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A 1932 short story and a 1934 movie advised that “The Camels Are Coming.” If you visit The Emporium, 106 S. Water St. in Downtown Las Cruces, you will discover that the camels are here!
Volunteer Heather Pollard said more than 200 camels were donated to The Emporium from the Dr. John Bloom estate. The camels were collected by Bloom’s wife, Jo Tice Bloom, during her travels around the world and as gifts.
“For birthdays, Mother’s Day, everybody gave Jo a camel,” Pollard said.
In the collection, priced at $8 to $30 depending on size, you will find beadwork camels as well as camels made of leather, brass, wax, glass, china, ceramic, onyx, stuffed animals and more. There are dromedary (one-hump) and Bactrian (two-hump) camels in the collection, and even a few with riders – including Santa Claus.
Pollard’s favorite in the collection is a small dromedary covered in African beadwork.
Pollard said she rode a real, live camel during a visit to Egypt about 10 years ago.
The Emporium opened in late June 2015 and is staffed by about a dozen volunteers. One-hundred percent of its proceeds benefit Mesilla Valley Hospice. The Emporium’s inventory is made up entirely of donations, including antiques, collectibles and mint-condition furniture.
The Emporium hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, call 575-202-7351. For questions about donations to The Emporium, call 575-523-4700. Visit www.mvhospice.org/the-emporium and www.emporiumlc.com.
