In 1866, Blazer’s Mill and the village of Tularosa were situated within the Socorro County borders, and the local legislature passed a statute granting Tularosa the entitlement to their land and the water that flowed into it. In 1868, Dr. Blazer had come into possession of a share in George Nesmith’s ranch and sawmill alongside his partner, George Abbott. The spot sat atop a hill that overlooked the south fork of the Rio Tularosa. The mill, which had been called La Maquina until his arrival, had been there for many years prior. The timber sourced from the mill had been utilized for constructing or fixing forts as far away as Fort Davis, Texas, and Fort Selden, New Mexico. The water-driven mill then provided lumber to Fort Stanton and the small neighboring farms.
 However, Blazer and his partners quickly discovered that the nearby town of Tularosa controlled the water supply that ran to his mil. When the mill’s wheel began turning again, The citizens of Tularosa made it clear to Blazer that the water supply was to be in their control. Being upstream from them, they made Blazer promise to return the water that powered his mill back into the stream.
Mr. Blazers property had a large two story house and an office building known as The Quad on top of a big hill. The rest of Blazer’s buildings were scattered below; a sawmill, powered by Tularosa Creek, a gristmill, and several adobe structures including a general store, post office, several corrals and barns. 

Later when water levels began running very low the Tularosa citizens went upstream and discovered that several dams had been built across the river. One of the new settlers upstream was Andrew J. Wilson. Tularosa citizens Felipe Bernal and Jose Marcos, among a few others, destroyed the dams after finding nobody around.
Later when Wilson discovered the dams were dismantled he and a few other settlers built the dams right back up. But as they were doing so they were attacked by some of the Tularosa men who were keeping an eye on the place. Dr. Blazer, with the help of some influential men from Lincoln, represented the citizens of the Tularosa Valley and along with William Brady, petitioned for Captain C.H. McKibben of the 15th infantry and Commander at Fort Stanton for the aid and protection against the water thieves. McKibben dispatched second lieutenant John Wilkinson and 5 soldiers to uphold the civil law upstream from Tularosa. But when Wilkinson arrived he and his men split up and were breaking up the newly repaired dams when they were attacked by a large gang of Mexican farmers and settlers.
The soldiers were shot at and one of their horses was killed. Wilkinson’s horse was also shot and wounded. The soldiers returned fire and killed one of the Mexican farmers. As they were outnumbered, they fled to Blazers home where there were about a dozen anglos who were ready to assist them. They took up several positions around the building and sent a man to Fort Stanton for back-up. As they waited they were soon surrounded by close to 50 Mexicans. When they wouldn’t come out of the building they were fired upon for about thirty minutes until the mob spotted the army riding in their direction. In the lead was Captain McKibben himself along with Captain James Randlett. They were approaching with a large Detachment of soldiers. The mob noticed them from a distance and scattered. 
The scene at Blazer’s Mill became a battleground once again in April of 1878 when The Lincoln County Regulators and Buckshot Roberts exchanged hot lead, leading to the deaths of Buckshot and Richard Brewer. Several men were wounded including John Middleton who took a bullet to the chest and lived. Billy the Kid, who fought along side the Regulators was later dismissed on charges from the killing of Roberts. 
In August of 1878 Blazer’s Mill again hosted violence that left Indian Agent Morice Bernstein dead.

More on this site soon! Please check back later!!