Flashback Friday: Algodones in Black and White

No, I didn't forget about this, I just got busy today and put it off. Then I was going to put a certain set of James' pictures up, but in going through some of my own, things started to take a different turn (I promise, I will get to the other pictures at a later time).

I had this great blast from the past this week when I came across a man who served his mission in my "home" ward about 10 years ago (give or take a few years). He was the first, and nearly last, missionary that my dad tolerated to have over for dinner because he was from South Africa and had a great accent and lots of interesting stories to share.

The whole encounter got me thinking about where I grew up. It's a little town called Algodones that is nestled right between Santa Fe and Albuquerque NM. Though the bigger towns around it change so drastically, this little place seems to stay the same. In high school I got to document a lot of the town, especially around my parent's property, on film (ie black and white pictures). All of these pictures are scans of my original hand-developed, darkroom photos from my junior year (1999-2000). I've got some more from my parents' house that I'll share at a later time, but I just wanted to let you all in on New Mexico's best kept secret.

The horno outside my old elementary school

The rest of the building burned right down to the ground years ago, but this little jewel hung on.

Miscellanous Creepy Ruins


The tracks that run by our house

Many a penny (and nickel and dime) were squashed - and still more lost in the attempt - on these tracks. I don't know how many days we spent walking up and down this stretch. On summer nights, when the windows in the house were open, the roar of the trains was deafening. I loved it. But what is that weird place the tracks are headed towards? Keep scrolling.

Miscellaneous Creepy Plant

To this day I have no idea what was ever manufactured or processed in this place, but it just fascinates me. The railroad tracks split off and went into it for loading/unloading purposes, but I don't think it ever functioned in my lifetime.

This place is a huge part of my life. I spent 18 years in the same house in this little blip on the map. I'm so glad I have these pictures that perfectly capture the essence of this place (to me at least). Thanks for indulging me. Next week Flashback Friday will resume it's juvenile, slightly embarrassing persona which we have all grown to love.