Arizona state miner., 1924-07-19
RETROSPECT OF WIcKENBuRc
Sharlot M. Hall Sees Things of HUI
man interest In the Old Town
richard Ranch, Dewey, Arizona,


for several reasons, and I fully under
stand the spirit in which it was writ
ten. 1t just happens that my own in
terest in Wickenburg is very much
older than your own. | believe that
you will get a new view point if you
will have the kindly patience to read
this letter to the end. In the first
place | am probably much older Ar
izonan than seven out of ten of the
present inhabitants of Wickenburg, SO
! am able to look both farther forward
ard farther backward.
From 1885 to about 1908 my father
employed for part of each year man
who spent the remainder of each year
with Uncle Henry" Wickenburg. He
was an Englishman and had more of
the spirit of hero worship and of ap-
probation for the beginnings of re-
gion historically, than the average
American reared in small commun-
ity has.
Through him | became interested
in the early history of Wickenburg
and the surrounding country and
came to know of most of the people
who figured in it. l began gathering
| could find I made a long journey
to visit with Billy Mack, and I got
from George Luhrs of Phoenix and
from others the tragic story of Gus
Swain and young Taylor, and others
who died in Indian warfare.
I cleaned the history of the Vul-
ture mine and the mills along the
Hassayampa from every source that
/ could find, and as full story of
early placer mining as l could get.
Many years ago I made a success
sion of visits to Wickenburg on pur-
pose to talk with the Oldest people
then left and to record their stories
of early mining life, stage days, and
Indian fighting.
/ also gathered every printed thing
which / could finland have even
the field notes of the early surveys
of the town.
1t has always been region of
story and romance to me and I do
not mind telling you frankly that l
have expected to turn some of my
material into poems and a novel.
Now, since | have very probably
a better knowledge of the history of
the region than any of it's present
inhabitants, I believe that you will
grant me time to tell you what I
feel would do more to make the city
favorably known than any contention
with adjoining communities.
twenty-five years ago l was in the
midst of that deliberate publicity cam
paign which today has ended in max
ing Southern California a land of ro-
nance to the tourist and visitor. 1
myself knew some of the present
show places when they we're almost
forgotten ruins, crumbling away un-
cared for.
1t is very seldom indeed that the
second or third crop of inhabitants
in a locality have much respect for
or interest in the ones who began
local history there. It took outsiders,
people who came to Southern Califor-
mia from other states to see that the
story of her older life was mighty
big business asset and chance for ad-
vertiSing for the whole region
remember when many of her
Missions were deserted piles of adobe
ruins, falling to mounds of mud with
each winters rain. Now every such
pile is restored and treasured because
it is a source of interest to visitors
and of local pride to the immediate
vicinity.
For many years l have wondered
If Arizona would ever wake up and
learn to capitalize her very best
source of advertising and her finest
source of local interest and pride
the romance and remains of her early
history. Arizona could be made a
golden land of interest to the tourist
far surprising Southern California.
and when | see our communities neg
lecting or deliberately destroying the
very things that would give them
unique interest for every passing Wis
itor as well as foster local pride,
feel as if / wanted to shout at them
until they walked up from their stolid
sleep.
That is why I spoke so strongly
of the old graveyard at Wickenburg
Wickenburg has a past which if
played up" intelligently is worth
more to her in advertising and in
making a reason why tourists and
visitors should come to her than
could be bought with hundred thou
sand dollars in cash.
1t would be the part of good busi-
ness for every citizen to wake up
and recognize this before it is too
late ANY city, town or neighbor-
hood attracts attention because of the