The Intorfs came to Álamos for the first time in 1963 after reading a column by travel writer Stan Delaplane in an Arizona newspaper. At that time there were three Mexican Inns in town and the Tesoros was newly opened.

They met Sr. Elkins, who showed them his house with an antique carriage in the entryway. They toured the Bishop’s Palace, met Charlie and Mary Hathaway, and were invited to tea and a musical recital at Miss Marcor’s house.

On later visits they stayed at Rancho Acosta and the casita on the Laragonda property. The Crane’s arranged for Hildy Aragon to show them property, and when they saw the house that had been built by Ramón Ortiz on the corner of Allende and Chihuahua, they bought it.

A photo taken at that time from this corner shows two burros at the far end of Chihuahua with only the La Victoria house on the south side. The rest of the area was vacant and considered the edge of town. In later years, the Intorfs bought the lot next to their house and developed a cactus garden displaying the many varieties that grow in this area.

The pace was easy in Álamos in the 1960s. Men sat under trees playing guitars and singing. The square dancing group was called Los Brincadores (the jumping beans) and was well attended. Curly and Wendy Ellis started the TGIF group on Friday nights, and Sunday nights featured prime rib at the Tesoros (with a Mexican dinner on Wednesdays). A dress code was required for dining at la Casa de los Tesoros.

Ann Gould spearheaded many of the community activities--a Sunday Sunrise Service on Guadalupe Hill with Bruce and Dotty singing duets, and a play reading group that met in various homes. Bruce Brinker sponsored a discussion of finances, and one of the successful recommendations was to buy stock in TelMex.

The “American Alliance” brought needed medical supplies to Álamos which were stored at Hal and Margo Findlay’s house. Elizabeth Nuzum started a program to support the library.

Martha Hayward was known for her afternoon “toddy time.” She was a small lady--barely five-feet tall--with a strong personality. Her husband died in 1975 or 1976, and eventually the property went to their daughter, Judith Jacoby, and upon her death to her husband, Dean.

Walt Awalt had the first television in Álamos, and the Domínguez family had an outdoor movie theatre on Rosales.

Some specific information on houses:

1. Caballo Blanco sold to the Dixons and then the Intorfs,

2. On Chalaton Privado the Spear house sold to Dick Clements,

3. Bill and Sally Gordon bought Chalaton property from the Alts and

later sold it to Jack and Jackie Franks,

500. Laragonda (at the end of Sonora) transferred the property to Jack Alcorn, then to Joanne Ridley and Bill Norton, and currently to John and Jan David.

5. The house at 28 Obregón was once owned by Memo Acosta’s family and then was owned by Carona, to Crane, to Frasier, to Krucek, and then to Vickie and Peter Lockwood.

Phone calls were placed and received at the Portales Hotel, and invitations were always hand delivered. Visiting always took place during the late morning.

The generator furnishing electricity shut down at 9 p.m., thus establishing the “Álamos Midnight.” The way to ensure electricity for special events was to always invite the generator operator!

Dottie concluded her presentation by saying that the people who have spent time in Álamos are the “lucky ones,” a real tribute after 32 years in residence!