Folsom NM - Rust in Peace

23rd February 2009

Welcome to Folsom NM, a 'semi-ghost' town in N.E. New Mexico 39 miles east of Raton NM and 19 miles east of Bell on NM 72.

Folsom was created by the Colorado and Southern Railroad in the late 1880's and named after Frances Folsom who was the wife of Grover Cleveland, president of the United States at the time. Folsom is well known to archaeologists because of the 'Folsom Man' artifacts which were discovered near here.

There was tragedy here as well, in 1908 there was a dangerous flash flood and Sarah J Rooke was a telephonist who stayed by her switchboard to warn her townsfolk of the danger; 17 died including Sarah but her heroism is marked by a monument.

Folsom is now a small ranching community with a post office and several attractions such as the abandoned Folsom Hotel and many abandoned residences. We visited on the 28th April 2008 and walked around, much to the amusement of some of the local people! This collection of photos should be subtitled 'Rust in Peace' because it shows some of the many abandoned vehicles dotted around the town.

A typical view 1152x768	Dashboard 1152x768	Definitely abandoned 1152x768	An interesting collection 1152x768
A Ford Econoline compact van - the first generation 'flat nose' which was built from 1961 to 1967. The lime green van behind might be a Ford E series full sized van 1152x768	A TO-20 all the way from Banner Lane Coventy 1152x768	Again, its old but no idea what make of car this is 1152x768	This was a very impressive remnant parked next to an abandoned house 1152x768
Perhaps a Dodge Cononet? 1152x768	Abandoned in Main Street Folsom, a 1974 Ford Mustang Sedan, the vinyl peeling off her roof pillars 1152x768