page_title: Heber-Overgaard, Arizona
section_title: 20th century
hierarchical_section_title: Heber-Overgaard, Arizona / History / 20th century
caption_attribution_description: English: Early day logging between Heber and Overgaard
context_page_description: Heber-Overgaard is a census-designated place in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. Situated atop the Mogollon Rim, the community lies at an elevation of 6,627 feet. The population was 2,822 at the 2010 census. Heber and Overgaard are technically two unincorporated communities, but as of the 1990 census, their close proximity has led to the merged name of "Heber-Overgaard".
  Heber was settled in 1883, by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the town is named after either Heber J. Grant or Heber C. Kimball, both prominent members of the LDS church. Overgaard, adjoining Heber, was settled c 1936 and was named after the owner of the first sawmill, Niels Kristian Overgaard.
  Heber-Overgaard's early economy was founded on dry farming and ranching while tourism, retirement and timbering are the basis for present day industry.
context_section_description: Alva Porter was married to Charlotte Shelly, in 1899, and homesteaded just north of Heber in the Black Canyon. In 1901, Samuel Porter handed his farm over to his brother Alva, and departed from Heber. Porter's farm was located where today's Tenney trailer park, and the Mogollon ball fields stand.
  In 1904, severe drought caused hundreds of cattle belonging to the Aztec Land and Cattle Co. to die from thirst and hunger. During the spring, drinking water had to be hauled from 15 miles away. Many pioneers became disheartened and left the area. In late June, James Shelly and 2 sons desperately drove their cattle to "Blue Lake", found on the Apache reservation. They remained there until the rains came on July 20. Despite trespassing, the natives gave them no trouble.
  In 1912, after John Hoyle's death, Alva Porter purchased much of John Hoyle's merchandise and he and his brother-in-law Thomas Shelley started a new store close to John Hoyle's old one. Alva eventually sold his share to Thomas who ran the store with his wife, Eva Tanner, until 1957. The store would later become the "Heber Country Store" and later "IGA Supermarket".
  In 1916, James, and Margaret Shelley returned to Joseph City, their final home. Three Shelley children: Sarah Ellen Shelley (husband Harvey Wimmer), Walter Shelley (wife Roxie Smith), and Eliza Marie Shelley (husband Loran Webb) joined them later. Two Shelley children: Amon Shelley (wife Elva Bigler), and John Edward Shelley (wife Fern Oliver), remained in Heber.
  Joseph Porter and Maude Shelley were granted a patent on John Hoyle's land in 1920. They homesteaded this land located in Buckskin Wash, just south of the Black Canyon. Thomas Shelly homesteaded south of Joseph Porter in Buckskin wash. Maude Shelley would later die in 1929.
  By the 1930s, Heber had become a logging town. Horses were used to haul logs up until 1965. Logging and ranching were the predominant industries until the mid-90s, at which time the Mexican spotted owl injunction was put on the Sitgreaves National Forest. Bill Porter built the first sawmill in Heber just south of present-day HWY260 along the Black Canyon. This ran until 1935 when it burned down. In 1946 Lorin Donald (Donnie) Porter relocated his "Wagon Draw" sawmill to Heber. It ran until 1984 when a change of ownership was soon followed by bankruptcy.
  In 1936, Niels Kristian "Chris" Overgaard, who was the second son of a Danish family, moved to the United States with the intention of earning his living in the lumber mill business.  Some time later, he moved to Arizona from North Dakota, "lured by the lush stands of Ponderosa".  Modular mill pieces were hauled by train to nearby Holbrook, and then transported by wagon to "Overgaard’s stop". Originally called "Oklahoma Flats", the town later changed its name in honor of Mr. Overgaard. The sawmill was assembled across SR 260 from the present day "Overgaard Food Center".  Mr. Overgaard ran the sawmill until financial reversals resulted in its sale.  He then moved with his wife to Ohio, forever leaving the area.  The sawmill was eventually replaced by a senior center that was later lost in the Rodeo–Chediski Fire in the summer of 2002.  The "Rim Country Senior/Community Center" has since been rebuilt. The post office in Overgaard was established on October 14, 1938.  William T. Shockley served as the first postmaster in 1938, followed by Christ Overgaard in 1939.
  On February 1, 1971, the local Sheriff's Posse formed a committee to promote the construction of a Fire Department for the Heber-Overgaard area. By March of the same year, land was secured for the location of the new Fire Department. In February 1972, the Sheriff Posse disbanded because some members had moved out of the area. In early 1973, the newly formed American Legion Post 86 took over the task of forming a Fire Department and Fire District for the area. They were able to obtain the signatures necessary to have an election called to form a Fire District. A petition was put together and used to propose the formation of a Fire District to the County Board of Supervis
caption: Early day logging between Heber and Overgaard
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