PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF DISPOSITION OF HUMAN BURIALS EXCAVATED FROM THE LA SECOYA DE EL CASTILLO PROPERTY, 401 OLD TAOS HIGHWAY SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO

The public is notified and invited to comment on the proposed disposition of the contents of graves excavated from the path of the development of the La Secoya de El Castillo property at 401 Old Taos Highway, Santa Fe, New Mexico, between September 2020 and January 2021 by Abboteck Inc. - Professional Archeological Services, in accordance with NMAC 4.10.11.9 PERMITTING PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO THE REMOVAL OF HUMAN BURIALS: Section 18-6-11.2 of the Cultural Properties Act NMSA 1978. 

The graves were within the boundaries of what was called the Masons and Odd Fellows Cemetery, established in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1853 as the first Protestant primarily civilian cemetery in Santa Fe.  The cemetery was decommissioned in 1890.  The cemetery was and remains the resting place of 19th century Santa Fe Masonic fraternity members, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and their families.  The cemetery was/is also the resting place of citizens, military, merchants and travelers, men, women and children of many ethnic groups, who died between 1853 and 1890, most of whom were not permitted into Santa Fe’s older established cemeteries because of religious restrictions.          

Individuals removed from their graves at the La Secoya de El Castillo development could not be identified by name.  No identifying markers or marked cemetery maps pertaining to the graves have been found in the archives of the Montezuma Lodge No. 1 Santa Fe, or the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Santa Fe Lodge.  Potential reburial locations for these individuals include The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery in Santa Fe.  Reburial is scheduled to take place in 2022.    

People who may have or know they have relatives who were interred in the Old Masons and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Santa Fe between 1853 and 1890 are urged to share any information or documents that they may have regarding their relatives.  Information such as name(s), date(s) of interment, grave location(s) as well as life stories in letters, news clippings, photographs might help to identify individuals buried specifically and contribute to what is known about the history of the cemetery and the people interred therein.            

Please contact: aloriabbott@msn.com.  

Alysia L. Abbott PhD Principal Investigator Abboteck Inc. - Professional Archaeological Services