By The Raton Museum Staff
Have you ever wandered into a new town and noticed the street names? Ever wondered who or what the history is behind the names? We gathered information about the Raton street names from Helen Robertson, who printed a couple of articles in The Trader a few years ago. It is interesting to note that over time some of the names were changed from 1882 until sometime in the 1920s.
Apache Avenue
Named for one of the dependent nations in the United States. This nation had warriors known to be the fiercest ever lived. The only time you would see them in battle is right before you are killed.
Clark Avenue
Named for W. C. Clark who was one of the earliest merchants in Raton. He started business in 1881.
He operated a small grocery store, a boarding house, and sold liquor. His establishment was on First Street between Cook and Park.
Collier Avenue
Named for Thomas Willis Collier, an Ohio native who became a captain during the Civil War. He ran a mercantile business and later moved to Santa Fe to publish the Santa Fe Daily. He later returned to Raton to publish the Raton Range and became the postmaster.
Maxwell Avenue
Named after either Lucien B. Maxwell, the Maxwell Land Grant, or the Maxwell Land Grant Company (MLGC), In 1841, this land grant belonged to Lucien B. Maxwell who bought the Beaubien-Miranda Land Grant. He was forced in 1870 to sell it to the Santa Fe Ring who were the owners of the MLGC. The MLGC gave Raton the original 320 acres that started the town.
Mimbres Avenue
Named for the Mimbres people who were a subculture of the Mogollon culture from 200 AD
- 1500 AD. They were known for their black and white pottery. By 1886, the name was changed to Park Avenue. No one knows who Park was named for.
Moulton Avenue
Named for Harvey Moulton who was the Justice of the Peace. The Moulton House, which was a hotel, was named for him. Judge Moulton was killed during the chase for Gus Mentzer, notorious 1882 bad man of Raton. Moulton Avenue will take you to the top of Goat Hill.
Parsons Avenue
Named for Edward Parsons who was one of the first people to build houses in Raton. His son Fred Parsons later developed this Parsons subdivision which is south of the railroad tracks. In this area, a short street is named after him-Frederick Street.
Railroad Avenue
his street faced the railroad roundhouse. Later on, Railroad Avenue was split up, and part of became Historic First Street. Other streets amed after the railroad were Santa Fe Avenue and Topeka Avenue. Santa Fe Avenue became second Street, and Topeka Avenue became Third
Street.
Stevens Avenue
Named for Chester D. Stevens who came from New York. He was a builder, carpenter, and lumber man. He also served on the school board and city council.
Terrill Avenue
Named for Edward A. Terrill who came from New York City. He was a Navy Civil War veteran.
He worked as a railroad machinist. He owned a house on one acre that had trees and ornamental shrubbery.
Troy Avenue
Named for Daniel Troy who moved from Illinois to California to participate in the gold rush where he was a miner and ran a hotel. In 1872, he moved to New Mexico to raise sheep. He eventually moved to Blosser Gap where they raised sheep and cattle.
Garcia & Martinez Street
To date, there is no way to establish how Garcia Street, Martinez Street, and Tinaja Street were named. Garcia and Martinez may have been named after a prominent person on the east side of Raton. Another possibility is there were many residents with the last names Garcia and Martinez.
Vermejo Avenue
May have been named after the Vermejo Tributary which was a part of the Maxwell Land Grant.
Immerse yourself in the architectural style walk the streets of colorful history! Pick up a Walking Tour brochure; published by the Raton Museum; to tour the five (5) blocks of Raton's original townsite, designated as the Raton Downtown Historic District.
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