Many residents of Chihuahua Hill survived the conditions of poverty and discrimination of the past. They did not do this by passively sitting by and waiting for things to change. There are many stories to tell how Chihuahua Hill actively worked to shape their own community, improve conditions, or resist the conditions that historically plagued the neighborhood.
The first true demonstration of resistance against the conditions of poverty and discrimination was the community that was created on Chihuahua Hill. The neighborhood was extremely close knit. Ties between friends and families were strengthen by compadrazgo, the relationship between compadres, or godparents. The role of religion, as a largely Mexican Catholic neighborhood, certainly created additional ties between most of the neighborhood. Altogether, the majority culture and what they went through created a solidarity of shared experiences. In the face of inequality from outside of the community, Chihuahua Hill turned inward for support.
The First Hispanic Institution
The first Hispanic Institution formed on Chihuahua Hill was La Alianza Hispano-Americana. The organization was originally founded on January 14, 1894 in Tucson Arizona. It served as a Sociedad mutualista, or fraternal benefit society that offered life insurance and social activities for Mexican Americans in response to hostile attitudes against Mexican Americans in the Southwest. On top of mutual aid, La Alianza sought to preserve Mexican American culture and taught its members democratic traditions. Alianza Lodge 17, the first in Silver City, was founded on Chihuahua Hill in 1917. By 1944 it had 52 members, making it the second largest of the seven lodges in Grant County. Eventually another lodge, Alianza Logia 67, opened in Silver City with another 43 members. Many of the records for La Alianza 17 and 67 still exist today at the University of Arizona. All the records were written in Spanish, and give information about membership, dues, insurance, and relationships with the larger institution. From these records we have glimpses of those from Chihuahua Hill who were a part of the organization.
Eventually, La Alianza opened a lodge/bar/dance hall on Texas Street. Many stories center around the memories of that building. Chihuahua Hill’s Logia 17 participated in regional and national Alianza events, actively participating in the conversations about the treatment of Mexican Americans throughout the Southwest. The members of Logia 17 worked towards the betterment of Chihuahua Hill in fulfillment of their motto: Protección, Moralidad, Instrucción, Protection, Morality, Instruction”.