Dr. James Jackson Shuler (1858 - 1919)
Dr. Shuler, a surgeon for Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad served as the first medical doctor in Raton, New Mexico.
He served as mayor of Raton from 1899-1902 and 1910-1919, and as president of the New Mexico Municipal League from 1911-1915.
As mayor, Dr. Shuler undertook a number of impressive projects, including development of a Raton city park, electric and water filtration plant, Raton Water Works, Raton Public Library, and the construction of the municipal auditorium.
The first production in the Shuler Theater was The Red Rose, a Victorian era musical comedy that opened April 27, 1915.
Evlyn shuler (1884 - 1972)
The daughter of Dr. J.J. Shuler, Miss Evlyn was instrumental in the major undertaking of the restoration of the Shuler Theater in the 1960s.
Three of the Shuler's original drop curtains survive and are still used to this day -- Ripley Park in Raton featuring the old municipal library, a Roman palace setting framed by elaborate draperies, and most significantly the original fire curtain depicting a scene from the Palisades of Cimarron against a background of American Indian motifs including swastika symbols painted on the folds of the curtain, which were an American Indian symbol of good luck.
The balconies situated on both sides of the stage have been restored and are in use today, sometimes as part of the performance area.
The Shuler lobby is the permanent home to eight WPA murals dating to 1934 by artist Manville Chapman. The murals show scenes depicting the history of Raton and the surrounding area from early settlements in the 1840s through the era when the Shuler was built into the 1920s. The WPA murals are in outstanding condition and are maintaied by a grant from the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.
When Dr. Shuler died in 1919, the City Commission placed a plaque in the Shuler lobby with the following resolution:
Whereas the erection and completion of the municipal auditorium, which has been a source of such delight to the inhabitants of this city, is a monument to the forethought, idealsim, zeal, and energy of the late mayor, J.J. Shuler, under whose leadership the purpose of the people was accomplished; Now, therefore, in recognition of such services, be it resolved that the said municipal auditorium be hereafter known and designated on the records of the city as the Shuler Auditorium.
The plaque designating the Shuler Theater as a Registered Cultural Property in New Mexico is also located in the lobby.