Orson Oriel Richins and Rachel Hennefer established a homestead in southwestern New Mexico after being forced from their ranch in Colonia Diaz during the Mexican revolution. The homestead was located in southwestern Hidalgo County, New Mexico, USA. Access is limited, as it is located on private land, and subject to the US Departmen of Homeland Security restrictions.
On May 25, 2002, family members rediscovered the former site of Orson Oriel Richins and Rachel Hennefer’s homestead. Unfortunately, I was living on the East Coast of the United States and was unable to join the excursion. When I visited my parents in Cotton City, New Mexico, in December 20023, I arranged for Russell and Darrow Richins to take me to see the homestead site. The ranch owners are friends of the family, and they agreed to let us access the site.
As in May of 2002, the day was typically bright and sunny, with just a few puffy clouds in the sky. Darrow and Russell already knew where the homestead site was, so we went directly there. Regardless, it was still a long drive to get to the ranch turn-off from Connton City. Then there were several miles of rough ranch roads before we arrived at our destination. The location is very remote, with few signs of civilization around. Looking east to Mexico, we could see the center-pivot irrigated fields across the international border, but that was it.
The first photo is from Howard Walter taken in May 2002 when the family “found” the homestead site. The local ranchers knew this site was the location of the former Richins ranch – no one thought to ask them until after the explorers had confirmed its location. The second photo I took in December 2003.
I spent some time walking out into the dry lake bed shown in the distance. We assume that this is the location of Orson’s dry farm. The 2002 photo shows it is quite green in May, but not so much in December. This is the only location around suitable for dry land farming. Even still, it would not have been easy. A year without the summer monsoon rains or a plague of grasshoppers or rabbits would be disastrous for the crops. I am amazed they were able to eke out a living!
After exploring for a couple of hours and taking lots of photos, I drove home to Cotton City with my father, Russell Richins, and my grandfather, Darrow Richins. We stopped by the ranch house to thank the Petersons for the opportunity to visit. It was a good day, with Gramps telling lots of stories all the way home.