A New Territory and a New State:
Many 'anglos' - so called by most historians - either came
to Tucson to establish new lives, or passed through
it on their way west.
Some stayed
here even before the Gadsden Purchase in 1853, in which
land that makes up present-day Arizona and New Mexico
was bought
from
the
Mexican government.
We were then part of Donana County, New Mexico, which
split the two states latitudinally into the two counties of the
new territory.
This jurisdiction
is found in some of the earliest records in the county
archives. The earliest books of the County Clerk show
deaths, marriages,
court
cases
and other
entries that make fascinating and often amusing reading.
One person, who lived in the farms on the west banks
of the Santa
Cruz, sued
his neighbor
because her unfenced cows often had digestive problems
near his front door and the aroma offended him. Not
surprisingly, the
judge ruled
that she
had to keep them confined.
Anglos continued to pour into the area, and the names
on early plat maps of Tucson and of elected officials
present
an interesting
mix.
There were
Oury, Tully, Warner, the above mentioned Meyers,
and others such as Carrillo, Samaniego, Elias, Bonillas,
Ochoa, Laos
and Ronstadt.
These
early community
leaders traded off the various County titles in an
even mix of anglo and Mexican names for years. (For
history
buffs,
I recommend
reading
'Los Tucsonenses',
by Thomas E. Sheridan - a fascinating account of
the Mexican community in Tucson).
When Arizona was made an official Territory at the
height of the Civil War in 1863, it saw its only
action in that
war at
the Battle
of Picacho
Peak, a relatively small skirmish in which the
Confederate troops rather decisively beat the small detachment
of Union soldiers.
Tucson was
very much on the side of the South. Also in this
period was the construction of Fort Lowell, then
a remote
outpost to
house the
troops that helped
guard
Tucson. As we all know, many of the building comprising
the Fort exist today right in Flecha Caida's front
yard.
Tucson and its environs continued to grow for the
rest of the century. The coming of the Southern
Pacific railroad to Tucson
in 1880 was
one of the most important events of that time.
It was
during these years
that
business leaders such as the Steinfelds, the
Jacomes, and the Ronstadts began the businesses that marked
the true
urbanization
of the eastern
end of Pima County. The University of Arizona
was also founded in the 1880's,
a sure sign that the city was truly becoming
more urban and sophisticated. Neighborhoods such as
Armory Park
and 'Snob
Hollow' to the west
of the old Presidio area were developed. Luckily,
some of these
lovely
old homes
stand to this day, such as Manning House on Paseo
Redondo, the Rockwell house on Main Street and
several others.
Walking tours
of these areas
are available.
Because so many of the old families have remained
here, we have a sense of history and tradition
that has saved
all
but a few
of the
treasures
that have disappeared in other communities.
There have almost always been members of these families
in local
government reminding Tucson's
citizens
of the rich history of the area.
This attitude has nearly always prevailed as
we grew, except for a brief period in the
early 1970's
when
some old homes
in the Barrio
were torn
down to build the new Tucson Community Center,
relocating some of the
city's 'first families'. Such a hue and cry
went up that subsequent 'master plans'
have usually been sensitive to our history
and its importance to those who live here.
If not,
the planners
soon hear
about it.
As the Twentieth Century got underway, Tucson
became a 'destination' for adventurous
travelers. Area
ranches began
taking in guests,
the old El
Conquistador Hotel was built (now the site
of the El con Mall) and we added a new "C" to the traditional Copper, Cattle, and Cotton
that made up our industrial base - Climate. The Arizona Inn was popular
with
tourists beginning in 1930. To this day, it is a delightful spot for
weddings and other celebrations, and a perennial favorite of many visitors.
Wild
Horse Ranch opened in 1940, a guest ranch near Cortaro Road. The main
house was an expansion of an old, stone building that served as a stop
on the
Butterfield Stage route. For commercial travelers, the Pioneer Hotel
on Stone and Pennington downtown was the accommodation of choice. It
was built
with funds supplied by the Steinfeld family, who owned an upscale department
store across the street and who were tragically killed in hte fire that
engulfed the Pioneer in 1973. Golf became the recreation of choice and
many resorts were and are centered on lush golf courses.
Growth continued with careful planning
and monitoring. Within the next several years,
more than a thousand
dwelling units
will have
been added
south of the Flechas and north of Grant
Road. Plans to extend Alvernon Way across
the Rillito
are also
underway,
eventually
replacing
the old Dodge Bridge that has stood for
so long. A linear park will extend
for
miles along both banks of the Rillito
as well, including what is, for some reason,
called
a 'wetlands' area
where Columbus
Boulevard
dead
ends at
the river. Well, maybe occasionally.
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