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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #5
APRIL 28, 2000
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Dear Subscriber:

It is a good news, bad news time of the year in the Sacramento
Mountains. The weather is beautiful and warm, but occasional
winds typical for this time of the year are keeping things dried
out. The threat of fire is extreme and the Forest Service has
placed fire restrictions on National Forest lands. No charcoal
or wood fires or smoking is allowed except for designated camp
areas. The Forest Service can change the fire danger status
(for better or worse) at any time so it is a good idea to check
with them before making plans. 1-(505)-682-2551.

Last week we introduced our readers to the Winnie and Thomas
Pittman family, a pioneer family that influenced life in
Cloudcroft from 1917 into the late 70s. We continue our
account of their lives in this issue.

Gas prices may not be dropping but it does seem they are tapering
off. It seems they always increase much faster than they
decrease. I wonder why that is?

Don Vanlandingham
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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. VILLAGE POLITICS
3. INSIDE THE SHOP -- ARTISAN ALLEY
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- THE CLOUDCROFT MUSEUM
5. A CLOUDCROFT PIONEER FAMILY (PART II - THE EARLY YEARS)
6. COMING EVENTS
7. CONTACT INFORMATION
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LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
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Spring has arrived in the Sacramento Mountains with highs
approaching the low 70s and overnight lows around the mid 30s.
Occasional windy conditions are not helping the drying condition
in the forest. As we said earlier, the Forest Service has set
the fire danger at "extreme" with certain restrictions in place.
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VILLAGE POLITICS
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Timberon is our sister village in the mountains. The only road
to Timberon is a rough dirt road some 25 miles long. Many
Timberonians like it that way. They say the road keeps the
village small and undisturbed. Others say the bad road causes
an unhealthy stifling of growth in the area (not to mention it
is hard on vehicle suspension systems).

Funds have been allocated for paving the Timberon Road but
thanks to our little "friend" the Spotted Owl, the procedure
has been put on hold and construction is not expected to begin
until November 2000.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- ARTISAN ALLEY
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Gary Wood is, among other things, a professional photographer.
He has been marketing his photographs in Cloudcroft for years
under the trademark "Far Out and Close Up". A few years ago he
got the idea of bringing artists together to display and sell
their wares under the same roof. Artisan Alley was born on the
Burro Avenue boardwalk in Cloudcroft. Artists specializing in
many different mediums can be found there, displaying and
selling original works.

Email Gary at gary@mountainmonthly.com.
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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- THE CLOUDCROFT MUSEUM
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The Cloudcroft Museum and Pioneer Village is a great place to
visit any time of the year, but especially during warm weather
months since one of the star attractions of the museum is the
Pioneer Village. The Pioneer Village is a collection of
historic buildings and old time farming and ranching tools and
equipment.

The museum also features a research center and gift shop. It
is open Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm
and 1pm to 4pm Sunday year round. It is located on highway 82
across from the Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce.
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A CLOUDCROFT PIONEER FAMILY - PART II - THE EARLY YEARS
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During the winter in the early years in Cloudcroft, travel
out or into the village was sometimes impossible. For that
reason, year round residents had to find their own sources of
entertainment.

Much of that entertainment was centered around the school, where
plays, card parties and school programs were well attended. The
local heroes were Ruby and Joe Frilick, Harvey Sewell, Clint
Weems and C.A. Redick. They were all musicians who provided the
music for many of the village's functions.

Winnie and Thomas Pittman had two kids in school, so they were
regular participants in local functions. Winnie is said to have
had a beautiful singing voice and she was often called upon to
sing at programs, weddings and funerals.

Of course snow sports were a favorite pastime. The Lodge golf
course served as the village's snow play area. A large bonfire
would be built to warm villagers between trips down the hill on
their toboggans, sleds and skis. Winters brought the people of
Cloudcroft closer together, both in providing entertainment and
helping each other with the basic survival of winters in the
mountains.

(Next week - The Pittmans in business in Cloudcroft)
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COMING EVENTS
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May 20-21, High Altitude Classic Mountain Bike Race

Memorial Day Weekend
May 26-28, Rodeo at the G. Gordon Wimsatt Arena
May 27-28, Arts and Crafts show at Zenigh Park
May 28, 8:30pm - Mayfair Street Dance - Burro Avenue

June 3, National Trails Day - 10k walk
June 3, Cloudcroft concert - Alamogordo Community Concert Band
June 9-11, Western Roundup Weekend
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CONTACT INFORMATION
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