Flores, Florencio (Puerto de Luna)
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Document Type
Audio
Publication Date
8-6-1975
Recommended Citation
Anselmo Arellano collection (MSS 1140), Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University Libraries, University of New Mexico
COinS
Comments
Born in Puerto De Luna in 1896. Family genealogy. He was named after his maternal grandfather. His mother died when he was a toddler. He did not have siblings. His father was a cook who had a restaurant in Puerto de Luna. He attended school in 1904. His father moved from Puerto de Luna to Fort Summer. He was raised by an aunt and worked as sheep and cattle shepherd. He enlisted to serve in the Army in 1918. He returned from WWI, got married and moved to Pastura, and the reason why this place was named Pastura. The original name of Santa Rosa used to be Eden. When his wife got sick, they moved back to Santa Rosa, his job history in the Civil Service from which he retired. His wife died in 1936. Talks about his children and their families, his role in the first association of senior citizens in the area. His learning as a young boy from his aunt and father as they used to run a restaurant. When he started school, teaching was in Spanish; later, instruction was in two languages: English and Spanish. He passed the 'libro 6' [sixth grade] which was the highest level in Pueto de Luna. He had to learn more on his own, especially when he was serving in the Army as he served as an interpreter for the illiterate soldiers during his military service. Continues talking about family genealogy: his maternal mother' grandparents came from Las Gallinas to Agua Negra and from there to Puero de Luna. They were farmers who owned a large house that his mother inherited and later passed it to him as the only heir. He remembers that the first automobile in Puerto de Luna was seen in 1908. Automotive vehicles became more popular in 1914 as roads were built. Talks about the acequias: la Acequia vieja and the acequia nueva and the farmers who built them. Juegos he used to play when he was young: Las Iglesias [an early version of baseball], Topaderos [a ball game consisting in touching the ball and running for a safe base- another early version of baseball]. Fiestas de Santa Ana, horse races, bailes, church celebrations, playing cards, and cuentos. Described the setting of the house kitchen and the 'hornos de leña' [clay oven] to bake the bread.