Christmas on the Ranch 

 Christmas is always a time to remember friends, family, and memorable times passed. Having spent the better part of six years at what was once Rancho Encantado, I started thinking about what the first Christmas on the ranch may have been like. It would have been Christmas, 1936. At that time, it was known as Rancho Del Monte. A dude ranch that was first opened by Bess Huntinghouse, in the little Tesuque valley, north of Santa Fe. Later purchased by Betty Egan, it was renamed, Rancho Encantado.

I let my mind drift back to what was probably a cold winter day, in December, 1936. Maybe a foot of snow on the ground, and the only way to access the ranch would have been by horse and sleigh. The old 1934 Ford pickup, owned by Bess, like a few other vehicles at the ranch, completely covered with snow and undriveable. The only road in, a small dirt path, completely covered with snow as if it was never there.

 

Can’t you just picture a small group of hardy souls, gathered around a roaring fire in the large stone fireplace, when the large wooden door opens and a withered ranch hand enters with a freshly cut Christmas tree, dragged down the mountain by horseback? I can almost feel those blustery winds howling outside. Inside, the laughter and holiday cheer of the small group of employees and a few guests fill the room, as they decorate the Christmas tree, now in the center of the lodge. As the fireplace crackles, they sip fresh warm cider, and sing the age-old carols we are all familiar with. There were no worries about cell phone service or TV reception. No upset guests, just good times with good friends.

Things were much different then. In1936 the average cost of a new house was $3,925.00. The average wage per year was $1,713.00. The cost of a gallon of gas was a mere 10 cents, and the cost of a loaf of bread just 8 cents. And, oh yes, you could buy a brand-new Studebaker car for a whopping $665.00. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to go back at least once in your lifetime and experience an event such as this? There’s a lot to be said for the good old days