Holy Cross Sanatorium

An outcry arose over the razing of the "Holy Cross Sanatorium," while the concerns were well intended, the local print media misinformed its readers. The Sanatorium went up in smoke in a catastrophic fire on March 12th 1939.  It was the Sanatorium's  boiler plant that was demolished, it produced electrical power, fed steam for heat and supplied hot water to the outlying buildings.   This plant pre-dated Holy Cross and  was built to provide the same services to what was then the main Hospital at Camp Cody.  This concrete bunker never housed patients, it was an industrial plant equipped with boilers and generators. Over the years it had grown to become nothing more than a trash pit. Those who are now up in arms over it's destruction should have taken more interest and banded together to clean, secure and preserve the site.  "Holy Cross" was not safe, it was your proverbial accident waiting to happen. I know of at least one person in Deming who's life was forever altered after he fell off the steps during a drinking party at "The Cross"  That more people weren't injured out there is a miracle.  Was a part of Luna County history lost forever? no doubt, but historical icons don't stand a chance in this litigious age,  without care and maintenance they quickly become nothing more than pending lawsuits. 

Camp Deming preceded Camp Cody, having been established in 1916 as a staging  base during the Mexican Crisis (Pershing's Punitive Expedition into Mexico).   Following America's entry into World War 1 (April 6th 1917)  training camps were set up across the country to train troops for the upcoming battles. Camp Deming met the criteria set by the Army and soon after that the first troops started arriving for military training.  Camp Cody (re-named to honor Buffalo Bill Cody) was soon home to thousands of National Guardsmen from Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. These men made up the 34th Infantry Division also known as the Sandstorm Division. At its peak, Camp Cody was home to  36,000 soldiers, spread out over  a 2,000 acre base.  Following the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front,  at the   "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" (Nov.11th 1918) hostilities virtually came to an end for American Forces in Europe. With the training bases no longer needed, Camp Cody was closed, the buildings were dismantled (some were reassembled at Camp Furlong) or salvaged for usable materials. The buildings that made up the camp's main hospital were left intact, they were then used to house ex-soldiers suffering from consumption.  In 1922 major renovations were undertaken and the following year, The Catholic Order "Sisters of the Holy Cross" agreed to manage and operate the newly upgraded facility.  For  $17.50 per week patients could live in a private suite with a screened porch, sitting room and dressing alcove.  Hot and cold running water were also provided.  Patients could upgrade to a suite with a private bath for $20.50 per week. Holy Cross was almost a self sustained community, with it's own utilities, a dairy operation, stables,  an ice plant, and vegetable gardens.

Tuberculosis  meant a slow and painful death, many of the patients at Holy Cross, while seeking a place to recover their health,  were in fact choosing a place to die.  Death was a constant at Holy Cross, The majority of the patients came from across the country, most who died were buried elsewhere, those that had no other means were buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery, located north of the Sanatorium.  Simplicity marks the road to heaven, it's hard to tell how many people are buried there, the site was neglected and fell into disrepair, over the years vandals destroyed almost all of the grave-markers, which consisted of iron crosses atop concrete bases.  A large wooden cross was placed in the center of the cemetery, it too was vandalized, but has since been repaired.  Cook's Peak serves as a backdrop and sand dunes rise against the fence that borders this lonely locale.  Shrouded in silence, it plays  havoc with your emotions, to stand there and not feel something would be impossible. The final resting place for those unfortunates who suffered so much in life only to be forgotten in death,  it's  a way station for abandoned souls, may they rest in peace. The Sanatorium was successful and would operate until 1938, when a decline in the number of patients, forced the Sisters to close the facility.  The grounds and buildings were left in the care of a skeleton staff, on March 12th 1939, a grass fire near the administration building, quickly grew out of control and engulfed the wood framed  buildings, in a matter of hours the entire complex had burned to the ground.

Whenever the Holy Cross Sanatorium is mentioned the subject soon turns to paranormal activity.  While I can't see why spirits would haunt a boiler plant, (other than the soul of an angry pipe-fitter) it's not outside the realm of possibilities.  Many people have ghost stories about Holy Cross, the story I heard (there are others) places it in the post war years (1946-50)  A young couple drove out to Holy Cross at midnight to drink and make-out, when they were leaving, both of them scrawled their names on the walls of the plant.  Within an hour  both were killed in a horrific car wreck. Following their funerals  several of their friends decided to return to Holy Cross and drink in memory of the deceased pair, when they arrived at Holy Cross much to their horror they found the names of the lovebirds were now written in blood.  Thus a rite of passage was born, as Deming teenagers made the trek out to Holy Cross at midnight to tempt fate by writing their names on the concrete walls.  This tradition continued almost to the end, and accounts for much of the graffiti found at the plant.  There are wild speculations about Holy Cross, I've heard stories of bottomless pits, phantom dogs, tunnels that burrow all the way to the center of town and of course ghostly apparitions.  Many people endured great pain and in many cases died alone after having suffered greatly.  However, this was not an evil place, I never sensed that during the many hours I've spent exploring the site.  Much to the contrary, I always felt that the people who were here found closure and made peace with God before they died. "Strength is born in the deep silence, of long suffering hearts; not amid joy."

How to Get There:  From Downtown Deming, take North Gold Ave, north towards Silver City, turn west  on West Second Street to Holy Cross Rd. turn north, you'll see the building foundations, the cemetery is at the end of Holy Cross Rd. (approx. 1/4 mile north)
Worth The Trip?:  Yes
Accessibility: Excellent
Public or Private: Sanatorium Grounds (private) Cemetery (?)
Danger:  Show Caution
Snake Danger: Show Caution