White Oaks, New Mexico was named for the white oak trees that grew around a local spring in the foothills of the Patos Mountains. Gold in rich veins drew people to the neighborhood. The discovery of such veins sparked interest in the vicinity of Baxter Mountain, but when gold was first discovered in the White Oaks area is not precisely known.

In 1870, three prospectors, Charles Baxter, John E. Wilson and John V. Winters, were camped at a spring. The spring may have been the one near the Old Powder House. George Wilson, an escapee from jail in El Paso, came to their camp and they shared their food with him. He urgently wanted to make his way westward and walked toward the ridge between Baxter Mountain and Lone Mountain in order to plot his path. Before reaching the ridge he tired and rested. At his resting place he noticed an outcropping of rock that was different. He broke off a piece and put it in his pocket. When he returned to camp rather late, he showed two of the prospectors the rock. They recognized it as gold and retraced his path to the place he had found it. George Wilson had only one aim. He wanted to put distance between himself and the El Paso sheriff. He was offered two ounces of gold, the silver they had left, and a pistol in return for whatever claim he had on the gold. He accepted all of these and headed west.

Take a self guided tour of White Oaks. Here are some of the places you will see.

Approaching White Oaks from the turnoff on U. S. 54, about four miles north of Carrizozo, the first thing you will see is the remains of the "Old Abe" pump. The water was pumped from a 180 foot well with steam power to the "Old Abe" mine about one mile up the hill and used in the mine and mill operations.

On the south side of the road is Cedarvale Cemetery. It is on the National Historic Register. The first graves were dug around 1880. The Knights of Pythias acquired the property about 1892. Lots were sold, and the cemetery contains the graves of many important people in the development of New Mexico, including W. C. McDonald, the first governor after statehood, Susan McSween Barber, Paul Mayer and Dave Jackson. In the southwest part of the cemetery you will find the grave of John V. Winters, who was one of the discoverers of the "Mother Lode" of gold in 1879. His grave is in a north-south direction rather than the traditional east-west direction. Why? Thinking ahead he had requested this so that he could be overlooking his strike in perpetuity

Dr. Lane's House - it is hard to imagine, but there was a flood in White Oaks in 1912. There was sufficient water in this house to float the furniture. Dr. Lane had his office and home here. On the other side of the house was the Assay Office. He also had one of the first schools in the area in his home, begun and equipped for elementary school children.

Susan McSween Barber - Moved to White Oaks from Three Rivers.. She first lived in a house on White Oaks Avenue. After it burned, she moved into a home with a friend, Laura Leighnor. It was located directly behind the Jones Taliaferro Store building, which fronted on White Oaks Avenue. There she lived until her death in 1931. Susan McSween Barber was one of the prominent figures in the Lincoln County War. An ardent supporter of Billy the Kid, she defended him and his cause as long as she lived. Later she became the "Cattle Queen" of New Mexico with large ranch holdings in the Three Rivers area.

Paul Mayer Residence - This was also the livery and office. Paul Mayer had the livery stable, the feed store and also loaned money to many people in the area. He carried gold bars from White Oaks to San Antonio, the closest railroad shipping point. He did this on horseback, alone, often at night. Before taking the gold, he would check the bars in town for strangers. If all seemed clear he would saddle his horse, put the gold in the saddlebags and spend the night delivering gold. Gold was bringing about $18 - $20 per ounce. Paul was well respected and gained prominence as a leading citizen.

From the top of Rocky Peak you can see most of White Oaks. Looking to the Southeast you can see the Brown Store, Hoyle House and Ziegler House. As you view White Oaks from this point you can imagine the past hustle and bustle. There are remnants of the Old Ball Mill at the base of Rocky Peak.

The foundation of the Exchange Bank Building can be seen here. It housed a general mercantile and post office with offices on the second story. The structure no longer exists.

The foundation of the Congregational Church, which was built in 1890. It was the center of community activities. Many a memorial Christmas program was held in this particular church. Dave Jackson was Santa Claus. The story Mrs. Nettie Lemon wrote about Christmas was based on the program in this building. You can see that the mortar made from local limestone has fallen out of the wall. It was not always the best quality.

Treat House - Later owned by Dave Jackson. It was one of the few houses that had water piped into the house from the spring south of White Oaks. Dave Jackson came to White Oaks in 1897. He was an African-American and one of the community’s leaders. He was well respected by everyone. He and his wife took particular care of the sick. After he became a partner in the Wildcat Leasing Company he acquired money and traveled extensively. He lived in White Oaks until his death in 1963.

Brown Store - One of the buildings still standing and in need of restoration. It is on the main road. The Brown Store, at one time or another, contained a school, a dance hall, and offices. The White Oaks jail was to the northwest of the Brown Store. It served as a jail until an inmate kicked a hole in the roof and escaped. He stood on his head on a cot to accomplish this feat. The Sol Weiner store was just west of the Brown store.

Hoyle House - now owned by Mrs. Larue Wetzel, a daughter of Allen Lane. The house was a landmark in White Oaks from the moment it was built in 1893. It is reported to have cost $40,000.00. Note the observation platform, sometimes known as the "Widow's Walk," and the various windows: two round and one rectangular attic windows and one arched front window. Upon a close inspection, you can see how well the stone cornices are joined into the brick. It is said that stonecutters were brought from St. Louis to do this work.

W.C. McDonald was the first governor of the state of New Mexico, elected in 1911. He came to the area from Kansas where he was a lawyer. He arrived in White Oaks in 1880 and was a U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor for New Mexico until 1890. He became manager of the Carrizozo Cattle Company in 1890 and later owned the company. He was Lincoln County Assessor 1885-1887. He became a member of the Territorial House of Representatives in 1891. He began his remarkable career as an unknown and rose to be one of the best-known men in New Mexico. He steadfastly refused to use his office for any personal gain.

White Oaks School Building - It was built in 1895 and has four schoolrooms. The White Oaks Historical Society is restoring this building and has established a museum in it. Mrs. Joyce Simpson, Mrs. Lorene Casey, Mrs. Florence Ward and Mrs. Mary Stoneman were some of the most recent teachers. The school was closed in 1947. Rob Leslie, Nettie Lemon and Bill Gallacher were among the first students. The Gumm brothers built the school. The big classroom is now used as a meeting place. It has a maple floor often used for dances. It is still heated by a pot-bellied stove and still has the old blackboards. The original school desks are also still in the building, many bearing the autographs of former students. The old home economics room has the wood stove ready for the class.

Gumm House - has bay windows and shows excellent carpentry work; it is a good example of precise workmanship. It was owned at one time or another by Ed Queen, Warden Brother and Pat Murphy. Below as pictured around 1981. It was a fire waiting to happen. Pat Garrett, Lincoln County Sheriff, was at the Gumm House arranging to purchase lumber to build a scaffold to hand Billy the Kid when the Kid made is famous escape form the Lincoln Courthouse.

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