Skip to content

Jemez Valley History

A free service provided by the Jemez Springs Public Library

Primary Navigation Menu

Menu

Overview
J. S. P. Library
Communities
People
Religion
- Catholic
- Presbyterian Church Overview
Environment
Galleries
Contact Us
History Talks, Reports & Articles

Search

Bland Images

By: Amanda Lewis

On: December 14, 2022

Bland images, with accompanying captions, used with permission from files of Sandoval County Historical Society.

Helen Blount and favorite colt, 1930. Photo courtesy of Tom Ball. Note: Helen Blount inherited hotel in Bland from father – hotel was on “public lands.”

The Ben Bruce Home Site in Bland, New Mexico The photograph was taken by Thomas Harry Jenks in the 1930’s and was developed by Master Photo Finishers, Denver, Colorado. The large framed building is one that once belonged to Ben and Belle Bruce who were well known in the Bland area. The fence had been built for Belle Bruce, who was blind, but still managed to tend portions of the garden. An article on Bland stated that, “Mrs. F.B. Bruce was one of Bland’s most prodigious citizens. In spite of her total loss of eyesight, she could do just about anything. She was an immaculate house keeper, a good cook, and a musician who played for school socials and dances. It is said that she always insisted upon carrying the lamp to the bedroom for a guest, fearful that the guest might trip and fall.” The road is the main road joining Allerton or Woodbury with Jemez Sulpher Springs. The place where the photographer is standing was a portion of the correct Bland Town Site Co. City Lot Development and was the same property embraced by the Ponto mining claim. For the most part, the area was referred to as North Bland. Around the turn of the century the property was owned by the Medler family. This particular area was used primarily for residential and livery quarters during the active years of mining. At the time the photo was taken, Thomas Harry Jenks owned the house.

Cossack Mining Company, Powerhouse The Bland Canyon Company Powerhouse was located in Bland Canyon, New Mexico. It was in operation between 1914 and 1916. It was scrapped or dismantled sometime in the 1930’s. This photo was taken November 17, 1914. It was located above Dixon’s Apple Orchard. Photo courtesy of Museum of New Mexico negative #56632. Photo by A.J. Connell.

Bland-Herald Newspaper Bland, New Mexico, 1904 A newspaper, the Bland-Herald, photographed in 1904, was established by Will Ments. The names of the folks and the paper boys with their fury burros are unknown. The Bland-Herald was later sold to J. Marvin Hunter.

1900’s Navaro Gold Mining Co. Photo courtesy of NMBM & MR

Navaro Gold Mining Co. Photo taken in Del Norte Canyon, circa 1900.

Saw mill. Navaro Gold Mining Co. Del Norte Canyon in 1900.

A family home, Bland, New Mexico, 1898. Group posed includes Bill Rodgers, Mrs. Will Mayers, Holding Carmi Myers, Miss Rodgers and Mrs. Rodgers, subject to far left is not named. (Photo #1-K) Courtesy of Museum of New Mexico, Negative #8710 Area appears, because of the quartz outcrop, right, to be across from where the Cossak Mill now stands. Said area does show evidence of habitation, foundation, cribbing, etc. Apparently, the main road then coursed in the same general direction as now, though as much as 25 feet to the northeast of the present course, which would be about where the creek runs past the Cossak Mill dump, or waste dump created in excavating the mill site.

1987 Baseball Team of Cochiti Gold Mining Company standing in front of the Albermarle Hoist House. Players left to right: T.A. Wilson, H. Freeman, W.M. Vickers, Al Hall, C.A. Stephens, Dr. T.W. Grace, R.A. Ripley, W.M. Spencer, Geo, Kephart. (Positions, wins, losses, and batting averages unknown) Photo courtesy of Wilshek Collection #14-1

Bland, New Mexico, CA. 1890’s People in the photo from left to right: Ed Smith, John Henry, Billy Jerome, unknown, unknown, Arthur Henry, Charlie Burroughs, John O’Connor, unknown. This should be the Miners’ Home Saloon, the Lobby being on the right and not shown. Building to left, should be Hank Ritter’s livery. House to center background and terrain between is apparently obliterated today. The course of the creek has been changed and a road has been put in which would have knocked down the cribbing built for the house. The man shown at left is Art Kneabel. Note the bridge crossings and porch affairs behind the Ritter barn and the Option Saloon, are not shown. Photo courtesy of New Mexico Museum #8697

A happy family enjoying a fine day in Bland, New Mexico, Circa 1890.

Main Street in Bland, New Mexico.

Main Street in Bland, New Mexico.

Thomas Harry Jenks

Bland Canyon, N.M. Exchange Hotel and Doctor’s House (2002) Photo courtesy of Mark Ruttkay of Cochiti, N.M.

Bland Canyon, N.M Doctor’s House and Exchange Hotel (2002) Photo courtesy of Mark Ruttkay of Cochiti Lake, N.M.

Bland Canyon, N.M. Mining town, 2 story exchange hotel. Photo courtesy of Mark Ruttkay of Cochiti Lake, N.M.

The new mill (1947) Bland Canyon, N.M. Headframe structure above mine, C.2000. Photo courtesy of Mark Ruttkay of Cochiti Lake, N.M.

Rio Media Canyon, N.M., c.2003. Photo courtesy of Mark Ruttkay of Bernalillo, N.M.

Bland Canyon, N.M. The salon and exchange hotel, c.2003. Photo courtesy of Mark Ruttkay of Cochiti Lake, N.M.

Bland Canyon, N.M. The bank vault across from Hotel, c.2000. Photo courtesy of Mark Ruttkay of Cochiti Lake, N.M.

Bland Canyon, N.M. Assayer’s House, c.2000. Photo courtesy of Mark Ruttkay of Cochiti Lake, N.M.

Bland Canyon, N.M. Early Hofheins House, c.2000. Photo courtesy of Mark Ruttkay of Cochiti Lake, N.M.

“Nigger” Reid wrangle/miner lived in Reid Canyon near Bland Canyon, N.M. Buried in Bland/Albemarel Cemetry (c.1930). Photo courtesy of Mark Ruttkay of Cochiti Lake, N.M.

Mining Camp Site Miners lived in crude shelters. Many lived out in the open under the trees. Tent cities sprung up as many miners arrived to work. One enterprising miner put cots in tents and rented them for $1.00 a night. Saw mills were started by loggers so mining building, homes, saloons, a school and a church could be built.

Mack Fenton and Wife

Logger at Pines. % M. Kintzinger. Photo Courtesy of Sandoval Historical Society DeLevy House

Joseph Routledge, Sawmiller and Lumberman Joseph Routledge of Glorieta established the first lumber business in the Bland area, and set up saw mills in Pino Canyon, as reported by Howard Bryan in his Tribune column, “Off The Beaten Path.” Three of the Routledge children are pictured, Elmer (died in a drowning accident), Minnie and Mabel. Courtesy of J.E. Routledge and Tom Ball.

Some of the Hofheins family gathering flowers. Photo courtesy of Sandoval Historical Society

Mule Skimmers

Bland to Albermarle

A safe found in the basement of an old saloon A safe found in the basement of what was once a saloon. On a visit to Bland one would see several of these safes that have been destroyed by vandals foolish enough to believe someone might have left his gold dust behind.

Bland Hotel and Saloon

View of the Albemarle Shaft and Hoisthouse at Albemarle, near Bland, N.M, ca 1896. Trestle leads to mill building out of view to right. New Mexico Bureau of Mines & Mineral Resources Photo Collection, # 1769; courtesy Robert J. Wilseck, nephew of Theodore P. Wilson

Albermarle Ladies Literary Society.

Ranger station at Bland. Used with permission from files of Sandoval County Historical Society.

Mill in Bland. Used with permission from files of Sandoval County Historical Society.

Bland Tunnel. Edward Amos Hofheins, William George Hofheins (tall) – (opening of tunnel). Used with permission from files of Sandoval County Historical Society.

2022-12-14

Copyright

Unless otherwise noted, the contents of this website are Copyright © by the Village of Jemez Springs. All Rights Reserved. Direct links allowed, however reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Information and pictures for this project have been obtained from many sources. If you believe you are the owner of content appearing on this site and do not want it used publicly, please contact the Librarian and indicate the item and your preferences. Thank you!

Designed using Magazine News Byte. Powered by WordPress.