There’s a moment early in David Stratton’s new book, “Tucumcari Tonight” (Amazon link), that signals this isn’t going to be a dull history tome.
In the introduction, the author, who was 95 years old when the University of New Mexico Press published the book earlier this month, recalls his personal memories of the first owners of the now-iconic Blue Swallow Motel when it was built in 1939.
On Route 66, W.A. Huggins, whose son Phares was my boyhood friend, built the acclaimed Blue Swallow Court (later changed to Motel) and he and his perky wife Mary Maud operated it for a few years. In fact, Maud Huggins named the Blue Swallow, wanting the title and the color of the gracefully swooping blue bird to suggest peaceful, soothing rest and sleep. William Archie “Arch” Huggins was one of the finest men I have ever known, a true specimen of moral rectitude and an exacting craftsman in his work in the building trade. Faithful in church attendance, calm in demeanor, he practiced his religion unobtrusively in everyday life. Although his complexion and stature suggested a large measure of American Indian lineage, his Oklahoma and Arkansas background remained a mystery that his family members never discussed publicly.
Stratton goes on to tell of his hanging out with Phares in the motel’s lobby and meeting the occasional celebrity, including Leon “Abner” Weaver of the Weaver Brothers & Elviry hillbilly comedy group. Stratton learned through Weaver he’d met Will Rogers at his Santa Monica ranch. Weaver then autographed one of the motel’s business cards and gave it to Stratton.
The publisher describes Stratton’s book as part history, part memoir in telling of the rise of Tucumcari due to the railroad and U.S. 66, then its decline after the former pulled up stakes and the latter was bypassed by Interstate 40.
Stratton, a retired Washington State University history professor, grew up a few blocks south of Route 66 in Tucumcari and spent 20 years researching for “Tucumcari Tonite!”
As one might expect, the book is heavy on Tucumcari history. But like with the previously mentioned information about the Blue Swallow Motel, the book also is sprinkled with plenty of Route 66 lore, such as:
- George J. Lins was a key figure in the development of tourism in Tucumcari, including building Lins Motor Lodge and Lins Cafe.
- Lins’ daughter, Bettie Ditto (aka Mrs. Tucumcari), became a major player in Tucumcari tourism; she greatly enlarged the Lins complex into the Congress Inn and later the still-operating Pow Wow Inn.
- The Blue Swallow Motel wasn’t in its final form when built in 1939. Two more units were constructed on the northeast end in 1948.
- Huggins built several other motels in Tucumcari, including the Travelers Paradise Motor Lodge on the city’s west end (which has fallen into ruin).
- Longtime Blue Swallow owner Lillian Redman took part in a few poker games with truckers while they were stranded by a big snowstorm.
- Two-lane Route 66 between San Jon and Tucumcari was known as “Slaughter Lane” and “Suicide Road” because of innumerable fatal accidents.
- Because of Tucumcari’s reputation as a speed trap, the city launched Operation Coffee, where police would give speeding out-of-towners a coupon for a free cup of coffee good at a local restaurant or gas station.
You’re virtually guaranteed to find out something you probably never knew about Tucumcari. And Stratton’s graceful writing keeps “Tucumcari Tonite!” from becoming staid or academic.
One theme that emerges in Stratton’s book is inexorable change. Here is a quote from a Tucumcari native:
“My Tucumcari is gone, the one I knew from childhood to graduation. As a child, the universe did not extend beyond Tucumcari. Tucumcari was my universe. Now, all the places where I played as a youngster are gone. … Many landmarks that I remember, including our [Tucumcari High School building], and our football field, are gone.”
Those laments did not come from a recent graduate. Those came from one who graduated in 1955 — almost 70 years ago.
Highly recommended.
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