Mill Details

La Cueva Mill

Mora Co. | New Mexico | USA
Known Dates: 1850
Township: n/a
Watersource: La Cueva Canal, Mora River.

Location / Directions

La Cueva Mill

Located about 30 miles north on NM 518 of I-25 in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Verse for Thought
"But you are mercifuland kind and so you never forget them or let them be destroyed. Our God, you are powerful, fearsome, and faithful, always true to your word."
({Nehemiah 9:31 & 32a CEV})
La Cueva Mill
Jim Miller 10/22/2004

The old adobe mill compex, built in the 1850's of adobe brick on a rock foundation, was part of a large shipping center for livestock and agricultural products. The mill ground flour for many families in the Mora Valley and the La Cueva area. The mill itself generated electricity through 1949 and today is in good condition and has extensive storage buildings.

La Cueva Mill
Jim Miller 10/22/2004

The currently surviving buildings of the now William Salman Ranch at the Nation Historic Site, are the Big House, the Merchantile Building (Salman Ranch Store), and the La Cueva Mill. The San Rafael Mission Church, some other out building, an old home on a hilltop, and many stone walls also remain.

La Cueva Mill
Jim Miller 10/22/2004

The community consisted of the San Rafael Mission Church, merchantile building-Post Office, blacksmith shop, harness and tack rooms, stables, Vincente Romero Big House, and inumerable pens for cattle, sheep and goats. The Big House was started in 1835 and not completed until 1863. It was built of adobe bricks in the "Montery Pennisula Territorial Style" an a two story hacienda surrounded by high adobe walls for protection from marauding Camanches, Utes, Apaches and other Plains Indians.

La Cueva Mill
Jim Miller 10/22/2004

The Romeros family, headed by Vincente Romero settled this area in the early 17th century, having obtained an original Mora Land Grant from Colonel Albino Perez, the then Governor of the New Mexico Territory, about 1835.

La Cueva Mill
Jim Miller 10/22/2004

The sign at the mill decribing a brief history of the mill and adjoining community.

 
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