Doors to Enchantment — Silver City

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Thursday, January 13, 20222022 Thursday Doors badge by Teagan R. Geneviene

Thursday Doors

I don’t know if Thursday Doors will become a regular feature at Teagan’s Books, but I try to do it at least occasionally. If this goes well, in the future I might make my midweek post on Thursdays rather than Wednesdays.  Even though I can’t get out to take pictures, I was inspired to share some doors from my adopted home state, New Mexico.  The state’s nickname is Land of Enchantment, hence my title.  Unfortunately, I haven’t been to many of the towns I intend to share, nor did I take the photos.

If you watch the television show, Lucifer, (Tom Ellis playing piano and singing? Be still my heart…) then you’ve heard the characters refer to heaven as the silver city.  That inspired the city I selected for my first Doors of Enchantment post.

Doors of Enchantment — Silver City

Silver City, New Mexico was originally known as a mining town. Since the 1800s, Silver City-area mines have produced 75,000 troy ounces of gold, 9 million troy ounces of silver, 150,000 tons of lead, 400,000 tons of zinc, and a large tonnage of iron—along with a whopping 10 million tons of copper (Rock & Gems Magazine).

Grant County Courthouse Silver City NM Wikipedia
Grant County Courthouse, Silver City, NM Wikipedia

I love the stonework all around the roof, windows, and entry of the city hall.

City Hall Silver City NM Wikipedia
City Hall Silver City NM Wikipedia

Here’s a closer view of the stonework, although the image quality isn’t very good.

City Hall closeup of stonework Silver City NM Wikipedia

If you love rustic and old, check out the old Pinos Altos Opera House below, near Silver City.  I would like to see what the window above the double doors looked like when it was new.

old Pinos Altos Opera House Silver City NM Wikipedia
The old Pinos Altos Opera House Silver City NM Wikipedia

A better kept historic place is the H.B. Ailman House below.  Prospector Henry B. Ailman had the house built using his profits from the Naiad Queen Silver Mine.  It is now a museum.  The door is difficult to make out, but I couldn’t resist the square turret. The entire building charms me.

H B Ailman House Wikimedia
H B Ailman House Wikimedia

Here are some pretty places, even if the doors aren’t an eye-catching feature, from Realtor.com.

Silver City homes Realtor.com

You can learn more about Silver City, NM here.  Thanks for visiting with me.  Now to take us full circle here’s Tom Ellis playing piano and singing All Along the Watch Tower.  Hugs on the wing.

♦♦♦

Dead of Winter — All the Journeys

Dead of Winter, Journey 12 Goddesses book and cover by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Thanks for spending part of your day here. I’m grateful to everyone who is reading this story. If you aren’t already, I hope you’ll be part of the extraordinary, layered world of these Journeys. 

I love to hear from you, so friendly comments are encouraged. Hugs on the wing!

♦♦♦

Universal Purchase Links

Journey 12, Goddesses

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Journey 11, the Sumelazon Escarpment

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Journey 10, Pergesca

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Journey 9, Doors of Attunement

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Journey 8, The Lost Library

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Journey 7, Revenant Pass

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Journey 6, The Fluting Fell

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Journey 5, Llyn Pistyll Falls

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Journey 4, The Old Road

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Journey 3, the Fever Field

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Kobo:  Dead of Winter: Journey 3, the Fever Field eBook by Teagan Riordain Geneviene – 1230004609599 | Rakuten Kobo United States

Journey 2, Penllyn

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Journey 1, Forlorn Peak

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Kobo:  Dead of Winter: Journey 1, Forlorn Peak eBook by Teagan Geneviene – 1230004446033 | Rakuten Kobo United States

.

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This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2010 and 2021 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved. 

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.

 

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65 thoughts on “Doors to Enchantment — Silver City”

    1. Thanks, Noelle. The “doors” concept really snared me. It’s something I would never have thought of as being interesting before I saw Dan’s weekly posts for it. But I like to look at houses and other nice architecture, and the doors provide an excuse. Stay safe and well.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. Thank you for continuing to post interesting stories, now it is Silver City! I can tell by the numerous comments that there are many others who enjoy your podcasts. Thank you! I wish I could visit Silver City, but Canada is very far away. Sending love!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. I got interrupted when I was here yesterday, and never made it back.
    Great doors presentation enhanced with history. Love it!
    Tom Ellis singing Watchtower is quite the treat. Thank you, Teagan!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I remember you mentioning that, Diana. I hope it will be a wonderful time for you. Please see my reply to DL Finn. Sites are wonderful, but spread out, so try to choose in advance. For instance Silver City is about 3 hours from me (down south) and 3 hours from Albuquerque too. Although, I think you mentioned the northern part of the state, now that I think about it. There are several things fairly close together up there. Though it might take a few days.
      I went through a freaky tunnel near Jemez Springs, drilled through the mountain, only wide enough for one car, with no way to see what might be coming toward you.
      https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/new-mexico/unique-tunnel-nm/
      Acoma Pueblo to Albuquerque, to Jemez Springs, to Taos makes a wriggly diagonal line northeastward. I’m not sure if my Google map link will show properly, but…
      https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Acoma+Pueblo,+NM/Albuquerque,+NM/Jemez+Springs,+NM/Taos,+NM/@35.6483711,-107.7021871,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m26!4m25!1m5!1m1!1s0x8723c14932744f3b:0x2880b0345e4de6a4!2m2!1d-107.5823086!2d34.8963194!1m5!1m1!1s0x87220addd309837b:0xc0d3f8ceb8d9f6fd!2m2!1d-106.650422!2d35.0843859!1m5!1m1!1s0x872298701c621e15:0x3c47f49ae4409e34!2m2!1d-106.692258!2d35.7686356!1m5!1m1!1s0x871764da7f11fcb1:0x90ea918361a9b782!2m2!1d-105.5733788!2d36.4072134!3e0
      Thanks for visiting. Big hugs.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. Ooooh, I’d love to go inside the old opera house! I just know there are spirits hanging around. And the stone work above the courthouse is amazing. Thank you for sharing Silver City with us. It’s been a long time since I visited.

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  11. We spent some time in Arizona which is similar to NM in terms of climate, mining towns and Southwestern architecture (sister lived there and we also got married there). Having been to Europe a number of times I have also appreciated European architecture – the doors always stand out and are often the focal point. Here in the U.S. I enjoy looking at homes with beautiful entrances 🙂

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    1. Thanks for reading and commenting, Denise. Sites are spread far apart, but there are some wonderful things. To me, it’s just the overall feel of the place. For 5 years, I lived near Albuquerque (now I’m much farther south) before going to DC, and a decade later finally coming back to NM. During that first round, I saw a few northern things in the state. My favorite experience then or now is still from back then visiting Acoma Pueblo and being invited inside one of those homes to share the feast day meal with a family. How could I not want to return to the state. Land of Enchantment is the perfect state motto. Hugs on the wing!

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  13. Pingback: A Walk in Emily Carr’s Garden – Clanmother

  17. Fabulous images and you’ve reminded me I’m very behind watching Lucifer. The Opera House reminds me of one we saw in an old mining (now ghost) town in California. Thanks for the tour of Silver City! Perhaps I’ll visit it in person some day. Stay safe, Teagan.

    Liked by 1 person

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  18. You just provided me with a great tour Teagan while sitting in my recliner. That’s the only way I can travel anymore! Beautiful buildings and doors and arched windows.

    The Opera House must’ve been something in its days. The Ailman House is very interesting. Wish we could peek inside. The stonework on City Hall is a tribute to the masons and their talent.

    One thing that struck me with all these photos is how meticulously clean everything looks! I hope that “look” wasn’t at the hands of the photographer!

    You certainly live in a beautiful area.
    Ginger

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Haha! PhotoShop can do some nice “cleanup”, Ginger. Although I don’t think they were altered. There might be images of the Ailman House around the Internet, since it’s a museum now, and it’s part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. But I was only looking for ones that were free to use. This link to Trip Advisor has a couple inside, but most of theirs are focused on artifacts or tourists, unfortunately.
      https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g60831-d318401-i221739121-Silver_City_Museum-Silver_City_New_Mexico.html
      Thanks for spending part of your day here. Hugs on the wing!

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  20. Nice to see the buildings in Silver City. Many years ago we traveled through there and stopped at a gift shop where I bought a silver and turquoise ring. We were just passing through so didn’t have time to look over the town. I love NM! 🙂

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      1. Actually, it would be a 3-hour drive for you. Surprisingly, it’s about the same time for me to drive to Alamogordo from Corrales as for you to drive to Silver City. It’s an hour longer from Corrales to Silver City. Things are so spread out here.

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  23. Teagan, I love the old NM history. Silver City seemed to be full of mystery & interesting stories. Love your Thursday Doors! Keep the history coming. I’m an avid armchair traveler. Hugs, my moonchild friend. 📚🎶 Christine

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  25. I know so little about your adopted state, Teagan. I’m not sure why, but I’m surprised that there has been so much mining. I’ve also been shocked when you mention elevations. This was a fun post and excellent doors.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I didn’t know much about it either, Dan — before the first time I moved here around 2004 to Albuquerque. For me, the most fascinating thing is the Tularosa Basin area (south central/east NM) used to be an inland sea in prehistoric times.
      I’m happy you enjoyed this post. Hugs on the wing!

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