THE HILTON DRUG STORE IN "AROUND THE PLAZA" I SHALL ADD SOME THINGS I KNOW ABOUT THE FAMILY. MRS. EMILY HILTON WAS A RELATION OF CONRAD HILTON OF SAN ANTONIO AND FOUNDER OF THE HOTEL CHAIN. THE DRUG STORE WAS VERY MUCH UNDER MRS.
HILTON'S DIRECTION, HER DAUGHTER ANN AND HER HUSBAND, HAROLD OLSON, WERE THE PHARMACISTS. THERE WAS AN OCCASIONAL MIXER OF DRUGS AND THAT WAS OUR
DOCTOR FRANKLIN, WHO ON OCCASION WOULD COMPOUND HIS SPECIAL. BESIDES THE DRUGS
THE STORE CARRIED THE NORMAL MIXTURE OF HOME REMEDIES AND SUPPLIES, AND FOR THOSE
SPECIAL OCCASIONS ONE COULD FIND AN APPROPRIATE GIFT FOR THE YOUNG (NO MATTER WHAT AGE)LADY.THEY ALSO CARRIED CRYSTAL AND MAINTAINED A REGISTRY. AT ONE TIME THEY WOULD ALSO ORDER FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS, CORSAGE'S FOR SOME OF THE EVENTS IN TOWN, HIGH SCHOOL PROM, MINER'S GRADUATION, INSTALLATION OF THE WORTHY MATRON OF THE ROYAL ORDER OF EASTERN STAR, JOBS DAUGHTER AND SOME OTHER EVENTS, A REAL HOME TOWN SUPPORTER. ALWAYS AN AD IN THE "WARRIOR".
MASONIC BUILDING FACING PARK
MASONIC BUILDING FACING PLAZA
MASONIC HALL
THE MASONIC HALL WAS NOT A LARGE ONE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER SMALL TOWNS IN NEW MEXICO
BUT WAS ONE OF THE BETTER KEPT OF ALL, ACCORDING TO MASONIC LAW IT DID COMPLY WITH THE BASIC NEEDS AND SERVED WELL FOR THE MASONS, THE MEETING OF SHRINER'S THO IT WAS NOT A SHRINE TEMPLE, JOBS DAUGHTERS, AND EASTERN STAR, RAINBOW GIRLS (NOT REMEMBERING IF BOTH RAINBOW AND JOBS DAUGHTER WERE HERE SORRY) AND ORDER OF DE MOLAY.
Everyone knows the Capitol Bar, originally on the corner of this block, Not necessarily known by indulgence but by location, parking in front, day time no problem, but of an evening, well that is a different story. Some of the 2000 High School reunion pictures were taken here.
The corner store has a history unto its own, I don't know all of it. Sometime in the 1940's it was cleaned up and renovated and became a clothing store (I believe the owner was a Mr.George Baca). Later it became Tribe of K ladies apparel store, Art Studio, Doug West an artist, he displayed his own art work as well as items left on consignment, some new and some renovated furniture. Now Bicycle repair, and sales.
BC
The Bursum Insurance Mart is at the East end of this building.
Was where Percy Hick's Realty was in the 40's and 50's.
The center tenant is Plaza Beauty Salon.
The West end of the building is now JESSIE'S APPAREL,was at one time SOCORRO DRUG and was a favorite hang out for students in the 40's and 50's.
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