Brice Ghost Town, Orogrande, NM
Near Orogrande New Mexico is the remains of the Brice Mining Town. Located in the Jarilla Mountains, the town was named after the head of one of the local mining companies.
"Ole Perk" S. M. Perkins, was wandering the Jarilla Mountains west of present-day Orogrande, NM. He was captured by Mescalero Apaches but when the Apaches noticed Ole Perk was a hunchback, they released him and allowed him to prospect in the Jarilla Mountains. Near the turn of the century, he found mineral deposits that resulted in a rush to the area. His property later became known as the Nannie (or Mannie, Ninnie) Baird (or Baeird, Beaird) Mine and it also became the site of the Jarilla Mining Camp, later to be called Brice, New Mexico. In 1904, the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad ran a spur from Jarilla Junction to Brice.
George E. Moffett discovered a gold nugget in 1905 the size of a man's finger and so the town east of Brice came to be called Orogrande (big gold) instead of Jarilla Junction. In 1905 the population of Brice was about 150 people and the town included a post office, store, saloon and more mining companies. The post office later closed but by 1919 the population had increased to 300 people. In 1920, Brice became a ghost town.
The first school house in the area was built in Brice in 1905 and we are told the cellar and foundation can still be seen, although we have yet to be able to find it. Children from Orogrande were taken to the school in Brice until 1918. Orogrande, as it exists today, is a ghost town with very few people. Brice has only a few remaining features, including a powder magazine, a graveyard and the original Nannie Baird Mine, is now closed by the BLM.
Today, few of the remains exists but if you go visit Brice today you might see:
Grave Yard: Click Here for Images
An old wooden cross marks the graveyard along with a newly erected iron cross furnished by the Lions Club. Some grave markers are still visible but have been heavily vandalized and they have been moved over the years. The few known people buried in the cemetary are:
Borunda, Soccoro: Age: 3 days: Died: 25 Apr 1920
Duran, Papa Age: 15 years 3 months 16 days: Died: 7 Jul 1921
Medina, Ruperto: Age: 46 years Died: 27 Feb 1921
Para, Jose: Age: 8 months Died: 19 May 192
Powder Magazine:Click Here for Images
This 18" walled brick house is located just off of what used to be the railroad line. The building was built to last up against the hill side and has 10"X14" timbers on the roof.