White Oaks, New Mexico - Livliest Town in the Territory

NEW MEXICO LEGENDS

White Oaks - The Liveliest Town in the Territory

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Before White Oaks became known as the liveliest town in New Mexico Territory the area was first roamed by the Piros Indians before they were forced out by the fierce Apache. Though region is arid and dotted with lava rock, the Indians found it abundant with game and made it one of their hunting grounds.

The first Europeans to travel into the area were members of Don Juan de Onate's expedition in the late 1500’s, who called the land Malpais, loosely meaning "lava stream.”

Though sparsely populated for centuries, that all changed when prospectors found gold in the Jicarilla Mountains.

Originally discovered by a man named John Wilson, allegedly an escapee from a Texas prison, Wilson shared his find with two friends by the names of Jack Winters and Harry Baxter. Though Winters and Baxter were ecstatic, Wilson had no interest in gold and soon moved on, leaving his find to his friends.

The 1893 Brown Store building, which at various times held a school,

a dance hall, and offices, is currently undergoing restoration.

Kathy Weiser, February, 2008.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

Word soon spread of the gold find and within a year, a new mining camp, filled with tents was born. The camp was called White Oaks after a small stream near the community that was lined with white oak trees. In 1880 a post office was established and permanent buildings began to replace the tents and rambling shacks. The boom town quickly grew, supporting some 50 different businesses, including four newspapers, two hotels, three churches, a sawmill, a bank, an opera house, livery stables, and a number of the ever present saloons and gambling houses.

In the meantime, prospectors, Winters and Baxter founded two claims called the Homestake Mine and the South Homestake Mine. The mountain where the gold was found was called Baxter Mountain. Eventually, the two gold miners sold their claims for $300,000 each.

Like other booming mining camps of the day, White Oaks is filled with legends and lore, including that of a "lady” by the name of Belle La Mar, who was more familiarly known as "Madam Varnish.” Hailing from Missouri, La Mar, made her way to the New Mexico mining camp that was "hungry” for the sight of women. There, she soon established the Little Casino Saloon, where she dealt faro, roulette and poker. Quick to take the gold of the many miners in the area, she earned her nickname when the miners said she was as "slick as varnish.” Though many lost their hard earned gold at the Little Casino, it was the reigning saloon in town. Other popular stops for the miners were the Star Saloon and Opera House.

During White Oaks early days, the town was also frequented by none other than the infamous Billy the Kid. Though Billy's main stomping grounds were in Lincoln, some forty miles to the east of White Oaks, the Kid was known to hang with other roughnecks in the thriving mining camp filled with saloons, gambling parlors and prostitutes.

After the Lincoln County War was over, Billy and his gang of "Rustlers” often targeted cattle in the White Oaks vicinity and after one attempted theft, the citizens of White Oaks rose up in protest, gathered up a posse, and went after the gang. Though they caught up with the outlaws and a gunfight ensued, the thieves were able to get away.

Though White Oaks citizens had made it known they wouldn’t tolerate the likes of Billy the Kid and his cohorts, three of the outlaws, including Billy, Dave Rudabaugh and Billy Wilson returned to White Oaks the very next evening. Flaunting themselves, Rudabaugh took a shot at deputy Sheriff James Redman, just for fun.

Continued Next Page

Brick for the Watson-Lund Law Office was brought in by wagon to build this historic structure. Over the years it also served as printer's office for a local newspaper and a surveyor's office. Today is the White Oaks "No Scum

Allowed" Saloon.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

The 1895 White Oaks School Building is currently being

restored by the White Oaks Historical Society. It closed in

1947, but has since been used as local meeting place. February, 2008, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

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