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Extinct Towns
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BONITO CITY Bonito Lake, an alpine reservoir located high in the Sierra Blanca mountains northwest of Ruidoso, now covers what was once known as the mining community of Bonito City, also referenced in some older records as Bonita City. In its early days, Bonito was not much more than a mining camp with pioneers coming in search of a "gold rush." According to the Historical Roundup by Clarence S. Adams, this peaceful town began from the log cabins built on both sides of Bonita Canyon in 1882. Merchants and others moved to Bonito City and settled in as the mining progressed. By 1885, this small town had a few general stores, a post office, a saloon, a hotel, a school, a blacksmith and a lawyer. |
| A terrible tragedy took place in Bonito in the early morning hours of May 5, 1885.
A miner and town constable, Martin Nelson, killed seven people and injured one at the town hotel belonging to Mr.
W. F. Mayberry. The victims of this tragedy were: Dr. R. E. Flynn of Boston, Peter Nelson, neighbor and saloon
owner, Herman Beck, grocer, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Mayberry, hotel owner and wife, and John and Edward Mayberry, sons
of Mr. and Mrs. Mayberry, ages 17 and 7 respectively. The fatally wounded and only survivor of the Mayberry
family was the 14 year old daughter, Nellie Mayberry. Martin Nelson was shot and killed later the same day
by Justice of the Peace, Charlie Berry. The victims were buried in Bonito City Cemetery located on top of a hill and
Martin Nelson was buried in a seperate location outside of the cemetery near the area of Bonito Lake. By the early 1900s mining was not very profitable in this area and the town population was on a decline. Over the years, the miners moved away and most of those who stayed behind depended on farming, were builders and merchants of other nearby towns or were railroad workers. The town post office closed in 1911 and it is said at about this time only a couple people were living in Bonito. By the 1920s, in order to increase their water supply and owning the water rights, the Southern Pacific Railroad petitioned the government of New Mexico to build a larger dam along Bonito Creek than the previous one built in 1907. The location was chosen downstream from Bonito across a narrow spot in the canyon which meant the town would be flooded by the dam's lake. The construction of the dam was completed in 1931 and the lake fully filled by 1933. By the 1950s the steam engine trains were replaced with diesel electric trains and the water from Lake Bonito was no longer needed. The Southern Pacific Railroad sold the lake to city of Almagordo, New Mexico which needed a reliable water supply to provide drinking water. The area has since regained the beauty suggested by the Spanish definition of Bonito meaning "beautiful" and is referenced as one of the "most scenic" recreational and fishing areas. The lake is surrounded by the Lincoln National Forest and has a campground with hiking trails and streams. The water temperature in the lake is cold year round due to the high altitude and contains an abundance of trout. The old town of Bonito City is forever lost but still lives on in the tales of folklore in spite of the tragic murders, fires and floods of the past century. (Note: The remains of six of the victims of the tragic murders were moved to the Angus Cemetery and are marked by a common tombstone. The remains of Dr. Flynn were moved to the location of his family in Texas. Martin Nelson's remains were also moved to a grave east of the Angus Cemetery and is marked by a concrete tombstome.) Transcribed by C. Anthony |
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