Opened for business on Nov 17, 1882 and rebuilt in 1888 using bricks and opened in May of 1888 by William and Jane Gallacher. Passengers ascending the canyon to White Oaks proper, were treated to advertisements painted on the flat faces of the rock-lined canyon. “Stop at the Hotel Ozanne” read one of the advertisements. Located on the southeast corner of Carrizozo and Livingston Streets, the brick Hotel Ozanne and its Ozanne House annex a block away at Carrizo and Harrison, functioned in concert with the Mountain Station Ranch as stage supper and breakfast stops, and optional overnight ac accommodations. About May of 1901 FLETCHER M. LUND Leases the Hotel from Ozanne.
Unfortunately, Urbain Ozanne’s story does not have a happy ending. Urbain married again by 1892. Ella Ozanne, his second wife, apparently ran the hotel and boarding house. Olive Ozanne, eldest son Alfred’s wife, infers that Ella displayed an inordinate interest in controlling the family real estate.34 A charitable interpretation might be that Ella married Urbain for his money. The union ended in divorce. Urbain remarried again in 1897, and it is this union which was fated to experience the rapid decline of family fortunes. Property purchased with the certainty that the railroad would eventually arrive was now nearly worthless for the railroad had bypassed White Oaks. The ultimate indignity for Urbain Ozanne must have been the sale of his various properties for back taxes in 1899. Urbain Ozanne died of Bright’s disease in 1903. It is sad to note that this important pioneer’s last resting place in White Oaks’ Cedarvale Cemetery has been lost.
Urbain’s third wife, Helen, did not remain long in White Oaks. But she first alienated the entire family and much of the town by successfully suing anyone concerned with the Hotel Ozanne. She received a tax deed for the premises in 1904. Following her departure the following year, the sheriff could find no property to attach for her unpaid bills. 36 Local tradition continues the Hotel Ozanne operation beyond Urbain’s death. Jane Malcolm Gallacher and her mother, Margaret Malcolm, were associated with the hotel operation for at least twenty years. They were probably among the first employees when the hotel opened in 1887-1888. In 1908 Jane moved out to ranch at the head of the Malpais.37 Her mother may have continued working at the hotel until her death in 1913. The hotel apparently closed the next year. This story was taken from Donaanacountyhistsoc.org
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White Oaks eagle., July 18, 1901
