Sunday, April 27
On this date in 1828, Isaac Polhamus, Colorado riverboat captain, was born.
On this date in 1896, the first passenger elevator in the state was put into service in Phoenix.
Monday, April 28
On this date in 1700, Father Francisco Eusebio Kino wrote in his diary that work had begun on the foundations of the first church at San Xavier del Bac.
On this date in 1876, the cornerstone of the Territorial Prison was laid at Yuma. The first prisoners were received there in June of that year.
On this date in 1882, The Arizona Daily Citizen reported that the bathhouse of the Cosmopolitan Hotel had been moved from near the Park Brewery to the Cosmopolitan Hotel Plaza, making it more convenient for hotel guests.
On this date in 1931, 70 cars left Yuma in a motorcade to Phoenix to celebrate the opening of the hard surface road between Phoenix and San Diego.
Tuesday, April 29
On this date in 1871, six Americans, 48 Mexicans and 92 Papago Indians killed 118 Apaches, mostly women and children, in the Camp Grant Massacre. Twenty-seven Apache children were kidnapped and sold into slavery in Mexico.
On this date in 1898, the first contingent of Arizona Volunteers headed for Cuba by way of El Paso.
On this date in 1904, the first meeting of the Arizona Automobile Association opened in Tucson with a parade and a visit to the San Xavier Mission.
On this date in 1913, most of the town of Maricopa was destroyed by an early morning fire.
On this date in 1922, the Globe-Miami-Superior highway opened.
On this date in 1926, Yuma County Sheriff’s deputies raided a dairy farm and found more moonshine than milk. The haul included 200 gallons of liquor, 750 gallons of mash, 75 gallons of wine and a 100-gallon still.
Wednesday, April 30
On this date in 1913, the first vodka in sample lots was received in Tucson by a local “collector of curios.”
On this date in 1920, the Grand Canyon National Park was dedicated.
On this date in 1922, the Phoenix-Miami-Globe railroad, connecting the Salt River Valley with the Gila Valley was opened at a celebration attended by hundreds in Miami.
On this date in 1927, Mrs. William Henry Brophy gave $250,000 and 25 acres of land to endow and build the Jesuit College in Phoenix.
Thursday, May 1
On this date in 1859, Father Joseph P. Machebeuf was named the first American Catholic priest in Arizona.
On this date in 1880, The Tombstone Epitaph was established by publisher John P. Clum, who said, “every tombstone needs an epitaph.”
On this date in 1914, the University of Arizona was the site for a demonstration of the new “four-wheel drive” truck which had been successfully tested by the National Guard.
On this date in 1914, the funeral of Mrs. Sara Sorin took place. Sorin was the first woman to be admitted to the Arizona Bar Association and she had practiced before the U.S. Supreme Court. She specialized in mining law.
On this date in 1930, major copper companies throughout Arizona announced a 5 percent cut in wages because of a four-cent per pound reduction in copper prices.
Friday, May 2
On this date in 1872, two earthquake shocks were felt in Yuma at 5:45 p.m.
On this date in 1873, the first legal hanging in the state is said to have taken place across the street from a school in Yuma. The teacher, not wanting her students to witness the hanging, dismissed classes for the day.
On this date in 1878, the first issue of the Arizona Silver Belt was published at Globe City which contained an editorial suggesting the word “city” be dropped from the town’s name.
On this date in 1913, a gold nugget weighing 29 ounces and worth over $500 was brought in to Tucson by a man who had found it on the ground after a hard rain.
On this date in 1932, John Clum, Apache Indian agent, Mayor of Tombstone and editor of the Tombstone Epitaph, died at age 80.
Saturday, May 3
On this date in 1882, President Chester A. Arthur warned Arizona that he would place it under martial law unless it showed more respect for law and order. The warning was directed chiefly at Cochise County.
On this date in 1910, Harold Steinfeld, born and educated in Tucson, was made assistant general manager of Macy’s Department Store in New York.
On this date in 1913, two motorcycles set a speed record for the Tucson-Nogales run. Their total time was three hours and five minutes.
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