I found much more at the Bradley Mines, then what I was expecting. After exploring other sites consisting of nothing more than tailing piles and scattered debris, it came as a surprise to find a camp this built up. I also found the remains of three separate buildings (one still under roof) a well, garbage dumps, and assorted remnants of past habitation. The main building (best described as "Bunkhouse Classic") was built slightly elevated from the road. A rock wall borders the front of this curious dwelling.The ground is littered with garbage both old and modern. Inside there are shelves and racks built into the walls, a linoleum lined counter marks the kitchen area. The most puzzling features are the window openings, on the west side, beside two large windows, eleven smaller openings are cut into the wall. I found ten more openings on the front and north end of the building. It's almost as if the inhabitants were expecting Apaches or Pancho Villa to storm down the slopes at any minute.
An "A" frame at the top of a hill comes into view as you walk into the camp. It sits up there cemented into 55 gallon drums surrounded by hundreds of scattered nuts and bolts, the frame was part of the hoist for the nearby mine. The head frame has collapsed covering the mine below it, the pile of timbers and debris is impressive in its size. Some unsafe looking ladders lead down into the pit, it is hard to tell if there is a horizontal opening at the bottom or if this was a pit mine. Nearby there are two large pits plus a trench cut with a timber bridge built across it. To the west there are two adits, one is dug into a clay hill, the portal is held up by wood block shims, it was partially back-filled, making it hard to estimate how far it was bored into the slope. The opening was extremely unstable packed with loose caliche and gravel. A short distance up the slope was another adit, it cut into the slope a distance of appox. forty feet, inside was an old spring mattress frame with a cardboard box holding two large rocks? the purpose of which I could not ascertain. Further up the slope a large gray tailing dump marked the site of another mine, possibly the "The Edna Belle."
There is a gate at the road that leads into the camp, however, it is not locked, nor, were there any signs asking that you not enter. I hiked in through the gate, from the main road the camp is less than a mile away. As you walk along the road there is a deep draw to the south and Wind Mill Canyon is on the northwest side, it's an easy walk with just a slight uphill incline. NMBMMR files show that the mines were worked from 1904-1930. Silver,Lead,Copper & Zinc ore were mined, but production was small. Evidence at the site indicates that some work continued there at least into the 1970's. The year 1967 is etched into the concrete base of a well, while a concrete slab near the "A" frame bears the year 1969 and the name of Bill Birchfield. That family ranched and operated mines in the Florida Range. This included the San Tex manganese mines, at Tres Lomitas in the southeastern end of the Florida Mining District.
How To Get There: Take NM Highway 11 south to Rockhound Rd., go east to County Rd. 23 continue past Spring Canyon Rd., through the Tres Lomitas Ranch gate. The road winds its way from south to east back to west before starting south again. You will see a gate on the right hand side of the road, from the main road the camp is less than a mile away.
Worth The Trip? Yes!
Public or Private: BLM (fenced w/gate, no locks)
Mine Danger: Low (don't enter adits, deep open pits)
Snake Danger : show caution
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