From: MARCEA C
Subject: Information posted on Facebook. Old stories.
Date: November 10, 2013 5:06:53 PM MST
To: Terry Turner

Terry, Keith McCrary posted this on a FB site today. Wasn't Adron Turner your Father?
The Facebook page is called Old Portales Memories.

THE FIRST 4 YEARS OF PORTALES
from an artical by Don McAlavy entitled "Railroad changed early-day Portales Valley"
Miss Ella Turner, an aunt of Adron Turner, who came in 1899 told this story: "Twenty-four of us came from Texas in five covered wagons and a buggy. We arrived on the the first day of May, 1899 in the midst of typical sandstorm. Our food had given out and the only house in town that was finished belonged to Uncle Josh Morrison. Next to it was a small frame building in which he had a small store. Three or four houses were being built, but none was finished. Several familes were living in box tents and there were a small saloon or two.
"Of course, people came in fast from then on, for the homesteaders were anxious to get the free land the government was offering. Inside of a year there was quite a nice little town here, with lots of houses and stores.
"Well, we stopped our wagons across the road from Mr. Morrison's store and went over and bought some to eat. We got some cans of tomatoes and peaches and some crackers and cheese. Then we asked for postage stamps. Uncle Josh replied, 'We don't sell stamps. You have to buy them in roswell or Hereford. We don't have a post office'"
"'They set the mail off of a train," said Uncle Josh, 'in a box and everone looks it over and takes his own. We all put the out going mail in a box and the train picks it up. and no, we don't have a doctor here. I don't know how we get along. We just don't get sick much.'"
That was in 1899 and next year saw a two-room public school building, a post office, a drug store, and a hotel. By 1902, when the First Nationl Bank began business on May 1, there was two general stores, three wagon yards, a restaurant, a barber shop and seven saloons. In 1902 came the first church, the Presbyterian, and soon after the Baptist church began regular services. All these improvements in short space of four years."

Thought you might be interested.
Marcea

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