Publisher's Synopsis
Santa Rosa in the Nation's Limelight is about two events in Santa Rosa's rich and colorful past that made news throughout the United States. The first event was the coming of the Chicago & Rock Island railroad into the area. The second event was a national cross country marathon foot race that was held in 1928. The race, dubbed "the Bunion Derby" by the national press, drew attention across the United States during its duration. The first locomotive of the railroad entered Santa Rosa on December 26, 1901. It would have to wait another two weeks before it could connect west of the Pecos River with the El Paso & Northeastern railroad which came into the area from Carrizozo. The driving of the last spike meant the Santa Rosa was now connected by rail to El Paso in the south and Chicago in the northeast. The Bunion Derby chose Santa Rosa as one of the stopping points in the race route. The race participants entered Santa Rosa on the afternoon of March 31 amidst much local fanfare. The runners had come to Santa Rosa from a very little known Palma, located east of present day Clines Corners. The next day the marathoners continued on their eastward destination headed for Newkirk on the eastern edge of Guadalupe County. They reached Newkirk on April 1, "April Fool's Day." The 1928 Bunion Derby was followed by a similar race in 1929. However, that race started off in New York and the runners were bound for Los Angeles. While the 1928 race route followed what was then a fledgling Route 66, the 1929 runners followed a southern path. With the onset of the Great Depression in 1929, that race was the last attempt at a marathon of such ambitious and bold labors. Both stories are illustrated with many photographs and old newspaper articles are used to help tell the story. The two events, now mostly forgotten, helped put Santa Rosa on the national stage in 1901-02 and 1928. They are certainly worth preserving for posterity.
