What a wonderful, wonderful week with our little grandson. He is a joy, and his joyfulness is catching. A parting photo of us with him. See that smile? It was ever-present. Such a wonderful memento...
Oddity, Queen Creek
To us, anyway. I do not know why this seems really strange—almost eerie and otherworldly—in the middle of nowhere:
My first impression was that this building was modeled after some of our older temples (Nauvoo and St. George), but then I did some research and found that it is Heritage Academy (a charter school) and was designed after the Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
Independence Hall and Nauvoo Temple
St. George Temple now and "then"
Since St. George is mentioned here, I might as well continue the theme. Our original plan was to go to St. George on our trip from Moab, UT, to Phoenix. I had already contacted our friends in St. George and arranged to meet with them, but we changed our plans because we were needed in Phoenix. So, that's how we ended up in Gallup. NM, and so on.
But back to St. George and the temple there. Here's something that I wrote earlier in another blog about it:
"Did you know that the temple in St. George was the first one to be built after the death of Prophet Joseph Smith? I did not. The temple dedication took place in 1877 under the direction of Brigham Young. This temple is the only one completed during Brigham Young’s life.
"An interesting bit of trivia: when the temple was completed, Brigham Young was not completely satisfied with the tower and dome, stating that they looked too short and squatty. He suggested having them fixed, but the Saints were so excited to have the temple finished that Brigham did not push the suggestion. However, about a year after Brigham Young's death, on October 16, 1878, a large storm rolled through St. George and a lightning bolt struck the tower of the temple, making it necessary to reconstruct the tower and dome. Brigham Young's feelings about the tower were well known and a new design was made for the tower, making it taller. (Goes to show that the prophet knows best, and that sometimes the Lord will send a lightning bolt to make His point!) The St. George temple is the oldest temple still in operation by the Church. In the 1970s the temple was closed and underwent extensive remodeling. Spender W. Kimball rededicated it in 1975."
Our trip towards home started a little shaky=car trouble. Never thought this would happen! Nothing really serious, just a warning light, which was checked and proved to be really nothing to worry about. But who can drive a car with a warning light staring in the face and not worry? Well, we're doing our best till we can get a second opinion. On southward!
Casa Grande, AZ
Where have I seen these before?
Oh, yes, Saudi Arabia!
Feeling that we are leaving the Cactus Country... so some last impressions:
Geronimo, "one who yawns" (1829 – 1909), was a prominent leader of the Bedonkohe Apache who fought against Mexico and Texas for their expansion into Apache tribal lands for several decades during the Apache Wars. "Geronimo" was the name given to him during a battle with Mexican soldiers.
Nowadays, Tombstone is one of the few remaining, almost completely preserved Western towns in the United States. The historic Allen Street (pedestrian zone) dons dozens of Western gift shops, museums, restaurants, and authentic saloons with live country music. In other word, it has become a mere tourist town...
Our next stop was not planned at all, for after Tombstone we had an entirely different route planned, but Ms. Siri told us to go this there way. Glad we did, actually, for we encountered something truly unexpected.
Bisbee
Almost the southernmost town in Arizona, Bisbee was a wonderful, colorful surprise and reprieve among the monochromatic scenery thus far. It reminded us of a Mediterranean town, clinging on a steep hillside that would slope down to the Sea. No sea here, but something very different and unexpected: copper, gold and silver mining.
Today, the historic city of Bisbee is known as "Old Bisbee" and is home to a thriving downtown cultural scene. This area is noted for its architecture, including Victorian-style houses and an elegant At Deco county courthouse. (Door of the courthouse on left.)
Next, the southernmost town of Arizona, Douglas. Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico and a history of mining. The Douglas area was first settled by the Spanish in the 18th century with a presidio that was established in 1776 and abandoned in 1780. The US Army established Camp San Bernardino in the latter half of the 19th century near the presidio, and in 1910 Camp Doglas was built next to the town.
oh yes, "The Land of Enchantment"...
Las Cruces, Recycling Model
This roadrunner, surveying the valley from atop a hill, is made of recycled materials.
Something more "enchanting," as in something more "unexpected": While we saw many border patrol and police vehicles, we certainly did not expect to make the acquaintance of some of the nicest highway potrol we've ever met.
Oh, yes, Saudi Arabia!
An ancient Sonoran desert-people's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether the Casa Grande was a gathering place for the desert people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of canals and trading partners, is but part of the mystique of the ruins.
The town Casa Grande is located in Pinal County and has a population of nearly 35,000. It was originally founded in 1879 as a mining town. (Right: one of many stone structures in Casa Grande, a church. Photo from visitcasagrande.org.)
It's a Sad, Sad Story
We happened upon a national landmark on our way down to southern Arizona, namely The Surrender of Geronimo monument.
Geronimo, "one who yawns" (1829 – 1909), was a prominent leader of the Bedonkohe Apache who fought against Mexico and Texas for their expansion into Apache tribal lands for several decades during the Apache Wars. "Geronimo" was the name given to him during a battle with Mexican soldiers.
After a Mexican attack on his tribe, where soldiers killed his mother, wife, and his three children in 1858, Geronimo joined a number of revenge attacks against the Mexicans.
In 1886, after a lengthy pursuit, Geronimo surrendered to Texan faux-gubernatorial authorities as a prisoner of war. At an old age, he became a celebrity, but he was never allowed to return to the land of his birth. Geronimo died in 1909 from complications of pneumonia at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Tombstone, AZ
"Tough town, too tough to die."
Ed Schieffelin was a prospector with amazing tenacity. One of the soldiers with whom he was bunking at one time, asked him:
"Why do you go off into them hills?"
"To collect rocks," Ed replied.
"You keep fooling around out there amongst them Apaches and the only rock you'll find will be your tombstone!" the soldier snapped.
Ed eventually found silver, and finally on September 21, 1877, he made his first claim to the site, and thus became a hugely rich man. Schieffelin remembered the exchange with the soldier and named his claim "Toomstone." Tombstone was the largest productive silver district in Arizona in its day. (BTW, there is at least one other story of how Tombstone got its name. I chose the one that seemed to make the best historical sense.)
In the legendary Boot Hill, grave markers abound, but the mod infamous were the unlucky participants of the legendary Wyatt Earp gunfight in 1881. Some were hanged, some shot, and many were just innocent unfortunates who ended up buried here with their boots still on. (Oddly echoes the Boot Hill stories from Dodge City, KS...)
Bisbee
Almost the southernmost town in Arizona, Bisbee was a wonderful, colorful surprise and reprieve among the monochromatic scenery thus far. It reminded us of a Mediterranean town, clinging on a steep hillside that would slope down to the Sea. No sea here, but something very different and unexpected: copper, gold and silver mining.
Photo: steelcactus.com
Bisbee was founded as a copper, gold, and silver mining town in 1880, and named in honor of Judge DeWitt Bisbee, one of the financial backers of the adjacent Copper Queen Mine.
The introduction of open-pit mining in the 1950s and continued underground work enabled the town to survive changes in mining. Neighboring towns had mines that closed, with a resulting dramatic loss of population. But, by 1950, the population of Bisbee had dropped to less than 6,000. In 1975 the Phelps Dodge Corporation halted its Bisbee copper-mining operations.
In the 1990s, people have been attracted to Bisbee, leading it to develop such amenities as coffee shops and live theatre. Many of the old houses have been renovated, and property values in Bisbee now greatly exceed those of other southeastern Arizona cities.
Today, the historic city of Bisbee is known as "Old Bisbee" and is home to a thriving downtown cultural scene. This area is noted for its architecture, including Victorian-style houses and an elegant At Deco county courthouse. (Door of the courthouse on left.)
In the May–June 2000 issue of Modern Maturity, Bisbee was called the most "alive" places to retire in the U.S. Bisbee was a runner-up as one of the "quirkiest" towns in America.
Next, the southernmost town of Arizona, Douglas. Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico and a history of mining. The Douglas area was first settled by the Spanish in the 18th century with a presidio that was established in 1776 and abandoned in 1780. The US Army established Camp San Bernardino in the latter half of the 19th century near the presidio, and in 1910 Camp Doglas was built next to the town.
Douglas was founded as an American smelter town, to treat the copper ores of nearby Bisbee. The town is named after mining pioneer Dr. James Douglas and was incorporated in 1905.
We ended up in Douglas only because it was on the way to our final destination for today. The town seemed to have nothing really to recommend it, but it does have a luxury hotel, Gadsden, a gem on the National Register of Historic places and remains a focal point of Douglas AZ. The the hotel's web site writes:
"We have proudly served visitors to Douglas since the hotel swung open its doors in 1908. We invite you to experience the grandeur of the old world lobby with its Tiffany & Company stained glass windows, grand marble staircase, soaring Italian marble columns and original art work."
And then, again:
Las Cruces, Recycling Model
This roadrunner, surveying the valley from atop a hill, is made of recycled materials.
http://www.livelovelascruces.com
Something more "enchanting," as in something more "unexpected": While we saw many border patrol and police vehicles, we certainly did not expect to make the acquaintance of some of the nicest highway potrol we've ever met.
Yeaah, we (I) did exceed the (low) speed limit, and thus we were singled out. We thought it was very interesting that the first thing, even before talking to us, they flicked the license plate to see if it was real, I guess. "North Carolina, hmm. Let's check this one out..." All we got was a verbal warning. Nice policemen. (Smile)
One more time across the Continental Divide...
... and a lineup of billboards "selling" the Continental Divide theme:
There were scores more, but this will have to do as a sample.
Finally our destination (place to overnight): Deming, New Mexico.
Did not have time to see much of Deming (don't even know what there would be remarkable...) except a quick dinner at "La Fonda," a colorful Mexican restaurant:
NEW MEXICO: WHITE SANDS, ALAMAGORDO
TEXAS: GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS
OUT OF GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE?
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