Amistad preparing for New Deal celebration May 17

Historic Amistad will host the New Deal/WPA Celebration Day on May 17.

Registration begins at 10 a.m. The keynote speakers are Kathryn Flynn, executive director of the National New Deal Preservation Association, and Richard Melzer, president of The New Mexico Historical Society, author and expert on the Civilian Conservation Corps.

This year marks the 75th year-long commemoration of the New Deal accomplishments recognizing Works Progress Adminstration and CCC projects in New Mexico and nationwide.

In addition to guest speakers other historians and authors will be making presentations, answering questions and signing their books throughout the day.

On display will be:
l An adobe block-making demonstration, lye soap-making, and quilting and hand embroidery demonstrations.
l Historic photos, WPA paintings and furniture, and canning and butter making equipment.
l A presentation featuring WPA projects along the eastern side of the state from Clayton to Fort Sumner.

At Amistad visitors can also tour the town’s historic church and the Montgomery Ward Catalog House, which came in bundles via the railroad to Nara Visa and was then hauled by horses and wagons to Amistad.

Admission is free. For more information call 505-633-2251.