History of the St. James Hotel, Cimarron, NM

03/09/2023

The Famous Don Diego Hotel
When going through an old box given to me by a previous hotel owner (Ed Sitzberger), I found an old 'Don Diego' stationary in pretty rough shape. The St. James Hotel was purchased in 1934 by Will Haegler. The first thing Haegler did was change the name to the Don Diego Hotel. The Don Diego name stayed until 1984, when Ed Sitzberger purchased the hotel and brought the original name of the St. James back to the grand lodge and tavern.

12/08/2023

Original building pt 2
In 1871 when Henry Lambert acquired the original building it was only a saloon and dining room. There were also two private gambling rooms on the south side. There were no hotel rooms at first. It is believed a few sleeping rooms were added to the saloon building on the east side over time. But the original sleeping rooms used by the Lambert Inn were not in the saloon building, but across the street in the west building of the old Lucian Maxwell House. Maxwell owned over 1 million acres and sold his kingdom to a foreign investment company in 1870 and left the area for St. Sumner. This foreign investment company would become the Maxwell Land Grant & Railway Company.
In the west building of the Maxwell House (which Henry and his wife Mollie were renting from the Grant Company) were a suite of rooms that were the old servant quarters for the Maxwell House. These were used either as the main sleeping rooms for the Lambert Inn or as an overflow. Remember at this time the Santa Fe Trail was in full swing and ran right between the old Maxwell House and Lambert's saloon. My guess is business was very good!
If you look at the first picture below, you will see the west side of the old Maxwell House circa 1924 after the fire. The exposed adobe section on the far left was the Maxwell servant quarters used as hotel rooms. The second picture below is a wonderful model of the Maxwell House in the Old Aztec Mill Museum…a must visit if in Cimarron! It shows the servant quarters on the left of the west building.

06/08/2023

The original building pt. 1
I have been asked about the original building of the hotel and what did it look like? Henry Lambert acquired the small building across from the Maxwell House in late 1871, after selling his hotel in Elizabethtown, NM. At this time the building was just the saloon, gambling rooms and dining room. The sleeping rooms were across the street in the old Maxwell House (more on that in pt 2).
The 1st picture below shows today’s building. The red rectangle shows where the original building was. The rest of the building and east wing was added in the 1880-82 remodel. The kitchen and dining areas have been added to over the years.
The second picture (courtesy Audrey Alpers Collection) shows the original saloon structure circa 1866, before Henry acquired the building. Notice the door and two windows on each side. Also, the room in back of this building would become the kitchen.

01/07/2023

Are the marble sinks original? Yes, and most are still functional today. In 1880 there was an article on the remodel of the St. James Hotel in the Cimarron News and Press newspaper stating, “The suites are supplied with stationary washstands and hot and cold water.” A big deal for the day!!

17/06/2023

*Original wooden support posts under the saloon...and orbs??*
Under the saloon area is a basement. This basement encompasses most of the original building, which was not very big. This part of the original building was built sometime around 1865. Around the time the Old Aztec Mill Museum (originally a flour mill) was built circa 1864 by Lucian Maxwell. Pictured are the massive wooden posts which are 12in x 12in in girth. These huge pieces of lumber were cut locally from trees on the Maxwell Land Grant. These posts stand on hand cut pieces if granite stones weighing hundreds of pounds a piece. These stones were also quarried from somewhere on the Grant.
Interestingly, while documenting the hotel for the St. James history book, I was given this tour of the basement by former owner Ed Sitzberger. While down there he looked at me and stated "We are not alone." Not sensing anything I just said, "Maybe so…" Later when looking at these pictures, I noticed the orbs??

03/06/2023

Pictured are the original china dishes Henry Lambert had shipped from back east. Most likely St. Louis or Chicago. After the remodel (1880-1882) Henry stocked the St. James with many lavish accoutrements of the time for the indulgence of his customers.
This china is on display at the Old Aztec Mill Museum.

03/05/2023

Just a reminder that the 2023 Dry Cimarron History Tour, sponsored by and beginning at the Folsom Museum in Folsom, New Mexico, is this coming Saturday, May 6. I'm not sure if this year's tour is full now or not, but if you've got the time and are in proximity I can't recommend it highly enough. So it's worth a call to check for availability! Below is the current info directly from the Folsom Museum.

~ Dry Cimarron history tour~
This year’s Dry Cimarron History Tour is scheduled for May 6th 2023. Taking your own vehicle and following our lead, we will depart at 8AM following the Dry Cimarron River East along NM 456. Throughout the morning we will be making multiple stops at historic sites otherwise closed to the public. At each stop there will be a short lecture of the sites history after which you will be able to walk around and explore the site. We will stop for lunch at the Burchard Ranch (lunch is provided by the Folsom Museum free of charge). After lunch there will be a couple more stops ending in mid afternoon. Stops include, the ghost town of Madison, Folsom Falls, Tollgate Canyon, the Brown ranch (site of Mike Devoy’s Indian trading Post called Catalpa), Alligator rock petroglyphs, and the Burchard Ranch.

For reservations call the Folsom Museum 575-278-2122 or send us a message on Facebook at the Folsom Museum.

16/04/2023

If you have stayed or even driven past the St. James Hotel in Cimarron, NM, you had seen the tall thin sign out front. When did the "ST. JAMES - HOTEL - OPEN FINE FOOD" sign which currently adorns the street-side of the hotel come into being? At this point no one is exactly sure… Unless someone out there can tell us something?
The earliest picture found is from the 1970's. This was during the hotel's 'Museum era' in which the hotel's original sleeping room section was turned into a museum. The tall sign read "ST. JAMES - MUSEUM - ENTRANCE & GIFT SHOP."
-Picture of the St. James sign courtesy KENW/PBS New Mexico

11/03/2023

In 1932, 2nd owner Will Haegler purchases the St. James Hotel and renames it the Don Diego Hotel. Between 1932 and 1934 the hotel goes thru a renovation putting in many modern conveniences and adding bathrooms to individual rooms. Many of the old fixtures and furniture are sold off or go to the town dump. This matchbook is from that era.

26/02/2023

After the remodel (1880-1882) Henry Lambert proprietor, brought in many ornate items from back east to decorate and make the St. James more modern and upscale. Among these were brass dinner bells used in the dinning room for service. The first picture is of the Lambert family, circa 'turn of the century' in the St. James dining room. Notice the dinner bell on the table. The second picture is of a set of dinner bells from the St. James Hotel, that are in an exhibit at the Old Aztec Mill Museum. A must visit while in Cimarron.

29/01/2023

From the 1879 livestock brand directory of Colfax County. St. James Hotel original proprietor Henry Lambert registered the MHL and the ML brand for his livestock. Henry owned 640 acres in the Moreno Valley precinct (Ute Park area). He also leased another 640 acres from the Maxwell Land Grant & Railway Company to support his large herd of cattle and stable horses.
Notice Henry did some advertising on the bottom of the page.

26/11/2022

Where are the hotel registers?
There are multiple sets of “era” guest registers and ledgers. The first era registers are from 1871 to 1880. The bad news is these came up missing in the 1970’s and cannot be found at this time. The good news is the original proprietor Henry Lambert’s son, Fred, made a copy of the names in this register. Unfortunately, he did not record the dates of the stays at the St. James or incidental information, such as where the guests were from.
The second set is from 1881 to 1905. And a few supplementary pages. The originals are in possession of the current owner of the St. James Hotel. These were copied by the Albuquerque Genealogy Club in 1994 and they published a bound copy which includes an index of the guests.
The third set are ledgers from the Don Diego days, mostly in the 1960’s. The registers from 1906 to the 1960’s whereabouts are unknown.
Below is a copy of the original register page from 1881. The arrow points to the signature of Mace T. Bowman. Deputy Sheriff and later Sheriff of Colfax County. The only man Clay Allison was said to be afraid of.

24/09/2022

If you have been in the St. James Hotel you probably have noticed the huge safe just off the parlor made by the “Hall’s Safe & Lock Company – Cincinnati & St. Louis.” After purchasing the hotel, the second owner Will Haegler, installs a safe in the 1930’s because there is no bank in town. In doing so, Haegler becomes the unofficial banker of Cimarron for a while, even loaning money to townspeople. Where the safe is currently located was once a hallway that connected the kitchen area and saloon to the east wing. Pictures below are of the hallway before the safe was installed circa 1936 and the safe as seen today.

11/09/2022

An interesting picture of the St. James Hotel. Taken around 1984. Does anyone know anything about these totem poles?

22/08/2022

Where were the original private gambling rooms?
There were two private gambling rooms in the original saloon. These continued after the addition in 1880. They were on the south side of the saloon where a small dining room is today, behind the current wooden bar. Each room had its own private entrance from the saloon. These doors were kept locked during private poker games. One could rent these rooms for $25 per night, plus drinks. The winner normally picked up the tab. We know of at least two gamblers that were killed in these private rooms. The last known killing was Bill Curren in 1884.

09/07/2022

The original foundation
The original Saloon (building) foundation is under the current dining room and bar area. The original building that Henry Lambert used for his Saloon and Inn was (most likely) built by Lucian Maxwell, owner of the Maxwell Land Grant. The building was constructed sometime around 1864-66. We know this by pictures of that era. The foundation is made of large block stones most likely quarried somewhere on the Grant. There is a small entryway into the basement behind the current wooden bar. In the basement there is still an old boiler from the turn of the century. The picture shows the large foundation stones under the saloon behind former St. James owner Ed Sitzberger.

06/03/2022

How many rooms were originally in the St. James Hotel?
According to an 1881 Las Vegas (NM) Daily Gazette article, which would be from the time of the original remodel (1880-1882), states “Henry Lambert is doing the most for the town at present. He has erected a large two-story adobe hotel containing twenty-eight rooms and is now engaged in finishing and plastering it inside and out. The hotel is furnished with hot and cold baths, upstairs and down. It is to be lighted with gas or gasoline as circumstances will permit.”
The article does not state if these are only guest rooms or include the parlors, dining room and bathrooms. Unfortunately, there is no documentation of the exact layout of the hotel from that period of the 1880 remodel. The hotel has been renovated numerous times over the decades for utility updates (electrical and plumbing) and consolidation of rooms to make the suites larger. So, the original layout is still up for debate. Below is an interpretation of what the original hotel layout may have been as examined by the author and previous owner.

30/01/2022

When did Henry Lambert acquire the hotel?

Numerous legends have Henry Lambert beginning his saloon and hotel business in Cimarron in 1872, but the truth is, it’s late 1871. Back in 1871 it was called “Lambert’s Inn or Lambert’s Saloon and Billiard Parlor.” The hotel most likely consisted of a few rooms added to the saloon on the east side. The name “St. James Hotel” did not come into use until the 1873-75 time-frame.
One thing Henry Lambert did well was keep very good records. He kept “credit sheets” on his customers who kept a tab at the Inn and saloon. In conducting research one of Henry’s credit sheets was found for the newly formed Maxwell Land Grand and Railway Company (MLG&RWCo). This company of investors purchased the land grant from Maxwell in 1870.
This credit sheet shows the saloon & Inn was operating from early December 1871. It also shows a number of expenses for MLG&RWCo men from December 12 to the 31, including board for a Mr. Bushnille for $48.32.

08/01/2022

When the railroad finally got to Cimarron in 1907, the St. James Hotel established a "hack" service. This was a way to get guests to and from the hotel and the railroad station. The picture below is the original wagon used by the St. James for this hack service. It was sold with the hotel in the 1930's to the new owner who renamed the hotel the "Don Diego." The wagon is in a private collection in Texas.

23/12/2021

I was fortunate enough to be interviewed by the Cultura production team at PBS station KENW New Mexico on an episode about the St. James Hotel. The interview goes into the historical and paranormal sides. The link is attached…enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dShH18Pv68c

The St James Hotel in Cimarron, New Mexico, was built in 1872 by Henri Lambert (later changed to Henry) and was initially called Lambert’s Inn. Its saloon, r...

07/12/2021

A newspaper advertisement for the St. James Hotel. Circa 1908 when the railroad was established in Cimarron. Evident by the "Hack Service" to depot….or wagon service.

21/11/2021

At the St. James Hotel tonight. Anyone know what room this is?

14/11/2021

I would like to give a shout out to Thomas Clayton of Las Vegas, NM. Tom is the owner of the Rawlins Building in Las Vegas, NM across the street from the Castenada Hotel. Some friends and I had a chance to meet Tom and take a tour of the building. The building was in a state of major decay when Tom took it over and its future questionable. The Rawlins Building was built in 1898 by the buildings namesake and has one of the most decorative Mesker Brothers metal facades in New Mexico. It has been lovingly restored and is absolutely breathtaking! For more info on Mesker Brothers facades: https://meskerbrothers.wordpress.com/

The Rawlins Building has quite a history from the old railroad days of Las Vegas. The top floor was a boarding house and home to the ‘Harvey Girls’ of the Castenada (Harvey) Hotel across the street which had a Harvey restaurant inside. The Harvey Girls have a history of impeccable service and dedication to the Hotels they worked in. They signed long term contracts and promised not to take a suitor while employed.

Tom has spent the last couple of years restoring the building which will have multiple apartments on the upper floor along with two Air BNB’s apartments. The bottom floor will have retail space…which is available for discussion with the potential tenants. This building is a New Mexico gem along with being historically important. Thank you for saving this Land of Enchantment treasure!!

02/10/2021

What was the most famous killing in the St. James?

This was undoubtedly the shoot-out between Clay Allison and Pancho Griego. The Colfax County War was in full swing and Cimarron preacher Reverend F.J. Tolby was an outspoken critic defending the homesteaders’ rights against the new owners of the Maxwell Land Grant. The owners wanted the homesteaders off the grant and accused them of being squatters. On September 14, 1875, the 33-year-old Reverend Tolby was assassinated in Cimarron Canyon by being shot in the back. Rumor had it that Cruz Vega was involved in the killing.

On Sunday evening October 30, 1875, a mob believed to be lead by Clay Allison hung Vega on a telegraph pole near the St. James Hotel. Griego who was rumored to be Vega’s uncle claimed the body and vowed vengeance. To make matters worse on November 1, 1875, Clay Allison and others interrupted the burial of Vega telling Griego he would not allow his nephew to be buried in the same cemetery as the man he had killed, Reverend Tolby. Griego was forced to bury Vega in a potter’s field south of town. Later that evening, Griego, who had been making threats against Allison all day found Clay at the St. James saloon. What happens next is best described by the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper:

“On the night of November 1st, Francisco Griego was shot and killed by Clay Allison. Both parties met at the door of the St. James Hotel (Lambert’s), entered, and with some friends took a drink when the two walked to the corner of the room and had some conversation. There Allison drew his revolver and shot three times. The lights were extinguished and Griego was not found until the next morning. Francisco Griego was well known in Santa Fe, where his mother lives. He has killed a great many men and was considered a dangerous man; few regret his loss.”

25/09/2021

ED SITZBERGER 1931 - 2021

It is with a heavy heart I report the passing of Ed Sitzberger. Ed was the person responsible for bringing the St. James Hotel in Cimarron, New Mexico back to its 1870’s grandeur. He bought the property in 1985 understanding the historical importance of the hotel and began the restoration to return the building back to its original majesty. Ed owned the hotel until 1993. He was also the president of the Cimarron Historical Society and the driving force behind the renovation of the village jail and old town gazebo. Also, the placement of 14 historical markers in old town Cimarron.

Ed was born in Cimarron in 1931 and knew many of the old timers in town including the Lambert’s son Fred. He played in the hotel with the second owners’ children, the Heagler’s, where he developed a love of the old inn. Ed had an extensive career as a mechanical engineer, but when retirement came, he retired to Cimarron. He was 90 years old.

Ed was my technical consultant on the History of the St. James Hotel, Cimarron, NM book. He knew more about the old hotel than anyone. We would sit in the poker room and talk hours and hours about the hotel and its past. I would record his stories and then we would walk the hotel where he would point out every nook and cranny. He passed to me a love for the hotel and its history, and I am forever grateful. I will miss you my friend, may peace be with you. -Kevin

31/07/2021

Did the St. James Hotel go by other names over the years?

When Henri Lambert started his business in Cimarron in 1871 it was called by several names. Lambert's Saloon, Lambert's Place and Lambert's Inn. The name Lambert's Saloon and billiard Parlor was also used. Lambert's saloon and Inn was quite popular on the Santa Fe Trail as a place to rest, have a good meal and wet your whistle. Records go back to 1871 for Lambert boarding men from the Maxwell Land Grant and Railway Company in his Inn.
Somewhere between 1873 and 1875 Henry changed the business name to the St. James Hotel. The reason for the name change is unknown. This name lasted until 1932 when the Lambert family sold the hotel to Will Haegler. Mr. Haegler immediately changed the name to the Don Diego Hotel. The hotel kept this name until 1985 when the hotel was purchased again by Ed Sitzberger who changed the name back to the St. James as it remains today.

10/07/2021

Were any Union soldiers killed in the St. James?

This is a follow-up question asked about the previous post. We have records of 4 Union soldiers killed within the walls of the St. James saloon. The first three were buffalo soldiers stationed in Cimarron. While drinking one night they got into an altercation with two cowboys, Gus Heffron and David Crockett. After the argument, the soldiers reported back to camp for lights out. But, in a little while they slipped out of camp and went back to the St. James saloon where hostilities were continued. Eventually a fight broke out between the men. Twenty bullets were fired in the exchange killing the three soldiers. Nine bullets were found in the three dead soldiers’ bodies. Heffron and Crockett were not injured.

In another incident several soldiers from the 6th Cavalry were gambling in the St. James saloon and a dispute arose over a large bet. Francisco “Pancho” Griego was the Monte dealer in question by the soldiers. A heated argument ensued and some of the soldiers grabbed for the money on the table. The table was then tipped over and Griego pulled his pistol. The soldiers headed for the door in fast retreat. Griego fired after them killing one and wounding two others. The soldiers were not armed at the time.

25/06/2021

Did Union soldiers frequent the St. James?

Yes, at times in the 1870’s there was a garrison of Union soldiers from Ft. Union, New Mexico stationed at Cimarron. This was mainly because of the unruly and lawlessness of the town. In a report to the Assistant Adjunct General, requests were made to deal with civil disturbances and the presence of a large lawless element in Cimarron by the Attorney General of New Mexico Territory, under the direction of Governor Marsh Giddings.

The army was brought in to assist Sheriff Isaiah Rinehart with law and order, which did not have a huge effect. The Garrison is believed to have been bivouacked to the east of the St. James Hotel on the outskirts of town. But this did not stop the soldiers from patronizing the saloon and gambling tables of the St. James. Union soldiers from the 6th Cavalry and 9th Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers) were stationed in Cimarron.

21/03/2021

Is the wooden bar in the St. James original?

It was asked recently if the current wooden bar in the St. James is the original. No, it is not. This is the fourth bar used in the hotel. The first bar was in use starting in 1871 in "Lambert's Saloon & Billiard Parlor." Legend has it , it was a simple wooden bar covered in sheet steel in the NE corner of the saloon, but had a plate of steel behind the front of the bar so Henry could duck down and be protected when the shooting started. This bar was discarded during the addition in 1882.

The second wooden bar came along at the completion of the addition/remodel. The make is unknown and most likely came from back east, but could have been made locally. This wooden bar (pic shown) is a mystery… It was in the St. James until the second owner Will Haegler bought the hotel in 1932. It was said he put the bar into a barn out back during his ownership (1932-1946). After that, the bars whereabouts are unknown? One former owner said he was contacted by a person wanting to sell him the bar. He met and saw the bar in a hotel in Taos back in the 1990s but did not buy it. The bar is also rumored to have been seen in other towns in New Mexico. Or it may now be in private hands? If you have any information on this please let us know and we can solve a NM mystery.

The third wooden bar came sometime after 1947. It was a simple wooden bar, most likely made for the hotel locally. It was set up in the old café area. This was removed when the current (fourth) wooden bar was brought to the St. James around 2010.

The fourth wooden bar originally came to New Mexico and was in a bar/saloon in Raton in the late 1800s. This bar was then sold to the St. Francis Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico where it stayed for many years. It was then sold to the St. James Hotel. The wooden bar appears to be a Brunswick-Balke-Collender (Est. 1884) Empire Model.