Clayton New Mexico - Union County.
Historic Photos

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This is the North side of Main Street as it looked on June 19, 1891, before the advent of the Eklund Hotel.
Clayton Commercial Company. The photograph of this wool warehouse is dated 1891. The warehouse is across Front Street from the Clayton Police Department. The wooden water tank that served only the railroad steam engines and the C.C.C.’s store warehouse no longer exist.
Union County Courthouse. The county commissioners awarded the contract for the courthouse to John Hill, designer and builder from Las Vegas, New Mexico, for a bid of $18,000.00. The courthouse and jail were dedicated on December 8, 1894. The roof and portions of the upper story were blown away by a tornado on October 18, 1908.
Main Street – South Side. This view is of Main Street between First and Second as it looked in the early 1900’s. This block is referred to as the Evans Block. The U.S. Post Office was in Evans’ grocery store. Bruns Hotel (with balcony) is the only structure that has been replaced. Duckwall’s Store now occupies the area. On the corner, long occupied by Smithson’s Drug Store, was Tixier’s Mercantile.
Oldest Building. What for years was referred to as the oldest building in Clayton was located on Chestnut Street behind the Eklund Hotel. It was built by Walker Brothers in 1888 as a general merchandise store. Through the years it served as a church, community room, attorney’s office, schoolroom, bookstore, etc. It was demolished in 1999.
Central Ward School. In 1894, this building was constructed to serve grades one through twelve. Later it was the elementary school. The last classes were held there in the spring of 1965. The Clayton Ranch Market now occupies the block between Oak and Pine, east of First Street. This photo was taken from Oak Street, which was originally the front of the building.
Baptist Church. In 1902, this Baptist Church was built on the corner of Chestnut and first where the Shamrock Station now stands. It served until 1940. A.W. Thompson in memory of his wife and child gave the bell pictured in the belfry. It is now in front of the Albert W. Thompson Memorial Library.
Main Street – North Side. A view of Clayton Shows Main Street before 1917 when A.W. Thompson built what is now the Shrine of the Testaments on the corner of First Street. Note the Eklund Hotel’s second Story "opera balcony."
The Morris Herzstein Store. This Herzstein Store, located on the corner of Front and Main, burned about 1916 and was replaced with a modern motion picture theater, first called the Mission and now the Luna.
The First Depot. This was the first depot in Clayton, built in 1888. Passenger service was discontinued in 1967 and the last depot on this site was torn down in 1987.
St. Joseph’s Hospital. The local doctors needing a general hospital contacted the Catholic sisters in Santa Fe. The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth built the hospital in 1921. Construction was by B.C. Froman. It closed in 1962. Now the block between Second and Third and Locust and Aspen Streets is occupied by the Clayton Housing Authority.
La Tienda Del Simon* Simon Herzstein’s ready-to-wear store, next to the old Farmers and Stockmens Bank on the corner of Main and First, was constructed during the drought and depression in 1931. According to reports, it was built entirely o the barter system. It was torn down in 1971. Alsup’s law office is in the new building. *The sign is now in the Museum.
Clayton Automotive Service. This building was constructed in 1915 and located on the northwest corner of Main and Second Streets. The photograph was taken when W.C. (Bill) Wheatley was owner-operator. He started the business in 1932 and sold out in 1973. After several owners, The First National Bank of New Mexico bought the lot. The building was torn down in 1989 to make a parking area.

Clayton New Mexico - Union County Website