The Arizona copper camp., 1920-06-19
Story Of Ray
BY NETTlE PENNY

drought, and even the ella river was
a bed of dry sand Cattle could be
bought for a dollar head. But in
1905 it rained nearly every day from
the 1st of January to the 23rd On April. 4
One big flood did great Gs5zi OF dam
age, taking away the steel bridge that
crossed the creek near the present
main office. Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
Schilling were living at that time in
tent house near Mineral Creek and
barely escaped with their lives.
This happened at night, and as
Mrs. Schilling was the first woman
who had thus far come to Ray, it was
necessary for Mr. Schilling to go to
Kelvin the next morning to borrow
clothes for her as all of her clothes
had gone with the flood.
During this continued flood time
conditions became very bad in Ray,
as all supplies had to be brought
across the ella, and SO many acci-
dents had happened in attempting. to
cross that men refused to attempt it.
The great fire came in 1912, and it
is said that in forty minutes forty
two placesiof business were destroyed.
The fire started in the Chinese res
taurant and the wood and tent build
ings made splendid fodder for the fire.
The only building left was the livery
stable, which was quickly ~converted
into the Hard Luck Restaurant and
Saloon The stalls were fixed to
accommodate ladies and private par.
ties and the Hard Luck did a re-
markable business.
In the early days, Indian Springs
was favorite camping place for In
dians passing through Ray, but those
Indians who lived here and their vii
lage where the present Ray Con. sta
lie is located, and the Mexican popu-
lation was located on the tlat south
of the heating plant
Previous to 1908 the present ioca-
tion of the No. plant was covered
with houses, these houses were moved
to the present townsite to make room
| for the No. mine.
The necessity for more homes for
the employees became so urgent that
in 1916 Boyd Heights was planned and
started.
AS no town or community is com
plete without the public school, and
since there had been no district or
ganized, consequently no taxes were
available to conduct school, the pa
irons raised the necessary money for
a school in 1900 This was held n
the old adobe building now used as d
part of the depot. No school was held
again until 1907 after the district No
3 was organized. Miss Margaret Fair
holm enrolled forty-two pupils School
was held in the depot, in the church
that stood on the hill above the pres
ent site of the Hercules ore bin, and
finally the stone building known as
the Dunham building was built by
Mr.. Dunham in 1910.
One of the things well remembered
Ly those who attended the Dunham
school in those days was the baseball
outfit furnished the boys by Tommy
Rankin, a hoist man of the Ray Con
The only condition was that you must
attend, school to be able to play with
any of this outfit.
The folks who visit Ray in these
days do not realize that these good
homes. the splendid plants of the cop
fper companies, the substantial build
ings and modern sewer and water
plants of the town, and finally, the
beautiful modern schools with equip
ment second 10 none, are all so recent
in construction.
If the Knights of Pythias in 1880
offer such prize there Will be big
ger story to tell them than | have
been able to tell, tut it will not be
more interesting.
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