Doodle Dum
40 miles NW of Truth or Consequences you'll find the ghost town of Chloride which sprung up in 1880 after Briton Harry Pye chanced upon silver ore. In its heyday Chloride boasted nine saloons, a general store, a dry goods store, a millinery shop, a restaurant, a butcher shop, a candy store, a pharmacy, a Chinese laundry, a photography studio, a school, and two hotels. It even had it's printed it's own newspaper from 1882 to 1896 . Many of the original buildings have been or are being restored.
There's not much more I can tell you or write about this particular building that hasn't already been told or written. Built by resident Austin Crawford, he was a stone mason, who built several of the buildings still standing in Chloride, including the Monte Cristo Saloon and Dance Hall. In his younger years he was involved in gambling and mining scams. For whatever reasons he turned to religion in his later life. He was convinced the wrath of God would befall Chloride in the form of a hailstone storm of biblical proportion! This particular building with the way the roof is pitched would be sure to protect him. Town records show that in 1923 Crawford had taken up residency in the psychiatric hospital in Las Vegas, N.M., where he remained until his death. Needless to say the hailstorm never came. Later the building was used by Cassie and Earl Hobbs. Cassie used it as her workshop and fondly referred to the called the building her Doodle Dum.
Chloride is well worth visiting. You'll receive a warm welcome and find an old mining town steeped in rich history. Almost a ghost town apart from it's 11 residents :)
Chloride, Sierra County, NM
Doodle Dum
40 miles NW of Truth or Consequences you'll find the ghost town of Chloride which sprung up in 1880 after Briton Harry Pye chanced upon silver ore. In its heyday Chloride boasted nine saloons, a general store, a dry goods store, a millinery shop, a restaurant, a butcher shop, a candy store, a pharmacy, a Chinese laundry, a photography studio, a school, and two hotels. It even had it's printed it's own newspaper from 1882 to 1896 . Many of the original buildings have been or are being restored.
There's not much more I can tell you or write about this particular building that hasn't already been told or written. Built by resident Austin Crawford, he was a stone mason, who built several of the buildings still standing in Chloride, including the Monte Cristo Saloon and Dance Hall. In his younger years he was involved in gambling and mining scams. For whatever reasons he turned to religion in his later life. He was convinced the wrath of God would befall Chloride in the form of a hailstone storm of biblical proportion! This particular building with the way the roof is pitched would be sure to protect him. Town records show that in 1923 Crawford had taken up residency in the psychiatric hospital in Las Vegas, N.M., where he remained until his death. Needless to say the hailstorm never came. Later the building was used by Cassie and Earl Hobbs. Cassie used it as her workshop and fondly referred to the called the building her Doodle Dum.
Chloride is well worth visiting. You'll receive a warm welcome and find an old mining town steeped in rich history. Almost a ghost town apart from it's 11 residents :)
Chloride, Sierra County, NM