Melrose, New Mexico

Melrose was first named Brownhorn in 1905. It was named after two ranchers whose ranches were adjacent to each other; Lonny Horn of the Pig Pen Ranch and another ranch owned by "Wild Horse" Brown.

By 1906 the railroad had built the line through Melrose. A roundhouse was started and a post office for Melrose had been approved and at the request of the Santa Fe Railroad, the name was changed to Melrose.

Some of the first to file at Melrose were Benjamin J. Norby, Judge Denby, C. M. Matheny, J. L. Downing and Steve D. Hamilton. A townsite was laid out in competition with the Santa Fe Railroad.

The first carload of lumber shipped into Melrose by railroad came in 1906. The first lumberyard was operated by C. M. Matheny. The first blacksmith shop in Melrose was owned by Pat Wood. The first bank was built in 1907.

Green Buster ran a hotel in Melrose in 1906. The Hesperian Hotel was soon built and later burned. The Midway Hotel stood for many years.

(For much more history on Melrose, New Mexico see Curry County History published in 1978. You can find out what ended Melrose's claim to fame!)

Harold Kilmer