Remembering a titan: NM Historic Sites to celebrate the impact of J. Paul Taylor in Mesilla

J. Paul Taylor left a lasting legacy in New Mexico as an advocate for art, culture and education.

The New Mexico Historic Sites is planning a celebration to remember the longtime civil servant and his wife, Mary Daniels Taylor, on Saturday, Aug. 26, on Mesilla Plaza.

Taylor died in February and would have turned 103 on Aug. 24.

“Celebrating Mr. and Mrs. Taylor’s lives without either of them is certainly bittersweet,” says Rhonda Dass, manager of Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site. “However, the extraordinary gift they have given the people of New Mexico in Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site is an ongoing reminder that we need to celebrate the incredible people who have blessed our community in their own unique ways.”

Dass says birthday celebrations for the Taylors have been an annual affair since 2010.

She says while Taylor was alive, he would engage with the public and tell his story and that of his home.

In 2003, the Taylors agreed to donate their historic home to the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. The home became a state monument shortly thereafter.

From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, the public is invited to join staff and Mr. Taylor’s loved ones on the Mesilla Plaza for family-friendly activities and booths highlighting the history and culture of the Mesilla Valley.

In addition to that, members of the Friends of the Taylor Family Monument will be granted an exclusive preview of the Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site ahead of its official unveiling.

Visitors will need to be members of the Friends prior to Aug. 26 to participate in the tour. To learn how to join the Friends, visit their website at jpt100th.com.

According to the organizers, here is a schedule of events:

10 a.m –4 p.m. – Highlights from Mesilla Valley history and culture on the Plaza.

10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.: Speakers, J. Paul Taylor Academy kindergarteners, first graders and second graders performing La Marcha.