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Counterculture Movement of the 1960s

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With its history of blending cultures and accommodating newcomers willing to take the place on its own terms, New Mexico has long tolerated outsiders and refugees from mainstream America. The state’s reputation as a Bohemian haven dates back at least to the artist colonies and literary circles of the early 1900s, when painters and authors seized on New Mexico as a place where they could shuck cultural bonds, try on new identities, and experiment with new artistic and social paradigms.  

No wonder the counterculture movement of the 1960s expressed itself here in full-throated chorus. "[New Mexico] had a reputation as being an arty, spiritual place,” said one hippie habitué. By the late 1960s, according to one count, the state had 25 communes, and perhaps another dozen alternative communities. At the Woodstock festival, in 1969, the Hog Farm’s Hugh Romney, aka Wavy Gravy, took the stage and announced the group’s commune in Llano, near Peñasco. After that, New Mexico became a mecca for hippies seeking a place to “turn on, tune in, and drop out,” in the immortal words of Timothy Leary. El Rito was the perfect place for some of those of the counter-culture. 
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The Tewa Indians of the Rio Grande and their neighbors

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Long before there was a village of El Rito, the area was inhabited by the indigenous people.

The Tewa country, flanked on the west side of the Rio Grande by the Jemez Mountains and Pajarito Plateau and on the east side by the Sangre de Cristo Range, extended along the river throughout the Espanola Basin of the Rio Grande rift, roughly from Bandelier National Monument north to the Abiquiu/El Rito area.
The Tewa story, briefly reviewed herein and covering the transition from late prehistoric times into the early historic period, takes place within this region. However, interaction with neighboring people, both Indian and Spanish, provides a wider cultural environment within which the Tewas operated.
Between A.D. 1450 and 1540, more than 100 pueblos existed between the Chama Valley on the north and the Socorro area on the south, and from the Pecos, Galisteo Basin, and Salinas area on the east to the Acoma, Zuni, and Hopi villages on the west. These people had much in common. However, they differed regionally from one another in certain crafts, tool kits, architectural features, and cultural practices.
Generally, their homes, small to large pueblos of masonry or coursed adobe, ranged from one to several stories high (seven or more at Picuris in early historic times) and were built in a linear or rectangular plan with a plaza in front or enclosed by the house blocks (as at Tesuque today). In some cases the pueblo was a large compact mass (like Taos).
These prehistoric puebloans farmed, hunted, gathered wild foods, herded turkeys, and pursued a number of crafts which produced a variety of items.
The six-page document below, provides an insight into these ancient people.

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A Second Great-Grandfather Remembered

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Audio - Remembering

 
Leonard F. Trujillo researched his great-grandfather, and discovered El Rito. My second great-grandfather, Antonio Maria Atencio, was born December 14, 1835 most likely in El Rito, the Rio Arriba area of Northern New Mexico. His baptism was recorded at the Santo Tomas de Abiquiu church on December 19, 1835. Antonio was a boy of nine when he was recorded living with his family in the 1845 Mexican Census in El Rito, New Mexico. Around 1845 or 1846, Antonio Maria came over the Old Spanish Trail.  Starting from Abiquiu, New Mexico, he traveled the 1200 mile route with his family including his father, Gregorio de Jesus Atencio (1806-1848), mother Maria Guadalupe Lucero (1813-1900) and sister Ana Atencio (1832-?) They eventually settled in San Bernardino Valley, Alta California. Antonio’s father, Gregorio de Jesus, became involved in politics in Alta California during the Mexican American War and fought with the Californio rebels against the invading American forces. Gregorio de Jesus died by 1848 and his widow married Jose de Jesus Martinez on June 29, 1848, recorded at the Plaza Church in Los Angeles. The Atencio family migrated to New Mexico in 1693 traveling from Mexico City and the Valley of Mexico.  The Atencio family can be traced to Brihuega, Toledo Castilla Spain to about the year 1585. They crossed the Atlantic Ocean by ship and settled in Puebla de Los Angeles, Mexico. The Atencios were recruited for the Spanish Recolonization of New Mexico in 1693, traveled the Camino Real beginning in Mexico City, continuing to Queretaro, Zacatecas, Parral, El Paso del Norte, and finally to Santa Fe where they established the new settlement at Santa Cruz de La Canada, New Mexico. Chonito appears in New Mexico Santo Tomas de Abiquiu Baptism books, Mexican Census from El Rito, New Mexico 1845,
 

The Enigmatic Sapawe Pueblo Ruins: A Glimpse into the Past

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Audio of impressions of visiting this site (Dave Warren)

  Introduction: Nestled near the quaint village of El Rito, New Mexico, the Sapawe Pueblo ruins stand as silent witnesses to a vibrant ancestral community that once thrived in the region. These ruins provide a window into the lives and cultural practices of the inhabitants who resided there before the pueblo was abandoned. Here, we will delve into the history of the Sapawe Pueblo and explore what life was like for its inhabitants, drawing upon a range of scholarly sources to provide a comprehensive understanding of this fascinating archaeological site. A Brief History: The Sapawe Pueblo, believed to have been constructed around the 13th century, was an integral part of the Native American ancestral Puebloan culture. Located in the northern Rio Grande region, the pueblo was ideally situated for agricultural practices due to the fertile soils and reliable water sources. The Sapawe people skillfully cultivated maize, beans, and squash, forming the backbone of their subsistence economy. Life Before Abandonment: Prior to the abandonment of the Sapawe Pueblo, the inhabitants ( who are believed to have been Tewa) enjoyed a rich cultural life, characterized by intricate social structures and spiritual practices. The pueblo was a bustling community, with multi-story adobe structures and communal spaces that served as gathering places for ceremonies and social interactions. Scholars have unearthed evidence suggesting that the Sapawe people were skilled artisans, adept at creating exquisite pottery and intricate jewelry. Their craftsmanship reflected both their artistic sensibilities and a deep connection to the natural environment. Additionally, the inhabitants engaged in trade networks with neighboring communities, exchanging goods such as turquoise, shells, and obsidian. Cultural and Spiritual Practices: The Sapawe Pueblo's cultural and spiritual practices played a significant role in shaping the daily lives of its inhabitants. Archaeological findings indicate the presence of kivas, subterranean ceremonial chambers, which were central to religious ceremonies and communal gatherings. These sacred spaces were adorned with intricate murals, reflecting the spiritual beliefs and cosmology of the Sapawe people.

Conclusion: The Sapawe Pueblo ruins near El Rito, New Mexico, offer a tantalizing glimpse into the lives of its ancient inhabitants. Through careful archaeological research and analysis, scholars have unraveled the complexities of this once-thriving community. The Sapawe people's rich cultural heritage, agricultural practices, and artistic expressions are a testament to their resilience and ingenuity. By exploring the ruins, we gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity and depth of Native American ancestral Puebloan cultures that once flourished in the region. 

Note: The Sapawe pueblo is a gated, state-owned site and is closely watched. Anyone entering without permission could be fined $500. This is necessary because of years of vandalism and partying in the area.

 

San Juan Nepomuceno

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LISTEN TO THE HISTORY OF THIS CHURCH

It has been called one of the most beautiful examples of historical New Mexican churches.

El Rito, located northwest of Ojo Caliente in Rio Arriba county, was established about 1808 when Hispanic settlers from the Abiquiu area began to move in to raise cattle and cultivate the land. It was originally named El Rito Colorado after the creek that passes through the village. It soon became evident that a church was needed in the area since the nearest church in Abiquiu was 14 miles away.

Construction of San Juan Nepomuceno began in approximately 1830 and probably took two years to complete. It was built in the typical cruciform style with thick adobe walls and flat roof supported by heavy vigas.

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When Wavy Gravy Came To El Rito

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Wavy Gravy -1969
Hugh Nanton Romney Jr. (born May 15, 1936), known as Wavy Gravy, is an American entertainer and peace activist best known for his role at Woodstock, as well as for his hippie persona and countercultural beliefs. Romney has founded or co-founded several organizations, including the activist commune the Hog Farm, and later, as Wavy Gravy, Camp Winnarainbow and the Seva Foundation. He founded the Phurst Church of Phun in the 1960s, a secret society of comics and clowns that aimed to support ending of the Vietnam War through political theater, and has adopted a clown persona in support of his political activism, and more generally as a form of entertainment work, including as the official clown of the Grateful Dead. As Wavy Gravy, he has had two radio shows on Sirius Satellite Radio's Jam On station. A documentary film based on his life, Saint Misbehavin': The Wavy Gravy Movie, was released in late 2010 to generally positive reviews. Romney was awarded the Kate Wolf Memorial Award by the World Folk Music Association in 1992. In 1968, Wavy Gravy and his Hog Farm commune, visited El Rito, and took part in the village's Fourth of July parade. It was during that visit that photographer Lisa Law took the pictures below, which are now part of the Smithsonian National Museum Of American History.
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1998.0139.130Lisa Law had a popup exhibit in Santa Fe at which she shared many of her famous photographs, including those of Wavy Gravy in El Rito.
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