The Four Hills Proper project is proud to announce a huge breakthrough for our archive and the home history of several of our neighbors!

When researching Four Hills this week in newspapers, we stumbled upon a never before seen article that lists information about several 1st installation homes! Thanks to a kind donation, our team has recently acquired a paid subscription to a more in-depth and quality newspaper archive than what is freely available online through the local library. With this new database, we have encountered several more helpful articles, including this one from November 9th, 1959.

Albuquerque Tribune, November 9, 1959 page A-15

The addresses mentioned in the article have been updated to suit modern spellings of the street names for easier reference and search. We know that some addresses from the article are incomplete, duplicated, or fictional. Some examples of this are H.T. Driver at 1 Stagecoach Lane, which we know from other research is Harry Driver, a significant investor in the Four Hills Development whose house was one of if not the very first built in 1959 at 1309 Stagecoach Lane. You will find that Brannin reported a duplicated address at 1006 Warm Sands Drive. The article states the address as listed by C.R. Shelly and under construction by Francis Barton. We know this home was owned by Dr. C. Richard Shelly and designed by the family but built by Sherwin Barton in 1959. The home listed at 150 Sagebrush is meant to say 1500, which we know from previous research on the Rutherfords.

This article is a fantastic find for anyone looking to learn more about their home history. Still, with so many known issues with the list, it’s worth cross-checking Brannin and the Albuquerque Tribunes' work against other resources.

Homes listed in Bill Brannin’s Albuquerque Tribune November 9, 1959 report- North of golf course

Homes listed in Bill Brannin’s Albuquerque Tribune November 9, 1959 report - South of golf course

If you have questions about your home history that we could help with, please feel free to reach out. We keep a growing list of resources to offer anyone interested in doing their home research. Please keep in mind that our growing Archive has information on over 300 residences in Four Hills Village but that we only document the architectural and social history from 1959 through 1975.

If you are interested in our newsletter, please join us! We write articles about Four Hills architecture and history when the mood strikes, or we find something too good to keep to ourselves. About twice a year we send our blogs out to neighbors and supporters along with some behind-the-scenes insights. We plan to host educational walking tours in good weather as well so it's worth staying in touch either on social media or via email.

We hope that you find this transcription helpful and exciting. If there is more that we can do, please feel free to reach out!

Your neighbors on Wagon Train,

Kimberli and Nick.

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Transcribed from Albuquerque Tribune, November 9th, 1959, page A-15 with edits to match modern-day street name spelling.

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15 Four Hills Village Luxury Homes Finished

Fifteen luxury homes, which range in value from $50,000 to $80,000 each, have been completed in the new Four Hills east of the city.

The Village is in the Manzano foothills and adjoins the new Four Hills Country Club.

W.D. (Bill) Brannin, who figured in the development of the Village, told of the homes constructed and others planned.

Mr. Brannin also had a significant role in building the $2,000,000 country club, which has an 18-hole golf course and occupies 150 acres.

City Utilities

The first unit of the development, with 118 residential lots, has all utilities plus paved streets, curbs and gutters.

These improvements include a paved street from the Western Skies and a bridge over Tijeras arroyo. The Four Hills Development Corp. is owner of the land. Brannin said that more than $1,000,000 has been spent in developing the Village. A sewage lift station had to be developed.

Brannin listed these occupied homes, their owners, and the value on them (the Village does not use the city quadrant system of street markings):

V.G Barabee, 1007 Warm Sands Drive, four bedrooms, $60,0000.

George Bender, 1015 Maverick Court, three bedrooms, $45,000.

H.T. Driver, 1 Stage Coach Lane, four bedrooms, $75,000.

Others Listed

Marvin Dunlap, 1003 Stagecoach Road, four bedrooms, $60,000.

Wayne Franklin, 907 Stagecoach Road, four bedrooms, $70,000.

James Liberty, 908 Lamp Post Circle, four bedrooms, $75,000.

George Mansur, 903 Martingale Lane, three bedrooms, $60,000.

C.R. Shelly, 1006 Warm Sands Drive, three bedrooms, $60,000.

D. Walley, 901 Martingale Lane, three bedrooms, $60,000.

Marshal. J. Wylie, 906 Lamp Post Circle, four bedrooms, $80,000.

In addition, four homes have been completed by Four Hills Builders and are on the market at prices ranging from $50,000 to $65,000. One at 1100 Stagecoach Road has five bedrooms.

Nine homes are under construction. The owners and their values, as listed by Mr. Brannin:

Harold Balay, 806 Four Hills Road, three bedrooms, $60,000.

Wm. McCollum, 902 Four Hills Road, three bedrooms, $60,000.

Francis Barton, 1006 Warm Sands Drive, three bedrooms, $60,000.

Charles Ricker, 150 Sagebrush Trail, four bedrooms, $65,000.

Louis Ruffin Jr. 1103 Stagecoach Road, three bedrooms, $60,000.

Save Spector, 1008 Stagecoach Road, three bedrooms, $55,000.

Max Ilfeld, 906 Four Hills Road, three bedrooms, $50,000.

Ward Bilderbeck, 904 Martingale Lane, five bedrooms, $75,000.

Mortis Smith, Stagecoach Lane, four bedrooms, $65,000.

Others Have Plans

Eight other sites are being prepared for construction. One of the large homes for George Rutheford, local builder, will be at 1609 Sagebrush Trail.

Other planning homes include

Claude Wylie, 1617 Sagebrush Trail

Benny Russo, 905 Lamp Post Circle

And Jim Allred 802 Maverick Trail.

Brannin said that in addition to the first 118 sites, the company has opened two additional units. A fourth unit, which will consist of 120 sites with some bordering the golf course, is being engineered. The lot sizes range from ¾ of an acre to 2 ½ acres.

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End of transcription

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