Historic Buildings in White Oaks New Mexico
White Oaks, New Mexico, boasts a rich architectural history dating back to the late 19th century. This former bustling mining town is now a ghost town, but its historic buildings remain as a testament to its vibrant past. Visitors can explore a variety of structures, including well-preserved homes, schools, and commercial buildings. Each building tells a unique story of the people who lived and worked in White Oaks during its heyday.
Prominent buildings such as the Hoyle House and the Miner’s Home showcase the architectural styles and craftsmanship of the period. The Hoyle House, with its intricate woodwork and spacious design, served as a social hub for the community. Meanwhile, the Miner’s Home offers a glimpse into the daily lives of those who toiled in the mines. These buildings, along with others scattered throughout the town, provide a fascinating window into the life and times of White Oaks, making it a valuable historical site.
Regarding the construction of brick, granite or masonry core buildings or homes all designed for extended life times. The last brick home was a $5,000 mansion built by Frank sanger Jan 1, 1892 and the $40,000 Hoyle house completed same time. The last commercial buildings of non wood construction were the exchange bank June 1892. After the disaster of the Nov 1892 railroad meeting and Gould’s death and the horrific newspaper report on Gould’s passing NO Other non wood structure was erected as the towns citizens knew there was no reason to build for the future as it was clear the future was not going to be good. The two exceptions were the school house completed july 1894 and the Gumm house completed in 1895. Most likely the school was already paid for via municipal bonds and contracted prior to the railroad meeting and there was no way of stopping its construction. Less than 11 years from its construction it was shut down for lack of funds in 1905
The Gumms owned the sawmill and used their own wood to build a duplicate of Hoyle s house in 1895 shortly they ran afoul of the forest service and left town. Since nothing of note was built after Nov 1892 (HIGH WATER MARK) it is obvious that the population knew what would happen shortly. The authors do not believe they could possibly imagine just how horrible it would be nor the speed of how it happened
Churches
Town Hall/ Societies, Organizations And Clubs
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- Town Hall 1884
- Hewitt Hall 1895
- Library Hall 1883
- Billiard Hall 1883
- Homestake Billiard Hall 1884
- Grand Army, Kearney Post No. 10 Hall
- Taliaferro Hall
- Athletic Hall
- Post Office Hall (upstairs for Baptist Church)
- Golden Rule Lodge
- Masonic Lodge AF & AM #20
- Castle Hall
- Bonnell Hall
- White Oaks Brass Band
- White Oaks Dancing Club
- Young Men’s Benevolent Association
- Woman’s Relief Corp
Mayor, Councilman and City Offices
Newspapers
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- Lincoln County leader 1882 – 1893
- White Oaks Golden Era 1880 – 1884
- White Oaks Eagle 1895 – 1905
Post Office
Bank
* Exchange Bank 1892
Medical Doctors & Dentists
Doctors
Dentists
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- W.T. Bishop 1896
- Dr. Bearup
- Dr. Barrett 1890
- Dr Hendrix
Law Offices
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- Chandler E. H 1883
- L. B. Beard 1891
- Frank H Richmond
- Hewitt
- Helphingstine John A.
- Watson-Lund Law Office
- Timoney McB. E. 1887
- Jewett D.J M. A 1890
- Judge Lecompton
- Wharton J. E. 1895
- Samuel D, LeCompte 1883
- Dye B. H. 1895
School House
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- White Oaks First Class taught from tent. Ref: Birdsong Prior to 1885
- White Oaks Academy Association Aug 1887
- White Oaks Public School July 1894
Opera House
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- Starr’s Opera House completed in 1882
Saloons
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- Pioneer Saloon 1883
- Saloon and Billiard Hall 1883
- Little Casino Saloon
- Anderson & Fredericks Saloon 1883
- Central Saloon 1883
- Black brothers Star Saloon 1884
- Gold Bar Saloon 1891
- HeadLight Saloon 1892
- Palace Saloon 1899
Hotels
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- Palace Hotel replaced by the Wilson House 1895
- Ivey House
- Burks Hotel
- Ivey House
- White Oaks Hotel Collier 1880
- Windsor Hotel 1886-1887
- Carizo Hotel 1890
- Brothers Hotel Prior to 1887
- Ozanne Hotel Prior to 1901 Baxter Hotel
- Southwestern Hotel 1887
- Central Hotel B. W. Chick proprietor 1887
- For further information, please see White Oaks Hotel History and timeline(work in progress July-2019)
Boarding Houses
Merchants
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- Barber Shop Reynolds
- Barber Shop W L Hughes 1890
- Biggs Joseph Blacksmith 1883
- Billiard Hall 1883
- Book Store
- Bond and Stewart
- Brown Store
- Chop House
- City Meat Market Davidson 1883
- Contractor: B.B. Adams 1890
- Contractor J. S. Redman 1884
- Dress Maker
- Drug Store Reid & Co. 1885
- Drug Store J. A. Tomlinson 1884
- Drug Store J. T. Butler & Co. 1890
- Dunning and Miller Gen merchandise 1883
- Furniture store E.H. Chew 1888
- Hardware Store Pearman 1890
- James Bruce Dining Hall 1883
- Mose Burke and Chas Star Restaurant 1883
- Livery Stable 1882
- Lumber Yard Ed Bonnell 1888
- Real estate and Mining Agent Ed Bonnell 1885
- Real Estate and mining Agent Heman 1886
- Tailor Chs. Pfeiffer 1887
- Tin and Sheet iron Shop Pearman and McCourt 1887
- Shoemaker joseph Capuano 1895
- Undertaker John Slack
- White Oaks Building and Lumber Co.
Museum
Hogtown
Business Directory of 1882
Press this link see detailed ownership of above directory
NOTES BELOW
Timeline of Buildings built
- May 8, 1880 Whiteman builds Store house
- Nov 8, 1880 White Oaks Hotel opens J. B. Collier
- U. S. Post Office White Oaks 1880
- Starr’s Opera House completed in 1882
- Pioneer Saloon 1883
- Feb 09, 1884: Dedication of the new Town Hall
- 1885 Brown Store
- Jan 1, 1887: John A. Brown opens establishment
- Aug 1887 White Oaks Academy Association incorporates
- March 23, 1888: E. H. Chew constructs furniture store on corner of Livingston and Pinon Sts
- June 2nd, 1888, Methodist Church under contract to erect
- June 23, 1888: Carrizo Hotel in operation
- March 7, 1890: Congregational Church is receiving the finishing touches this week
- 1893 Hewitt Exchange bank Opened
- 1893 Hoyle Mansion, constructed
- July 1894: White Oaks School almost completed
- Feb 7, 1895: Gumm Mansion almost completed
Groceries
Ridgeways Groceries are all first class Fresh and cheap as the cheapest and he pays the highest market price for eggs, potatoes, and other saleable country produce. Call and see him at the place formerly occupied by McCourt’s hardware.
compiled by Michelle White
New Mexico Interpreter
White Oaks NM
March 7, 1890
PAGE 4
Good stock
Ridgeway, the grocer has moved and is snug in his new quarters in the Whitman building opposite Bond and Stewarts. Where he as a good fresh stock of everything in the grocery and supply line and will be pleased to see his numerous customers.
compiled by Michelle White
New Mexico Interpreter
White Oaks NM
March 7, 1890
PAGE 4
Dentistry
Dr. Bearop appears to be doing a prosperous business in the dentistry line. His headquarters are at Dr. Paden’s Drug Store. The Dr. will remain in town some days longer. Most merchants are selling goods a little higher than they did last year, but at Young & Taliaferro’s you only pay the same amount of money for a dollars worth of goods that you did in 1890.
compiled by Michelle White
New Mexico Interpreter
White Oaks NM
Jan 9, 1891
tailor
lawyer: 3
Realtor: 1
Merchant: 5
Wagon maker: 2
Assayer: 2
Blacksmith: 6
Doctor:2
Butcher: 2
Clerk in store: 2
Laundress: 1
Cook: 1
Baker:1
Barber: 1
Notary: 1
Actor/actress: 2
Postmaster:1
Druggist: 1
Livery stable: 2
Bartender:1
Constable: 1
Hotels