After 15 days of horseback travel from the Buckhorn, enduring nights under the stars, sustenance of beans, coffee, jerky, busthead, and tortillas, we finally reach the mesa South of Lake Valley. It’s the early 1890s, and the town bustles with activity. The renowned Bridal Chamber mine, having exhausted its riches by 1883 after yielding 78 tons of silver—some so pure it bypassed smelting before shipment to the mint—stands as a testament to the area’s prosperity. Other mines in the vicinity contributed an additional 103 tons of silver. The post office operated from 1881 until 1954, but by 1893, practical concerns led to the start of population evacuation. A devastating fire in 1895 ravaged most of the commercial district on Main Street, leaving it in ruins, never to be rebuilt.
Steve whacks rob with his hat. ^you forgot about the Indians we came across back there. It seems like Steve and Rob stumbled upon a group of Jicarilla Apache people while traveling toward the Valley of Fire. Steve’s action of shining a beam down to them with a plate mirror was a way to signal their presence and intentions without sneaking up on them. Despite the hardships faced by the Apache group, including hunger and worn-out belongings, they retained their pride. Steve and Rob empathized with their situation, acknowledging the injustices inflicted upon Indigenous peoples in the past. They offered monetary assistance, but the Apache declined, wary of potential theft. This encounter highlights the complex history and ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous communities.
Steve headed out and came back with a 200 pound deer carcass, two rattlesnakes and about ten jack rabbits. We all worked together to smoke cure all if it , enough food to hold them from starvation doors for several months. There was no bust head that night around the fire it was just too depressing seeing these people like this.
The next day we left , leaving them in camp. I noticed on the left rear hip on Steve’s horse was three painted parallel lines , blue with a white line across the bottom. I look at Pete’s haunch dang it’s on him as well. We ran across several other Indian groups on the way to Lake Valley and when they saw the lines we were treated like family, so whatever they meant it sure made a good difference in Indian meet ups even when the paint washed off did not matter. That told Steve and Rob there sure as hell was things out here that we did not understand or even see. But were real none the less. Over the years we came across things like the lines always unexplainable but facts , period and always aided us in some manner.
Dear modern reader, it might be helpful to you to keep your dang ears and eyes open so you don’t miss these type experience, most of you have never had one since you are too caught up in life to see them. You could live better if you just paid attention.
Arrive in lake valley
There were many comparisons and similar situations between Lake Valley and White Oaks. They both started from mining discovery about the same time. Lake Valley at its peak had twice the population of White Oaks, plus the railroad arrived in 1884 , the strike was much larger in Lake Valley. Lake Valley had Dr. Beals like Dr. Paden in White Oaks, two papers 12 saloons all like White Oaks on steroids. One main difference, outside scammers took control in Lake Valley with Whittaker Wright and the Sierra Grande mining company setting up shop. It seems no matter how you went about setting up your town out West in the old days that once the mine runs dry, the town dies , without an actual economic engine yo take over after the ore was dug , poof you and your neighbors went. Carrizozo survived with only a railway depot. Did not take much to keep it going but both White Oaks and Lake Valley had nothing. not a thing to hang their survival hat on. And now they both are deserted, minimal tourists interest , long forgotten. both the towns themselves and the people that lived in them. At least in White Oaks case the town and people live on here at the site you are visiting.