30th May 2023
I had picked up a leaflet about ghost towns of Sierra County, New Mexico so we got in the truck and went to look for ghosts. We didn't find ghosts but enjoyed an amazing drive into the mountains. The towns are mostly a few run down houses and without reading the history as you pass through them it would be easy to miss them.
We drove through Cuchillo, named for nearby Cuchillo Negro (Black Knife) Creek which took it's name from a local Apache chief. The town was established by ranchers and farmers in the 1850s. Few original buildings are left including the church of San Jose Catholic Church built in 1907 and the Cuchillo Bar and Store.
 |
| San Jose Catholic Church |
 |
| Needs a wee bit of restoration! |
The road gradually climbed through the mountains taking us to the town of Winston. It was settled in 1881 by silver miners from nearby Chloride and was originally called Fairview. By 1884 it had a population of 600. Frank H Winston came to the town in 1882 and came to own several businesses in town and would give credit to locals in bad times. When he died in 1929 the town was renamed in his honor. The town declined with the price of silver and now only a few families remain.
 |
| High elevation |
The last stop on the road was the town of Chloride. It was literally the end of the road - beyond the town was just mountains.
Chloride was founded in 1880 after Englishman Harry Pye discovered silver ore nearby. Despite Indian attacks (Pye was killed by the Apache a few months after filing his claim) the town grew to 3,000 people with many businesses including 9 saloons, 3 general stores and a candy shop.
The silver panic of 1893 wiped out the town though some structures remain. I asked a local how many live there now, 12 people.
 |
| Grafton Cabin |
 |
| Checking out the chinking |
 |
| Inside the cabin |
The old Pioneer Store has been made into a museum and we were shown around by the daughter of the owners. For my English readers this was very like being in Beamish Museum. The store which sold everything from food to wagons was boarded up in 1923 sealing in it's complete contents right down to food. It remained that way until the 1980's when Don and Dona Edmund bought it along with the next door Monte Christo Saloon and began the restoration of the buildings. They opened to the public in 1998.
The Saloon is now a gallery selling local artists products.
It was interesting to walk around the store and hear about it's history from Ms. Edmund but the place had a spooky feeling!
The town and stores have a lot of history which can be read about on their website.
In 1991 the museum was incorporated as a Non Profit Corporation and relies on donations from the public for it's upkeep. The future of the store and saloon are uncertain as the family do not have anyone to take it over. I felt sad to think of the time, love and energy the family invested that may soon see it boarded back up again.
No comments:
Post a Comment