Little Casino Saloon - White Oaks New Mexico Goldrush

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