The Border Chronicles

One more and I'm outta here

2007-11-25T15:52:00.000-08:00

Getting outta here is the topic for my last blog this year for two reasons:

1) I will be graduating in December and thus, I will be outta here soon.

2) My first son will be born in a couple weeks, so he will be outta there, too.

It has been an amazing (and enormously busy) year, and I face the end with mixed emotions. Of course, as any college graduate I cannot wait to step into the real life and leave all the books and assignments behind. But on the other hand, I will miss friends and teachers as well as the sheltered life of a student, which also includes financial aid and discount rates.

I am not sure if I will stay on the path to Journalism but I will always cherish the experience and fun that I received at the Borderbeat. I am sure to see one or the other familiar face on the TV screen one day or even winning a Pulitzer Prize. Then I am going to lean back in my chair and say: "Yep, I worked with her at the Borderbeat back in 2007. I knew she had it in her." And knowing my class mates, I know that many have it in them to become outstanding journalists. So good luck to you all.

But all that is just a minor issue compared to the challenge I am about to take. In about two weeks, my wife and I will be proud parents of a baby boy. Personally, I have never wanted anything more in my life and I cannot wait to meet the little guy.

This semester brought me close to desperation more than once. I was juggling full-time work and school alongside doctor's appointments and much needed one-on-one time with my wife. I am still not sure how I managed to survive. One reason could be that I shut all my friends out of my life for the past three months or that Thanksgiving was my first day off since May. I am sure though that the thought of hearing my baby's laugh really kept me going through the months. It was all worth it.

I am not sure if I am going to be able to cope with the emotional onslaught that December will bring. Baby, graduation (and finals are still to come), possible new job, Christmas, my wife's and my birthday, and probably other events that I forgot to mention in the rush. In any case, I will remember this time as one of the busiest but most exciting times of my life, where all my hard work and determination paid off in the end. I am just thankful that my wife is so understanding and even put her needs beneath mine sometimes.

I love you Jenna and Logan.

But I cannot leave you without a little video. I hope this baby's laugh cheers you up as much as it did me.

Also, folks, don't forget to read up on your Arizona history. There is more to it than just what I wrote this year. On a somewhat related note, my wife and I (actually her more than me) are attempting to have a natural birth. So here is a little "history" of the Birth & Woman's Health Center here in Tucson.

And I'm outta here...

The University of Arizona

2007-11-14T13:39:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I stride across campus and I picture our university how it might have looked a hundred years ago - dusty roads, small wood building and still a small-town flair lingering in the stuffy air.

We have come a long way since then but many forget about the beginnings when they sit in high-tech classrooms with projectors and air-conditioning.

So I'll try to paint you a picture today of how our university started.

It was back in 1885, when the Morrill Land-Grant Act enabled funding for industrial colleges. One per each state was allowed and Tucson was the Arizona pick and received a $25,000 grant.

The first building was Old Main, still standing today, although it is not used for classrooms anymore. In 1891, 32 students were taught by six professors on a 40-acre campus. In comparison, the UofA today stretches over 356 acres and includes 157 buildings. In the early years only ten students graduated from the UofA every year.

In 1915, studies were reorganized into three colleges: Agricultures,and letters, arts and science ,and mines and engineering.

As the university made its first steps, tradition started rolling in, such as the Wildcats slogan: Bear down Arizona. The phrase was coined by student body president and varsity athlete John "Button" Salmon. Shortly before his death due to an auto accident, he passed on a last message to his teammates: "Tell them to bear down."

The slogan became part of the UA fight song in 1952, when Jack K. Lee, an applicant for the UA's band directorship, was inspired by the large letters on the UA gymnasium and composed the UA hymn. You can listen to the song here.

Check out this video made by Going West Football:

By the way, back in the early days, the UA color's were still sage, green and silver. The modern Red and Blue was not introduced until 1900 due to a money shortage. The Wildcats were able to acquire cheap blue shirts with a red trim during that season and thus, decided to change colors altogether. I was never a big fan of non-primary colors anyway.

And those colors can be seen anywhere in the city, but especially displayed through the giant 'A' up on Sentinel Peak or A-mountain. It was November 6, 1914 - Thanksgiving Day - when the Wildcat football team defeated the team from Pomona college with 7 to 6. Just as the Romans erected statues after great battles, UA students built a giant A on Sentinel Peak that is still a trademark for the UA and the city of Tucson. The A was not finished until March of 1916.

Around that time, in 1915 to be exact, somebody else came to life as well. Rufus Arizona, a real bobcat, became the official mascot of the university. The trend of using a real animal was ended in the mid-60s and Wilbur Wildcat made his way on to the scene in 1959 - and he was an instant success. And on Nov. 21, 1986, Wilbur even got married to his beloved Wilma. And now they even have a Myspace profile!

The University of Arizona is also the site of the bell of the USS Arizona, which functions as a reminder of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The bell was brought to the UA campus in July 1946.It was hung in the then-new Student Union Memorial Building and rung for the first time five years later on November 17, 1951. It is still sounded seven times on the third Wednesday of every month at 12:07 p.m.

Today, the UA host 28,000 students and has 18 varsity teams. It runs "Spring Fling", the largest student run carnival in the nation. The Arizona Wildcats won the NCAA championship in 1997. And there is so much more to say that would break out of the conventions of a weekly blog, so I leave the rest to you...

Useful links:
The University of Arizona
Arizona History
Grad School History

Dates, dates, dates

2007-11-07T12:47:00.000-08:00

Today I want to inform you about basics in Arizona's history. This means I will compile a list of dates every one needs to know to speak educated about Arizona's past.

Here's a time line:

The Native American era:

16,000 - 10,000 BCE - the first Native Americans settle in the region.

300 BCE - the Anasazi, Hohokam, Mogollon and Salado populated the area.

The Spanish era:

1539 - Spanish explorer Marcos de Niza makes first contact with Natives. He brought tales of cities he discovered to Spain and incited gold fever among the conquistadors (even though de Niza never claimed o have found any) .

1540 - the Grand Canyon is discovered by Europeans. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and a mile deep.

1680 - the Pueblo Revolt temporarily drives the Spanish out of the Southern border region. The Pueblo Indian were prosecuted by the Spanish for their religious beliefs and fought back on Aug. 11, 1680 under the lead of the San Juan Indian Po'Pay. The Spanish death toll exceeded 400 that day.

1694 - the Spanish retake Arizona in what is called a "bloodless reconquest." They arrange a peace treaty with the Natives and establish their rule firmly.

1699 - Father Eusebio Francisco Kino lays the foundation for the San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson. The mission is a popular destination for tourists these days and is still used as an interfaith church.

1752 - the presidio of Tubac is established. The former fort is therefore the oldest city in Arizona.

1775 - the Spanish Hugo O'Conor establishes the presidio of Tucson, which stands as the official birth date of the city.

1797 - the San Xavier Mission is finished almost one hundred years after the first brick was laid.

The Mexican Era:

1810 - the Priest Miguel Hidalgo declares Mexico's independence from Spain. This initiates a long guerrilla war which was ended by the Treaty of Cordoba in 1821.

1821 - Mexico gains independence from Spain and becomes an independent monarchy. Tucson becomes part of Mexico as a result.

1846 - the Mexican-American War starts to answer the calls for manifest destiny. After two years of fighting, Mexico was defeated and lost almost half of its former territory.

1848 - the California Gold Rush brings a flood of immigrants to the region.

The American Era:

1853 - the Gadsden Purchase takes place and Tucson is now under American jurisdiction.

1863 - Arizona becomes an official territory.

1864 - On Nov. 7, the Arizona Historical Society is founded.

1867 - Tucson becomes territorial capitol for a ten-year period.

1880 - Southern Pacific Railroad reaches Tucson, linking the small border town with the rest of the nation.

1881 - the shoot-out at the OK Corral in Tombstone engraves Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday on the annals of history.

1885 - the University of Arizona is established as Arizona's first university.

1902 - the first modern air conditioning system is invented by Willis Haviland Carrier. This invention would 50 years later enable a population boom in the desert state. Tucson's population reached 120,000 in the 1950s.

And here is how it works, explained by the guys from HowStuffWorks:

1912 - On Feb. 14, Arizona gains statehood. It is the 48th state and also the last continental state to achieve this status.

1934 - on Jan. 23, the notorious gangster John Dillinger and his gang are captured in Tucson at the Hotel Congress.

1948 - Chicago-based electronics companyMotorola propels Arizona into the high-tech age by building a factory in Phoenix.

1948 - American Indian are allowed to vote as a result of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations. This was mainly a result of the Second World War.

1988 - The St. Louis Cardinals are relocated to Arizona and would later become the Arizona Cardinals.

1996 - Superbowl XXX is held in Tempe, AZ.

1997 - the Arizona Wildcats win their first NCAA title with an 84-79 victory over Kentucky. Click here to see the last ten minutes of the game.

2001 - The Arizona Diamondbacks win the World Series. By the way, the Diamondbacks actually only existed since 1998.

That's the list for now. Interestingly, nothing historically noteworthy happened in the late 20th century apart from sports events. These entries replaced the many instances of war and bloodshed in Arizona's history mostly driven by greed for land and money. I guess it's good we don't live in the Wild West anymore.

Arizona in the World Wars

2007-10-31T12:27:00.000-07:00

Many wars have been fought on the border to Mexico. In the 20th century, the border became a little quieter but wars were fought elsewhere that would require Arizonans to once more take up their arms and fight.

The event would be the fiercest war the world had seen so far and next week marks the end of this monumental fight - the First World War, which was ended on November 11, 1918 by an armistice with the German forces.

During World War I, Arizona enlisted more soldiers than any other state into the United States military, regarding the per capita count. More than 12,000 soldiers were sent off to Europe and entered the war against the German forces on April 6, 1917.

One person specifically stood out among the many: Franks Luke called the "Balloon Buster from Arizona." The soldier from Phoenix became famous during the war through persuing and shooting down German observation balloons and airplanes. Luke was killed in action after a daring air attack on the German forces. He was shot down and his body was later found holding an empty gun; surrounded by seven dead enemy soldiers. Luke was awarded the posthumous Medal of Honor in 1921.

But Arizona was also a trend-setter regarding enlisting Native Americans into the U.S. Army. Many Natives joined the ranks of white soldiers, even though they did not actually have citizenship. That was not granted to Native Americans until the passing of the Snyder Act in 1924.

Matthew B. Juan, from the Gila River Indian Community, was not only the first Arizonan to die in the war, but also the first Native American.

Altogether, 12,000 Natives served in the military during WWI, which is also the highest number in per capita enrollment. But to think this was the first time, American Indians joined the U.S. forces is wrong. They were recruited as scouts and soldiers throughout the American history. In fact, the last scout retired in 1947 from our very own Ft. Huachuca military base. But Native soldiers continued to represent a significant number in future wars.

Arizona was shaped in many ways during WWI. One fact many overlook is that the war incidentally increased the number of German refugees, and hence the German influence on Arizona communities. This site gives a list of all refugees coming to Arizona after the end of the war.

Moreover, Navajo Indians received international military fame during the cause of the Second World War. The U.S. military used Navajo Code talkers to send secret codes out in the ether that could not be cracked by enemy forces, because they did not grasp that it was an actual language.

This video is an homage to these Native Americans.

This week's fun facts:
1) World War I ended monarchy in Germany.
2) U.S. President was Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)
3) World War I led to the creation of the League of Nation - today's UNO.
4) August 14 is national Code Talker's day

Chief Cochise

2007-10-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

Southern Arizona's history was strongly influenced by one great Apache chieftain: Chief Cochise of the Chiricahua Apaches, who lived from around 1812 to 1874.

The Chief's name can be found everywhere across Southern Arizona. He lends his name to Cochise County, the area south of Tucson, to schools, pharmacies, doctor's offices and many more. But many don't know the story, when they read the brave leader's name, so I'll supply it for you.

When white America pushed westward in an attempt to fulfill its manifest destiny, the Chiricahua defended his homeland against the forces from outside.

At first, however, Cochise, Chief of the Chokonen band of the Chiricahua Apache, sided with Americans in their fight against Mexico. Cochise protected stagecoaches traveling through his territory from marauding Mexicans and passed his knowledge about living in the desert on to American settlers.

Then the year 1861 came along and a man called Lt. George Bascom swaggered into Arizona territory. The American officer accused Cochise of kidnapping an 11-year-old son of a local farmer. One thing led to another, and the hostilities turned onto a ten-year battle of Natives against settlers. The fight was joined by the famous Apache Geronimo.

Cochise and his men operated out of the Cochise Stronghold, a rugged mountain range in the Dragoon mountains. Sentinels would stand guard on the peak of this natural fortress and spot any intruder within hundreds of yards. In the time of war against the Americans, the Chiricahua tribe would raid the treks and farms around the area from here.

Check out this video about the Apache Indian resistance in the Southwest against the white intruders:

In 1872, peace negotiations settled the ten-year dispute and Cochise made the general of the local forces, Gen. Oliver Howard, his blood-brother. Peace reigned again and the exchange of culture and knowledge probably was the incentive in naming the southern county of Arizona after the famous Chief.

However, not all tribe members agreed with Cochise's peace efforts. Many took the side of Geronimo, who continued to battle the white onslaught fiercely and to his death.

Cochise died in the reservation in 1874 and to this day, no one knows where his body was buried. It was hidden in order to protect it from the possible desecration by the white man.

Famous cities in Cochise County today are the infamous Tombstone, Sierra Vista and the mining town Bisbee.

Fun facts:
1) Cochise means firewood.
2) Presidents in the time of upheaval were Lincoln (1861-1865), Andrew (165-1869) and Grant (1869-1877).
3) Cochise's grandson portrayed the Chief in the Western series High Chaparral at the age of 92 and with a missing leg.
4) Cochise is mentioned in songs by Audioslave, Joni Mitchell and Johnny Cash.

Useful links:
On Chief Cochise
Cochise County
The Cochise Stronghold

Tombstone

2007-10-21T16:35:00.000-07:00

Let's dig into the history of the Wild West this week - by presenting one of the most notorious Western towns located right here in Southern Arizona.
It is the town "too tough to die" - Tombstone.

The town has an important anniversary coming up - an anniversary for the event that made Tombstone famous. The gunfight at the O.K. Corral is turning 126 years old next week on Oct 26. Okay, so the big one was last year, but Tombstone is celebrating this famous part of its history like no other, with daily reenactments, the Wyatt Earp and Clanton Days and cowboys parading up and down the streets.

Back in 1881, Wyatt Earp, seen on the left, and his men, including the infamous Doc Holliday, battled the Clantons and McLaurys in a fierce duel that would be portrayed in many movies, including Tombstone with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer.

The story goes like this: The fight took place between Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp, Virgil Earp, Doc Holliday on one side and Frank McLaury, Tom McLaury, Billy Claiborne, Ike Clanton, and Billy Clanton on the other side.

Here is a video of the reenactment taken in Tombstone by a Youtube user.

The Earps represented the law whereas the opposing party was known as the Cowboys - a gang of outlaws. However, unlike some movies like to tell the story, the population of Tombstone did not live in fear of those outlaws, some members were even liked by the public.

The fight broke out when members of the Cowboys carried guns within the city limits, which was a misdemeanor at the time. After attempts to disarm the gang, a fight broke out and in 30 seconds thirty shots were fired. Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury and Frank McLaury were shot dead by the Earp faction. Doc Holliday and Virgil Earp suffered minor injuries and Wyatt Earp left the battle unharmed.

By the way, the gunfight did not actually take place at the O.K. Corral, but out on the nearby Fremont Street. Somehow, the name got attached to the event.

In the following weeks, Virgil and Morgan Earp were assassinated by unknown attackers. Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday sought to take revenge and hunted down the possible killers in what came to be known as the "Earp Vendetta Ride".

This next video made by Bryan O'Neal is a short documentary about the famous gunfight.

It is really interesting that a historic event like this shoot-out took place so early in Tombstone's history. Tombstone had just been founded a few years earlier in 1879.

Two years before, Ed Schieffelin, a German immigrant from Pennsylvania, discovered silver in the area and later named the town "Tombstone" because apparently they only thing to find out there would be your own grave. The mining was exhausted just a few decades later but the town remained - then kept alive by cattle farmers and today fueled by the tourist industry.

Here are a few stations you should stop by when visiting Tombstone:

- The Bird Cage Theater: this vintage saloon was turned into a museum and Wesern fans can rumble through this preserved whiskey joint.
- The Boot Hill Graveyard: many historic characters are buried here, and it is still in its original position.
- The O.K. Corral, of course: make sure to attend one of the many shows about the shoot-out. The site itself is not too exciting but the shows can make up for it.

And just for shits and giggles, click here to create your very own tombstone.

A few fun facts about Tombstone:
1. Wyatt Earp was never actually sheriff of Tombstone.
2. One poker game at the Bird Cage Theater was supposed to have lasted over 8 years.
3. Tombstone is the home of the world's largest rosebush.
4. It is illegal for adults to have less than one missing tooth visible when smiling.

Here are some useful links:
City of Tombstone
Tombstone
The Clanton Gang
The O.K. Corral Gunfight

Ancient meets modern

2007-10-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

Tucson is a melting pot of many cultures, mainly due to its close proximity to the border. The University of Arizona, as well, attracts people from cultures all over the world. However, there is one prominent culture found in its architecture that could be considered quite unfitting to Southern Arizona: Ancient Greek and Roman.

Ancient architecture can be found scattered all over the campus. The main influence probably stems from America's affection with especially the Roman Republic. After all, the U.S. Senate and government are modeled after the Roman original.

And even though, the UA buildings represent more of a mix than an actual model, the idea of incorporating ancient culture into a hot bordertown still is note-worthy.

The entrance of the Forbes building shows a typical Greek column structure found on temples. Although, Greek temples, unlike the Roman, had no specific front but could be entered from all sides, the university does homage to the ancient building style.

A close-up shows the typical Ionic column tops or capitals. The volute is typical for this style as well as a frieze or relief sculpting above it, which is missing in the UA copy. An ancient example for the Ionic order is the Temple of Artemis. Although the temple has been destroyed, you can see a reconstruction here.

Another prominent Greek style is the Doric order shown here. This simplistic style is dominated by a square abacus on top of the column. In the original, there is no base at the bottom of the column. UA architects, however, could not resist the temptation of mixing Ionic and Doric - oh well. A good, still existing example, is the world-famous Parthenon.

One thing that was done better at the Herring Hall above was the set-up of the entablature above the columns. Herring Hall looks more like a Greek temple, however, a missing feature are the triglyphs and metopes, found above the columns. The metopes would depict relief sculptures of myths and legends. An example is the engineering building found further below.

Cochise Hall presents the third of the classical orders - the Corinthian order. This style was prominently used by the Romans. The important difference lies in the capital. The volutes of the Ionic order were replaced by Acanthus leaves, a more elaborate and artistic design. The Roman Pantheon can still be visited today.

Here is Cochise Hall in full view. A little palm tree is peaking into the image, breaking apart the somewhat ancient look. A little note on the side, the features balcony is not an element of Greek or Roman architecture.

Here's a look at the engineering building on campus, designed after the Doric order. Architects attempted to include triglyphs and metopes. The triglyphs are the three-bar parts above the columns and the metopes are the spaces in between.

However, all the mechanical skill could not improve the lack of historical knowledge. Greek temples ended on the corner in a metope. The entablature here ends in a triglyph - strategically hidden by a large tree.

Yuma Hall is another, yet strongly improvised, example of a Corinthian column. By the way, do not think that ancient cities were all white marble. Ancient temples were colorful - painted in many ways to attract viewers. The colors simply faded as the ages passed.

The last example is Maricopa Hall. Once again, the style is strongly changed from the original. There is a hint of acanthus leaves as well as scattered metopes. Also, the columns seemed to be one large piece, whereas Greeks and Romans built the columns with several large blocks.

As a result, we can see that the attempts made on the UA campus were much like the movie Gladiator: Entertaining but oh so historically wrong. However, I appreciate any effort to revive lost civilization.

Another little fact sheet:
1. The Parthenon (Doric) is located on the Acropolis in Athens.
2. The Temple of Artemis (Ionic) is one of the seven wonder of the world.
3. The Pantheon (Corinthian) was a Roman temple dedicated to all gods.
4. The Parthenon was also a Christian church and a Muslim mosque at one point.

History and Halloween

2007-10-05T19:08:00.000-07:00

Now that Halloween is knocking at our doors, fun and scary events flood the calendars until we can all relax again when January comes around. Two very special events here in Tucson are much talked about every year: Nightfall and Buckelew Farms. Now what has that to do with history, you say? Well, wait for it!

Nightfall takes place at the historic Old Tucson studios from Sept. 29 to Oct 31. It is a spectacle with spooky shows and ghostly adventures - the Wild West town turns into a ghost town after dark.
For more information, visit the website or call (520) 883-0100 Ext. 326.

Now to the history part. I already mentioned in an earlier blog that "the Reno" found its final resting place at these old film studios. Now, I'll give you a more detailed look at this unique Tucson attraction.

Old Tucson film studios were built in 1939 for the movie Arizona with William Holden. In 1960, the studios were restored to be used as an amusement park when no filming took place. Old Tucson staged movies such as Rio Bravo with John Wayne, Tombstone and Three Amigos .

In 1995, a large fire destroyed most of the set and memorabilia, including the wardrobe from Little House on the Prarie. Today, it still functions as an active film set and during breaks, Western fans can visit the studios to experience the flair of a Western town through shows and rides coined towards the Wild Wild West.

Old Tucson Studios are open for the public every day of the week from 10 am to 4 pm during the summer. For pricing you can call (520)883-0100 or click here.

Event number two featured today takes place at Buckelew Farms. I just wanted to add this one to the list because it is something that everyone living in Tucson should at least do once in their lifetime. Visitors can roam around a pumpkin patch and pick out the pumpkin of their choosing. Afterwards, you can feed your fears with a visit to the corn maze. I went through it last year and can only recommend this to everyone - especially after dark. There are ghouls and zombies following you, jumping out of dark alleys and several stations where your groups needs to stop and experiences a gruesome scene just like in a cheesy horror movie.

For information and pricing, call (520)822-2277 or click here.

To inspire you, here is a video I found on Youtube about some great pumpkin carvings. Enjoy!

In Tucson,we can also feel a strong Mexican influence during the Halloween season. "Los Dias de los Muertos" take place from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 and are crowned by the All Souls Procession where people honor the spirits of their ancestors and loved ones. The procession features floats and costumes inspired by death, skeletons and ghosts and will wind along Downtown Tucson. The 18th All Souls Procession will start on Nov. 4 at 6 pm at the corner of 4th Ave and University Boulevard.

This video might give you a little impression about the procession itself.

Useful links:
Old Tucson
Buckelew Farms
Nightfall
All Souls Procession

Indigenous peoples on the border

2007-09-30T14:02:00.000-07:00

Today we are turning back the wheel of time for about 2,300 years - to the very beginnings of civilization in the Southwest.

At around 300 BCE, the Anasazi, Hohokam, Mogollon and Salado populated the area of today's Arizona. Actually, some scholars even believe that Native American presence in America can be dated back about 25,000 years.

At around 1,000 CE, the Hopi and Acoma built houses of stone and mud in the Black Mesa mountains.

Some could say that the change came in 1492, when the arrival of Columbus announced the beginning of a new age for the known world. A nation of millions scattered across the continent clashed with the European civilization. The tragic outcomes started surfacing in the 1800's.

However, a first step towards living together was made in 1781 through the adaption of the Northwest Ordinance. Here, even though the American land was distributed, Native American's were granted the right to possess their land and no one was allowed to take it - which is absurd because in their opinion, no one owned land in the first place.

The law didn't count for much though. In 1830, the Indian Removal Act was implemented by President Andrew Jackson. The act forced millions of indigenous people to relocate to different areas of the country.

The final step in a long line of discrimination was the Indian Appropriations Act, which established reservations for Native Americans.

Despite the struggles and hardship, Native Americans still celebrate their traditions, songs and religion. Here is a video that someone took at a powwow at the White Mountains in Arizona. Listen for the beat of the drum which represents the beating of a human heart.

One great event to look forward to this year - since it only happens every four years - is Thunder in the Desert. Tucson will host this large gathering of all indigenous people around the country which will take place around New Year 2007 at the Rillito Raceway Park.

More influences can be found especially in the Southwest. For example, the name Arizona comes from the Tohono O'oddham word arizonac. It is believed that this term was a combination of ali meaning small and shonak meaning place of the spring. Ali-Shonak thusly referred to a place of the small spring.

Tucson received its name from an old village called Stook-zone, which means "water at the foot of black mountain."

Useful links:
Grade Schoolers
Access Genealogy
Washington Library
Native Americans

Copper Mining in Bisbee, Arizona

2007-09-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

Let's shift our focus this week on a very specific town in Southern Arizona. Bisbee, Ariz. is famous for its historic copper mine.

The mine produced over 8 billion pounds of copper during the course of a century. On a 1975 market, that would have yielded $6.1 billion. The copper reserves were finally depleted in 1975 and the mine shut down. Today, it is a tourist attraction.

This silent film from 1927 shows original workers and equipment at copper mine. This is not the Bisbee Queen Mine, but it can give you an idea of working conditions.

People interested in the mine itself can undergo a tour of the Queen Mine available seven days a week. Check this link for rates, location and times. Tour guides lead visitors 1,500 feet into the mine. The organizers also put up a little video of the tour, which you can view here. Is is suggested, however, that you make reservations either on the website or by calling 1-866-432-2071.

Bisbee still has deeply rooted ties to its mining history. Here's a fun little event going on which is called the Drilling and Mucking Contest.

Doesn't this clip remind you a little of those lumberjack competitions you can see on TV when you flip through the upper channels?

Today's population barely jumps over 6,000 inhabitants, but at the height of the mining rush, Bisbee even was the biggest town in Cochise County. The boom ended in the early 1950s and the Phelps Dodge Corporation undertook strip mining in the Lavender Pit, an open pit mine. You can see the pit on the left, the picture is courtesy of Creative Commons.

By the way, here is a little tip for all future visitors: Bisbee police have a reputation of catching lots of speeders. They're always on the lookout. So make sure you obey the traffic rules when exploring this part of Arizona's past.

Another little fun fact sheet:
1. Bisbee was named after DeWitt Bisbee, who purchased the Queen Mine in 1880.
2. The mine also produced gold, silver, zinc and lead.
3. Bisbee is located in the Arizona Mule Mountains.
4. Bisbee was established on January 9, 1902.

Here are some useful links:
Bisbee City Limits
Discover Bisbee
Bisbee, Arizona

The Dillinger Gang

2007-09-16T17:19:00.000-07:00

Today's blog will focus on America's first Public Enemy Number 1 - the infamous John Dillinger. The famous bank robber was arrested here in Tucson on Jan. 23, 1934 while staying downtown at the historic Hotel Congress.

Dillinger and his gang helped create the definition of the 1930s gangster. On their record are numerous bank and police arsenal robberies, ten killed men and no less than three jail breaks - one of them was labeled "escape-proof".

Even today, Tucsonans still remember the criminal gang in the annual "Dillinger Days" which are celebrated in January. The re-enactment of the arrest attracts masses every year. The kicker: Dillinger and his gang were arrested without a single gunshot. A fire broke out in the hotel and firemen recognized the members of the gang who were hiding under different names in the Old Pueblo. Here is a little excerpt from last year's program.

This episode also showed how small-town cops could outsmart not only the gangsters but also the federal policemen who unsuccessfully attempted to snatch the Dillinger Gang.

A little clip to spice up the column comes from Youtube. However, this clip claims that John Dillinger actually died of a heart attack in 1956 - 22 years after his official death. Interesting, but probably fake.

History says that John Dillinger escaped the claws of justice after the Tucson incident and was eventually gunned down by the Department of Investigation, which should later become the FBI, on July 22, 1934. Dillinger came out of a movie theater after watching Manhattan Melodrama with Clark Gable, was ambushed by the DOI and died on the spot.

Here is another clip where John Dillinger's father speak about his famous son.

And here's another little fact list:
1.John Dillinger: June 22,1903 - July 22, 1934
2.Dillinger was America's first Public Enemy Number One.
3.Famous gang members included Homer Van Meter and Baby Face Nelson.
4.Dillinger's grave lies in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Here a a few links for more details:
Dillinger Gang in Tucson
PBS on Dillinger
FBI History

The Southern Railroad

2007-09-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

Some say the West could have never been conquered without the railroad system. I already mentioned in an earlier blog that plans for a railroad contributed to the Gadsden Purchase, which shaped the modern Arizona border to Mexico.

So let's take a look at the history of trains and tracks in Tucson and how you can relive the old times of black steam and locomotives.

One very interesting event is held every Saturday by the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum. At "Locomotive Saturdays" visitors can learn all about Tucson's transportation history and get a hands on experience right there at the historic "Depot". The admission is free. Get more information here.

This little video should help revive the spirit of the Old West and prep those interested in the event. The locomotive shown here is "The General" which operated in Georgia during the time of the Civil War and is now displayed in Kinnesaw, Georgia.

One really neat gimmick that can also be found in Tucson rests at Old Tucson Studios. A historic locomotive, simply called "The Reno", found a home at the old film studios. Take a look at the Reno here.

The Reno worked hard in the late 19th century to transport gold and silver through the mountains of Nevada. Later on, the famous locomotive could be seen in more than 100 movies such as "How the West Was Won" and "Wild Wild West" with Will Smith and Salma Hayek. It carried famous movie stars and politician, such as presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Ulysses S. Grant.

And last but not least, another little fact sheet about the railroad industry:
1. First railroad was established in England in 1758 - the Middleton Railway.
2. In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signs Pacific Railway Act.
3. Abraham Lincoln: 16th U.S. President (1861-1865)
4. The first locomotive was built by: Richard Trevithick in 1804.

Here are some useful links about locomotives in the Wild West:
Railway Museums
A railroad time-line

The Border Patrol and Immigration

2007-09-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

Let's continue with our excursion into the past. One element of the border, that was always very influential in my opinion, is the U.S. Border Patrol. The Border Patrol adopted a controversial role recently as the debate about illegal immigration flares up over new fences and minute men projects.

In 1904, under President Teddy Roosevelt, 75 guardsmen were hired to patrol the Southern border. By the way, their main goal was to prevent Chinese immigrants from crossing into American territory.

The Border Patrol as a governmental branch was officially established on May 28, 1924. At the same time, the Immigration Act of 1924 stopped the constant flow of immigrants and the first border stations were erected. The officers did not get uniforms until 1928, though, and they even had to provide their own horses and saddles. They probably didn't get any health benefits either - the good ol' days.

The video below was made by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. It shows the very beginnings of the Border Patrol.

Real dangers emerged a few years after the founding of the Border Patrol with the Mexican Revolution in 1910. The fierce civil war soon involved the United States as General Francisco "Pancho" Villa terrorized the Southern border. Villa was on a raiding and killing spree on the American side of the border with his army of "Villistas". Pancho Villa was eventually succumbed by the United States Armed Forces. For a detailed glimpse at the history of events, visit the Border Patrol website.

Since Border Patrol and immigration are inevitably linked together, this video clip should be quite fitting for today's blog. The makers of SuperNews took a comical approach to the landing of the Pilgrim fathers.

Finally, another little fact sheet:

1. Established: May 28, 1924
2. Theodore Roosevelt: 26th U.S. president (1901-1909)
3. First operating out of: El Paso, New Mexico
4. Border Patrol's motto: "Honor First"

Useful links about the Border Patrol:
Border Patrol Museum
U.S. Border Patrol
U.S. Customs

The Gadsden Purchase

2007-08-22T19:09:00.001-07:00

Our ignorance of history causes us to slander our own times - Gustave Flaubert

Therefore, it is important for us to take the time to look over our shoulders and glimpse at the past. Arizona's rich history is entwined with stories of the border. So it is only logical to start this blog at the very beginning: The Gadsden Purchase.

A large portion of today's Arizona was already ceded to the United States by Mexico in agreement with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. However, the border as we know it, was not established until 1853 when James Gadsden was sent to Mexico by President Franklin Pierce to purchase additional acreage from President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The intention was to acquire more land in order to plow a railroad track through the Sonoran desert.

This all came in a time of turmoil for the border region. The Mexican-American War ended in 1848, but a big portion of the land was still fought over by Americans and Mexicans, some parts were even considered no-man's-land due to loop holes in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The Gadsden Purchase finally settled those quarrels and established today's border line.

Here is an interesting site that deals exclusively with facts about the Gadsden Purchase and has some great maps for clarification.

The Gadsden Purchase was signed on December 30, 1853 in Mesilla, New Mexico. For those interested how this city looks today, check out this video on Google.

Without the Gadsden Purchase, Phoenix might have been a lot closer to the border and Tucsonans would need a passport to see a Diamondbacks game - apart from the fact that we would probably rather watch a soccer game instead.

And lastly, here is a list of facts for those who want to brag tomorrow about their historical knowledge.
1. Sum paid by the U.S.: $10 million
2. Area purchased : 29,670 square miles
3. Revised & signed : June 8, 1854
4. Franklin Pierce: 14th president of the United States (1853-1857)

All facts according to the U.S. Department of State.

A warm welcome

2007-08-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my first attempt at writing a Blog, so the layout is a bit experimental. But bare with me, folks, soon you will find material from the far corners of my mind mixed with bits and pieces of information from the very heart of the Old Pueblo. Some ideas might be intriguing, some might be controversial, but all will be filled with the power of an immigrant's soul. The Blog will focus on aspects of history - from the history of the border itself to snippets of curious incidents and tales of captivating personalities.

Stay tuned for more.