The Muleshoe Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture and the Muleshoe Heritage Foundation hosted the Muletrain Express last Saturday, an imaginary train ride through  Muleshoe’s historical village to learn about Christmas on the prairie.

This was definitely a group effort and labor of love from the Chamber and the Heritage Foundation. Muletrain Express head chairperson Rhonda Myers and Chamber/Heritage manager Bernadette Bradley couldn’t have done it without the help with all those workers in charge of the activities at the different houses in the village and other details that had to be finalized.

When  I arrived the tours were just about to start, so I joined group 1, and Melody Gonzalez took us to the Yellow Jacket. Savannah Diaz was taking group 2 to one of the other buildings.

Melody told us some of the history of the Yellow Jacket while we enjoyed  hot chocolate and cookies served by Julia McCamish, Bo Haney, and Val McCamish with help from Noah Eichum. Val and fellow MHS teacher April Smith were in charge of getting students to help with the day’s event, and as you will see, many students did help.

Next we were greeted at the Muleshoe Ranch cook house by Tristan Boehning and Chris Cage. Melody shared some background on the house as we looked around.

Then we went to the school  house where Keeley Bass, Cheyenne Cage, and Hadley Boehning helped kids write letters to Santa.

At the Janes Ranch House Leila Hancock told the history of how the ranch house was ordered from a Sears and Roebuck catalog, shipped by rail, and then built on site. Zoey Hancock and Eli Jones gave some of the kids in the group paper ornaments typical of the timer period to decorate the tree. Leila then passed out plates from the butler’s pantry so they could set the table for Christmas dinner. And then Heather Hancock had them sit down on the floor of the kitchen to make old-fashioned garlands from dried fruit slices and popcorn, which was typical of the time period.

Bernadette Bradley, Chamber and Heritage Foundation manager, dressed like a train conductor and was all over the place answering questions and making sure things were going as planned.

Several Chamber and Heritage board members and other volunteers were dressed in period costumes and helping out when needed, like Dani Heathington and Vickie Burch. Dani had also asked businesses and organizations to decorate trees to be displayed outside at the Heritage Center. Muleshoe Coffee, Prairie View Dairy, Busy Bungalow, Evolve, First Baptist Church Children, and the MHS Robotics team all set up trees. Cindy Barrett, Londi Blackwell, and Ann Mount were in charge of finding all those costumes for adults and the students who helped.

Ella Smith Braxton was tour guide number 7.

Glesy Ramos Teruel was another tour guide. I caught her at the Figure Four Ranch House where Kay Lynn Coffman was reading the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth. Braxten Smith Haney was also on hand to help.

Something new this year was a gingerbread house competition.

I applaud the four entries. My goodness! I can’t imagine how much time and work went into each one. All were winners in the creative and details department..Hallie Reis was on hand to oversee the gingerbread entries which were on display in the Santa Fe Depot.

The Grinch house was done by Jojo Lopez.

Snoopy’s house was constructed by Joel Lopez.

Jesus’ manger scene was built by Ernest and Kamilah Lopez.

And the winner was the Book Shop, made from scratch and designed by Baylee Helton.

The Depot was the last tour stop and was also where Terry Brewster was taking pictures of kids with Santa, in this case, Santa’s helper, Nick Brewster.

I caught tour guide Maci Morris as I was leaving the Depot. Most of the tours had been completed by then, so I caught her as she was leaving, too.

I tried to take pictures of all the tour guides and helpers, but alas, I fear I missed some of you. I think I missed Brissya Martinez, Kayla Reis, Cooper Reis and no doubt others who were busy. Everyone who did help is to be commended for their hard work and time to make the Muletrain Express a success. The groups who decorated trees for the outside are to be thanked, along with United Supermarket who provided the cocoa and cookies at the Yellow Jacket,

After the Muletrain Express was over, the lighted Christmas parade was scheduled downtown at 6 p.m., and I have pictures of that as well as the Hallmark Christmas activities at the Senior Center after the parade. So, stay tuned for pictures of the all the lights in the parade and the new fun activities after the parade.

Thanks to Rhonda Myers, Bernadette Bradley, and Val McCamish for their help with this article.