Idlewild and the Klondike Mine

NEW MEXICO LEGENDS

Idlewild and the Klondike Mine

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The Klondike Mine today, July, 2003. In order to save this historic structure, it is being slowly dismantled to be moved to a museum site in Eagle Nest. Kathy Weiser, July, 2003.

Though the gold rush had petered out in the Moreno Valley by the early 1900's, some were still convinced that "there was gold in them thar hills". Fred Montague of Chanute, Kansas was one that still believed. He, along with four other investors, purchased property in the Moreno Valley and dug three tunnels in 1920, two of which showed little promise, but one would become the Klondike Mine. In the beginning, assay reports from the mine showed that the tunnel had large amounts of gold, silver and copper. An engineer from Denver advised the investors to build a mill. Before the mill was built, the owners first built several buildings on the property, including a mining office, a cook house, a general store and cabins for the miners.

Finally, the mill was built, but it was never a large operation, employing 13 miners during the summer months, which left during the harsh winters, leaving only a caretaker and overseer.

Unfortunately, only after the mill was built did the investors find, in 1926, that the grade of ore found needed to be smelted, and the nearest facility was in Pueblo, Colorado. Trucking the ore to Pueblo was too expensive to justify continuing the endeavor. The Klondike Mine was never very productive and the mining company was constantly in search of additional working capital, though they continued to hold board meetings until the 1940's. Finally, the mine was abandoned as a business venture, but the Montague family still retains the ten acres surrounding the mine.

The Klondike Mine is still standing and is one of the most preserved mines still in existence; however, this mine is on private property and public access is not permitted.

Now, the area serves as a private getaway for the Montague family and their friends, but the Klondike Mine remains, for the moment. The Enchanted Circle Museum is working with the Montague family to relocate the mine to the museum site in Eagle Nest. The blacksmith shop behind the mine has already been dismantled and moved to the future site of the museum, just east of Eagle Nest on Highway 64.

Idlewild developed adjacent to the Klondike Mine in the 1930's. Originally, the land was owned by Charles Gallagher, who married Mae Lowery, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Moore Lowery, for whom Elizabethtown was named.

In 1929, Charles was shipping a herd of cattle to Kansas City about the time when the stock market began to fall, expecting to receive $1,500 for the herd. Unfortunately, due to market conditions, he netted only $700 and was forced to sell some of his land.

Thomas Cook, from the Texas panhandle, purchased 160 acres from Gallagher so that his family might enjoy the retreat that he called "Idlewild." He built a cabin near the road to the Klondike mine and began to bring his friends and family to the retreat. Deciding to develop the property, he began selling lots in 1931 for $6 and 12 people bought lots in the new development. The following year 87 people purchased property and the area continued to develop through the years.

In the early 1940's Mr. Cook sold most of his holdings to Hardy Watson of Lawton, Oklahoma and Mayme and Britt Marrs were installed as caretakers who continued for the next 50 years. Most of the properties in Idlewild were sold to visitors from Texas and many are passed from generation to generation, including my own family cabin, one of the oldest in Idlewild. My grandparents were good friends with the Marrs when I was a child. Now, there are about 320 structures in Idlewild.

The Klondike Mine in May, 2004, David Alexander.

From Our Readers:

I visited Idlewild with my grand father every summer. I actually explored that old mine and we would stay in an old cabin near the mine. The family finally bought its own cabin in Idlewild. - Greg

Inside the Klondike Mine, David Alexander, May, 2004.

Klondike Mine, Kathy Weiser, May, 2004.

Klondike Mine in May, 2004. Kathy Weiser.

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