|
In 1893, Watt Hoyle, one
of the owners of the Old Abe Mine, built a two-story Victorian brick home
for his fiancée. However, when the young lady wrote him that she was not
coming to White Oaks,
the mansion, with its stately gables and sharply-pitched roof, became
known as "Hoyle’s folly.” He never
finished the inside of the home and later, legends would abound that he
was so heartsick that he leaped to his death. However, that was not the
case. Hoyle actually lived in the house with his older brother and his
wife. Hoyle reportedly sold the home in the 1892’s and moved to Denver.
In March,1895, tragedy
struck again when a fire in the Old Abe Mine took the lives of eight men.
However, the mine continued to operate until shortly after the turn of the
century when the deposits became less profitable. When the mine developed
a problem with the timbers in the shaft, it was finally shut down.
Of the many mining
operations, the Old Abe Mine was the largest, employing some forty workers
yielding between forty-five to fifty tons of gold per day. Other
operations included the Robert E. Lee, the Smuggler, the Rita, Lady Godiva,
Little Mack, Silver Cliff, Miners Cabin, and others. All told, the mines
of White Oaks yielded around $20 million dollars worth of gold and other
minerals.
With its precious
minerals depleted and the railroad having bypassed the settlement in favor
of nearby Carrizozo, the town declined dramatically. By 1910,
White Oaks
had only about 200 residents. Though greatly reduced in size the town
continued as a small trading center until the 1950’s.
Today,
White Oaks is
called home to just a few remaining residents. However, many of its
historic buildings continue to stand including Brown’s Store, the Hoyle
House, the 1895 brick school house, and many old residences. A number of
buildings are currently undergoing renovation.
White Oaks is 12 miles northeast of Carrizozo,
New Mexico.
While in the area, an unpaved forest
road leads northwest out of
White Oaks which will take the visitor on a
circuitous route to the
ghost towns
of Jicarillo and
Ancho. Though unpaved, the road well maintained and can be traveled in
most any vehicle.
Contact Information:
|
|
