The small city of Socorro, in the Rio Grande River basin of south- central New Mexico was first founded in the 16th century.
The settlement was named in remembrance of the help and succor given to the first Spanish settlers by the native Piro people in nearby peueblas.
The local Piro tribe was dispersed in war with the Apache in 1680, and the area was not re-settled by either native peoples or Spaniards until the 1800’s.
The modern city grew up around a depot of the New Mexico & Southern Pacific Railroad; the rail connection facilitated the development of lead and zinc mines.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socorro,_New_Mexico
I knew nothing of the town’s history when I found this postcard photograph of the fire house.
I thought the architectural nod to the area’s history was charming.
The Headquarters of Hose Company #1 still occupies the adobe building which was erected in 1907.
This postcard image was printed circa 1940; it was published by the Albertype Company of Brooklyn, NY.
The postcard was mailed from Socorro in March of 1944.
The postcard was addressed to Mr. E. T. McAllister of Glendale, Arizona.
We have been introduced to several members of the McAllister family in other postcard stories:
“A Shakespeare Garden in Ellis Park”, “Harry is Driving to Seattle”, “A Sunday Visit to Mexico”
On the reverse, the message is addressed to Lou, Ed, and family”
I assume that “Ed” is Mr. McAllister and that “Lou” is Mrs. McAllister.
The sender is “Remus”, who appears to be a relative by blood or marriage to the McAllisters.
Remus and others arrived in Socorro yesterday and found it “some town!”
In Socorro, Remus hopes to “see Billy Fitch”.
He notes that “Billy Griffith is in North Africa.
One hopes that Remus was able to fulfill his plans and was reunited with his friends and family at the end of the war.
