Pronounced MADRID, as in RID the MADness.5/29/06  Home    

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sky fabin

In the early seventies with billboard signs at either end of Madrid announcing that the entire ghost town was for sale, presumably to some entrepreneurs or a Hollywood set piece Film Company, a few pioneering free spirits began to move in.  Its owner, Joe Huber, was surprised that it was individuals who actually made any kind of offer.  At first, rents were the option, then later on the renters were permitted to purchase at a very fair price, considering that the town was an eye sore at best, and much financial aid and sweat equity were required to restore the falling structures, dry as old bones from years of drought and neglect. Attending to the endless clean up remains an ongoing process.

Slowly, organically, and amazingly the town began to develop, having had to create several legal organizations and develop town covenants to maintain the coal-filthy village in its unincorporated status.

Miraculously for most of the pioneers that status has remained to this day, and is a badge of honor at a time of lost freedoms and supra-corporatization of America today, and equally vital to the financial future of our artist enclave, the reason tourists continue to visit, recommend, envy, champion, and re-visit.

The above brief history is the subject of the recently released film, available on DVD, by one of the village’s early arrivers and fellow pioneers, Sky Fabin. TAKING THE HIGH ROAD TO MADRID USA had its World Premiere at THE SCREEN at the College of Santa Fe.  Robert Nott of Pasatiempo said, “The film is proof that un-incorporation buys a lot of freedom.”  (Visit his website and view the trailer—www.skyfabinproductions.com or purchase the DVD in Madrid at Color & Light Gallery or directly from the film maker.)

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According to Mr. Fabin who is the author of this editorial, we’ve seen many people come and go, some for relatively brief stays, only to discover that a community requires that certain “give and take” ratio that maintains the well-being of so small a village where every blemish or mishap, every kindly gesture or act of generosity is soon common knowledge.

Many fail the standard of less is more.  And coincidently, no matter where one lives in these maddening complex times, wouldn’t it seem appropriate to dub the slogan, “Think big, live small.”??

Then consider that when I arrived in 1975, there were perhaps 45 residents and 30 years later the unofficial count is about 450. Madrid has some built-in protections: despite being in Santa Fe County, there are no cities encroaching on us from either side, and our tainted water from eons of coal seams was once considered,” our curse and our blessing.”  Over time it has become our blessing because it prevents developers from expanding our borders. What price freedom?  Sweat equity!! We are accustomed to hauling water and conserving the precious prima-compound.

When I explain to tourists that un-incorporation means, No elected gov’t officials-- such as a mayor, No police stationed in our community, No bureaucracy, and No Corporations, they invariable reply, “Good for you.  I hope you can keep it that way.”

We’ve all witnessed the typical syndrome of the charming little hot spot being discovered and soon becoming satiated with the profiteers moving in and changing the quaint charm into the very thing they left behind.  Santa Fe was one such.

Inevitable some newcomers replicate the spirit of the original pioneers or at least are aligned with it sufficiently to prosper for the good of the whole.  Two such newcomers are Bruce and Nancy, who it seems came bearing gifts, so to speak.  They immediately attended the local functions and contributed with their time, energy, and resources.  And now this website.

There are other immediate contributors to our renowned reputation as the quintessence of funk and sophistication.  Too many to mention, because ultimately Madrid, personality-wise, is a microcosm of any large city you care to name.  We have at least one of everything, from king to fool.