Before beginning today’s blog, just a quick note that Silver City escaped the tropical system that has been going through the area that past few days relatively unscathed. We just got rain and sometimes intense downpours, but they moved through rather quickly. The surrounding area was not as lucky, as we saw stories on the news about bad flooding and road destruction in Albuquerque and Rincon. Also, our homeowners called today to warn us not to visit a couple of areas of interest due to flooding closures between us and them. I see that it is raining again as I type this. ☂️
Bob and I headed out this morning after our gym visit to walk into downtown to check out the Silver City Museum, a couple of downtown hotels, and a beauty salon to schedule a much needed hair appointment for me. As per usual, we saw other things that caught our eye while we were out, and we were able to learn a bit more about the local area.
which currently houses the Silver City Museum.
on the wall along the museum grounds
who arrived in Silver City in the summer of 1871.
He managed a silver mine and bank until the silver mine ran dry.
His wife, Theora Virginia Smith Ailman, is the second photograph, and the third is of Henry Ailman and his business partner Hartford Meredith.
Ailman’s (now the museum) is on the left.
Meredith’s house has been moved
and “altered beyond recognition.”
Some important events in Silver City history.
- The territory of New Mexico was established with the Gadsden Purchase. It wouldn’t become a state until 1912, the country’s 47th.
- Silver ore was discovered near the current courthouse in 1870. The original settlement was called La Cienega de San Vicente but later renamed Silver City.
- In 1872, a lumberyard and brick factory were established, and Silver City became a supply center for mining in the area.
- In 1893, the silver market crashed and most miners left.
- A flood in 1895 and another in 1905 destroyed Main Street and created the Big Ditch which still runs through the center of downtown.
from the New Mexico territory and join the Arizona territory,
as the New Mexican territorial government
was withholding approval for a town charter to allow
for the levying of taxes and spending of revenue for Silver City.
Note: I couldn’t remember why I know about Billy the Kid, so if you have the same issue, in a nutshell, he was an outlaw and gunfighter of the Old West and is linked to 9 murders. Wikipedia tells me he was orphaned at 15 and first arrested at 16 for stealing food, and then lived life on the run from the law after killing a blacksmith in 1877 following an altercation.
the day after the big flood.
Also a reflection of another item in the museum.
(large structure in the back up the hill)
from the cupola of the museum.
that appears to be mostly empty at the moment.
The Murray Hotel is named after W.D Murray, who helped finance the building of it in 1938 along with his son-in-law. W.D. Murray played an important role in Grant County by establishing telephone networks in the area, running a bank, signing the state charter for New Mexico, and becoming Grant County’s first State Senator.
At five stories, it was the tallest structure
in Silver City when it was built and is still
one of the tallest buildings in downtown.
The lobby was closed when we went by, so we just got to peek in. It is older than the Murray Hotel, as it was established in 1881.
which houses the Silver City Daily Press,
a small newspaper which sells for $1.
