Mesilla, New Mexico, is home to many historic buildings and especially adobe structures that retain the character of a traditional Mexican town originating in the 19th century.
Querencia Mi Mesilla’s primary impact is initially in Mesilla, New Mexico. We are located 40 miles north of El Paso, Texas and a lot of us think in terms of our place being amongst the borderlands.
Mesilla residents originally migrated from Paso de Norte, now present day Juarez in the late 1840s. We are a small community of about 2,000 people. Even though Pat Taylor is a 16th generation New Mexican his parents migrated here in the 1940s from the lower valley near the El Paso area.
Mesilla has a rich history rooted in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) and the Gadsden Purchase (1854) which transitioned the area from Mexican to American control. Originally a Mexican colony, Mesilla experienced rapid growth, becoming a major stop on the Butterfield Overland Stage Line and the center of trade in the Mesilla Valley. The town was even the county seat for a time. Mesilla also saw its share of historical events, including the trial of Billy the Kid. Today, Mesilla retains its historical charm with its plaza, La Posta de Mesilla, and other historic buildings. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
The Taylor family has chosen to give back to the community along with many other families who move here because of their querencia (love of a place) of Mesilla. This position has strengthened their ties to the community and their desire to continue to give back.
Qurencia has already received requests from other communities and museums to help restore their cultural resources. Pat Taylor foresees an evolution in Querencia Mi Mesilla in assisting other communities that are geographically in our region but not necessarily in our beloved Mesilla. As we grow we plan to assist other communities nationally and internationally.
