McKinley County, New Mexico Ghost Towns
McKinley County, nestled in the vast landscapes of New Mexico, holds more than just the vibrant city of Gallup. It’s a region steeped in history, where echoes of the past resonate through the windswept plains and canyons. This history is etched not just in the stories of cowboys and Native American tribes, but also in the silent remains of its ghost towns. These aren’t the haunted locales of spooky tales, but rather the abandoned settlements that stand as poignant reminders of a bygone era, a testament to the rise and fall of industries that once defined this corner of the Southwest. While some of these communities offer glimpses of their former glory with standing structures and weathered mine shafts, others have surrendered entirely to the elements, their existence marked only by scattered ruins and the whispering sagebrush.
The story of these McKinley County ghost towns is intertwined with the region’s rich mineral resources, particularly coal. During the early 20th century, McKinley County thrived on the coal mining industry. Gallup, the county’s largest city, even earned the moniker "Carbon City" due to its prominence as a coal production hub. This boom attracted a diverse workforce from various backgrounds – European, Asian ("Oriental" in the original text, reflecting the language of the time), Mexican, and American migrants seeking opportunity. They flocked to the area, drawn by the promise of employment in the mines and the construction of the railroads that served them.
Many of the settlements that sprung up during this period were company towns, their economies almost entirely dependent on the success of the local mines. These towns were essentially extensions of the mining operations, with the companies often owning the banks, stores, and even the housing. As a result, the fate of these communities was inextricably linked to the fate of the mines. When the coal seams played out, or economic downturns forced mine closures, the towns withered and died, leaving behind the silent shells that now dot the landscape.
While McKinley County was officially established in 1889, named in honor of President William McKinley, the majority of these coal towns didn’t emerge until the early 1900s. Even Gallup, despite its central role in the region, wasn’t incorporated until 1891, and it wasn’t until 1901 that it became the county seat. This historical timeline underscores the rapid development and subsequent decline that characterized the McKinley County, New Mexico ghost towns.
Let’s explore a few of these forgotten settlements, each with its unique story to tell:
Heaton
Also known as Camp Heaton, this was a quintessential coal-mining company town nestled in Heaton Canyon, approximately three miles northeast of Gallup. The town’s existence was relatively brief, with its post office operating from 1909 to 1922. The Gallup American Coal Company was the driving force behind Heaton, operating the coal mine that sustained the community. Founded in the early 1900s, Heaton was abandoned shortly after the mine’s closure. Today, nothing remains of Heaton. The buildings were dismantled and relocated to Gamerco, a nearby town that was also under the management of the Gallup American Coal Company. The story of Heaton exemplifies the ephemeral nature of these company towns, their fates dictated by the economic realities of the coal industry.
Mentmore
Located just four miles west of Gallup, Mentmore was another coal town that experienced a boom and bust cycle. Its origins can be traced back to 1913 when the Direct Coal Company established the Dilco Coal Mine. Initially, the camp was also referred to as Dilco, but the name was changed to Mentmore when a post office was established. In 1918, George Kaseman, an entrepreneur from Albuquerque, acquired the Dilco Mine property and incorporated it with the Morris Mine, located a mile to the north, under the banner of the Defiance Coal Company.
Mentmore, a town built around the mines, included essential amenities such as a company store, a post office, a school, and a power plant. The mining company provided housing for its employees in the form of simple, two- to four-room frame houses equipped with electricity and running water – a significant amenity for the time. The Mentmore school offered education up to the eighth grade, and the company even provided free bus transportation to Gallup for high school students. At its peak, Mentmore boasted a population of around five hundred residents.
However, like many other coal towns, Mentmore’s fortunes declined with the closure of the mines in 1952. The town gradually emptied out, its residents seeking opportunities elsewhere. By 1975, only a combination store and post office, along with about ten houses in relatively good repair, remained as vestiges of the once-thriving coal town. Today, the only surviving structure is the old trading post, which has been repurposed as a church, along with a few scattered foundations. The townsite is privately owned. Travelers can reach Mentmore by taking US Interstate 40 west of Gallup and exiting at #16 north for one mile. Visiting McKinley County, New Mexico ghost towns like Mentmore is like stepping back in time.
Navajo
The town of Navajo emerged with the opening of the Navajo coal mine by the American Fuel Company. The company provided small frame houses for its residents. For a brief period, the town had a store and a hotel. Around 1922, the Gallup American Coal Company opened a mine at Gamerco, less than a mile west of Navajo, which led to a shift in coal mining activity. The Navajo Mine closed, but many miners continued to reside in the camp while working at Gamerco. In the mid-1930s, Navajo recorded a population of six hundred. Eventually, all the buildings were moved, leaving behind only mine dumps and foundations as remnants of its existence.
Gamerco
Gamerco’s story is closely tied to the Gallup American Coal Company, which began sinking shafts into coal deposits north of Gallup in 1920. By 1922, the newly established camp of Gamerco was hoisting its first coal. Even before mining operations commenced, the town was meticulously planned, and the Gallup American Coal Company relocated abandoned homes from Heaton and Navajo to Gamerco, supplementing them with newly constructed houses. The company town was soon equipped with a company store, a meat market, a hotel, a clubhouse, a shower house for the miners, and an executive office building. To enhance the quality of life for its miners, the company also invested in recreational facilities, including a golf course, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a baseball park. The company even provided a resident physician and nurse.
The Gallup American Coal Company prioritized safety in its mining operations, undoubtedly influenced by the tragic coal mining disaster in Dawson, New Mexico, several years prior, which resulted in the loss of 263 lives. Ninety percent of the underground employees were certified in rescue and first aid, miners were equipped with electric lamps, and only permissible low-heat explosives were used.
Surface workers earned $5.60 for a seven-hour day, while underground workers received higher wages. To promote work-life balance, no one was permitted to work more than five days per week. The five hundred employees on the payroll were not unionized and preferred to maintain that status. Strikes had occurred at various mines around Gallup, including one in 1917 when the National Guard intervened to break up the striking United Mine Workers. Another strike in 1922 resulted in increased wages, and a third in 1933 led to the deployment of the militia to suppress the National Miners Union strikers.
Ultimately, in the 1960s, the mines were permanently closed, leading to the demise of Gamerco. In 1975, Gamerco still featured many of its original buildings, a giant steel headframe, and a towering smokestack from the power plant. Even today, a few residents remain, but most of the buildings are gone. However, the towering smokestack and remnants of several buildings are still visible. Gamerco is located on US Hwy 666, three miles north of US Interstate 40, exit 20 at Gallup. The McKinley County, New Mexico ghost towns serve as a stark reminder of the fleeting nature of boomtowns.
Allison
Situated on a coal belt just northwest of Gallup, Allison, New Mexico, once thrived as a coal mining camp. Today, only a few old company houses and mobile homes remain as evidence of its past existence.
The mine was initially opened by Gus Mulholland, and later Andrew Casna worked there. However, after Casna was killed at the mine, his widow fled to Germany. Her failure to maintain the development work necessary to retain her husband’s claim resulted in F. J. Allison and W. A. Patching filing on the mine site in 1897. The town was subsequently named after F.J. Allison. A post office was established in 1913, and the pair continued to operate the mine until 1917, when the Diamond Coal Company acquired it.
Allison, like many other towns in McKinley County, was a company-owned town. The Diamond Coal Company provided small frame homes for its employees. In addition to providing employment, the company also offered recreational opportunities for its employees, including tennis courts and a company-sponsored baseball team. At its peak, Allison had a population of five hundred and included a company store, a meat market, a post office, a school, a doctor, and a sheriff. Today, only a few residents remain in the town.
Clarkville
Though long gone, Clarkville was once a significant lignite coal mining camp operated by the Clark Coal Company. Founded in 1898, the camp was named after its owner, W.A. Clark, a prominent mining magnate and millionaire.
Clarkville was known as a pleasant town with well-built houses. It boasted a two-story brick commissary, a school building, a library, and a hospital. The town was reputed to possess so many favorable characteristics that its residents were happy and content. Uniquely for these mining camps, Clarkville never had a saloon and prohibited the sale of liquor on its premises.
The mine had an electrical plant and a ten-ton electric locomotive that propelled the coal cars. Telephone connections linked the mine and the town. In 1905, Clarkville had a population of 400, but by 1907, it had decreased to 200. The post office closed in 1908, and Clarkville became a ghost town. Clarkville was located about six miles northwest of Gallup. Exploring McKinley County, New Mexico ghost towns offers a glimpse into a forgotten era.
These are just a few examples of the McKinley County, New Mexico ghost towns that bear witness to the region’s rich and complex history. Each town has its own unique story, shaped by the ebb and flow of the coal industry and the lives of the people who called them home. Today, these silent settlements offer a poignant reminder of the past, inviting us to reflect on the ephemeral nature of boomtowns and the enduring power of the human spirit. While some may see only ruins and desolation, others can find a captivating beauty in these forgotten places, a testament to the resilience and adaptability of those who once carved out a living in this rugged corner of the American Southwest.