Prisoners of War in New Mexico Agriculture
Abstract of Interview
CONSULTANT: Dolores Archuleta
TAPE NUMBER: RG2000-023
SEX:
Female
DATE(S)
OF INTERVIEW: June 12, 2000
LOCATION
OF INTERVIEW: NM Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, Las Cruces, NM
INTERVIEWER:
Jane O’Cain
SOURCE
OF INTERVIEW: NMF&RHM___x__OTHER______________
TRANSCRIBED:
YES___x___ NO_______
NUMBER
OF TAPES: 1
ABSTRACTOR:
Jane O’Cain
DATE
ABSTRATED: July 25, 2000
QUALITY
OF RECORDING (SPECIFY): Good
SCOPE
AND CONTENT NOTE:
Relates
an incident that occurred when, as a child during World War II, her life
intersected with those of the prisoners of war incarcerated in Las Cruces, New
Mexico.
DATE
RANGE: 1943
ABSTRACT
(IMPORTANT TOPICS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE):
TAPE
ONE, SIDE ONE:
The
consultant was a child during World War II. She relates that in approximately
1943, outhouses were banned in Las Cruces. Consequently, her father built an
indoor bathroom. She was very anxious to be able to take a bath in the new
bathtub, as she hated taking baths in the “tin washtub.”
The
consultant soon learned that “blond” prisoners of war were digging the
trenches in which the city’s sewer and water lines were to be laid. Prior to
learning this, her teachers had not discussed with her or the other children
that prisoners of war were incarcerated a few blocks from their school, Holy
Cross Catholic School.
The
consultant continued to grow more anxious when daily she would find that the
prisoners of war were not digging the trenches on her block. After her father
failed to remedy the situation, Dolores went to city hall and met with the city
manager. The very next day when she arrived home from school the prisoners of
war were digging in front of her house! Although her father knew about her visit
to city hall it was never discussed in her family.