DryHeatBlog Old San Ysidro Church
This is the Old San Ysidro Church in Corrales, New Mexico. It is known as the “Old” San Ysidro Church to differentiate it from the less old (and much larger) San Ysidro Church which is on Corrales Road.
Unfortunately, adobe buildings built close to rivers don’t fare well when it rains too much and in 1868, the Rio Grande flooded washing away both the church and the cemetery. The rising waters scattered the dead all over the place. Ten coffins were retrieved and there are now a total of 21 coffins buried under the church floor, which practically guarantees that the church is haunted. (read the signs in the photos below)
This church is dedicated to San Ysidro, the patron saint of farmers. Driving past all the farms on Corrales Rd., it’s easy to see why the name of the church is appropriate.
Over the years, I have shot several weddings here but it is no longer in use as an active church. The Village of Corrales rents it out for special events such as weddings and art shows.
The Old San Ysidro Church is located at: 966 Old Church Rd, Corrales, NM 87048.
San Ysidro Cemetery in Corrales, New Mexico
The San Ysidro Cemetery is located right across the street from the Old San Ysidro Church. While this cemetery has many graves dating back to the 1800’s, it is remains an active cemetery with new graves still being added.
Evelyn and Johnnie Losack
In the early 1980’s my grandparents, Evelyn and Paul Dillard, were friends with Evelyn and Johnnie Losask. I remember a time when my grandparents brought me with them when they went to visit the Losacks at their farm in Corrales. The Losacks had a litter of Chihuahua puppies and one of the puppies was much smaller than the others. They did not expect the runt of the litter to survive but my grandmother fell in love with the little guy. The Losacks gave the puppy to my grandparents and they named him Pokey. Or actually, I think they let me name him Pokey, after the book The Pokey Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey. While Pokey did not live as long as most Chihuahuas, he did survive. Pokey lived to be about 8yrs old before succumbing to health problems.
The Losacks have both passed away but the Curtis Losack, known for its apple orchard, farm is still operational. Johnnie Losack passed away in 2003. Here is a link to his obituary. Evelyn Curtis Losack passed away in 2016. Here is a link to her obituary.
On a side note, I found an article about a book that was written about Evelyn Losack. It’s called If There’s Squash Bugs In Heaven, I Ain’t Stayin’ by Stacia Spragg-Braude.
These photos were shot on November 3, 2018.
