The north end of the mining camp known as Carbonateville,
in the spring of 1880, looking west. This location was earlier known as "Dimick
and Hart's Camp", but in late 1879 or early 1880 it was renamed after the
Carbonate Mine (for its silver carbonate), owned Frank Dimick and Robert Hart.
The shed for the steam hoist of Dimick and Hart's Carbonate Lode mine is visible
at the top of the ridge in this view. This steam engine was one of the first in
the district, and was financed by the sale of interests in the mine to local
dignitaries such as U.S. Surveyor General J. Lyman Hayward and the Santa Fe
merchants Spiegelberg & Spiegelberg.
At the founding of the Cerrillos Mining District, March 27, 1879, Frank Dimick
was chosen Recorder & Chairman, and Robert Hart was elected Secretary.
There are several turquoise lodes very near to Carbonateville, and for a brief
period in the early-mid 1880s Carbonateville was known as "Turquesa". But the
inhabitants of this camp were much more interested in other minerals.
Note on the slope between the steam hoist shed and the tents many dark splotches
of leaf litter from recently removed trees, probably gone for firewood. There
are at least four women visible in this photograph. The many dogs functioned as
the town alarm system.
This website is maintained by the Cerrillos
Hills Park Coalition
and is dedicated to the creation, enhancement and stewardship
of an historical, recreational, and cultural open space in
the
Cerrillos Hills, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, USA
