Historic Miner's Tomb Protected in New Mexico

May 5, 2009

Contacts:
Vanessa Vaughan, The Conservation Fund, (703) 908-5809

Alma, NM — In Catron County, the historic rock tomb of Sergeant James Cooney, who discovered silver along Mineral Creek in 1870, gained permanent protection today thanks to the efforts of The Conservation Fund and the U.S. Forest Service.

Legend has it that Cooney discovered silver while serving in the U.S. Army in New Mexico. After his enlistment ended in 1876, Cooney promptly returned to Mineral Creek to stake his claim. But his hopes for riches were cut short: Apache Indians attacked the mine, killing Cooney and several others, in the early moments of what has become known as the Alma Massacre. Cooney was buried in a rock tomb right on the site, amid the spoils he coveted. Cooney’s tomb, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, today attracts curious tourists. The tomb is all that remains of a small mining town called Cooney, established after Cooney’s death. The town also came to a difficult end—washed away by a flood in 1911.

The 40-acre property that contains the tomb, which previously was privately owned, lies within the Gila National Forest, completely surrounded by public land. The Conservation Fund purchased the property and held it until the U.S. Forest Service secured the funding to acquire it as an addition to Gila National Forest.

"I am very pleased to work with The Conservation Fund to acquire this historically important property," said Pat Morrison, Glenwood district ranger of Gila National Forest. "This acquisition provides an opportunity to protect and interpret Cooney’s Tomb and the associated graveyard for public enjoyment. Cooney’s Tomb is an important link to the early days of mining and settlement in the Glenwood area."

In addition to its historic significance, the property protects frontage along Mineral Creek and provides access to a trailhead for the Mineral Creek Trail, which winds through Mineral Creek canyon, a narrow gorge with dramatic, colorful cliffs.

"The Conservation Fund has worked with the Forest Service in New Mexico for more than a decade, and we’re proud to work with them again to protect the Cooney’s Tomb property," said Mike Ford, Nevada and Southwest director for The Conservation Fund. "This is a small, but significant, accomplishment that safeguards New Mexico’s history and gives the public greater opportunities for recreation."

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