Ludlow
Article and photography bt Natasha Petrosova
Ludlow is one of the small towns that stands along the historic route 66 . Route 66 was called a "Mother Road" - stretching from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California. This 2448 mile road opened in 1926 and was not completely paved till 1937. It crossed 8 states and three times zones, Songs were written about it " Get your Kicks on Route 66" and 1960's television series was inspired by this iconic road.
Towns that had sprung up were deserted when Route 66 was replaced by more modern four-plus-lane highways, which became very necessary as America became more prosperous and mobile.
It said that town Ludlow died not only once but twice, although today there are still about 10 residents that reside there. Ludlow was first established in 1882 as a water stop on the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad and named after rail car repairman Wiliam B. Ludlow.
When the gold was discovered in the nearby Bagdad-Chase Mine in 1900 the town really took off. The first samples milled from the mine yielded about 17, 000 per one thousand tons of ore so mine production stepped up. However , there was not enough water at the actual mine to process the ore, Ludlow was famously known to be short on water , so water had to be shipped out via the Ludlow -Southern Railroad, beginning 1903. From Ludlow, the ore was transferred to the mill in Barstow.
Bagdad-Chase Mine was declared the town of Rochester and later Steadman as a "closed camp " where no liquor or women were allowed. This gave Ludlow another boost because the miners came to town on Saturday night for entertainment. Most of the town of Ludlow was owned by Murphy Brothers. Another entrepreneur was known as Mother Preston, owned several buildings in town, including a store, hotel, boarding house, saloon cafe, pool hall and three homes. She was known to be a good businesswoman and an expert poker player Later on she sold to Murphy Brothers and retired in France.
When borax was discovered in the area, Francis Marion " Borax: Smith built a railroad which ran from Ludlow to Beatty , Nevada. The Railroad , the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad , was 169 miles long . Three railroads running through Ludlow really benefited the town for as long as the mines were operational . but unfortunately , it did not last forever.
The Pacific Coast Borax Company started shutting down its operations in 1927-1928 , so the need for the T&T railroad declined , with the coming Depression rapidly drove to complete dismiss. The Railroad line ceased operations in 1933 and by 1943 the tracks had been torn up. The Ludlow _Southern Railroad had ceased its operations in 1916 , but not because gold mining operations declined. Bagdad-Chase mine produced half of all the gold mined in San Bernardino County from 1880-1970.
After two railroads ceased their operation , Ludlow began to decline. However the opening of Route 66 made the town thrive again However, when I-40 was built , the town was by -passed and Ludlow died again for the second time. Today remains of first and second ghost town of Ludlow still stand: a shell of the Ludlow Mercantile Company ( originally Mother Preston's and then Murphy Brothers), railroad tracks, a neglected cemetery and the old Ludlow Cafe and a post office.
Ludlow Mercantile Company (originally Mother Preston’s and then the Murphy Brothers)
When the gold was discovered in the nearby Bagdad-Chase Mine in 1900 the town really took off. The first samples milled from the mine yielded about 17, 000 per one thousand tons of ore so mine production stepped up. However , there was not enough water at the actual mine to process the ore, Ludlow was famously known to be short on water , so water had to be shipped out via the Ludlow -Southern Railroad, beginning 1903. From Ludlow, the ore was transferred to the mill in Barstow.
Bagdad-Chase Mine was declared the town of Rochester and later Steadman as a "closed camp " where no liquor or women were allowed. This gave Ludlow another boost because the miners came to town on Saturday night for entertainment. Most of the town of Ludlow was owned by Murphy Brothers. Another entrepreneur was known as Mother Preston, owned several buildings in town, including a store, hotel, boarding house, saloon cafe, pool hall and three homes. She was known to be a good businesswoman and an expert poker player Later on she sold to Murphy Brothers and retired in France.
When borax was discovered in the area, Francis Marion " Borax: Smith built a railroad which ran from Ludlow to Beatty , Nevada. The Railroad , the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad , was 169 miles long . Three railroads running through Ludlow really benefited the town for as long as the mines were operational . but unfortunately , it did not last forever.
The Pacific Coast Borax Company started shutting down its operations in 1927-1928 , so the need for the T&T railroad declined , with the coming Depression rapidly drove to complete dismiss. The Railroad line ceased operations in 1933 and by 1943 the tracks had been torn up. The Ludlow _Southern Railroad had ceased its operations in 1916 , but not because gold mining operations declined. Bagdad-Chase mine produced half of all the gold mined in San Bernardino County from 1880-1970.
After two railroads ceased their operation , Ludlow began to decline. However the opening of Route 66 made the town thrive again However, when I-40 was built , the town was by -passed and Ludlow died again for the second time. Today remains of first and second ghost town of Ludlow still stand: a shell of the Ludlow Mercantile Company ( originally Mother Preston's and then Murphy Brothers), railroad tracks, a neglected cemetery and the old Ludlow Cafe and a post office.
There is also Ludlow cafe , a motel and a gas station that still open and serve like a nice rest stop for refreshments and fuel .
Ludlow Mercantile Company (originally Mother Preston’s and then the Murphy Brothers)
back of the building
interior
railroad tracks
abandoned house
the ruins
Ludlow cemetary
Junk cars graveyard
fallen down house
Ludlow Post Office
post office interior
Old Garage
interior
Ludlow cafe
Interior
Ludlow Cafe still open
Ludlow
I've visited this town before and walked through some of these abandoned houses. I am curious though, as to what year this houses were built and when abandoned?
ReplyDeletewell the houses were built in a late 1800s and abandoned when they built a new I- 40 in mid or late 1930s.
ReplyDeleteWe are another Ludlow - Ludlow, Illinois and like this our village sprung up along the railroad in the 1800's. In the 1950's our population was 500+ but when Interstate 57 was built 1/2 mile from the town, the Village fathers at that time thought the amount to pay the State for an interchange was too much money and US Highway 45 ran along the village boundaries so why pay for an interchange? What a mistake! The population dwindled and we lost two churches, the only gas station, a barbershop, a beauty shop, a feed mill, a machine shop, a trucking company, a small grocery store, and a cafe. We still have an elementary school (for how long?), a small church, a post office, a bar, a grain elevator, and a volunteer fire department.
ReplyDelete