Columbus Mercantile Company

Columbus Mercantile Company. . The "Columbus Mercantile Company" was established in 1910 by Lithuanian born Sam Ravel. His brothers, Louis and Arthur, joined him in Columbus in 1911 and 1912 respectively. The store was then renamed "Sam Ravel and Bros"., Selling to the Mexican Revolutionary factions was Sam Ravel's primary reason for the Columbus store. He continued trading with the Mexican communities and Revolutionary Armies until they closed their Columbus store in 1934., In 1930, the Ravels purchased a feed store in Albuquerque. The brothers obtained the Ralston Purina franchise for all of Bernalillo County. They remained in business until 1964., At the time of the Pancho Villas Raid On March 9, 1916, Sam Ravel was in an El Paso hospital for minor surgery., Louis was sleeping at the rear of the store. He hid under a pile of cowhides while the Villistas looted the store. When they became distracted, he ran to the safety of Camp Furlong., Arthur was at home when two Villistas dragged him from his bed. They led him to the store and then to the Commercial Hotel where he witnessed several murders. Arthur was taken back to the Ravel store and then paraded down the middle of Broadway Street with à Villista on each arm. They were shot and Arthur escaped up Main Street., Captions , Ravel Store and Delivery Wagon Circa 1919 , Ravel Brothers 1913