More from Apan New Mexico

While back out walking, looking for survey markers, a side trip was taken to further explore the site of Apan NM.  A turn of the century rail/water stop on the old El Paso and Southwestern railroad north of Rodeo NM, Apan was of no particular importance in the grand scheme of things just a place to pick up water, drop off the mail, and perhaps load some cattle.  But it does help place into context how people have used the landscape through time.  This trip revealed the foundations of 4 buildings just south of the water tank (all on the east side of the tracks about 10' x 15') as well as parts of battery jars.  Wet cell battery jars were prevalent before electrification and were used to power railroad signal lights, telegraphs, and telephones.  Although no evidence of a signal light remains, an insulated guy wire for a pole as well as a cross arm and broken glass insulators were found which is consistent with battery use for telegraph/telephone.

"Edison" ceramic battery jar lids and other electrical parts from Apan NM.

A broken Corning battery jar.

Apan New Mexico Cultural Resource Inventory VII

Along the former El Paso and Southwestern railroad, rail stops, water stops, and sidings were spaced about every 6 miles.  After the decommissioning of the railroad in 1961 many of the rail stops became ghost towns as local residents moved elsewhere.  One of these abandoned sidings was Apan, New Mexico.  A siding and waterstop, Apan was the home of  a Post Office from 1905 -1913.  Located between Rodeo and Pratt, Apan is one those places found in the literature but one no one seems to know about.  While out walking part of the Painted Pony Resort property Apan was rediscovered.  The presence of an underground water tank as well as another concrete footing on the other side of the rail bed combined with the presence of broken dishware and a remains of a telegraph/power pole indicate that the location was once Apan.  Located at 31 54.272 N, 108 58.867 W Apan was officially located at mile marker 1170.5 along the rail line.  One more piece of the puzzle for the cultural resource inventory.  A map of the towns and sidings of the old El Paso and Southwestern railroad may be found here.

The view east of the underground water tank at Apan

The view north to the underground water tank at Apan NM

The view facing west of Apan NM.