The Louise Massey House, at 209 W. Alameda St. in

Roswell, New Mexico Roswell () is a city in, and the County seat, seat of, Chaves County, New Mexico, Chaves County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Chaves County forms the entirety of the List of micropolitan areas in New Mexico, Roswell micropolitan area. As of ...

, was a home of country singer

Louise Massey Louise Massey (born ''Victoria Louise Massey''; 10 August 1902 – 20 June 1983, in San Angelo, Texas), American singer and songwriter born in Midland, Texas. The Massey family left Texas while Louise Massey was very young and she grew up near ...

(1902-1983) during 1918 to 1982. The house was built in 1928 and was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1985. It was in this house in 1928 that "Louise Massey and her husband, Milt Mabie, her two brothers, Curt and Alien, were interviewed for their first professional singing job as "

The Westerners ''The Westerners'' is a 1919 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sloman and starring Roy Stewart, Robert McKim and Wilfred Lucas.Goble, p. 499. Plot Cast * Roy Stewart as Cheyenne Harry * Robert McKim as Michael 'Black Mike' La ...

" by the Red Path Chatauqua. By 1930 they had a five year contract on CBS Radio in Kansas City. Later they joined WLS National Barn Dance. By 1938 Louise Massey was a star solo singer with the Westerners and with other shows on

NBC Radio Programs The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

in N.Y. City. Louise's 1934 recording of " When the White Azaleas are Blooming" sold three million copies and earned her a lifetime recording contract with

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

. In 1940 Louise and Milt bought a ranch on the Hondo River, but retained her previous residence as a second home. Louise wrote her most famous song " In My Adobe Hacienda" which was her biggest hit single recording in this house. In 1945 she retired and lived with her husband on Hondo Ranch. After Milt's death in 1973 and due to failing health, Louise spent her last years in this home in Roswell and in various nursing homes. Louise died in June, 1983." With

References

External links

* National Register of Historic Places in Chaves County, New Mexico Houses completed in 1928 {{NewMexico-NRHP-stub