BLACKDOM
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BLACKDOM |
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NAME: BLACKDOM COUNTY: CHAVEZ ROADS: 2WD GRID: 6 CLIMATE: The climate is hot in the summer and cold in the winter BEST TIME TO VISIT: any time |
COMMENTS:
BLACKDOM.Articles of incorporation indicate
the townsite was established on the 5th day of December 1911, to 'establish
a negro colony and to found and erect the town of Blackdom, and to lay off
the lands covered by said town into townsite under the laws of the Territory
of New Mexico and to lay out additions thereto, and to plat said townsite
and additions into blocks, lots, strets, alleys, avenues, parks, and public
grounds and to own, hold, sell, and convey said lots and blocks and improve
same'The original plot contained 40 acres, divided into 166 lots 35' x 100'.
The official location for Blackdom as filed by Frank and Ella Boyer is listed
as the NE quarter of the SE quarter of Section 26 of township 13 South,
Range 24 East. It is important to make a distinction between the 'community'
of Blackdom and the town site of Blackdom. Blackdom community consisted
of scattered farms homesteaded by black families. This settlement of negroes
was several miles across in each direction. It involvedsome twenty families,
some with as many as eight children who claimed about 15000 acres under
the various land laws. Like many other Black towns they were not welcomed
by the white residents already in the area and received little support from
them. REMAINS: Only debris remains. Consult local residents. |
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BLACKDOM. A very interesting chapter of New Mexico history is recoreded in 'A history of Blackdom, N. M. in the Context of the African American Post Civil War Colonization Movement. The Black Towns notes,' we know little of the aspirations, fears and everyday lives of people living in such places as Blackdom, N. M; hobson City Alabama; Allensworth, Califronia; and Tentiesville, Oklahoma, bbecause residents failed to record their experiences and whites were not interested in preserving and collecting material on the black towns".Frank Boyer, the towns founder, was educated in the State of Tennessee and was not aware of any controversary regarding post civil war colonization and migration. Frank Boyer enrolled at Atlanta Baptist seminary, graduated from Moorhouse College, received his bachelor's degree from Moorhouse in teachers education. After receiving his E. A. at Moorhouse Frank went to school in the city of Nashville and enrolledat Fiske College, where he took some advanced courses in education His wife, Ella was also an educated woman having graduated from '_____Normal and Industrial Arts School taught by Lucy Linsey.Frank was also aware of the Homestead act of 1863. The Boyer records further reads: Frank who was to go ahead of his family to make preparttions, persuaded one of his students, Daniel Keyes to make the trip with him. "Frank and Keys left Pellum, Ga during the winter month of January 1900. They arrived in Eddy County in the early fall days of October in the same year. Frank and Keyes had walked all the way from Georgia just stopping long enough ,to work for food, clothes, shelter, and other necessities they needed. "His wife and children would arrive in Chaves County in 1901'.After 12 years the little settlement just finally faded away. As a family would move from their 12 x 20 foot shacks, they would be torn down or dragged to another location for use. The Historic Preservation Division, Office of Culturan Affairs, made a survey of the area and noted their findings. Submitted by: Samuel W McWhorter Blackdom NM did indeed have a Post Office at one time. I have the cashbook from it in my present office at Dexter NM where I am Postmaster. As I recall, entries run from about 1917-1918, or thereabouts. Jim White, a "Postal Historian" jwdw@cyberport.com can provide detailed information. In addition, the Post Office at Orchard Park continued to operate as a station of the Dexter PO until circa 1955. There are still some foundation remnants (from the POW camp commissary) visible adjacent to the main road (E. Orchard Park Rd.) on property owned by Tom and Lyn Benedict. - Chip Clemmons |
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