2800 W. 76 Blvd.
Branson, Missouri 65616
USA
phillip@turquoise.org
 In nineteen hundred and thirty-two (in the midst of the
Great Depression) J.C. and Laura Zachary, headed west from New Castle,
Indiana (towing along the first half of their brood). At St. Louis,
Missouri they got on the fabled Route 66 and began their westward
adventure, heading for California. And, what a unique adventure it
was.They soon found that much of Route 66 was not yet paved
and their first thunderstorm found them digging out of the mud. And, when
they got past Tucumcari into the "hills" of New Mexico, the poor old car
just couldn't get up them---so, Dad had to turn it around and go up in
reverse. It's the only gear that was low enough to make it to the top.
When they got through the Sandia Mountains by way of Tijeras Canyon their
car was about to give up the ghost.Emerging from the canyon they saw a sign "Albuquerque 9
miles". Well, so much for California. The small oasis of Albuquerque,
situated along the Rio Grande River, was to be the end of their
journey.It wasn't long after settling in what was then the
outskirts of Albuquerque that J. C. & Laura landed jobs managing the
"Hogan Trading Post" located on US Hwy 85 north. Having to repair jewelry
for their customers, J. C. began his career in lapidary by teaching
himself stone cutting in order to perform these repairs. He also taught
himself to silversmith with an old-fashioned blowtorch, thus enabling him
to complete the jobs properly.It wasn't long before J. C. was known throughout the
trade as the premier stonecutter in the business. He soon began selling
stones to the better jewelry manufacturers including the Navajo Arts &
Crafts Guild. Mine owners such as the Godbers, the Browns and the Edgars
began bringing their very best grades of turquoise to Albuquerque for him
to cut. J. C., Laura and their sons cut many hundreds of pounds of #8,
Godber, Blue Gem, Morenci and other stones for them.Their fame for their quality work is largely the cause
of Albuquerque becoming the turquoise cutting capital of the United States
of America.Within a few years, the family moved to Villa Grove,
Colorado when J. C. began operating and managing the turquoise mine
located there. After the birth of their sixth child (Jack Eugene), J. C.
& Laura moved the family back to Albuquerque to resume cutting
turquoise and petrified wood. And, I might add, give birth to their last
four children.Pictured below are the children of Laura & J.C.
Zachary, Sr.---all of whom followed their folks into the turquoise
business in one way or another. They are shown according to
age. |
) Dorothy Trapple |
) J.C. Zachary, Jr. |
) Don Zachary |
) Jim Zachery |
) Ruth Bowers |
) Jack Zachary |
) Phillip Zachary |
) David Zachary |
) Carol Moore |
) Richard Zachary |
