Julia Gallegos

Albuquerque Tribune, Thurs, May 23, 1968, p. C-12

Grandfather Had Rio Toll Bridge

Mrs. Julia Gallegos Lived at Historic Old Town Site

By Howard Bryan
Tribune Staff Writer

Mrs. Julia B. Gallegos, whose large home at 110 San Felipe NW occupies one of the most historic sites in Old Town, died at a local hospital Tuesday at the age of 70.

Mrs. Gallegos, granddaughter of a pioneer stagecoach driver and innkeeper who once built a toll bridge across the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, had spent her life in Old Town and had long been active in plaza affairs.

Antiques, Relics Her large two story home, which occupies the site of Gov. Manuel Armijo, last governor of New Mexico under Mexican rule, is filled with antiques and relics of the past.

Mrs. Gallegos was granddaughter of Thomas D. Post, who came to Albuquerque from Kansas City about a century ago.

First Bridge Mr. Post built the first bridge across the Rio Grande in Albuquerque -- a toll bridge west of the plaza with a store on the center of the bridge. Albuquerque residents of the early days were charged 10 cents to walk across the bridge to their fields west of the river.

Washed Away Mr. Post operated his wooden toll bridge for several years before it was washed away by flood waters.

Later, Post bought a large, rambling, adobe building directly south of the Old Town Plaza which he operated as the Post Exchange Hotel.

Mercantile Store Prior to the Civil War, this building had housed the Armijo Brothers Mercantile Store, one of the largest commercial firms in the Rio Grande Valley. The U.S. government confiscated this property in 1864 and sold it at public auction on grounds that the Armijo brothers had been Confederate sympathizers at the time of the Confederate occupation of Albuquerque in 1862.

Albuquerque's first newspaper, the Rio Abajo Press, was published in the building in the 1860's under the management of M.A. (Ash) Upson, pioneer New Mexican newspaperman who later was to be the ghost writer for Pat Garrett's "Authentic Life of Billy the Kid."

Torn Down It was in the old Post Exchange Hotel, which stood just west of the present Gallegos home, that Mrs. Gallegos was born 70 years ago. The old hotel building, which later housed the San Felipe Hotel and Sunnyside Club, was damaged by fire about 10 years ago while being used as a museum, and was torn down.

While operating the Post Exchange Hotel, Mr. Post bought a large, 40-room adobe house just to the east of it from Don Francisco Armijo. This home had been occupied by Gov. Manuel Armijo prior to 1846, and during the Civil War period it had been used as a U.S. military headquarters.

Phil Sheridan It was in this home that the wife of Gen. Phil Sheridan had been born the daughter of a military officer and his wife.

Thomas Post and his wife were the parents of one daughter, Miquella. She was married to Charles Bottger, member of a wealthy New York family who came to Albuquerque for his health in about 1893.

Built Home Mr. and Mrs. Bottger, parents of Julia Gallegos, tore down the old Armijo home at 110 San Felipe NW in about 1900 and built the two-story home which now occupies the spot.

This home, in the early 1900's, was considered one of the finest and most luxurious homes in Albuquerque. It is of cement block construction, with interior woodwork of handcarved oak and mohogany.

Various Rooms The various rooms and the porch were connected with speaking tubes, and there were dumb-waiters between the floors.

Mrs. Gallegos and her husband, George, have occupied this home for many years.

Was Member Mrs. Gallegos was a member of San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church on the plaza, the Sacred Heart League and the Albuquerque Historical Society.

Surviving, in addition to her husband, are four sons, George, Larry, Eddie and Phillip Gallegos of Albuquerque; two daughters, Mrs. Vera Garcia of Albuquerque and Mrs. Dorothy Morris of San Antonio, Tex.; sister, Mrs. Emma Yott of Albuquerque, 24 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Rosary Rosary will be recited today at 7:30 p.m. at Fitzgerald and Son Chapel.

Funeral Mass will be Friday at 9 a.m. at San Felipe de Neri Church.