James L. Johnson House - Historic Santa Fe Foundation

ORPHANS, GHOSTS, AND SEVEN BURROS:
Life in an HSSF plaqued property
Property Owners and Corinne P Sze
In the second of an ongoing series, the owners of the Bronson Cutting
House spoke on a summer evening about what it has meant to
them to own a historic house in Santa Fe. As we sat before the brick
fireplace in Cutting s spacious living room, it was hard to resist thinking
of the history that was made in this home, which Cutting completed
in I911. The wealthy scion of a prominent New York family,
Cutting had come to Santa Fe the previous year seeking relieffrom a
ruinous case of tuberculosis. Like so many in the same predicament.
he recovered and made Santa Fe his permanent home. In 1912 he
bought the Santa Fe New Mexican, and at the time of his premature
death in a 1935 plane crash.hadjust been reelected to represent New
Mexico in the United States Senate. After his death the house was
purchasedfrom the heirs by Cutting s long-time associate, Jesus Maria
Baca, to whom he had willed the New Mexican. Subsequently the
house was used as an orphanage by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, and
as the home and office of a physician and then a lawyer. The present
owners and their teenage son became the latest residents of the
Bronson Cutting House about five years ago. At their request names
are not used.
Q: How did you come to be in Santa Fe and in this house?
He: We moved here from Washington, D.C., to fulfill a dream of living in
Santa Fe. I had first come to the area about 25 years ago as a consultant
to the Navajo tribe. I knew then that I would live here. The
land is very, very spiritual for me.
She:We were looking for a traditional adobe. The real estate agent suggested
we look at this house, although it didn't fit what we said we
wanted. The house has a special feeling; I can't really explain it in
words, but that's what attracted us to it.
Q: What specifically did you like about the house?
She:The living room; the lighting at dusk is magical. Also the privacy and
the fact that we can walk to the Plaza.
Q: Did its history influence your choice?
He:
We were interested in it before we knew anything about the history.
The reahor didn't make a big deal out of its being historic, just pre-