Indian pottery, chuck wagon keep Old West alive Story-Date: 12:53 a.m. PST Friday , June 5, 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------ Indian pottery, chuck wagon keep Old West alive By Richard Benke Associated Press Writer DEMING, N.M. (AP) -- History is all bottled up in the Deming Museum. Large chess pieces once filled with Old Crow Whiskey stand with Jim Beam decanters in the shape of model railroad cars, their original contents gone. Collections of bells, dolls and American Indian art share billing with saddles, cowboy hats and a real Old West chuck wagon from the Diamond A Ranch. Upstairs is a Spanish prayer wheel -- a circle of small copper bells from 1650 Granada that are cranked around to summon the faithful to prayer. There are 2,000 bells in the collection, including two Middle Eastern examples from biblical times. "Ancient, ancient, much older than the prayer wheel, although maybe not as pretty to look at," says Katy Hofacket, president of the Historical Society governing board that oversees the Deming Luna Mimbres Museum. Ancient Mimbres and Casas Grandes Indian cultures are well represented with tribal jewelry, pottery and baskets. And there are some antique Navajo rugs. The Mimbres Indians, named by Spanish explorers, lived along the nearby Mimbres River some 1,000 years ago. The Casas Grandes culture was scattered throughout northern Chihuahua state in Mexico. Deming, population 18,000, is about 30 miles from Mexico. "The pottery was given to us by people who live in this area. Some of the people who donated pottery were ranchers, and they just found pots on their property," says Ruth Brown, the museum director. The pottery donations had to stop, though, as the days of digging up Indian artifacts are long past. "Now it is illegal to dig anywhere," she says. The museum displays more than 100 Mimbres pots, the oldest dating back some 1,300 years. It's a favorite exhibit of Ms. Hofacket, 68, a retired management analyst for the state Highway Department. "It's the imagination and the beauty of the pieces, the artistic skill, to do those intricate geometric designs with their primitive equipment," she says. "And to think they would put intricate geometric designs on the back of a quail or a rabbit." Ms. Hofacket, a lifelong resident of the community, said the museum chronicles families that she has known since she was a child. "I've watched the town grow and change, so those things are recorded here in the museum," she says. There's also antique fire engines, an authentic dentist office, an old barber shop, a steel-bar door from the Luna County Jail, bear skin rugs, and guns and military gear. The Deming Armory, built in 1916, is now the museum building. It also served as a USO activity center during World War II and a community center. Mrs. Brown, 70, is a retired 6th grade teacher who finds similarities between teaching students in the classroom and educating visitors to the museum. She has been with the museum 12 years, including the last five as director. "I still feel like I'm a teacher sometimes," she says. ------------------------------------------------------------