Hardly believable, over 100 years ago the population of Bueyeros was more than 250 residents; today there are four residents and the adobe homes have melted-down from exposure to weather.
Tuda and Jack reside in a thousand square foot small, two hundred year-old home, the only livable adobe building remaining in the village. In 2002 the one-bedroom dwelling underwent extensive remodeling and outdoor landscaping. The charming home is decorated in rich red and golden tones reflecting the Spanish culture and the Crews family’s rich western heritage.
Bueyeros Post Office:
Fond childhood memories fueled determination to save the Bueyeros Post Office and in 2005 the building was shored up in hopes of it lasting another one hundred years. The tiny Bueyeros Post Office now awaits transformation into the Bueyeros Post Office Museum (hopefully) by 2015. With limited space for housing artifacts, plans include featuring collected interactive historical narratives from elders honoring the early families who settled the community.
Ranch Office:
An attached shed once housed a Model T Ford car and provided additional storage for canned goods and supplies sold in the Post Office. Discovered under a fallen-in roof, debris and old plaster were thick, hand-laid rock walls now exposed as a testament to stone masons of the era. Century-old vigas are highlighted with natural lighting and eclectic ranch furnishings. Sporting a new tin roof, windows and doors, the spacious room is restored into a stunning ranch office doubling as a guest bedroom for visitors.
Families of early settlers in Bueyeros are asked to contact Tuda Libby Crews to share stories or artifacts for the museum.
Well House:
In 2012 the well house was restored and now serves as a playhouse for the grandchildren. The tiny original (and essential) building features two deep troughs once fed by a nearby windmill pumping cold water into them for cooling tall cans filled with fresh milk (from the milk cow), hand-churned butter, eggs (gathered fresh daily from the brood of chickens) and other perishable foods.
The Rectory:
10 South 4th Street in the Village of Mosquero, New Mexico
Crews learned of plans to raze the historic Catholic Rectory due to deterioration and lack of funds to continue insurance coverage. People in the community had an attachment to The Rectory, as did she, so Crews persuaded the Catholic Diocese to part with the property. The restoration project was “a labor of love and lunacy” drawn over five years. Today, The Rectory provides luxurious accommodations for visitors and adds an additional stream of income for the ranch operation.
Upon entering, The Rectory evokes a sense of spirituality and calm. Hands reach out to touch the thick adobe walls and voices marvel at the hand-hewn vigas holding the loft. A large fireplace adorned with alter candelabra is a focal point. The dining table seats 12 on hand-carved chairs, and wall nichos gently hold Santos, Retablos and statues. Furnished in an eclectic mix of vaquero, religious and Mexican accoutrements, The Rectory offers one of the most unique, authentic “home-like” settings in the region.
The Rectory is a sacred place for writers to write, artists to paint, chefs to cook, or traveler’s to rest. Side trips reveal some of the most beautiful mission churches in the state. Tranquility and beauty abound with good energy.
We welcome visitors to spend time at The Rectory and time with us at the ranch.