To the Editor,

History is a fascinating learning subject. I know, my students, to learn the dates, names and seemingly important figures are sometimes boring. But I feel that what people thought in past times is also fascinating.

As for me, in the later years of my life, it is almost scary how much we forget what history has told us. It does not necessarily go back to ancient times, no, it can and will be yesterday or just a few years back.

I bought my place in the Hidaway Hills subdivision in Capitan in 1971, forty-one years ago. The price if I remember correctly was $4,000.00 for 2 acres. Why did I buy it? I love the area, the view, and my neighbors. It is my retirement place and it is the resting place of my wife, my love for 56 years.

The subdivision that was established in the 60’s and early 70’s grew extremely slow. When I made a survey in 1990, nearly twenty years later, only about ¼ of the properties were occupied by dwellings. I still have aerial photographs from that time. For me it was a good investment since I love the wildlife, and the peace and quiet of the area. But as an investment for the Village of Capitan it was a failure; particularly in terms of utilities and maintenance the Village has to provide.

Our elected representatives have to ask themselves whether we do the same mistake again; especially in the presently depressed economic climate. Look at the past, our recent history.

Dr. Bernhard E.F. Reimann, Capitan