Introductions

Thank you for the invitation. I'll give it some thought. In the meantime, I could use a little more guidance on the preferred approach for these items. What specifically would you like them to convey?

Nick

We just started it a couple of months ago...you should have seen it in the newsletter. It is a section for historical tidbits, a 500 word (approx.) telling of a piece of history you have written about or discovered in research. You can view it here Historically Speaking

Possibly, though I don't know what that is. I don't see any reference to "Historically Speaking" on your website. My apologies if I missed it.

Fascinating. Maybe you would like to do a short post for our "Historically Speaking" section?

Yes, I am. While I understand the last person to work in the mines died a few years ago, I have been able to interview folks who grew up there and in some cases can speak to what it was like to learn they had to move out of the only place they had called home rather abruptly in 1950. I've also been able to track down some grandchildren of the men who died in the 1913 explosion. The biennial reunion/picnics have been going on since shortly after the mines closed. I'm looking forward to attending the next one on Labor Day weekend 2020.

That sounds so interesting. Makes me wonder just how many other places in this country were abandoned, and what stories they could tell us. I like that they still get together to remember - are you collecting their stories?

Good morning, HWA admin. So nice to hear from you.

Since you asked, here is the short version:

My goal is to tell the story of Dawson, N.M., home to the second-deadliest mine disaster in U.S. history in 1913. Tragedy would strike again 10 years later with a second explosion, this one claiming the lives of 120 men, including sons of women who lost their husbands in the 1913 incident.

What was once the largest coal-mining town in the Southwest would close in 1950 -- on 30 days' notice, no less -- and all the buildings and homes were moved, sold for salvage or razed. Today, the only visible reminder of the community that once housed roughly 10,000 people is Dawson Cemetery, distinguished by the presence of hundreds of identical white iron crosses marking the graves of miners and its place on the National Register of Historic Places.

Still, despite the twin tragedies, people who once lived there or with family ties have nothing but fond memories of Dawson. Some people have told me they wished they could have lived their entire lives there. And every two years, on Labor Day weekend, hundreds of them still gather on the grounds of what is now a private ranch for a picnic/reunion to share stories, photos and the like of their beloved Dawson.

So much for the short version ...

Again, thank you for reaching out. I hope to meet you one of these days -- either at the annual conference or maybe even here in Albuquerque. Let me know the next time you are here for a visit.

Nick

Nice to meet you Nicholas. You live in a beautiful place - I love visiting Albuquerque. Tell us more about your project!

Since I just joined HWA yesterday, I thought I would take a moment to briefly introduce myself.

I spent most of my life living and working at daily newspapers in New England before moving to Albuquerque nearly six years ago so my wife and I could be closer to our then two -- now five -- grandchildren.

Once here, I worked first as assistant business editor and later city editor at the Albuquerque Journal before retiring late last year, at least in part, to pursue the researching and writing of historical narrative nonfiction.

I'm now in the early stages of compiling a nonfiction book proposal on a horrific event that took place in the early 1900s. Given this is my first attempt, I thought this might be a good place to be.

Looking forward to getting to know you.

Nick