The Arizona copper camp., 1920-06-12
s. Story Of Ray So

the town Of Ray might be noted At
first, they had to go to Riverside,
across the Gila river from Kelvin,
for Their mail Later, the mail was
brought to Ray and an Arbuelde cot
fee box served for the general deitv-
cry, and everybody sorted their mail
out Of the coffee box.
The first jail was a short tunnel in
the side Of the mountain between.
Ray and where the present town Of
Sonora is located. Judge French held
court each morning il front of the
Jail
In 1908 there was a very severe
drought and even the Gla river was
q bed Of dry sand. Cattle could be
bought for q dollar a head But in
1905 it rained nearly every day from
the 1st Of January to the 23d Of April.
One big flood did a great deal Of dam
age, taking away the steel bridge that
crossed the creek near the present
main office Mr.. and AIRS. eFrank
Schll.ng were living at that time in
tent house near Mineral Creek and
barely escaped with their lives.
This happened at night, and as
Mrs. sehilling was the first woman
who had~thus far come to. Ray, it was
necessary for Mr.. Schlling to so to
Kelvin the next morning to harrow
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 places Of business were destroyed.
The fire started in the Chinese res
taurant and lie wood and tent build
fngs made splendid fodder for the fire.
The only building left was the livery
stable, which was quickly converted
into the "Iiard-Luck Restaurant and
Saloon The stalls were fixed to
accommodate ladies and private par
lies and the lizard Luck" did a re-
markable business.
In the early days, Indian Springs
was a fayorite camping place for In
dams passing through Ray, but those
indians who lived here had their vii
lage where the present, Ray Con. sta
BILE is located, and the Mexican -popu-
-latioh was located On the flat south
OF the heating plant 5T
Previous to 1903 the present loca-
tion Of tile No. plant was covered
with houses, these houses were moved
to the present. townsite to make room
sor the No. 2 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
2lete without the pullic, school, and
since there had been no district or
ganized, consequently no taxes were
available to conduct a school the
patrons raised the necessary money
for a school in 1900 This was held in
the old adobe building now used as a
part Of the depot. No school was held
again until 1907, after the district No
8 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
ant site Of the Hercules ore bin, and
finally the stone building known as
tho Dunham building was built by
Mr. Dunham in 1910
| One Of the things well remembered
! by those who attended the Dunham
school in those days was the baseball
outfit furnished the boys by Tommy
Rankin, 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.
inc Iolks VINO VISIT Kay IN these
days do not realize that these good
homes, the splendid plants Of the cop
per companies, the substantial build
ngs and modern sewer and water
plants of the town, and, finally the
beautiful modern schools with equip
ment second To none, are all so recent
n construction.
If the Knights of Pythias in 1890
offer such a prize there will be big
ger story TO tell them than I have
been able to tell, but it will not sb'a
/ more interesting,
THEIR GOODNIGHT MESSAGE
One Of cur local citizens tells this