Quietly, behind the scenes, out of view from the membership, the Historical Society has been planning the restoration of the Romero Cabin. Past President Nancy Bartlit got the ear of Governor Richardson in 2004 and spoke about the opportunity and need to preserve this important piece of homesteader history. Using documents and narrative supplied by the Historical Society, Representative Jeannette Wallace then secured an appropriation of $30,000 during the 2005 legislative session, which must be spent through the county.

Following a successful search for potential contractors by the Historical Society, the county took control and issued an RFP last September for the restoration but, due to unexpected but discretionary expenses connected with the cabin being located on county land, it became clear that the cost would exceed the budget, and the project was put on hold at the request of the Historical Society. The only way to achieve restoration appeared to be by transferring ownership of the cabin to the county, and the Historical Society board approved this at the January, 2008, meeting. (The Historical Society would still offer its services in interpreting the cabin and even furnishing the interior.)

Colleen Olinger

"At the time of the Romero Cabin transfer off LANL lands in the mid 1980s, I was the Laboratory Environmental Evaluation Coordinator - among other things responsible for overseeing management of the Laboratory’s archaeological and historical resources. A new Laboratory project was expected to affect the homesteaded Romero Cabin at TA 55. Dr. Russell Shaw from the Historical Society initiated contact with the Laboratory. Dr. Shaw suggested that the Lab donate the cabin to the Los Alamos Historical Society to best preserve it. I made Romero Cabin relocation part of the TA-55 project requirements, and the Lab funded the move and restoration. I don’t recall that any legal transfer documents were involved. It was a different time.

"I contracted with a National Park Service historical architect working in Colorado, Tony Crosby. I was present when Crosby and the Historical Society determined the location of the cabin. As I recall, the Historical Society originally suggested that it to be sited just behind the museum. However Crosby did not want to intrude on the old fireplace remnant and suggested that it be sited adjacent to the nearby Pueblo ruin. Crosby went to considerable effort to maintain the historical aspect of the cabin. I particularly remember that he had to go to Truchas to obtain period roof tin from old sheds there. Records about the actual transfer would be at the Lab, perhaps entombed deep within its bowels in the initial TA-55 project file."

"Many years ago - in 1984 - we were just delighted that the Historical Society would be able to obtain possession of the Romero Cabin. We had visions at that time of using it for the instruction of visitors to Los Alamos, and to better educate them about the lifestyles of the people living in the Romero Cabin, their background, and even growing  corn in their fields surrounding the cabin. It was the last cabin of its sort in the area and as such, was a historical treasure. Thank you for your continued enthusiasm about our dreams of so long ago."

"In 1984 the Los Alamos Historical Society Board of Directors was given the opportunity to rescue one of the few remaining artifacts associated with the Homesteading Era on the Pajarito Plateau. Ongoing research by historians had shown that the Romero Cabin, situated on DOE land adjacent to TA-55, had been the summer residence of a typical Hispanic family from the Pojoaque valley who would use this land for seasonal stock grazing and vegetable gardening. The Board recognized the importance of preserving this important artifact and proceeded to implement an aggressive effort to remove the cabin from imminent danger of demolition, and to devise a long-term effort to preserve this structure for future generations. I was privileged to be allowed to lead this effort as the representative of the Historical Society. The effort however involved multiple individuals, within the DOE, the lab, and the State Historical Preservation Office.

"Together we all forged a procedure to study the history of the cabin, move the structure to a safe location in the town site where it could be accessed by all, and then put in place a professionally- led preservation effort. This resulted in the Romero Cabin as we know it today. Unfortunately, preservation measures over the years have not been totally successful. I feel that the appropriate response of the Historical Society at this point in time would be to take the lead in preserving this treasure.

"As owners of the homestead-era Romero cabin, the Historical Society should be committed to preserving and maintaining this unique historic structure."

Sadly, we note that one person who played an unrecognized role died December 12 at age 86. That was Eugene Lamkin, a retired Laboratory photographer who found the Romero Cabin's cast iron stove half buried in the mud, cleaned it up, actually used it a few years, and donated it to the Historical Society. Its authenticity was verified by Severo Gonzales and its destiny is to be reunited with the cabin as part of the restoration.