by Terry Lidral
Don Edmund now serves history after more than three decades of service to his country. In the early 1950’s, Edmund served four years in the Air Force. He liked to travel and when Edmund was discharged from the Air Force in 1955, he made a life choice that provided the opportunity for constant travel across the United States.
“I enrolled in an advanced course in electronics that was offered by the University of Wisconsin,” said Edmund of the decision that set him on the path of lifelong service to his country. “IBM recruited me during my second year and continued to shape my career direction. I ended up spending the next 30 years assisting to automate many national defense projects.”
Edmund was assigned to a multitude of national defense projects in a variety of different places. It was a busy lifestyle, often placing Edmund and his family in the midst of the hectic pace of city life.
“My career led me and my family to 13 States from the West Coast to the East Coast and many states in between. My travels included Washington D.C. where I worked in the Pentagon,” Edmund told us.
As his career wound down, Edmund and his wife Dona were tiring of the fast track they’d been on for so long. They found themselves looking for peace and quiet.
“At White Sands Missile Range here in New Mexico, I and my crew of engineers were involved with testing new missiles,” Edmund told of the demanding project that brought him to find Chloride. “My work was intense. So you can see why the quiet little town of Chloride was a special find for us.”
And serving country turned to preserving history with a fortuitous wrong direction on a fateful day in 1976.
CHLORIDE’S PIONEER STORE WAS BUILT IN 1880 AND WAS ACTIVE UNTIL 1923. THE STORE, WITH ITS GOODS SEALED INSIDE, CAME UNDER THE CARE OF DON EDMUND WHEN HE AND HIS WIFE CAME TO LIVE IN CHLORIDE IN 1985. THE PIONEER STORE IS ON THE NEW MEXICO STATE REGISTER OF CULTURAL PROPERTIES.
Today, Don and Dona Edmund make the ghost town of Chloride, New Mexico their home, and, today, as caretakers, they take great pride in preserving and promoting its history.
Read about the history of the silver mining boom town Chloride, New Mexico here.https://westernlivingjournal.com/chloride-new-mexico-ghost-town-with-a-heartbeat/
When Don and Dona Edmund drove into Chloride, New Mexico they were about to have an encounter that would turn their lives in a new direction. Finding residents in what was supposed to be a ghost town both surprised and intrigued them.
“As we drove slowly back down the road, we realized there were mail boxes in front of a few houses. We found an elderly man sitting in a chair with weeds and brush growing all around him,” Edmunds told us. “We stopped and struck up a conversation with him. He told us we were in Chloride, and that it had been a rip-roaring town of about 3000 people and had nine saloons.”
Dona Edmund was already drawn to the ghost town and her conversation with a woman called “Mama” gave her an idea to make it possible to live there.
“After a few minutes, the man invited us to come in the house and meet “Mama. What a wonderful experience! The lady we met was tiny and yet she had built most of the house by herself.”
With her husband being disabled, the task fell to “Mama” to build a place to live. She was truly a remarkable woman.
“After she had finished building the house, “Mama” had made all the furniture in it, then made paintings and other decorations for the walls,” continued Edmund. “This was all done while raising two sons. Her artistic talent was evident in everything she made. She had no education, almost no income, and only a few rudimentary tools, some of which she had made herself.”
It turned out that the Edmunds’ wrong turn had led to the right spot for them.
Edmund went on to explain, “My wife told her that she would like to have a ‘place like this.’ Mrs. Hobbs pointed across the road and said ‘I believe that place is for sale’. Dona and I went to look at it and decided if we could afford it, we could tear down the dilapidated house, make a place to park the motor home and have a weekend place. I used Mrs. Hobbs telephone to call the absent owner, and we bought the place that day!”
But the Edmunds did not tear down the historic structure that had stood since before Chloride had become a ghost town.
The Edmunds have restored 13 buildings in the town of Chloride. Their dedication to the preservation of the history of this once booming silver mining town has left a legacy for generations to come.
“We spent the next 8 years’ worth of weekends restoring the ‘dilapidated house’ because it had a special history. Then we moved to Chloride in 1985 to live when I retired from IBM Corporation.”
Living in Chloride, for the Edmunds, has meant preserving and promoting the historical significance of the once booming mining town. It has also meant a lot of dedication, hard work and commitment.
“We have restored 13 of the 1880s buildings, and have gotten several of them on the State Register of Cultural Places” explained Edmund. “We were instrumental in starting a Community Association that raised funds to buy land and build a Community Center. I served as Chairman for the Association for 9 years. In December of 2001, a month after the New York City Trade Center Buildings came down, we started a fire department. I served as fire chief for 12 years, during which time we built two fire stations, bought 2 fire engines and 2 water tankers plus equipment and safety clothing for 10 active fire fighters. Because of my background I was able to apply for and win grants from FEMA and other Government agencies. No County funds were expended.”
Making Chloride into a first-class tourist attraction is one of the Edmunds’ most important accomplishments. The pride and joy of Chloride is the Pioneer Store Museum complete with the authentic inventory from 1923 when it was sealed and abandoned.
“We have made Chloride into a popular tourist attraction. Visitors come from all over the US and foreign countries (even Tasmania!!) to tour the Pioneer Store Museum and the Monte Cristo Gift shop and Gallery .”
Today, Chloride is far from the bustling, rowdy mining town it was in the 1880’s.
“It is quiet with no street noise, yet interesting. We get to talk to visitors from all over the world. The wonderful ‘old timers’ who were here when we arrived are all gone, but they all shared their experiences of ranching, mining, sawmill operation, and more. Mr. Raymond Schmidt, born in 1897 and died in1996, was my historian.”
As far as how the Edmunds feel about their decision to leave the hustle and bustle of modern civilization behind, they couldn’t be happier.
“We lived in 13 states from Washington State to Washington DC where I worked at the Pentagon. There were many states in between, and Chloride and New Mexico are the best!”
Chloride, New Mexico is fully open to campers and visitors. Visit pioneerstoremuseum.com for more information.
