Little Casino Saloon

As folklore has it, the little Casino Saloon was started by Belle La Mar, who was more familiarly known as “Madam Varnish.” This phantom personage supposedly operated faro, roulette, and poker and was the local Madam for the prostitutes. This story is openly broadcasted on all Wild West sites as mater of fact. When, in reality there is no facts what-so-ever to support this claim. I wish there was, seems to spice up the town’s beginnings.

 

Due to the time line below starting out 1887 this caused me to question the validity of the “Little Casino” existing before this time. I have done a newspaper search of all New Mexico for the keyword, “little Casino” See Here  and nothing appears in White Oaks before 1892. So I decided to do a property search for Block 35 Lot 1, and here’s the results:  James Tomlinson Sold Block 35 Lot 1 to Charles King and Marcus Whiteman in May of 1882.[Please Note Marcus Whiteman started the Pioneer Store across the street and East a bit, and maybe the Pioneer Saloon also?] Prior to this the White Oaks wasn’t incorporated. I can’t seem to find much information on Charles King; However in Oct of 1883, Mr. King sells the Lot to  LOUIS H WHITE see Here, Again not much information on Mr. White and he sells to Jacob Gross Jan 1885. In March of 1887, Jacob Gross sells to 3 people: JAMES ALCOCK, WILLIAM MCDONALD and GEORGE ULRICK 

 

First mention of Little Casino in newspaper  The old Abe eagle., January 01, 1892

  • 1887 owned and operated By Captain Lee
  • Oct 20, 1887:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/953cd9d2-52aa-4e8e-aab8-f041fc87d077.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Gaming License”]
  • Sept 01 1888:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/The-Lincoln-County-leader.-September-01-1888.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Schinzing mention of new Saloon”]
  • 1888 Captain Lee sold to Schinzing
  • Dec 11,1891:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/The-old-Abe-eagle.-December-11-1891.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Little Casino Burglarized”]
  • Jan 1,1892:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/The-old-Abe-eagle.-January-01-1892.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Little Casino Roof catches on Fire”]
  • March 19,1892:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Santa-Fe-daily-New-Mexican.-volume-March-19-1892.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Dead Body found near Little Casino”]
  • June 17 1897:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/June17_1897.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Little Casino Scorched by fire”]
  • June 18,1897:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-June-17a-1897.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Repair to front of Building”]
  • May 18,1899:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-May-18-1899.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Schinzing is making valuable improvements”]
  • June 1,1899:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-June-01-1899.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”New Coat of paper and Paint”]
  • June 22,1899:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-June-22-1899-Copy.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Silver mounted bar rail added”]
  • Aug 10,1899:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-August-10-1899.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Keg beer now on Tap”]
  • Aug 30,1900:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-August-30-1900.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Music Box Purchased for Casino”]
  • Sept 6,1900:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-September-06-1900.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Installing Gas Fixtures”]
  • April 18 1901:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-April-18-1901.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Heavy Losses by Fire”]
  • April 19 1901:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Albuquerque-daily-citizen.-April-19-1901.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Little Casino Burnt to Ashes”]
  • May 16,1901:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-May-16-1901.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Schinzing will rebuild”]
  • May 23,1901:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-May-23-1901.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Brick laying about to start”]
  • June 6,1901:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-June-06-1901.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Foundation for Casino complete”]
  • June 13,1901:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-June-13-1901.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Phraise for the new Saloon Building”]
  • Aug 1,1901:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-August-01-1901.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Liquor and Gaming License Credit”]
  • Aug 9,1901:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-August-09-1900.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Acetylene Gas plant added to Little Casino to light Saloon”]
  • Aug 29,1901:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-August-29-1901.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Rebuilding completed”]
  • March 27,1902:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-March-27-1902.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Casino Roof is painted”]
  • June 26 1902:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/June26_1902.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Captain John Lee purchases Little Casino”]
  • July 3,1902:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-July-03-1902.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Captain John Lee takes over Casino”]
  • July 10,1902:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/White-Oaks-eagle.-July-10-1902.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Notice for Debt to Shinzing”]
  • March 3rd, 1904:[wp_colorbox_media url=”https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/March3rd_1904.jpg” type=”image” hyperlink=”Fire Breaks out in Little Casino”]

 

Captain John Lee Biography

Augustus Schinzing Biography

VIDEO SHORT BELOW

LITTLE CASINO TOKENS

 

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