Amistad, New Mexico
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 35° 55.136 W 103° 09.425
13S E 666276 N 3976526
The school, now closed, is still famous.
Waymark Code: WMRV7D
Location: New Mexico, United States
Date Posted: 08/06/2016
Views: 3
County of town: Union County
Location of town: 39 miles S. of Clayton on NM-402
School Designer: WPA
Date Built: 1937
Building Type: Recreation And Culture
Construction System: Concrete, Stucco, Metal, Concrete
Architectural Style: Mission/Spanish Revival
Amistad is derived from the Spanish that means "friendly."
Even though the Nat. Reg states the current function is education, this school is closed. All activities have been moved the the new Amistad School District schools located west of NM-402 north of this site.
"AMISTAD (Union settlement in the S. part of Union County, on NM 402; PO 1907 to present). In 1878 the site of Amistad was a cattle drive stop.
Its history as a community dates from 1906, when Rev. Henry S. Wannamaker, a Congregational minister, joined other persons from the East in rushing to homestead on NM's eastern plains. The Reverend Wannamaker, something of a land promoter, believed settlers of high quality could be attracted through advertisements in church newspapers, and among the train-loads of land-hungry immigrants that arrived from 1907 to 1915 to stake claims were more than 40 older ministers.
"The homesteaders formed "The Improvement Association" to organize the community, and they voted to name their village and PO Amistad - the Spanish word for "friendship" - hoping that a friendly spirit would prevail among its citizens.
"Amistad grew apace and at one time boasted two newspapers. Later, when hard times struck, much of the population drifted away, but the village of Amistad still remains. Local people pronounce the name AHM-stahd." ~ The Place Names of New Mexico By Robert Hixson Julyan