New Rockford Transcript - Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Life is complicated, I think most of us can agree on that. So when I came across this unique card for a Happy New Year, I knew I wanted to share. It features several geese in the barnyard,...

Many times, I have thought about the inner lives of people who settled Eddy County. Did they curse the cold? Did they miss the friends and family they left behind? Did they burn a candle late into...

The snow is on the ground. It happens almost every year. And yet, so many of us can still be left in awe of the accumulations. In the early days, there seemed to be no shortage of excitement around a...

So many of the Christmas traditions we embrace today took root in the British culture of the Victorian Era. It was a time for rapid commercial development and industrial growth. There were great...

I'd like to introduce you to an antiquated hairstyle that still offers loads of volume. The pompadour- you might have heard of it before. The pompadour was a trend for men in the 1950s, and for Madam...

During the holiday season, it is quite possible that you will find yourself dining upon fine china or other heirloom porcelain. If you do, then you have a great opportunity to take a look back in hist...

Regular readers of Archival Anecdotes might recognize the name that belonged to an Eddy County pioneer, Elsie Kerr. Many of her items have been featured in this series - from cookie jars and...

As we move further and further into the 21st century, we also move further away from some of the most impactful events of the century before. Countless books and movies have been made about the two...

Have you ever shaved with a straight edge razor? Would you even know where to begin? For much of history, the straight razor was the most effective option for those who wanted a smooth face. Perhaps...

From time to time, someone will ask me if the museum is haunted. My first reaction is to laugh. My second reaction is to tell the truth and say, "I never been there after dark, so I have no reason to...

The history of the Eddy County Museum begins in the 1960s when three community groups came together with a vision to preserve the county's history for future generations. Those future generations...

Over time, humans have made many great tools and developments to aid in the carrying of our "things." From wheelbarrows to baskets, most carrying implements had an element of work involved. Even the...

Perhaps you remember the saying, "See a penny, pick it up. All day long you'll have good luck," but how many actually do this? After all, what can you buy with a penny these days? Or a nickel? Or...

For much of the past two years, the Stavanger Church at the Eddy County Museum has been undergoing renovations. As a result, museum-goers have had limited access - until this past week, when museum st...

A century ago, agriculture was a whole different business. Sure farmers had to contend with soil conditions and weather patterns, but the process of getting grain from field to market was markedly...

Porches are ubiquitious with Victorian Era homes. These large, open and welcoming spaces were often located at the front of the house and served some important roles. From day-to-day, porches served...

Celebratory family photos are something we have all been a part of. Whether the family gets together for Thanksgiving, Easter or a funeral­­, it's often likely that someone will herd all the bodies...

Once upon a time, before the craze of all things pumpkin spice, apples were the food that signaled a welcome change from the hot summer days to crisp autumn evenings. People embraced the crisp autumn...

Undergarments are one of those rarely talked about luxuries. Assuming (as I always have) that earlier generations were more prudish and cautious about such private matters, I am still surprised each...

After researching and writing about the history of cocoa, I succeeded in baking my first-ever, truly authentic homemade chocolate cake. It was delightful and immediately increased my household...

Did you ever rummage through your grandmother's kitchen storage cabinets? Did you find yourself equally delighted and perplexed by the variety of tools and implements? A whole range of specialized...

It is shocking to see people overdressed during the sweltering summer heat. But have you ever seen a group of young people go to the beach in full-length dresses? Of course not! But if you were...

The artifact featured this week is a metal cocoa tin dating back to the 1920s. Monarch cocoa was one of the many products produced and marketed by Reid, Murdoch & Co of Chicago, Ill., established...

Last fall I wrote about dogs and the role they played in the families of early settlers in Eddy County. After recently writing about friendships, I was reminded that canines (and felines) can offer...

For as long as I can remember, I've heard songs and jokes about the cookie jar. Yet somehow, I have never lived in a home that had a cookie jar. I guess my cookies resided in plastic packages (as...