Elizabethtown, New Mexico - A Moreno Valley Ghost Town

Elizabethtown, New Mexico

<<Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next >>

John Collier, 1943, courtesy Library of Congress

At one time Elizabethtown boasted 7,000 people. Now, its few remaining buildings look silently over the beautiful Moreno Valley, hanging on to its memories.

In 1901, the Oro Dredging Company began the work of erecting a monstrous dredge, fondly christened the Eleanor. The enormous piece of equipment, born of the machine era, posed numerous challenges in its transportation through the mountain passes to E-town. Piece by piece, the dredge was hauled from the railhead at Springer via mountain roads and water. The dredging company built a dam three miles from E-town and hauled the biggest pieces on a large boat. By August, 1901 the dredge began production and handled up to four thousand cubic yards of dirt a day. In its first year of operation, the Eleanor paid for herself and cleared $100,000, mining a remarkable one-quarter of all the gold found in New Mexico that year.

In September 1901 Dr. L. L. Cahill purchased the La Belle drugstore and moved it to E-town. LaBelle was another mining camp in the area that permanently died in 1901. Mining continued, but tragedy struck E-town in 1903 when fire caught in the second story of one of the largest retail establishments, the Remsberg Store. In the dry mountain conditions the flames quickly engulfed the mostly wood buildings, flames spreading throughout the town.

At about the same time, the owner of the dredge mortgaged Eleanor to get money to finance a similar venture in Colorado. Unfortunately, the next year was unprofitable for Eleanor, and the owner ended up having to take bankruptcy. The dredging operation finally died in 1905 and Eleanor was left to rust and sink into the sands of Moreno Creek. The buried remains of Eleanor remain there but no trace of her can be seen now.

By 1917, E-town's lifeblood was nearly drained. The mines no longer produced profits and the town folk had moved away, abandoning their homes, as no one wanted to buy them. Investors fell into bankruptcy and even the staunchest old timers left. Now and then, a few people would drift back in hopes of recovering something, but the new veins struck didn't assay enough to mine and ship the ore.

Alice Bullock took a teaching post in Elizabethtown in the 1920's, teaching in a one room classroom of the old school, where she was also responsible for cleaning, chopping wood and all other duties at the school. There were no books for the eight pupils, all members of two families, but her position only lasted a little over a month when the Red Bandana mine was re-opened and hired the fathers of her pupils. The families moved, and her job ended. She was the last teacher in E-town.

The Moreno Valley produced five million dollars in gold in seventy-five years - most of it in the first forty years.

In 1956 the old schoolhouse was sold for salvage. Curious people continued to frequent the site and unfortunately, a camper set a fire in the old Mutz Hotel, which further destroyed its remains, though its stone skeleton still stands. Vandals destroyed the Catholic Church and many of the other remaining remnants.

Today, the stone ruins of the Old Mutz Hotel dominate the slope above NM Highway 38 north of Eagle Nest, as well as a general store, several foundations and timber pilings from abandoned buildings. Elizabethtown is slowly being restored by one of the E-town descendents, where a museum has been established just up the road from the hotel ruins. The museum currently features numerous artifacts found on the property, pictures and documents portraying E-town history, and features an informative videotape in a small "theatre" that has been established. The Elizabethtown Cemetery is just about a mile up the road from the ruins and looks out upon the beautiful valley.

The museum is open daily 10-5 between Memorial Day and Labor Day and by appointment after Labor Day. Gold Rush Days are held every year July 3-5, which include a trade fair and entertainment. Gifts and souvenirs are available in the gift shop. The museum is solely supported by donations, which can be made when visiting the site or contacting the museum at 505-377-3420.

Elizabeth town is 4.8 miles north of Eagle Nest on NM 38, turn left (west) on B-20, a dirt road, then 0.3 miles to buildings from turnoff.

Church/School in 1943, Library of Congress

Elizabethtown, New Mexico Church/School

The church/school has been entirely rebuilt in E-town

and is now used for social functions and weddings,

July, 2003, Kathy Weiser

Mutz Hotel in 1943, Library of Congress

The Big Ditch in the 1800's.

<<Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next >>

From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Old West Exclusive Products - Legends of America and the Rocky Mountain General Store now provide a number of exclusive products that you won't find anywhere else! Utilizing our vintage photos, Old West words, and original graphics, you'll find selections for t-shirts, bumper stickers, Old West prints and calendars, and much more. Click HERE to see the entire line.