1998
Master Plan
AMS privately funded a $15,600 Master Plan to guide AMS and the city in its plans for downtown renovation. Created by landscape architect Baker Morrow, the plan focuses primarily on streetscape enhancements for the MainStreet district (First to Seventh, Richardson to Texas). Artesia City Council adopted the Master Plan and included it in the City’s official improvement planning document.

 

1998 - 2000
Artesia Chamber of Commerce / Santa Fe Railroad Depot Renovation
In order to expedite the approval of the use of the historic Santa Fe Railroad Depot, AMS used $42,000 in private funds to complete environmental and engineering studies, and schematic and landscape drawings for the State Historic Preservation Office.  In the spring of 2000, AMS committed $100,000 toward the landscaping of the complete renovation of the old railroad depot that now is used as the Chamber of Commerce offices and a visitor’s center.  Artesia Chamber of Commerce/Santa Fe Railroad Depot Renovation

2000
Heritage Walkway & Plaza
AMS spent $1.06 million in private funds and $100,000 in state funds to renovate a walkway that includes a water fountain series designed and created by ceramics artist Shel Neymark. The walkway connects Main Street to a public parking lot, now called Heritage Plaza, which also is used for community events.

This project won the New Mexico MainStreet Public Improvement Award in 2000.

2001
Main Street Streetscape Renovation

AMS and the City of Artesia used $1.8 million in highway, state and federal funding, and approximately $643,000 in private AMS funds to completely renovate seven blocks of downtown Artesia’s Main Street. The project included new pavement and sidewalks, 22½-degree angle parking, medians, crosswalks, seating walls, 115 trees and hundreds of shrubs.

 

Land of the Sun Movie Theater Façade Renovation
AMS spent $111,000 in private funds to renovate the theater’s façade including a new neon sign replicating the original 1947 sign, a restructured ticket booth, paint, and custom tile work created by Neymark.

 

 

 

 

2002
Town Clock
Downtown property owner Ralph Nix contributed a new town clock to be placed on the corner of Seventh and Main Streets. Mr. Nix and his daughter worked with the AMS Design Committee to select the clock, which plays a variety of chimes and songs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heritage Walkway Entrance
AMS spent $61,000 in private dollars to reshape the entrance to Heritage Walkway, including tile work by Neymark and a custom iron gate designed and built by artistic welder Debbie Rottman. The entrance attracts the attention of Main Street travelers toward the Walkway.

 

 

2003

Sally Chisum Bronze Sculpture
AMS commissioned sculptor Robert Summers to create a 200 percent life-size sculpture of Artesia pioneer woman Sallie Chisum located on the corner of Third and Main streets. This $286,000 project was privately funded. The sculpture, called First Lady of Artesia, celebrates the importance of women in Artesia’s early history.

First Street Tree Planting
AMS dedicated $53,000 to planting nearly 100 trees on the two miles of First Street from Richey to Hermosa. Water meters were purchased and installed by the City of Artesia, and the irrigation system was paid by federal funds.

 

 

2004
The Derrick Floor and Pioneer Bronze Sculptures
AMS commissioned sculptor Vic Payne to create a life-size sculpture of a drilling rig featuring a four-man roughneck crew built at 125 percent life-size, putting the emphasis on the individuals who built the oil patch. A landscaped plaza, featuring a relaxing fountain, trees, decorative brick work, benches and educational plaques was created to compliment the monument.  The $1.637 million project was funded entirely by private contributions to AMS.  Simultaneously, three families commissioned sculptures of oilfield pioneers.  Mary and Martin Yates, titled Woman’s Intuition, and Van Welch, Pioneering Endurance, were sculpted by Robert Summers.  Mack Chase and Johnny Gray, together as Partners, were created by Vic Payne.  These pioneers and their stories now add to the history of the Oil Patch Plaza.  Total cost for all three sculptures is $442,000. Click to see the Derrick Floor and Pioneer Bronze Sculpture attractions.

U.S. 285 Entrance Signs
Artesia MainStreet commissioned tile artist Shel Neymark to create two tile signs to welcome drivers to Artesia. The Design Committee opted to utilize the sun feature that we see on the Land of the Sun fountain in Heritage Walkway and on the Landsun Theater ticket booth. The signs are placed on First Street south at Hermosa and north at Roselawn. The $10,000 project was funded with federal enhancement funds.

Wonder Wall Mural Project
Local muralist Noel Marquez was commissioned to paint a horizon scene on the Wonder Wall in Heritage Walkway that would blend with the existing fountain feature on the wall – the Geologic Fountain. The Artesian Landscape mural was completed in August and dedicated in October. The $15,500 project was paid for with privately donated funds.

2005
Artesia's Centennial Year
During 2005, Artesia MainStreet collaborated with Greater Artesia Chamber of Commerce and the City of Artesia to raise more than $400,000 and plan on a year of events to celebrate the City’s Centennial Year.  The events were a huge success and included concerts, the state Historic Preservation Division Archaeology Fair, arts and crafts shows, an art crawl downtown, and even a state MainStreet quarterly meeting.  The year was a lot of fun for locals and brought in visitors that helped boost our lodgers tax receipts by 42% for the year.

2006
Farmer's Market

In August 2006, the Artesia Garden Gusher Farmers’ Market opened its first season in Heritage Plaza.  The experimental market ran for 10 market days (every Thursday from early August to early October).  Six local farmers vended fresh produce, salsa and local honey.  Artesia joined membership to the New Mexico Farmers Marketing Association in 2006 and received grant money and training for this new market. 

2007 was a year of great growth and progress for the Garden Gusher Market.  Vendor participation, customer attendance and number of market days doubled from 2006.  Total gross sales more than quadrupled from the 2006 market!  Besides fresh produce, the 2007 market boasted fresh cut flowers, potted plants, cooking demonstrations, gardening demonstrations and family oriented activities.  The market is now held every Saturday from July through October in Heritage Plaza downtown.

2007
The Trail Boss - March 2007. 
AMS commissioned sculptor Vic Payne to create the first monument in the three-piece Cattle Drive series.  This 125 percent life-size bronze sculpture is located on the corner of First and Main.  This $364,400 project was funded through public-private partnership.  This sculpture recognizes the rugged and determined individuals in the early ranching industry who set the stage for the development and growth of Artesia.  Click to see pictures of the Trail Boss Unveiling.

10th Year Anniversary Celebration
September 2007 was a milestone for Artesia MainStreet.  This is the month that we celebrated our 10th Anniversary!  Started in 1997 to revive our downtowns dilapidated appearance, we’ve made great strides in only 10 years.  Many projects continue today to improve the appearance of our downtown and to attract new businesses to the area.  We celebrated this milestone in high fashion on September 15, 2007.  A progressive dinner was had by 200 attendees, past volunteers, contractors and friends.  A beautiful presentation took us on a trip down memory lane as we looked back at the past 10 years through hundreds of pictures and personal anecdotes.  The presentation commenced with the unveiling of our new logo design and in true Artesia form-an indoor fireworks display by Dean’s Pyro Team!  Guests left with hearts full of memories and special gifts in hand.  Artesia MainStreet looks forward to going strong for 10 more years and beyond.

2004 - 2007
The National Trust for Historic Preservation and the New Mexico MainStreet Program certify that
Artesia MainStreet, Inc. has been recognized as a National MainStreet Program for meeting the 10 standards of performance for a MainStreet organization.  Other AMS accomplishments