Shakespeare: This is the most famous remaining town in the
area on the Butterfield Overland Stage Trail. Known as Mexican Springs
and famous for its diamond swindle in the 1870s, the town was one of
several mining boom-towns that survived until 1932. In 1935,
the town
was purchased by the Hill family and has been a source rich in history
and authenticity for tours and re-enactments. The original dirt floors
and yucca ceilings still hold the tales of Billy the Kid in his young
days and the outlaws, Russian Bill and Sandy King. Tours and
re-enactments are scheduled two Saturdays a month with a donation of
$2.00 for tours. Call for schedules: 575-542-9034.
Shakespeare Cemetery: Located in a small valley east of the
town of Shakespeare, approximately 150 yards north of the faded tracks
of the wagons and horses of yesteryear is the oldest pioneer cemetery in
southwestern New Mexico. Before the coming of the railroad, markers were
not used in the cemetery. Due to the close proximity of the surrounding
mining towns, many souls who met their untimely fate were brought to the
Shakespeare cemetery and buried. In those early days, no records were
kept and through the years many pioneer graves were lost due to the
build-up of natural rain sediment run-off. The first tombstone was
shipped by the new railroad from the east in late 1882. It marks the
grave of Ross Woods, the son of the owner of the Stratford Hotel in
Shakespeare, who was killed in a fight over an egg. Graves and records
were then kept but many are said to be buried one on top of another.
There are many ghost stories told about the cemetery from Edmund
Wright's encounter of the old wood hauler to the little girl with her
china doll. For those who like a nice quiet walk, visit the old graves
but be respectful of this still-in-use cemetery.
Steins: Located off of I-10 approximately 13 miles west of
Lordsburg, this restored ghost town is open to the public daily.
Pronounced "steens," the little town became established due to the
events of the Butterfield Overland Stage stop in Doubtful Canyon. In the
1850s, this stage stop was a target for Apache Indians. Captain Steins
died defending the stage stop and the grateful survivors of that Indian
attack named it Steins Pass. In 1888, a post office was opened for the
gold camps in the surrounding Peloncillo Mountains and later Steins was
a stop on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Some local descendants remember
their grandparents attending school in the one-room schoolhouse at
Steins.
Overland Stage Trail. Known as Mexican Springs
and famous for its diamond swindle in the 1870s, the town was one of
several mining boom-towns that survived until 1932. In 1935,
the town
was purchased by the Hill family and has been a source rich in history
and authenticity for tours and re-enactments. The original dirt floors
and yucca ceilings still hold the tales of Billy the Kid in his young
days and the outlaws, Russian Bill and Sandy King. Tours and
re-enactments are scheduled two Saturdays a month with a donation of
$2.00 for tours. Call for schedules: 575-542-9034.
yesteryear is the oldest pioneer cemetery in
southwestern New Mexico. Before the coming of the railroad, markers were
not used in the cemetery. Due to the close proximity of the surrounding
mining towns, many souls who met their untimely fate were brought to the
Shakespeare cemetery and buried. In those early days, no records were
kept and through the years many pioneer graves were lost due to the
build-up of natural rain sediment run-off. The first tombstone was
shipped by the new railroad from the east in late 1882. It marks the
grave of Ross Woods, the son of the owner of the Stratford Hotel in
Shakespeare, who was killed in a fight over an egg. Graves and records
were then kept but many are said to be buried one on top of another.
There are many ghost stories told about the cemetery from Edmund
Wright's encounter of the old wood hauler to the little girl with her
china doll. For those who like a nice quiet walk, visit the old graves
but be respectful of this still-in-use cemetery.
ghost town is open to the public daily.
Pronounced "steens," the little town became established due to the
events of the Butterfield Overland Stage stop in Doubtful Canyon. In the
1850s, this stage stop was a target for Apache Indians. Captain Steins
died defending the stage stop and the grateful survivors of that Indian
attack named it Steins Pass. In 1888, a post office was opened for the
gold camps in the surrounding Peloncillo Mountains and later Steins was
a stop on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Some local descendants remember
their grandparents attending school in the one-room schoolhouse at
Steins.