Creator Mark C.W. Circa 1893?
Rob, Steve and Riann decided the end of the town should be a happy one , so they set in motion plans to have the biggest, happiest. wildest, most ridiculous gala that anyone had ever seen in the territory, later it became known to history as the “Great Celebration Gala” since any one attending the three day extravaganza felt like they had one.
Families Attending were Hewitt (the man of honor)Watson and Hoyle (came back from Colorado just for the gala) Lee and the Queens, Cooper and Woods, Hightower and the Warden bunch from Ancho, Ziegler, Dr Lane and Paden John Wesley Hardin, Kempton, Tom Horn, Charley Siringo, Ah nu, Stewart, Ridgeway, Ruisdael, Weed over from Santa Fe, Gumm family, Daniel and Bill from Pinos Alto’s Our 25 member crew from the emporium in Las Vegas Baby doe and Rose Marie Echo silver dollar tabor down from Leadville Colorado Mayer ,parker, Leslie Brown, Chew (up from el Paso)Grumbles (up from el Paso)McDonald (down from Santa Fe) Barber Jackson, Bonnell heirs, Treat, Koch (over from Alamogordo) he kindly produced cabinet cards and town pics to be included in a remembrance book to be given to each person who was there Guebara, brothers. Schisner, Ozanne, Taliaferro arrive.
Thursday may 17 1906. Get situated all abandoned homes available Mild meet and greet , bbq buffet at Bonnell hall. Methodist church service for those inclined Everything free at little casino for the entire event
Friday may 18 1906
Breakfast buffet Bonnell hall, Gar hosted cemetery visit and remembrance, Stroll through town walk ,speeches, Picture taking, Bag lunch, Horse races and rodeo at Padens racetrack ,Picnic style dinner Campfires, visiting.
Sat May 19 1906 Breakfast buffet Bonnell hall, Mine visit, trips around the area, visiting with old pals Children’s programs ,free dental and medical service for whom ever desire such, Baseball game, Grand ball in and outside Bonnell hall, Orchestra ,Japanese lanterns, bunting, Overhead streamers, open bar. Punch Roast beef, pork, chicken, and Turkey dinner.
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. .Sunday may 20 1906 Sober up Outdoor church service Each person receives a custom $20 gold piece stamped White Oaks New Mexico 1879-1906 gone but not forgotten. Most people agreed, this was the way to say goodbye.
Even though most people involved with white oaks suffered economic or personal hardships there, a lingering sweet air of the kindness, civility, sense of belonging, law and order that was there in the best times easily outweighed the bad times. Steve and I stayed at the emporium, went to visit sis often ,she up our way often as well. In Nov 1918 the Spanish influenza ripped thru and killed many including Effie Cooper wood who was Rains sister by friendship. Sis started questioning her religion and pretty much was like “what in the hell am I doing?” It made us sad to see her sad and it went on for some time
We left a note on her favorite chair that read “that is enough of that” and waited outside Jedd saddled , she made arrangements on the sanctuary (gave it to Jackson) Got on Jedd and without a word we three headed to Denver.
After 2 months r&r at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver ,on to San Francisco, up to Yukon territory, cross country on train to New York City and on the boys down the coast we three set up shop in central Florida where we still are in 2019. We never went back to white oaks until 1982 we are planning to go back in 2020. It still had that sweet air about it even though the people now living there knew nothing about the past nor did they give a damn.