Silver City & Ft. Bayard
On the way home we took a diversion south, southeast to Silver City, NM. This part of the country is significant in Dru's family history and we wanted to take advantage of Mark's knowledge of the area. Mark previously spent some time here exploring Silver City and its surroundings. The family connection is two-fold. First, Dru's grandfather, Edwin L. Faringhy, was stationed at Ft. Bayard and her mother and two uncles played here. Edwin died here and is buried in the Silver City cemetery. The second connection is after he retired from the Army, Dru's great, grandfather, Mstr Comsy Sgt Thomas Hall Forsyth, a Medal of Honor recipient, settled near Silver City in the vicinity of Lone Mountain. Mark hasn't yet been able to identiry the exact location of his homestead.
|
Silver City Cemetery
Unfortunately, there was a major bicycle race in town the weekend we were there, so we did not get a chance to walk about Silver City itself. It's an appealing western town which would be fun to explore more. So, our photos are limited to our brief visit to the cemetery.
|
Edwin L Faringhy's tombstone
|
The grave of Dru's mother's infant brother
|
Harvey Forsyth is also buried here. He was a son of Thomas Hall Forsyth. It's interesting to note that the tombstone claims he served in the Spanish American War, yet he was born in 1885. That means he was only 13 when the Spanish American War was fought.
|
An unrelated grave with impressive art work
|
Dru and Mark admire a boldly decorated grave. Thankfully, it's not that of a relative.
|
The piece de resistance!! We've traveled the world. We've enjoyed the beauty of Patagonia, Argentina. We've walked the magnificant Great Wall of China. And now we've visited the grave of Billy the Kid's mother. What more is there to do?
|
Ft. Bayard
Ft. Bayard is located about five miles east of Silver City.
|
One of the old homes. We're not sure where Dru's mother's family lived when they were here. This particular home is located close to the commissary and might be representative of the type of building they would have lived in.
|
These were probably officers' quarters
|
This marker shows what the Sally Port may have looked like when SGT Faringhy was stationed here. A large, modern building now occupies this space and houses a Veterans' Hospital.
|
There is a monument in the center of the parade ground to the Buffalo soldiers.
|
|
|
An interesting drain pipe arrangement
|
Sadly, the old buildings are crumbling badly. Unless restoration is started soon, they, too, will become ruins. However, since the Veterans' Hospital is here, maybe there is hope.
|
The railings are falling apart.
|
The adobe walls were plastered over. Without the protection of the plaster, the wall will begin to crumble.
|
This adobe building is located in Center City (now called Santa Clara), about a mile south of the fort. The family lived in Center City for a short period of time; we don't know where.
|
A windmill
|
|
Take more of our eastern Arizona tour:
|