Chloride

We fell in love with the old mining town of Chloride, NM, when we visited it last year.  We wanted our friends, Pete and Suzy Lybecker, to see it.  As always, you see different things when you see something the second time around.  The Pioneer Store Museum is amazing.  You can spend hours and hours exploring it.  This museum has been restored and preserved by Don Edmund and his wife, Dona.  Back in 1977 when they were vacationing and stumbled on little town just 40 miles west of Truth or Consequences, they decided then this was where they wanted to live. Don and Dona now own several buildings including the Pioneer Store and the Monte Cristo gift shop which they run with the help of their daughter, Linda Turner.

Although we enjoyed seeing this display about the post office last year, we are always interested in anything about the post office.

It's hard to imagine that this antiquated bookkeeping system didn't catch our eyes last year.  Teri could see the beginnings of accounting.  Accounting is and always will be about balancing numbers and record keeping.

This box was described as the original laptop.  It contained everything that businessman, Edward James, needed to conduct business for his many ventures as he traveled around the New Mexico territory at the turn of the 20th century. 

There is a display dedicated to Cassie Hobbs - one of the icons of Chloride.  She was best known for her creativity.  She made everything you needed - clothing, furniture, toys, baskets - all by hand.  The lace shoes were amazing.  It was great to see the picture of her wearing the dress that was on display.  Cassie made the picture frame with tin snips and a beer can.  She also made the doll and the chair.  Cassie Hobbs' husband, Earl, was notorious for his inability to keep a job, or his temper. Cassie grew accustomed to moving frequently to accommodate her husband’s shortcomings.  When Earl would come home after another disagreement with an employer, he would say, ‘Momma, pack yer things, we’re leavin’!’ Cassie only had enough time to gather a few things, and often had to start all over, building new furniture, making new clothes and a whole new life.”  Don and Dona had the pleasure of knowing Cassie as she still lived in Chloride when they became interested in restoring Chloride.

A great display about Raymond Schmidt, a local pioneer, included a book written by him and a Daily Log and Diary he kept while on a lookout job.  Raymond Schmidt was the son of one of Chloride's earliest pioneers. Raymond died in 1996 at age 98. Born in Lake Valley, NM, in 1897, moved to Chloride in 1905 and lived there until 1991, when failing health forced him to join his daughter in Texas. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Chloride.

A little history about the town of Chloride.  One day in 1879 Harry Pye, a muleskinner and veteran prospector, was hauling freight to a military post when he picked up a piece of silver float in the canyon where Chloride now stands. The piece assayed high in silver, triggering Pye's enthusiasm. After completing his freighting contract, Pye returned to the canyon with a small party, prospected the area, found the mother lode, and made the first location, which was called the Pye lode. As a result Pye is credited with being the discoverer of the district. A few months later Apaches killed him. Pictured here is Pye's original cabin that has been converted to a rental cabin which is nicely done to period furnishings, etc. 

 

Don't miss exploring Chloride when in New Mexico!!!