White Oaks, New Mexico
Encyclopedia
White Oaks is a ghost town
in Lincoln County, New Mexico
, United States
. Located on the outskirts of the Lincoln National Forest
, it became a boomtown
in 1879 following the discovery of gold
and coal
in the nearby Jicarilla Mountains.
, Pat Garrett
, and Shotgun John Collins
. Jonathan H. Wise established the town's first newspaper
in 1880, called the White Oaks Golden Era.
In November, 1880, a posse originating in White Oaks pursued Billy the Kid a distance of over forty miles, culminating in a standoff, during which the posse accidentally shot and killed Deputy Sheriff Jim Carlysle, as the latter was attempting to negotiate with the outlaw. Billy the Kid escaped.
Billy the Kid later sent a letter to Governor
Lew Wallace
about the death of Deputy Carlysle, disputing an article written by a Las Vegas, New Mexico
newspaper
which claimed he was the leader of a band of outlaws. In his letter, the Kid claimed that the house in which they were located was surrounded by lawmen, and Deputy Carlysle entered demanding a surrender. Billy alleged that he asked for their "papers", meaning warrant
s, to which Carlysle replied that they had none. With that, he alleged that he concluded that without warrants, the posse accounted to nothing more than a mob, and he told Carlysle that he would have to stay in the house and lead them out the next day. Soon after this, the posse had sent in a note saying that if Carlysle did not exit in a matter of minutes, that the local friend to Billy the Kid, a "Mr. Greathouse", would be killed by the posse members. Minutes later, there was a shot, after which Carlysle jumped from the window, at which time he was shot to death by his own posse. http://www.aboutbillythekid.com/letters.htm
The town, at its peak, had a population of 2,000 people, reached by 1890. In 1882, with a population of 500, construction was completed on Starr's Opera House, and the town sported several saloons, several general store
s, a school
, and a town hall. In 1884 Lyman Hood held the first church services in an actual church building, with those meetings taking place previously in the town hall. During this period, there were brothel
s with many prostitutes, and the town was frequently a haven for cattle rustlers and other outlaw
s.
By 1885, White Oaks had settled down, and was beginning to thrive. Three attorneys
, John Y. Hewitt, H. B. Fergusson, and George Barber, opened businesses there, and other professionals began to arrive in town to open their own businesses. However, its continued existence was dependent on a railroad passing through it. This did not happen, with the railroad instead running twelve miles to the west, through Carrizozo, New Mexico
, and by the late 1890s the mines had dried up, and the population dwindled. By the early 1900s the town was a shadow of its previous self. It is now a ghost town, with several of the more permanent buildings still standing today.
Susan McSween Barber
, widow
of Alexander McSween
who was killed during the Lincoln County War
, became known as the "Cattle Queen of New Mexico" in the late 19th century, having over 5,000 head of cattle. In 1902 she sold out, and moved to White Oaks, where she remained until her death in 1931. She is buried in the old White Oaks cemetery, along with another notable, former New Mexico state Governor
William McDonald
, the state's first governor after achieving statehood.
In 1970, White Oaks was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as a historic district
. By that time, very little remained of the original community; although the district covered over 1800 acres (728.4 ha), only 6 buildings had enough historical integrity to qualify as contributing properties
.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
in Lincoln County, New Mexico
Lincoln County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.1% White*0.5% Black*2.4% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*9.1% Other races*29.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located on the outskirts of the Lincoln National Forest
Lincoln National Forest
The Lincoln National Forest is a protected national forest in the State of New Mexico in the southwestern United States. It was established in 1902 and covers 1,103,828 acres...
, it became a boomtown
Boomtown
A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
in 1879 following the discovery of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
and coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
in the nearby Jicarilla Mountains.
History
In 1879, following the discovery of gold and coal in the Jicarilla Mountains, White Oaks sprang into existence from nothing. It was frequented by notable Old West personalities, including Billy the KidBilly the Kid
William H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
, Pat Garrett
Pat Garrett
Patrick Floyd "Pat" Garrett was an American Old West lawman, bartender, and customs agent who was best known for killing Billy the Kid...
, and Shotgun John Collins
Shotgun John Collins
Shotgun John Collins was a little known, though well associated, gunfighter of the Old West.- Biography :Born Abraham G. Graham, in Horry County, South Carolina, Collins was raised in an old plantation environment...
. Jonathan H. Wise established the town's first newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in 1880, called the White Oaks Golden Era.
In November, 1880, a posse originating in White Oaks pursued Billy the Kid a distance of over forty miles, culminating in a standoff, during which the posse accidentally shot and killed Deputy Sheriff Jim Carlysle, as the latter was attempting to negotiate with the outlaw. Billy the Kid escaped.
Billy the Kid later sent a letter to Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Lew Wallace
Lew Wallace
Lewis "Lew" Wallace was an American lawyer, Union general in the American Civil War, territorial governor and statesman, politician and author...
about the death of Deputy Carlysle, disputing an article written by a Las Vegas, New Mexico
Las Vegas, New Mexico
Las Vegas is a city in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. Once two separate municipalities both named Las Vegas, west Las Vegas and east Las Vegas , divided by the Gallinas River, retain distinct characters and separate, rival school districts. The population was 14,565 at the 2000...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
which claimed he was the leader of a band of outlaws. In his letter, the Kid claimed that the house in which they were located was surrounded by lawmen, and Deputy Carlysle entered demanding a surrender. Billy alleged that he asked for their "papers", meaning warrant
Warrant (law)
Most often, the term warrant refers to a specific type of authorization; a writ issued by a competent officer, usually a judge or magistrate, which permits an otherwise illegal act that would violate individual rights and affords the person executing the writ protection from damages if the act is...
s, to which Carlysle replied that they had none. With that, he alleged that he concluded that without warrants, the posse accounted to nothing more than a mob, and he told Carlysle that he would have to stay in the house and lead them out the next day. Soon after this, the posse had sent in a note saying that if Carlysle did not exit in a matter of minutes, that the local friend to Billy the Kid, a "Mr. Greathouse", would be killed by the posse members. Minutes later, there was a shot, after which Carlysle jumped from the window, at which time he was shot to death by his own posse. http://www.aboutbillythekid.com/letters.htm
The town, at its peak, had a population of 2,000 people, reached by 1890. In 1882, with a population of 500, construction was completed on Starr's Opera House, and the town sported several saloons, several general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
s, a school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
, and a town hall. In 1884 Lyman Hood held the first church services in an actual church building, with those meetings taking place previously in the town hall. During this period, there were brothel
Brothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
s with many prostitutes, and the town was frequently a haven for cattle rustlers and other outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
s.
By 1885, White Oaks had settled down, and was beginning to thrive. Three attorneys
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, John Y. Hewitt, H. B. Fergusson, and George Barber, opened businesses there, and other professionals began to arrive in town to open their own businesses. However, its continued existence was dependent on a railroad passing through it. This did not happen, with the railroad instead running twelve miles to the west, through Carrizozo, New Mexico
Carrizozo, New Mexico
Carrizozo is a town in and the county seat of Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,036 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Carrizozo is located at ....
, and by the late 1890s the mines had dried up, and the population dwindled. By the early 1900s the town was a shadow of its previous self. It is now a ghost town, with several of the more permanent buildings still standing today.
Susan McSween Barber
Susan McSween
Susan McSween was a prominent cattlewoman of the 19th century, once called the "Cattle Queen of New Mexico", and the widow of Alexander McSween, a leading factor in the Lincoln County War, and who was shot and killed by members of the Murphy-Dolan faction.-Early life, Lincoln County War:Born Susan...
, widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
of Alexander McSween
Alexander McSween
Alexander McSween was a prominent figure during the Lincoln County War of the Old West, and a central character, alongside John Tunstall, opposing the "Murphy-Dolan Faction".-Early life:...
who was killed during the Lincoln County War
Lincoln County War
The Lincoln County War was a 19th-century range war between two factions during the Old West period. Numerous notable figures of the American West were involved, including Billy the Kid, aka William Henry McCarty; sheriffs William Brady and Pat Garrett; cattle rancher John Chisum, lawyer and...
, became known as the "Cattle Queen of New Mexico" in the late 19th century, having over 5,000 head of cattle. In 1902 she sold out, and moved to White Oaks, where she remained until her death in 1931. She is buried in the old White Oaks cemetery, along with another notable, former New Mexico state Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
William McDonald
William C. McDonald (governor)
William Calhoun McDonald was the first Governor of the State of New Mexico.McDonald moved to New Mexico Territory in 1880 and settled in Lincoln County, where he managed cattle ranches and became active in Democratic politics....
, the state's first governor after achieving statehood.
In 1970, White Oaks was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as a historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
. By that time, very little remained of the original community; although the district covered over 1800 acres (728.4 ha), only 6 buildings had enough historical integrity to qualify as contributing properties
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
.