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Dawson New Mexico Association
944 N. Third Street
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 Announcing the Dawson Reunion and Picnic 2012 to be held
September 2, 2012 from 9:00am to 6:00pm at the old Dawson, NM townsite We will be having the Saturday Night Social at the Elks Club, located at 300 S. 2nd Street in Raton, NM this year. This will be held on Saturday September 1, 2012 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. This social gathering has become a popular get-together over the years. If you have not been attending, you are really missing out! It has always been easier to find an old friend in this more confined space, than it is on the picnic grounds in Dawson. Come enjoy an evening of wonderful friends, stories, and memories with our old friends. There is a handicap ramp on the side of the Elks Club for anyone who needs to access it. More reunion details along with the Miner's Pick Newsletter can be seen by clicking here for the Miner's Pick Newsletter 2012. We received an e-mail from Marty Tschetter from Greenville, NC stating that he recently came across an old 1924 Dawson, NM photograph at the Raton Museum. What makes this photograph so interesting is that it shows a Dawson coal miner writing the final score of the 1924 Baseball World Series on the side of a coal car that is going to be sent down into the Dawson coal mines to let the workers know the final score. You can see these two photos by clicking here. Marty has also sent copies of these photographs to the National Baseball Museum in Cooperstown, NY on behalf of the Raton Museum. A special thanks to Marty and to Roger Sanchez, Curator of the Raton Museum, for allowing Marty to scan these old photos and sending them to the National Baseball Museum.
There has been a special request made by Brian Beker, a documentary film producer, for anyone who might have information on early 1920 Dawson resident and aviation pioneer by the name of Jules "J. J." VanDersarl. The Raton Range newspaper published a short article on Mr. Beker's request on October 4, 2010. You can read this article by clicking here.
The 2010 Dawson Reunion was a great success with 663 people attending. Click here for 2010 reunion photos.
(It has now been 60 years since the Dawson Mines were closed) Approximately 253 people attended the Saturday night Social. It was an opportunity for everyone to see old friends and for many newcomers to meet new friends. The Sunday picnic was well attended with family groups gathering at the old former Dawson town center and in areas surrounding the main picnic site. Exhibits, Dawson memorabilia, and old photographs of Dawson and its former residents were on display during the entire picnic. The raffle was also a fun event with the following winners: Dawson quilt made by Vivien Andrews was won by Sharon Cullison.Book titled, Coal Town - The Life and Times of Dawson New Mexico by Toby Smith was won by Sharon Cullison. Original Dawson Coal Signs were won by Vince Hernandez and by Ann Myer. Framed photograph of the Dawson Coke Ovens was won by Lee Bradford. Photograph of the Dawson Cemetery was won by Don Neil. Unframed photograph of the Dawson Coke Ovens was won by Rick Hernandez. Vintage 1923 aerial photo of Dawson town site was won by Arlen Baca. Book on Dawson was won by R. Andazola. Crochet purse and doll was won by Rob Pfeiffer. Antique hair pin was won by Loretta Paiz.
Plans are nearly completed for the 2012 Dawson Reunion during the September 1 and 2, 2012 Labor Day weekend. We urge anyone interested in early New Mexico coal mining history to attend this event and to visit the Raton Museum in Raton, NM for an outstanding collection of Dawson historical information. Members of the 2010 picnic committee are: |
Lost and Found: Rudy Gonzales who attended the picnic this year lost a camera at that Dawson Reunion. If anyone found or turned in a lost camera, please contact Rudy at 505-412-1536 (Cell) or 505-471-8758 (Home).