This Delightful General Store In New Mexico Will Have You Longing For The Past
There are plenty of wonderful general stores in New Mexico that make you feel nostalgic. However, there is only one that literally transports you to the past. The general store in the ghost town of Chloride was sealed in 1923, with all of its contents inside. It wasn’t until 1994 that the building underwent a major renovation and the boxes inside were unpacked and preserved. The result is a museum that replicates a general store from days long past.
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Chloride is located in a remote part of Sierra County, west of Truth or Consequences. During the 1880s, this silver mining town had a population of several thousand people.
During its heyday, Chloride offered a surprising number of amenities that ranged from nine saloons, two hotels, and a pharmacy, to a general store.
The Pioneer Store was constructed in 1880 from ponderosa pine logs. It retains its quaint façade and, as you approach, the view looks much like it would have done in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Those historic treasures included the majority of the town’s records from the years 1880 through 1923 - fascinating!
This general store was a multipurpose building that also housed “The Black Range,” (a local newspaper), along with a post office. The presence of a massive safe allowed this place to function as a bank and pawnshop as well!
After the town’s fortunes declined, the Pioneer Store was eventually shuttered. The idea was for the owners’ son to return and run it once Chloride experienced a revival. That never happened and, for decades, the store remained closed.
That all changed when the son sold the property to a couple interested in restoring it. After much hard work, the result is the Pioneer Store Museum.
Its hours are 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. each day. Donations are appreciated.
