Gypsy Heart
Gold Member
Ojo Caliente
and Cherryville
Ojo Caliente was established in 1877, as an Army post for the newly formed Warm Springs Reservation. It is located west of Monticello. About 2,000 Apaches lived in and around the Ojo Caliente post in the 1870s and '80s. These were the Ojo Caliente, or Warm Springs Apache, who considered themselves separate from the other Apache bands. The two most famous Warm Springs Apaches were, without a doubt, Geronimo and Chief Victorio. Yes, these two notorious Apache chiefs lived much of their lives in Socorro County.
The main purpose of the Ojo Caliente post was to administer the reservation and dispense food to the Apaches. As a result of these services, numerous soldiers and civilians were employed as agents, wagon masters, store clerks and more. Many built small homes nearby for their families while employed at Ojo Caliente.
Andrew Kelley built a store in 1880, which served the post and its soldiers, area ranchers, and those Apaches who had money or something to trade. Due to the growing size of the complex, storeowner Kelley organized the civilian portions of the post into a small town and named it Cherryville. The post office was opened in 1881. Mail arrived from Engle several times a week.
The Warm Springs Apache lived in relative peace at Ojo Caliente. Regardless, in 1882, the Army decided to relocate the band to Fort Sill, Okla. The post was closed.
Cherryville, and the Kelley store, continued to operate for a few more years and served the remaining families and ranchers in the area — and, no doubt, in hopes that the Warm Spring Apaches would return. They did not, and the post was never reoccupied.
Finally, in 1886, Kelley closed his store and post office. Ojo Caliente and Cherryville have been abandoned since, with only remnants of the former post and buildings remaining. This archeological site is now on private property.
North of Magdalena is the desolate Rio Salado region. Except for Alamo, this part of northern Socorro County seems to be virtually uninhabited. However, over the years, several villages and small towns catered to the miners, ranchers and travelers that once occupied this region.
and Cherryville
Ojo Caliente was established in 1877, as an Army post for the newly formed Warm Springs Reservation. It is located west of Monticello. About 2,000 Apaches lived in and around the Ojo Caliente post in the 1870s and '80s. These were the Ojo Caliente, or Warm Springs Apache, who considered themselves separate from the other Apache bands. The two most famous Warm Springs Apaches were, without a doubt, Geronimo and Chief Victorio. Yes, these two notorious Apache chiefs lived much of their lives in Socorro County.
The main purpose of the Ojo Caliente post was to administer the reservation and dispense food to the Apaches. As a result of these services, numerous soldiers and civilians were employed as agents, wagon masters, store clerks and more. Many built small homes nearby for their families while employed at Ojo Caliente.
Andrew Kelley built a store in 1880, which served the post and its soldiers, area ranchers, and those Apaches who had money or something to trade. Due to the growing size of the complex, storeowner Kelley organized the civilian portions of the post into a small town and named it Cherryville. The post office was opened in 1881. Mail arrived from Engle several times a week.
The Warm Springs Apache lived in relative peace at Ojo Caliente. Regardless, in 1882, the Army decided to relocate the band to Fort Sill, Okla. The post was closed.
Cherryville, and the Kelley store, continued to operate for a few more years and served the remaining families and ranchers in the area — and, no doubt, in hopes that the Warm Spring Apaches would return. They did not, and the post was never reoccupied.
Finally, in 1886, Kelley closed his store and post office. Ojo Caliente and Cherryville have been abandoned since, with only remnants of the former post and buildings remaining. This archeological site is now on private property.
North of Magdalena is the desolate Rio Salado region. Except for Alamo, this part of northern Socorro County seems to be virtually uninhabited. However, over the years, several villages and small towns catered to the miners, ranchers and travelers that once occupied this region.
