Near Watrous in Mora County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Keep the Wagons Rolling
The Mechanics' Corral
— Fort Union National Monument —
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2015
1. Keep the Wagons Rolling Marker
Inside this Mechanics' Corral over 70 civilian employees repaired broken wheels, damaged wagons, and worn-out harness. On most work days the sounds of carpenters, smiths hammering at the forge, and oxen and mules being shoed filled the air.
An 1868 quartermaster officer reports…
The mechanics' corral is formed by the shops and quarters enclosing it on three sides… All the shops were in fine working order, and capable of doing an enlarged amount of work.
—George W. Bradley, captain, depot quartermaster
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Santa Fe Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1868.
Location. 35° 54.529′ N, 105° 0.871′ W. Marker is near Watrous, New Mexico, in Mora County. Marker can be reached from New Mexico Route 161, 7˝ miles north of CanAm Highway (Interstate
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Transportation Corral (within shouting distance of this marker); The End of the Road (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Enough to Feed an Army (about 400 feet away); Big Business for New Mexico (about 400 feet away); Commissary Storehouse (about 400 feet away); Separate Worlds (about 400 feet away); Depot Officers' Quarters (about 400 feet away); Buttons, Bowling, Billiards and Beer (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Watrous.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Fort Union National Monument
2. Marker detail: Mechanics' Corral Illustration
Left:
• Two large carpenter shops
• Blacksmith shops for shoeing livestock
• Storeroom for wood and iron to repair wagons
• Storeroom for charcoal
Center:
• Two "good rooms" where four mechanics lived
• Kitchen with stove, range, and bake oven
• Two small storerooms
• Dining room with two tables large enough to feed the 32 mechanics who boarded here
• Mechanics' living quarters
Right:
• Two saddle makers in the saddler shop
• Fire fighting tools, buckets, and axes
• A harness room to wash, clean, and repair tack
• One metalworker in the tin shop
• Two painters and their paint shops
• Coopers making and mending barrels
• Two forges where a blacksmith and his striker repaired wagons
• Four men working in the wheelwright shop
• Steam engine house
• Two large carpenter shops
• Blacksmith shops for shoeing livestock
• Storeroom for wood and iron to repair wagons
• Storeroom for charcoal
Center:
• Two "good rooms" where four mechanics lived
• Kitchen with stove, range, and bake oven
• Two small storerooms
• Dining room with two tables large enough to feed the 32 mechanics who boarded here
• Mechanics' living quarters
Right:
• Two saddle makers in the saddler shop
• Fire fighting tools, buckets, and axes
• A harness room to wash, clean, and repair tack
• One metalworker in the tin shop
• Two painters and their paint shops
• Coopers making and mending barrels
• Two forges where a blacksmith and his striker repaired wagons
• Four men working in the wheelwright shop
• Steam engine house
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2015
3. Keep the Wagons Rolling Marker
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2015
4. Fort Union Depot Mechanics' Corral Ruins
Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 99 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 1, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
