Mining, along with ranching, made New Mexico and the state is littered with the remnants of mines and towns long abandoned.  From the lead-zinc mines of the Florida Mountains northward to the mica mines of Petaca, and from gold mines in Lincoln County westward to gold mines along the Arizona-New Mexico border, Dr. Neal Ackerly has been privileged to spend decades examining and inventorying many of these mines.

The Lake Valley Mining District is one such place.  Originally part of Grant County, Lake Valley is first mentioned in 1879.  The article, appearing in the local newspaper Thirty Four, suggests that mining had begun sometime earlier.  Claims were sufficiently rich to be patented, beginning with the Little One lode in 1882.  Sixteen additional claims were patented in that same year by the Sierra Bella Mining Company.

According to one source, the town soon boasted a stamp mill, smelter, three churches, a school, two weekly newspapers, saloons, hotels, stores, and other shops. It had one of the very first telephone lines and railroads in New Mexico.  The population in 1884 was reported to be 1000, but this was chamber of commerce balderdash.  For all of what passed as frontier cosmopolitanism, the Southwest Sentinel reported in 1884 that “Lake Valley had two fires, one man burned to death, two scandals and one hold-up, all within thirty-six hours.”

Today, the long-abandoned mine workings extend over more than 400 acres, with the main workings extending 700 feet below the surface.  It is pock-marked with 133 shafts of varying depths and 37 adits or tunnels.  It is (or was) home to the famous “Bridal Chamber,” a deposit of silver of such purity that it reportedly could be melted from the walls with the flame of a candle.  Upwards of 110 industrial and residential structures can still be identified, many hiding in the underbrush.

So as Neal himself says: "drop whatever you are doing and join us for a trip back in time and space, no horse-and-buggy needed." 

Due to ongoing pandemic conditions please watch this space for any adjustments of location, times, potluck procedures, etc. In order to offer our members a safe and comfortable experience the GCAS follows CDC and New Mexico Department of Health guidelines for indoor gatherings including masking, distancing, and vaccinations. We recommend all attendees follow the same.

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