Socorro in Socorro County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Bursum House

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 10, 2023

1. Bursum House Marker

Inscription. Built in 1887. Eastlake style home of prominent New Mexico politician
Site No. 297
A Registered Cultural Property
State of New Mexico (Marker Number 297.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.

Location. 34° 3.334′ N, 106° 53.812′ W. Marker is in Socorro, New Mexico, in Socorro County. Marker is on West Church Street east of Eaton Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 326 W Church St, Socorro NM 87801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jesus Maria Torres House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Church of the Epiphany (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jumbo (approx. ¼ mile away); Edward S. Stapleton House (approx. ¼ mile away); Socorro (approx. ¼ mile away); Abeyta Block (approx. ¼ mile away); Juan Jose Baca House (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Garcia Opera House (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Socorro.

Regarding Bursum House. Excerpts from the National Register nomination:

One of the few examples in New Mexico of "Eastlake Style"
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architecture, the Bursum House was constructed in 1887 by Socorro builder William Watson and served as the home for two politically prominent Socorro County residents for more than fifty years.…

The house was built for Candelario Garcia, Territorial Socorro County politician and land owner. Between the years 1855 and 1878 he was one of the most frequently elected members of the Territorial legislature, serving nine terms in the House of Representatives and two terms in the Council or Upper House.…

The house was bought by Holm Olaff Bursum, leader of the Republican Party and one of the most powerful political figures in the territory. Since the property lay within the lands of the Town of Socorro Land Grant, title had to be confirmed to Bursum by the City of Socorro. This was done in 1910.

… an important political figure, he returned to Socorro in that year [1906] to run for mayor and won the first of four consecutive, two-year terms to that office. In the meantime he had been elected chairman of the Republican Party Territorial Central Committee in 1904 and held that post until 1911. He was New Mexico delegate to the 1904, 1908 and 1912 national party conventions. Bursum, a leading proponent of statehood for New Mexico was elected to the Constitutional Convention of 1910 which drafted the constitution by which New Mexico entered the Union on January 6,
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 10, 2023

2. National Register of Historic Places Plaque
1912. In the latter year and again in 1916, he was the unsuccessful Republican Party candidate for governor of the new state. He was made a member of the Republican Party National Committee in 1920 and served until 1924. In 1921 he was appointed by Governor Merritt C. Mechem to fill the U.S. Senate seat resigned by Albert B. Fall, but later failed to win a second term in a special election held for that seat in 1925. He served on the Republican State Executive and State Central Committees for most of the time from 1928 through 1942, and was appointed by President Herbert Hoover to the federal commission to study the question of ownership of public lands in the eleven western states.

Also see . . . Bursum House (PDF). National Register nomination for the house, which was listed n 1975. (Prepared by Michael P. McCachren, New Mexico State Records Center and Archives; via National Archives) (Submitted on November 1, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 10, 2023

3. Bursum House Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 80 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 1, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.