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Smeltertown: Making and Remembering a Southwest Border Community

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Smeltertown: Making and Remembering a Southwest Border Community

by Monica Perales

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2787 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	349 pages

Smeltertown, located in the southwestern corner of New Mexico, was a vibrant and diverse community for over a century. Founded in the late 1800s as a mining and smelting town, Smeltertown was home to people from all over the world who came to work in the mines and smelters. The town reached its peak in the early 1900s, when it was home to over 2,000 people. However, the decline of the mining and smelting industries in the mid-20th century led to the decline of Smeltertown. Today, Smeltertown is a ghost town, but its history is still remembered by former residents and historians.

The Founding of Smeltertown

Smeltertown was founded in 1880 by a group of investors who were looking to capitalize on the discovery of silver in the nearby mountains. The town was named after the smelter that was built to process the silver ore. The smelter was one of the first in the United States, and it helped to make Smeltertown a major center for the mining and smelting industries.

The People of Smeltertown

Smeltertown was a diverse community, with people from all over the world coming to work in the mines and smelters. The majority of the population was Mexican-American, but there were also significant numbers of Anglo-Americans, Chinese, and other ethnic groups. The people of Smeltertown were a close-knit community, and they celebrated their diverse heritage through music, food, and dance.

The Decline of Smeltertown

The decline of the mining and smelting industries in the mid-20th century led to the decline of Smeltertown. The smelter closed in 1954, and the mines closed shortly thereafter. The loss of jobs led to a mass exodus from Smeltertown, and the town was soon abandoned. Today, Smeltertown is a ghost town, but its history is still remembered by former residents and historians.

Preserving the Memory of Smeltertown

Former residents of Smeltertown and historians have worked to preserve the memory of the town. In 1994, the Smeltertown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The district includes the remains of the smelter, the townsite, and the cemetery. The Smeltertown Historical Society was founded in 1996 to promote the preservation and interpretation of Smeltertown's history. The society has organized tours of the historic district, conducted oral history interviews with former residents, and published a book about the town's history.

Smeltertown was a vibrant and diverse community that played an important role in the history of the Southwest. The decline of the mining and smelting industries led to the decline of Smeltertown, but the memory of the town lives on through the efforts of former residents and historians. Smeltertown is a reminder of the boom and bust cycles that have shaped the history of the American West.

Smeltertown: Making and Remembering a Southwest Border Community

by Monica Perales

4.8 out of 5