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

First Methodist Episcopal Church North

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 9, 2025

1. First Methodist Episcopal Church North Marker

Inscription.
Built 1919, this building served as a church from 1920 through 1967. It is now the Herzstein Memorial Museum.

Site No. 1508
A Registered Cultural Property
State of New Mexico

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the New Mexico, Historical Society of New Mexico series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.

Location. 36° 27.092′ N, 103° 10.953′ W. Marker is in Clayton, New Mexico, in Union County. It is at the intersection of South 2nd Street and Walnut Street, on the left when traveling south on South 2nd Street. The marker is mounted on the southwest corner of the subject property, facing South 2nd Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 22 South 2nd Street, Clayton NM 88415, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern New Mexico.

It is also in the American Southwest,

in the Mountain West,

on the Great Plains,

on the Southern Plains,

on the High Plains,

and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

Globally,

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it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Dust Bowl,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Herzstein's Store (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Eklund Hotel (about 700 feet away); The Luna Theatre Complex (about 800 feet away); Thomas Edward "Black Jack" Ketchum (approx. 0.3 miles away); Santa Fe Trail (approx. ¾ mile away); Black Jack Ketchum (approx. ¾ mile away); The Santa Fe Trail / Who Traveled The Trail? (approx. ¾ mile away); Clayton Dinosaur Trackway (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clayton.

Also see . . . Small Town, Big History (Herzstein Memorial Museum).

Excerpt: This incredible building has been a cornerstone in our Community and County since 1919. It was originally the Episcopal Methodist Church, community center, and served as Clayton's Library for a time. In 1972 the Union County Historical Society (UCHS) purchased this
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 9, 2025

2. First Methodist Episcopal Church North Marker
The marker is mounted at eye level on the southwest corner of the Herzstein Memorial Museum, formerly the First Methodist Episcopal Church North.
building thanks to a gift from the Chilcote Family. The UCHS had this beautiful building, a plan and no additional funding. In the mid 1980s Sue Richardson moved to Clayton and took a great interest in this museum. Sue, the UCHS President, and then Museum Director D. Ray Blakely worked tirelessly to make the “Clayton History Museum” a success. Wait, you're wondering how we became the Herzstein Memorial Museum? Well, Albert (Al) Herzstein who was living in Houston, TX happened to be a subscriber to the newspaper of his boyhood home. Reading tales of the museum and its plight, Al and his wife Ethel provided funding through the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation. With this donation structural renovations were underway, and this little dream became this hidden gem that we have today.

(Submitted on February 7, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

First Methodist Episcopal Church Cornerstone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 9, 2025

3. First Methodist Episcopal Church Cornerstone

First M. E. Church
A. D. 1918

H.R. Mills, Pastor
S.A. Bright, Dist. Supt.

C.P. Talbot
T.S. Snyder
Gerda C. Eklund
Building Committee

Herzstein Memorial Museum (<i>west elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 9, 2025

4. Herzstein Memorial Museum (west elevation)

Herzstein Memorial Museum (<i>south elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 9, 2025

5. Herzstein Memorial Museum (south elevation)

Herzstein Memorial Museum (<i>southwest elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 9, 2025

6. Herzstein Memorial Museum (southwest elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 51 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 7, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.