Sunday, May 18
On this date in 1901, the Saguaro Cactus Bloom was named the official state flower by the Territorial Legislature.
On this date in 1904, William C. Greene, owner of Greene Consolidated Copper Company of Cananea, brought in a chauffeur from New York to drive his $18,000 car. The chauffeur, who reportedly had two impressive holes in his head due to a collision with an ice wagon, terrified locals by hitting Naco Road doing 70 mph.
On this date in 1911, Theodore Roosevelt dedicated Roosevelt Dam, by starting the machinery that opened three gates to allow water to fill up Roosevelt Lake.
On this date in 1917, Corydon E. Cooley, Arizona pioneer, Army scout and good friend of the White Mountain Apache Indians, died.
Monday, May 19
On this date in 1873, an Army garrison at Tucson was moved to Rillito Creek to establish Fort Lowell.
On this date in 1882, Morgan Earp was killed from an ambush in Hatch’s Billiard Parlor in Tombstone.
On this date in 1906, Wickenburg scheduled a spring housecleaning week during which the men were supposed to cut weeds and drag stones out of the streets and the women were supposed to serve them dinner.
Tuesday, May 20
On this date in 1875, an ad in the Tucson Citizen announced an appearance by Professor Yacabo, who reportedly died in Sonora, Mexico and was resurrected four days later.
On this date in 1880, the first Southern Pacific train arrived in Tucson
On this date in 1882, the first gas lights were lit in Tucson. Crowds gathered in the street to look at the words “Gas Company” illuminated in jets of gas over the company’s office.
On this date in 1904, a hypnotist who spent the week giving performances in Phoenix was arrested on charges of conducting an immoral exhibit. Specifically, he was accused of having placed a young lady in a trance then allowing her to be displayed in a department store window.
Wednesday, May 21
On this date in 1882, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and party left the town of Tombstone, never to return.
On this date in 1890, General George Crook died.
On this date in 1895, Navajo County was created out of Apache County.
On this date in 1901, the Arizona Rangers were established by order of Governor Nathan O. Murphy.
Thursday, May 22
On this date in 1875, the Silver King Mine was discovered in the Pinal Mountains. The first ore taken from the mine was assessed at $4,300 per ton.
On this date in 1906, a meeting of the Board of School Trustees addressed the “unbecoming conduct” of six teachers in the Tucson Public Schools. The teachers had gone on a Sunday picnic to Sabino Canyon at which they “drank beer and wine and smoked cigarettes.”
On this date in 1907, the Territorial Legislature moved the Territorial Prison from Yuma to Florence.
Friday, May 23
On this date in 1876, the first Mormon settlers reached Sunset Crossing on the Little Colorado River, where they would establish four settlements. The four companies, which included 50 men and their families, left Salt Lake City on Feb. 3, 1876.
On this date in 1877, John D. Lee, who in 1872 established and operated Lee’s Ferry across the Colorado River, was executed for his participation in the Mountain Meadows massacre. He was seated upon his coffin and shot by a firing squad at the site of the massacre.
On this date in 1904, F.W. Volz loaned 5,000 pounds of the Canyon Diablo meteor to the Arizona Board of Managers of the World’s Fair for display at St. Louis.
Saturday, May 24
On this date in 1856, Sonora Exploring and Mining Company was organized in Cincinnati to develop silver mines in southern Arizona. The Heintzelman Mine, near Arivaca, was the company’s first development.
On this date in 1902, Samuel Friedman, proprietor of the Grand Central Hotel at Benson and of several mining claims in the Dragoon Mountains, died.
END ADV
Please read our comment policy before commenting.