Skip to Main Content

Otero-Bergere House

The building at 135 Grant Avenue has served as officers’ quarters for the Fort Marcy Military Reservation, a family residence for members of the notable Baca, Luna, Otero, and Bergere families, the Harry Bigbee Law Offices, and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

Timeline

1868          President Andrew Johnson establishes the Fort Marcy Military Reservation
1868          135 Grant Avenue built as officers’ quarters for the Fort Marcy Military Reservation
1879 Eloisa Luna Otero marries Manuel B. Otero
1883          Manuel B. Otero dies in land dispute
1886           Eloisa Luna Otero marries Alfred Maurice Bergere
1894           Fort Marcy Military Reservation abandoned on October 10
1895           Fort Marcy Abandoned Military Reservation placed under the custody of the Interior Department for disposal on June 15. Property administered by the Governor of New Mexico and the six officers’ quarters are utilized by politicians and prominent New Mexicans as rent-free residences         
1897           Alfred Bergere appointed clerk for Judge John R. McFie of the First New Mexico Judicial District and the Otero-Bergere family move from Los Lunas to a house on Lincoln Avenue in Santa Fe
1899           Solomon Luna granted permission to occupy 135 Grant Avenue on June 3, 1899. His mother, Isabella Baca Luna lives in the house for two years.
1901           Otero-Bergere family authorized by Secretary of Interior to occupy a house on the Fort Marcy Abandoned Military Reservation. They were already living in house assigned to Solomon Luna
1904           Fort Marcy Abandoned Military Reservation conveyed to the City of Santa Fe who transferred the property to the Santa Fe Board of Education
1905           Eloisa purchases the house from the Board of Education on December 22 for $2,700   
1912 Eloisa conveys the property in trust to her son Eduardo Manuel Otero
1914           Eloisa dies. Nina Otero Warren and Anita Bergere return to 135 Grant Avenue
1924           Rosina Bergere moves back into the house with her two children. Nina orders extensive renovations
1932           Eduardo Otero dies and the property is conveyed to Manuel Basilio Otero
1934           May Bergere and her children move back to the Big House
1939 Alfred Bergere dies
1963           Manuel Otero dies and the property is conveyed to Nina Otero Warren
1965           Nina Otero Warren dies and the property is conveyed to Anita Bergere
1976           Anita Bergere and May Kenney die. Property is chosen as one of Santa Fe’s historic buildings
after 1976 Sold to Harry Bigbee to house his legal firm
2001          Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Research Center opens

 

Timeline compiled from the following sources: