Old Hachita

West of Deming, NM, about 30 miles or so, we turned south on Route 146

and traveled 19 miles in a straight line

- no wiggles or curves -

to Hachita.

Through grasslands

antelope habitat

Seeing these graceful animals is always a thrill for me.

We have been told about Old Hachita a few times.

We had no idea that the ruins were so extensive

nor so widespread.

Hachita was founded as a mining camp around 1875.

Love the bird's nest!

Silver and copper were the main ores mined here in the

Little Hatchet Mountains.

We have been told but have not confirmed that turquoise and gold

were also mined.

Slowly the adobe walls are melting into the desert.

Note the double wall construction. 

This small building would have housed the dynamite.

Double walls kept the structure from overheating.

All the mines we found, dozens of them, were vertical shafts.

Vic dropped a rock and listened to 'hear' the depth.

Most all of them had water at the bottom.

The mining area covers miles.  We drove from site to site.

Watch your step!

The population swelled to 300 by 1884.

"Soon after 1900, when railroad tracks were laid nine miles east of Hachita, a new settlement sprung up drawing away residents and dividing the community into

New Hachita

and Old Hachita"

-

from the historical sign in New Hachita

Someone with a sense of humor lived here!

And the straight road once again - back to Deming.