New Mexico Ghost Towns
NEGRA
County: Torrance
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Year Established: 1909
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Year Abandoned: 1918
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Location: Off Hwy 60, approximately 5 miles west of Encino
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About: Author Robert Julyan suggests the town got its name because of the black soil in the area and mentions the presence of a black water tank.
Negra can be assumed to have been a main source of water for many nearby communities including Encino, Vaughn and even Duran, 20 miles away. The tank is notable because Negra must’ve had good water and plenty of it. John Mulhouse was told that a man named Tenorio used a small tanker truck to haul water to town and sell it to the residents.
Of course, the steam-powered locomotives would’ve stopped in Negra to get water, as well. After the conversion to diesel engines, Vaughn bought four wells near the tracks from the railroad.
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Remains: Old rock house, gas and service station and a couple of other weathered farm structures. Well worth the trip!
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Gas and Service Station
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Inside the Gas station sits two well preserved ovens from the 1920's and a few old church pews
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A Tourist Motor Court
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A tourist motor court which once provided shelter for travelers.
Old Williams Homestead
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This home belonged to Albert "Ollie" Williams and his wife Hallie. Mr. Williams ran a filling station in Negra and operated a mercantile as well as two other stores in Encino.
Hallie was a mural artist and painted four beautiful southwestern-themed murals on the adobe walls of the high school in Encino, which has since been torn down. She also painted at least one other mural which is said to still exist in a store built by Mr. Williams in Encino.
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School House
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