A section of NM!

After our stay at Percha Dam State Park, my friends Betty and Sharon headed north, back to Colorado. I headed west, towards the mountainous Gila National Forest and Silver City on Hwy 152. The road wound back and forth, over the Black Mountains. However, the eastern slope of the National Forest was parched and black from a 2013 wildfire. Areas not burned on the western slope looked unhealthy; about half the trees were brown and dying. Silver City was at a lower elevation and not what I was expecting.

The little town of Hillsboro, NM (pop 124) saved the day. Imagine a quaint town with adobe buildings. Gold prospectors founded the town in 1877, and many buildings are still standing and in use. The town has a scaled down Taos vibe. As I approached Hillsboro on  Hwy 152, I saw this was a special place and decided to stop at the cafe for coffee-to-go, then walk around. I saw a museum and wine shop, all in historic buildings that have been beautifully restored. I also found a tiny, vintage-themed RV park, and I vowed to return.

Stopped here for coffee

 

Later, while learning about Hillsboro online, I found the following walking tour. A trip to Hillsboro is worth the time if you like old New Mexico charm. I came across this gem at the beginning of my day trip before I climbed into the mountains, not far off I-25.

Historic Hillsboro New Mexico Walking Tour

Listings marked with an asterisk (*) are listed on the National Register of Historic Places

1. Black Range Museum *
Built before 1893 as the Ocean Grove Hotel owned and run by Sadie Orchard and Tom Ying, the Chinaman. Adjacent is Tom Ying’s frame Victorian house with porch.

2. Sue’s Antiques
Formerly a general store, pool hall, and dance hall, as part of the original commercial district.

3. Site of the Union Hotel
Once the center of Hillsboro night life, burned in 1904.

4. Community Center *
Built in 1923; served as the High School until 1937 and as the Grade School until 1971. Today, the Community Center hosts concerts and other community events.

5. Sullivan House *
Built in the 1890s by the Sullivan/Tafoya family is a classic 3-room L-shaped adobe.

6. Union Church
Built in 1892 for all denominations. Features a semi-circular apse and a unique chandelier.

7. George Tambling and Ninette Stocker Miller House *
Built in 1898 in classic Victorian style of black slag bricks made from smelter waste.

8. Courthouse Ruins & Jail
Built in 1896, it was the site of many famous trials including the Oliver Lee trial for the murder of Albert Fountain and his son. After the County Seat was moved to Hot Springs, the Courthouse was sold and demolished. The Jail was immortalized in many Eugene Manlove Rhodes stories.

9. Dines House
Built before 1893, the house is actually two adobe houses joined together. Fran Dines, a local rancher, was born here. She is mentioned in Eugene Manlove Rhodes books.

10. King House
Built circa 1900 by the manager of the famous Bridal Chamber Mine in Lake Valley.

11. Rubio Complex
Owned by the family that maintained the roads in the Hillsboro area for over three generations.

12. The Tirey House
Built in 1894 of adobe with a Victorian façade.

13. Murphy House
A classic adobe ranch house built between 1893-1898. Home to Sheriff Tom Murphy.

14. Two Victorian Adobe Houses
Built before 1893 with similar floor plans.

15. The Pink Adobe
Built in the 1890s, the home retains its Italian style. It was the residence of Fred Mister, the owner of the last known operation stage coach line in the United States.

16. Enchanted Villa Bed and Breakfast
Built in the late 1930s by Sir Victor Sassoon, a Chinese–Indian entrepreneur who was the first non-British Islander to be knighted.

17. Edmund Tittman House
Actually two houses built before 1893, joined in the 1920s. Home to the first Territorial Representative for Sierra County. On the New Mexico Historic Registry.

18. Bucher House *
Built before 1893, the Bucher house was the residence of a well-known banking, ranching and mining family.

19. Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Mission
Reconstructed to original plans after the 1972 flood.

20. The Old Grade School
Built before 1893, it served as the grade school until 1937. Today it is a private home.

21. General Store Café
Built in 1879 as part of a larger structure that was destroyed in the 1914 flood. The building has housed a bank, post office, general store and the Miller Drug Store. It retains a 1890 ambience and is very popular with locals and visitors.

22. The Crews House
Hillsboro’s first adobe home, it was the residence of the first M.D. who practiced well into the 20th century.

23. Post Office/Masons Building
Built before 1893, it features a turn-of-the-century Masons’ Hall on the 2nd floor.

24. Hatcher Hotel/Hospital *
Built before 1893 and used as a hospital until 1923, then as a hotel and café.

25. S-Bar-X
Originally used as a dance hall, then the S-Bar-X Bar.