This article was copied from the El Paso Times
The poppies on the Franklin Mountains are in bloom. There are many theories about where the poppies came from. A search of the archives found the following:
The U.S. Army National Guard troops planted the seeds, which were scattered by the winds.
A rich widow spread the seeds as a memorial to her husband.
A garden club purchased poppy seeds and contracted a helicopter to fly members over the mountains to scatter the seeds in the area.
About 40 to 50 years ago, a man inside an aircraft dropped the flower seeds on the area that became the poppy fields several decades later.
The seeds were left on the ground by sheep that came off a train in the Northeast. The seeds were in the sheep’s wool, which the sheep shook off as they grazed temporarily in the area.
About a dozen years ago, a crop duster that was sent to help put out a fire at the top of the mountains dropped the seeds.
A Japanese gardener sowed them years ago.
A young couple seeded them from a plane, on their honeymoon, to celebrate their wedding.
As it turns out, the suggestion to plant the poppies was made by W.G. Roe of the W.G. Roe Co. of El Paso.
A May 15, 1931, El Paso Herald-Post article, “See Business Asset From Poppy Plants,” describes the discussion that followed.
“El Paso business men see a business asset as well as beauty in a Mt. Franklin with with poppy covered slopes.
“L. E. Saunders, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said he is ‘strong’ for the Herald-Post campaign to broadcast poppy seed over the barren mesas and foothills of Mount Franklin.
” ‘It could be advertised, and would attract many visitors, just as Carlsbad Caverns does, or the bluebonnets of east Texas.
” ‘I have seen the poppies north of town on the Newman road, and I believe it would be a great thing to have these poppy fields on a larger scale.’
“‘It would be hard to estimate the value of these poppies , if they covered a large area around El Paso,’ said E.H. Simon’s, secretary-manager of the Chamber of Commerce.
” ‘I also would like to protest against calling them California poppies . California gets enough advertising.
” ‘If a new name is needed, why not call them Texas poppies ?’ ”
“Simon’s pointed out the attraction the poppies would have for visitors, and said completion of the campaign would be a great advance in civic development.
“Suggestion to sow the mountain sides with poppy seed was made by W.G. Roe. The Herald-Post will accept donations in any amount to the poppy fund, and turn the money over to a committee which will supervise the planting.”
Two weeks later, on May 29, the Herald-Post reported that the Poppy Fund had gone past the $100 mark, enough to plant 56 acres of mountainside.
Among those donating to the fund were Gus Momsen, the El Paso Fire Department, the Myers Co., Roe, A. Mathias Co., El Paso Seed Co., the Herald-Post, Hope Smith, R. E. Black, Myrtil-Coblentz, Will Crombie, Milton Warner, Louis Zork, J.E. Hines, W. Kirkpatrick, Julius Lorentzen and Robert B. Price.
Although there is no complete record of who planted the poppies , there were a few notations that mentioned the following groups:
“Boy Scouts plant 35 pounds Saturday on foot-hills off Carlsbad road” and “Ladies of Ft. Bliss taking $10 worth to beautify Ft. Bliss” and “trying to get Beaumont Hospital to plant around vacant field.”
