Blazer's Mill Records, 1835-1902 (bulk 1870-1899)
Collection
Identifier: MSS-50-BC
Scope and Content
The collection contains miscellaneous business records of Blazer's Mill as well as J. H. Blazer's general merchandising business. Joseph H. Blazer operated the mill during most of the period that these records encompass. His son, A. N. Blazer, later operated it. The records include correspondence, time books, blotters, logbooks, sales books, grist mill accounts, and journals. Some records refer to the company as "Tularosa Mills." The correspondence covers business deals and finances of J.H. Blazer including letters from George H. Abbott, who at one time had joint ownership of the Mill. Also letters from the Ft. Stanton Quartermaster appointing Blazer U.S. Forage Agent for Ft. Stanton, and correspondence from various family members discussing every day life at Blazer's Mill. There is a diary dated Jan. 1, 1872-May 9, 1872, by his daughter, Ellie, as well as the "Catalogue of Reports Statutes and Digests United States Statutes", an 1882 catalogue of volumes in the Territorial Law Library.
Two volumes formerly comprising the Tularosa Mills collection were incorporated into the Blazer's Mill records in 1998 (Blazer's Mill Records Volumes 1 & 2).
Two volumes formerly comprising the Tularosa Mills collection were incorporated into the Blazer's Mill records in 1998 (Blazer's Mill Records Volumes 1 & 2).
Dates
- March 19, 1871 - Aug. 26, 1873
Language of Materials
English, and Spanish.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Biography
Joseph Hoy Blazer was born in Pennsylvania in 1828 or 1829. He studied dentistry in St. Louis and practiced in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. In 1867, as a former Union soldier and retired freighter, he established himself in the timber business and as a retail dealer in general merchandise. He acquired a share in George Nesmith's ranch and sawmill situated at a point over looking the south fork of the Rio Tularosa, in Lincoln County, New Mexico. The mill, known up until that time as La Maquina, had been there for many years before Blazer's arrival. Timber from it had been used to construct or repair buildings as far apart as Fort Davis, Texas, and Fort Selden, New Mexico. The water-powered mill supplied the lumber requirements of the small ranches in the vicinity and later of the Mescalero Apache Indian Agency. When the Reservation was set up Dr. Blazer was permitted to retain the property in private ownership. The post office was moved from South Fork to Blazer's Mill in 1874 and Dr. J. H. Blazer served as Postmaster until 1887 when the post office was moved to Mescalero, Otero County, New Mexico. Blazer's family from Iowa moved to New Mexico in 1877. His son, Almer N. Blazer later took over the Mill until 1899 when the local Indian Agent forcibly took possession of the land. Dr. Blazer lived in his home about a mile west of the Mescalero Indian School until his death in 1898. Blazer's Mill is remembered in New Mexico as the scene of the "Roberts-Brewer" fight during the Lincoln County War in 1878.
Extent
6 boxes (3.25 cu. ft.) + 4 volumes
Relevant Secondary Sources
- Otero County Pioneer Family Histories, v.2. Alamogordo, N.M.: Tularosa Basin Historical Society, 1985.
- Blazer, Joseph H.
- Business enterprises - - New Mexico
- Fort Stanton (N.M.) -- History
- Frontier and pioneer life - - New Mexico - - Lincoln County
- Frontier and pioneer life - - New Mexico - - Otero County
- Lumber trade - - New Mexico - - Lincoln County
- Lumber trade - - New Mexico - - Otero County
- Mescalero (N.M.) - - History
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Blazer's Mill Records, 1835-1902
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Description by T. S. Reinig
- Date
- ©2000
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 50 BC::Blazer's Mill Records, 1835-1902)//EN" "nmu1mss50bc.sgm" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu