History of the St. James Hotel, Cimarron, NM (2025)

08/11/2025

Civil War Echoes in the Desert

For those of you who did not know there were several Civil War battles fought in New Mexico. The largest Civil War battle in New Mexico was the Battle of Valverde, fought on February 20–21, 1862, near Fort Craig along the Rio Grande. It involved over 5,500 troops and marked a significant Confederate victory in the New Mexico Campaign.

But the most western battle fought was the Battle of Picacho Pass, fought on April 15, 1862, near Picacho Peak in what was then New Mexico Territory (now Arizona). This was the westernmost fatal engagement of the American Civil War. It was a small but symbolically important skirmish between Union and Confederate forces vying for control of the Southwest. The Union lost 3 soldiers and the South had 2 soldiers wounded. The Union would eventually force the Confederates back to Texas which would end the southwest campaign.

01/11/2025

The lost pauper’s cemetery of Cimarron, New Mexico; A New Mexico Mystery

In my book 'The History of the St. James Hotel, Cimarron, New Mexico,' I recount how Cruz Vega, accused of killing Reverend Tolby during the Colfax County War, was denied burial in the Cimarron Cemetery after his lynching by Clay Allison and his men. Instead, Vega's cousin, Pancho Griego, buried him in a "Pauper’s Cemetery" outside Cimarron's city limits. Now, 150 years later, the location of this cemetery has been forgotten. So where is it? Does anyone have any clues as to where this lost cemetery may be?

25/10/2025

St. James Hotel Ghost Stories
It's that season again when everyone shares their favorite St. James ghost stories, especially with Halloween approaching! Whether you've heard a tale from a guest, an employee, or just local lore about the old inn, feel free to join in. If you're curious about any of the hotel's paranormal happenings, don't hesitate to ask.
Here are a couple of stories from the book Ghosts of the St. James Hotel, Cimarron, New Mexico. Permission by author.
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"In the Jesse James room, there used to be an old clock on the fireplace mantle. This clock needed two keys to wind it, but these keys were missing. One morning the clock chimes started to ring unexpectedly. Upon investigation, the clock was not wound, and there was no reason it would have chimed. This happened several more times in the months that followed."
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"We had reserved Mary’s Room, which rumor had was extremely haunted. It’s on the second floor, the furthest room back on the left side of the hallway. As you enter Room #17, the bed sets with the headboard against the wall on the right and the bathroom on the left. Past the bed is a sitting area and window.
I woke up a couple of hours after we’d gone to bed that first night and needed to use the bathroom. But when I glanced down at the foot of the bed, a little lady stood there, smiling at me. I decided I didn’t have to go that bad and tried to go back to sleep.
I couldn't, so I looked down there again. The little lady smiled at me again. My husband was snoring beside me, and I shook him awake. I said, “I have to go to the bathroom, and there’s someone at the foot of the bed.” (I didn’t mention whether the person was male or female.) He glanced down there and said, “Oh, it’s just Mary.”
Yep, Mary was still there. I said, “I’m not going to the bathroom with her standing there unless you stay awake!” He agreed to do so, and I edged past the foot of the bed, took care of business, and rushed back into bed. Mary had vanished, and my husband was fast asleep."

LET'S HEAR YOUR STORIES!!

21/10/2025

The St. James Cornice
One of the most unique and enduring parts of the St. James architecture is its cornice. [Definition: A cornice is a decorative architectural feature that forms the uppermost part of a building’s exterior wall or structure]. This cornice is made of tin, like most in that era.
The St. James cornice is an original part of the building and was most likely added during the 1880-82 remodel of the hotel. Below is an older picture (1980’s) of the St. James, but it shows the cornice well because of the visible overhang and the multicolored elements.

16/10/2025

Reverend Tolby Part 3: The Tolby assassination “The why”

Reverend Franklin J. Tolby was murdered in 1875 during the height of the Colfax County War in New Mexico—a violent conflict rooted in land disputes between settlers and the new Maxwell Land Grant Company. Tolby, a Methodist pastor, had publicly sided with the local farmers and settlers against powerful interests tied to the Santa Fe Ring, a group of influential land speculators, lawyers and politicians who controlled the NM territorial government and its Governor Samual B. Axtell. Gov. Axtell was later removed from office for corruption.

Tolby also wrote articles for the Cimarron News & Press and the New York Sun newspapers criticizing the Ring in public. This caused the Ring to strengthen the power in the area and silence any trouble makers. As tensions mounted, Tolby’s outspoken journalism placed him further in the crosshairs of those who sought to suppress dissent, and his assassination in Cimarron Canyon was widely seen as politically motivated. One account suggests that individuals connected to the Santa Fe Ring paid to have him killed. Tolby's death sparked outrage and intensified the conflict, leading to further violence, including the lynching of Cruz Vega, a local constable suspected of involvement, by a mob reportedly led by gunfighter Clay Allison. Tolby's murder became a catalyst for the broader Colfax County War, symbolizing the deep corruption and lawlessness of the era.

Below is picture of Reverend Franklin. J. Tolby.

11/10/2025

Reverend Tolby Part 2: The Tolby assassination

Reverend F. J. Tolby’s body was found by two cowboys on September 15, 1875, in Cimarron Canyon west of Cimarron. Tolby had been shot in the back twice the day before. Curiously, it did not seem to be a robbery as all his personal property was at the murder scene and not taken by the killer. His horse, money, gold watch, saddle, etc. Unfortunately, it had rained hard the night before removing crucial evidence like footprints. Tolby had clearly been executed. The two cowboys recognized Tolby and realized that this was likely caused by Tolby’s unbridled outspokenness of the Santa Fe Ring and the new Maxwell Land Grant owners.

The reverend, his wife and their two children were loved by the communities he served, including Cimarron, Elizabethtown and outlying areas. Tolby was laid to rest in the Cimarron Cemetery by the Masonic order in which he belonged.

The pic below is of Reverend Tolby’s first grave marker. This was found by then owner Ed Sitzberger in the rear courtyard of the St. James Hotel in the 1990’s. It was being used as a path stone turned upside-down, so all you could see was plain white marble. It was not until he dug up the stones and turned them over that he realized it was a gravestone. The gravestone is now on display in the Old Aztec Mill Museum in Cimarron, NM. The current large black marble monolith marker for Tolby’s grave replaced the original gravestone years later.

07/10/2025

I was asked who would have the most famous grave in the Cimarron Cemetery. Most likely it would be the grave of Reverend F. J. Tolby.
Reverend Franklin J. Tolby was a Methodist minister sent to New Mexico in 1874, serving congregations in Cimarron and Elizabethtown. He became a vocal supporter of local settlers in their conflict against the Maxwell Land Grant Company, which sought to evict them from disputed lands. On September 14, 1875, Tolby was found murdered in Cimarron Canyon—a death that shocked the community and escalated tensions, ultimately sparking the Colfax County War. His killing became a catalyst for a broader uprising against corruption and land injustice in the region.
There is much more to this story, and I will do a few more parts to this.

29/09/2025

Is the Cimarron Cemetery (Mountain View Cemetery) considered a “boot hill?”

The term “boot hill” is synonymous with gun fights and the victims dying rather quickly with their boots on. If we are following this definition, then yes, the Cimarron Cemetery is a “boot hill.” A dozen or more men (at least) were killed in gunfights either on the streets of Cimarron or in the St. James and other local saloons. There were a few lynchings also. The majority of these gunfights occurred in the 1870’s. These years were extremely violent in the town and law, and order was at a minimum.

22/09/2025

The Lambert Family Private Dining Room

I have been asked whether the Lambert family resided at the St. James Hotel; indeed, they did. During the 1880 remodel, Henry Lambert arranged for a private family suite to be constructed on the second floor above the kitchen. This suite included three bedrooms and a dedicated dining room. Occupying this area now is the Lambert, Re*****on, and Zane Grey rooms.

Below is an image depicting the Lambert family in their private dining room. Circa 1900.

14/09/2025

Anna Elizabeth Stepp (or Mollie/Mary Lambert) mystery

Anna Elizabeth Stepp was the original proprietor, Henry Lambert's first wife. They met back east and moved to New Mexico in the late 1860’s. Anna liked going by nicknames and she used Mollie and Mary the most. Her headstone even has Mary Lambert on it. Her passing in the newspaper mentioned her as Mollie Lambert. Either way she was quite the independent woman and even had business dealing of her own, which was rare in those days.

But there is a mystery about Anna. And that was her death. It is said that she died from a lingering illness that lasts the year. Was it consumption (tuberculosis), pneumonia, the flu or something else?
No ones knows and no records can be found to satisfy this mystery.

Anna (Mary) Lambert dies on October 28, 1881, on her husband’s 43rd birthday. Anna is buried in the Cimarron Cemetery next to her brother Willie, who died earlier that year.

07/09/2025

St. James fireplaces and Chimneys
It is hard to say how many fireplaces and chimneys the St. James Hotel had over the years. But through the many remodels and changes to the old Inn, it is estimated that at one time there were more than a dozen fireplaces, mainly in the suites and public areas (lobby, saloon, etc.) The smaller rooms had small coal stoves in them. The old piping stands on the walls can still be seen in a few of the rooms.
None of the old fireplaces work anymore. Most likely they would be considered a fire hazard. The fireplaces are now blocked with ornamental plates and other barriers. But one can turn on their imagination and hear the crackling of the fire and the warmth coming from the firesides.
The fireplaces pictures below are from the lobby and a few of the rooms:

24/08/2025

I would like to give a big shout out to Matt Ruglys and his "Cimarron 1872 podcast." Matt's great, great grandfather was Henry Tinson who worked for the Maxwell Land Grand Company in Cimarron, NM. Tinson writes letters to his home in England that chronicle his life in Cimarron that Matt narrates in his podcast. The letters describe both life and work in the American West. Also, this early 1870's era was the most lawless time in Cimarron, New Mexico and these letters give invaluable insight to what was happening in the town and surrounding area.

Please check it out! Link below.

https://open.spotify.com/show/3WpiZyG5nJREdaEHi8NdDK

History of the St. James Hotel, Cimarron, NM

08/11/2025

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25/10/2025

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11/10/2025

07/10/2025

29/09/2025

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24/08/2025

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