Adobe Abodes

"This is not a book about how to build one, but a series of historical sketches about adobe buildings and the famous events surrounding them. Many are located in New Mexico and some in Texas." Unique among dwellings is the one called adobe. It is adapted to the Southwest arid areas. Remains of houses over 700 years old can be found in Arizona and New Mexico. The vanishing city of Babylon is another example. Bricks made by the Babylonians 6000 years ago still exist. Other examples are: * The oldest public building still in use today was built in 1610 by Pedro de Peralta in a place called Villa de Santa Fe. * A house of 33 rooms built around a placita to accommodate Maj. Jose De Sena, his wife and 23 children (1864). * The House of Gov. Charles Bent, the scene of tragedy during the Rebellion of 1847. Other Southwest homes that are now museums have stories to tell. The ghosts of many men and women of the past still live in memory: Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, John Chisum, Kit Carson, Dick Wootton, and many others.