Kevin McDevitt

History of the St. James Hotel Cimarron, New Mexico Kevin McDevitt

Tucked away in the small village of Cimarron, New Mexico sits the St. James Hotel. Founded by Henry Lambert in 1871, the St. James Hotel was there to not only experience the Wild West, but to play a role in shaping it. The guest registry reads like a who's who of prominent western figures. Old West heroes such Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday stayed at the James, as well as notable adversaries like Clay Allison, and Bob Ford killer of Jesse James. Countless hostilities were carried out in the St. James, as proven by the more than 20 bullet holes still present in the ceiling of the bar area. Legend has it 26 men were killed in the St. James. Although only 17 can be documented, all these deaths were violent and their stories told in this book prove the west was wild. With all these fascinating facts about the hotel, it is easy to forget that there is another backstory entirely. This work of non-fiction traces the interesting tale of a man from small town France as he finds his way to America and becomes one of the smartest businessmen in the rowdy territory of New Mexico with many, many stops along the way. This is the story of Henry Lambert and his hotel, a story that deserves to be told, but more than anything this is a testament to why stories like Henry's still matter.