WPA Joshua P. Church
Sources of Information: Mrs. Ella
Davidson.
By: Georgia B. Redfield
JOSHUA P. CHURCH Pioneer builder
Operated First Roswell Exclusive
Hotel.
An organizer of Pioneer Telephone
Company, 1894.
Served Six Years on
Two Years as Chairman, Made Strong
Fight Putting Through City Streets Grading.
Joshua P. Church, coming from
In 1891, after removing from White Oaks to Roswell, he became prominently idenentified, with the
business interests and development of the little village, and was one of the
most popular, co-operative, and useful citizens the town, and later, the City
of Roswell ever [posened?].
Mr. Church was married July 18,
1891, to Amelia Bolton, daughter of John and Ella (Doyel) Bolton, both natives
of Wexford Ireland, who came to New Mexico in 1871 and settled at Fort Stanton,
where [Mr.?]
Four children were born to Mr.
Church and his wife Amelia Church, whom they named Sophie (Mrs. L. L.
[Ochanpaugh?] who lives in
Mr. Church brought his wife, when
a bride, to live in the first exclusive hotel to operate in Roswell, the
holdings of which he bought from Mrs. Aileen O’Neal, who had come from White Oaks upon advice of Judge Granville A. Richardson, who explained
the need of a good hotel in Roswell, where he lived.
Captain Joseph C. Lea who came in
1877 had bought the old adobe structure, with attic sleeping quarters for
paying guests, built by Van C. Smith and A. O. Wilburn in 1869, which he used
for his residence.
The new hotel operated by Mrs.
O’Neal, which was considered very grand, was also built of adobe. The building
first contained a veranda, a dining room, kitchen and small office on the first
floor, and seven or eight bedrooms on the second floor.
Additional rooms were built under
the management of Mr. Church, the entire structure was remodeled, and named the
"Pauly Hotel" in honor of the man who built the
Under the capable management of
Mr. and Mrs. Church the Pauly Hotel became widely known as being equipped with
as modern accommodations as could be supplied in the Territory during those
days of early settlement.
In four years Mr. Church sold out.
The hotel afterwards changed hands several times, operating at different
intervals as the Pauly, Grand Central, and Bankhead Hotel. Until it was burned
June 19, 1937, no matter under what name it was operated, the hotel remained
the favorite stopping place of the pioneer sheepmen and stockmen of the Valley,
as in the old days when Mr. Church was the manager.
Typical of the progrressiveness of
Mr. Church and his never failing interest in civic improvement, during the
first years while serving as councilman on the City Board his efforts were
untiring in securing financial backing for grading of city streets.
He was also one of the organizers
in 1894 of the Roswell Telephone and Manufacturing Company with franchise taken
out May 24, 1894, starting as a local system boasting thirty-five telephones,
with J. W. Poe, President, J. P. Church Vice President, E. A. Cahoon treasurer,
and L. K. McGaffey secretary. This was the pioneer system, and first in the
After having grown tired of public
life in a hotel, Mr. and Mrs. Church built their home, where Mrs. Church lives
at the present time, at what is now 210 So.
Mr. Church was popular in business
and social circles, and with all strangers with whom he came in contact.
He was known throughout
"
Years later another man, he too a
surveyor, victorious over the same almost unsurmountable cliffs, found the
little monument. The pinnacle from that day forward beenknown as "
It will stand through the ages,
until the end of time, as a testimonial to the staunch sturdy frontiersman,
whose chief characteristic was the will to accomplish all things undertaken by
him no matter how great the difficulties encountered.
It is because of such progressive
men as Mr. Church, that
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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECT
AILEEN NUSBAUM
ACTING STATE DIRECTOR
MAR 1939 FRED G. HEALY
STATE ADMINISTRATOR
J. J. Connelly
March 29, 1939
Mrs. Georgia B. Redfield
Dear Mrs. Redfield:
Referring to your manuscript,
"Joshua P. Church", I wish to call to your attention the following
additional necessary information: Page 1. paragraph 1. From what place
in
When and where was he born?
Page 1. paragraph 3. In what town was Mr. Church
married to Miss Bolton?
Page 1. paragraph 5. In what year did Mr. Church
purchase the hotel from Mrs. Aileen o'Neal? 1891
Page 2. paragraph 2. Did the old adobe
structure which was bought by Captain Joseph C. Lea eventually become the hotel
purchased by Church from Mrs. O’Neal? No
Page 2. paragraph 5. In what year did Church sell his
hotel interest; to whom? 1895. No one can remember the man's name.
Will you please make the above
corrections on the enclosed carbon copy, and also list these corrections in the
regulation three copies, and return to me as soon as possible?
Thanking you, I am
Very truly yours
J. J. Connelly
State Administrator
By Aileen Nusbaum
AILEEN NUSBAUM
ACTING STATE DIRECTOR
FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECT
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