Intensive Level Survey of Downtown Lordsburg

Murphey, John

From summary: "Conducted during the spring of 2014, the project consisted of an intensive level survey of all buildings comprising Lordsburg's historic downtown commercial area. The three-block surveyed area aligns with East Motel Drive, a primary east-west arterial formerly designated U.S. Highways 70 and 80. The survey recorded 23 buildings, representing 36 historic store fronts, and one Work Progress Administration (WPA)-built sidewalk. With the exception of several empty lots toward the east end, the surveyed area is a contiguous street wall of mainly one-story, one-part commercial blocks. The dates of construction of the buildings span nearly loo years, from the late 1880s to the 1980s, with the majority of buildings built before 1930. A goal of the survey was to recognize Lordsburg's cultural resources, as concentrated in the historic downtown. Lordsburg and Hidalgo County are both statistically underserved and underrepresented in architectural survey and listings on the State and National Registers. To date, Lordsburg has only three buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, one of which has been partially demolished since designation. Survey, other than that performed under regulatory requirements, has been non-existent. This project represents the first coordinated historic architectural survey in Lordsburg and Hidalgo County. Another goal of the survey was to identify a potential State and/or National Register historic district. The collected information could also assist future planning, including economic development, heritage tourism and New Mexico Mainstreet or Frontier Communities designations. The results of the project indicated 78% of the recorded resources would be considered contributing to a State Register of Cultural Properties or National Register of Historic Places Historic district. The project's author makes the recommendation to pursue historical designation, pending agreement from the City of Lordsburg and property owners." Project funding was provided in part by a 2013 Historic Preservation Fund grant administered by the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Office (project number NM-13-029, grant number 35-13-51938) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Intensive Level Survey of Downtown Lordsburg

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