Dawson was New Mexico's largest coal mining camp. Today, it's
a tree-shaded ghost town with empty houses staring at huge
pieces of mining machinery scattered about. In 1901 Dawson had
over 3500 people. Rich coal veins supplied engine fuel to
railroads and power to copper smelting operations. Over a hun-
dred coke ovens burned night and day to supply the demand.
During Dawson's hey-day it was the property of Phelps Dodge
Co. , owner of Tyrone, another now ghost town. The company
had good houses for the miners, a large general store and good
schools for the children. There were churches, movies and social
clubs and a band known allover New Mexico.
Many of the coke oven operators and miners were from Greece
and Italy. These people, too, had their own clubs and social ac-
tivities.
Like other big coal operations, Dawson had its mine tragedies.
Three disasters over a period of twenty years shook the little
town. In 1903 the first calamity occurred when fire broke out in
No.1 mine. Explosions killed many men and injured scores more.
After a week of fire-fighting, the blaze was finally put out.
Then in October of 1913 another explosion, one of the worst in
the country, blew 300 men to their deaths in No.2 mine. For days,
the town was like a morgue. Again, Dawson settled back to the
usual routine of ever day living.
Ten years later another explosion killed 129 miners. Again, the
men went back to the mines. Digging coal was all they knew, and
the pay was good.
Now came April 30th, 1950. The day when Dawson was sen-
tenced to become a ghost town. The mines closed down when
rail- roads went to burning oil and smelters began to use the
cheaper natural gas for operation. Some men found other jobs. A
few waited for Dawson to re-open. It never did. Phelps Dodge
sold the town to the National Iron and Metal Company for
$500,000. To see Dawson, turn north at Colfax off US 64 for five
miles. It's a pretty picnic spot for those who like to explore
out-of-the-way places.