1850’s

Front Entry / Dining Room:

The Ramon Gonzales photo (see History Section) shows double wood doors with a transom window above the doorway in the front entry. A single door with surrounding side light windows, were added at a later date. However the location of the original mortised hinges, from the double doors, are still visible on the side jambs.

The front entry and dining room are the only two rooms with original wood floors. The ceiling in the dining room consists of vigas (log beams), latillas (sticks laid on top of vigas), and tules (cattails laid above the latillas) and a thick layer of dirt to provide insulation. This ceiling is most likely original, however in some areas the dirt is showing through and occasionally falls to the floor below.

view of guadalupe house front entry and dining room

Kitchen and Carriage House:

It is unknown whether or not the current location of the kitchen, has always been utilized for that purpose. The wood cabinets probably date from the Gibbons or Miller eras. The kitchen ceiling is original and is similar to the ceiling in the dining room.

A small room located on the northwest corner of the house, is usually referred to as the carriage house. According to the deeds and written history of the house, the carriage house may have been used at some point as a jail. In subsequent years, it probably served as a bedroom. The dark flat bricks, which are laid in the windowsill and on the tall banco, were salvaged from the ruins of Fort Fillmore.

kitchen and carriage house of guadalupe house

Bedrooms:

The north bedroom is located next to the kitchen. This room has the original viga / latilla ceiling. The built-in wood closets were added during the 1950’s when the Miller family lived in the house. According to a family friend, this room served as a workshop for the many projects during this active period in the history of the house. The small wooden gate, hanging in the west wall of the back patio, was built during this time period.

The south bedroom (center photo) is located next to the dining room. This room has sustained a significant amount of moisture related damage over the years. The ceiling has been replaced with beams and boards. The wood floor was removed. The walls have water stains and pealing paint and plaster.