“It was Easy, It was Family” Newton’s Ranchito Community

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

Recently, a number of people joined us for an informal time of sharing about the Ranchito community in Newton, Ks. Some shared their memories on tape and others brought photos.

This project was a joint project of the Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives and the Newton Public Library.

On Tuesday, Nov. 15 and Sunday, Nov 20, Ranchito Roots, a program based on these interviews, photos and documents, will be shared.

Thank you to each person that graciously shared their time, stories and photographs.

Ranchito Roots

Beginning in approximately 1911, the Santa Fe Railroad  provided housing to Mexican laborers and their families on west 1st in Newton.  The area east of Sand Creek and south of 1st Street  was known as the “Mexican Camp” or the Ranchito by those that lived there.

In 1911, L.C. Lawton, Division Engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad noted:

“One of the most serious problems of railway maintenance between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains is that of securing and holding a sufficient supply of labor . . . to obtain a better trained and steadier class of laborers, efforts are made to locate men with families. . . The requires housing these laborers in a way not before attempted to any extent by the Santa Fe.”

Plans were outlined explaining that “a very cheap, but more substantial house has been planned, as shown in the accompanying drawings.”

Erecting Mexican Laborers' Houses, 1911.

“Erecting Mexican Laborers’ Houses,” 1911.

“A particular advantage is that all material is scrap or second hand, and can be picked up on any division and the houses built by the men themselves.” 

While the Santa Fe Railroad saw the “Mexican Camps” as a solution to a problem, those that called the place home built a community.

The earliest homes were  and poorly constructed using “scrap or second hand” materials.

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Drawing by Chris Palacioz, 1994, HCHM Archives.

In 1926 new buildings featuring a brick exterior were built by the Santa Fe. Below are descriptions of these buildings by the those that were a part of the community from 1926 through the 1950s.  The buildings were torn down in 1959-60.

Drawing by Chris Palacioz, 1994, HCHM Archives.

Drawing by Chris Palacioz, 1994, HCHM Archives.

It was Nice to Live There:”1920s & 1930s

Daniel Gonzalez noted that he was born in the earlier buildings made of “railroad ties.

Old structures, 1925. Photos courtesy Genevieve Josie Victorio.

Old structures, 1925. Photos courtesy Genevieve Josie Victorio.

The new brick houses were constructed shortly after his birth and his family was able to move.

“I spent my childhood there.  It was really nice to live there . . cozy nice and warm in the wintertime and in the summer time they were cool.” –Daniel Gonzalez

Daniel’s brother, Juan, described the room arrangement;

“It was nice living in that little Ranchito, two bedrooms, a dining room and living room in one room.  Mom and Dad slept in there and then we had the kitchen, small. We had another room, the girls slept in that little room  . . . the brothers slept in the other big room.” -Juan Ricon Gonzalez

Photo courtesy Genevieve Josie Victorio.

Photo courtesy Genevieve Josie Victorio.

“We had pot belly stoves . . coal to fire them up and railroad ties to saw and use for firewood. Each section had a shower.”  –Juan Ricon Gonzalez

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“How we all fit?” 1940s &  1950s.

“In all there were 10 boys and 6 girls in my family, two boys died and two girls, when they were small.  but, we all of us fit in the . . .Mexican Camp.  How we all fit, I don’t know.  We had a lot of bunk beds.  My brothers slept on some and my sisters in another room.  My sister Annie and I slept with my mom and dad in their bed.” -Genevieve Josie Victorio.

“It was four little rooms. The living room had three big beds, a radio and a chair where Dad would listen to the radio.  In another little room there were bunk beds where the rest of the boys would sleep, the next room was the kitchen.  My mom had the stove there and the boys always made sure she had wood, because Dad would tell them once and they’d have to make sure everything was there for her. The next room had table and chairs and another bed where my dad and mom slept and my sister.  It was tight quarters, but we managed.” –Genevieve Josie Victorio.

It was Family

Areal view of the ranchito with the Fred Harvey building in the background.

Areal view of the ranchito with the Fred Harvey building in the background.

“It was easy, it was family.  The Ranchito held 18 different housing areas in that one building.  Some of those rooms had as many as five families in it, per room.  The rooms were only 8 by 8.  They weren’t very big, but the Ranchito here in Newton was made with brick walls on the outside . . . a wood burning stove . . . with dirt floors.” -Mario Garcia

“It was a small community at the Ranchito, and all the families knew everybody.” -Mario Garcia

There are many more stories and photos that will be shared at the programs on Nov. 15 and Nov. 20.  The same program will be given on both days.

Sources

  • Oral Interviews with Daniel Gonzalez, Juan Rincon Gonzalez, Anita Domme, Elico Flores, Genevieve Josie Victorio, Mario Garcia, Patricia (Campa) Aguiri  and Victoria Jasso, HCHM Archives, Newton, Ks.
  • Chris Palacioz Document Collection, Newton, Ks, 1994, HCHM Archives, Newton, Ks.
  • Lawton, L.C. Division Engineer, Newton, Ks, “Erecting Mexican Laborers’ Houses,” Santa Fe Employees Magazine, September 1911, p. 75-76.

“It Is About Life, My Life, Your Life” Life in the Ranchito

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

It has always fascinated me, even though back then times were  hard for many different reasons, the overall happy memories overshadowed the rough times.”

-Eli Flores as he reflected on his childhood  in a Valley Center Railroad Section House.

On October 20 and  on October 24, the museum will partner with the Newton Public Library to host Ranchito: A Sharing Program at the Newton Public Library

To accommodate as many people as possible  two different times are scheduled.  It is our hope that people will come to the Newton Public Library on either Tuesday evening (Oct.20) at 7:00 or Saturday afternoon (Oct. 24) at 2:00 to share their memories.

The community is invited to bring photos, documents and stories related to life in the Ranchito community in Harvey County. Photographs and documents will be scanned by NPL staff, and originals returned during the program. There will also be opportunities for audio recordings of individuals and informal group sharing. This is a program where the audience is the presenter.  Bring you photos, letters and memories, we want to learn what life was like in the ranchito communities in Harvey County.

Recently, Eli Flores contacted the museum and shared about a miniature model he had created of the railroad section house that he lived in as a child.  This section house was located in Valley Center, but it looks very similar to the photo of the ranchito in Newton.  Flores is lending the model to the museum for the sharing program.

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Model of railroad section house constructed by Eli Flores based on memories of his childhood in Valley Center, Ks.

Section House, Valley Center, Ks. Photo courtesy Eli Flores.

Section House, Valley Center, Ks. Photo courtesy Eli Flores.

He also shared some thoughts on growing up in the Valley Center section house and the memories that came to the surface as he constructed the miniature.

I now feel I understand my fascination for railroads and the Santa Fe Railroad Section House in Valley Center, Ks.  They represented our Dad and Mom.  Seven of my sisters and brothers, plus myself were born in that section house.  It has always fascinated me, even though back then times were hard for many different reasons, the overall happy memories overshadowed the rough times.  This railroad section house and the trains were more about what one feels than about what one sees.  It’s about life, my life, your life and therefore about the responsibilities of life.  It was about living a life more than making a living.” -Eli Flores, 12/03/2008

Thank you to Eli Flores for sharing the miniature and the memories of his childhood.

What memories might you have to share? We hope to see you on Tuesday night or Saturday afternoon.

This is a free program sponsored by the Newton Public Library and the Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives.  The program will be held at the Newton Public Library.

Questions?

call HCHM at 316-283-2221, e-mail info@hchm.org

or

the Newton Public Library at 316-283-2890