Sunday, May 11
On this date in 1889, a band of masked men ambushed Major J.W. Wham and his military escort carrying a $26,000 army payroll to Fort Thomas. The payroll was stolen and eight soldiers were wounded.
On this date in 1910, the Maricopa-Phoenix train was held up about eight miles from Maricopa. Two bandits relieved all the passengers of their valuables and one passenger was struck over the head with a revolver.
On this date in 1910, work began on the north-south territorial highway out of Prescott.
On this date in 1934, Tucson’s first city hall building, which was built in 1881, was destroyed by fire.
Monday, May 12
On this date in 1886, fire destroyed the Grand Central pumphouse in Tombstone, causing the mines to flood and shutting down all mining operations.
On this date in 1887, the Tombstone Epitaph reported that a volcano had erupted in the Dragoon Mountains following an earthquake.
On this date in 1897, Ed Schiefflin, discoverer of the Tombstone silver mines, died.
On this date in 1913, Herbert Brown, who had come to Arizona in 1873, engaged in lumbering in the Santa Rita Mountains and in the mercantile business in Tucson, died. Brown was the owner of the Tucson Citizen and the Tucson Post newspapers and in 1902 was appointed warden of the Yuma Prison, and operated the Gondolfo Hotel there.
On this date in 1924, Evan Mecham, the first governor in Arizona to be impeached, was born in Duchesne, Utah.
Tuesday, May 13
On this date in 1846, President James K. Polk declared that a state of war existed between the United States and Mexico.
On this date in 1905, the dams at Greer and St. John gave way and the St. Johns Valley suffered heavy flood damage.
On this date in 1920, the city of Tucson charged that Phoenix was holding up its census figures until it could learn Tucson’s population - and then boost their numbers to put Phoenix ahead.
On this date in 1929, a forest fire which had burned for days in the Patagonia Mountains was finally put out, just in time to save the town of Harshaw.
On this date in 1929, Barney Oldfield, famous racing driver, narrowly escaped death when his car overturned on the highway near Winslow after hitting a road scraper.
Wednesday, May 14
On this date in 1884, the first Arizona Industrial Exposition was held in Phoenix.
On this date in 1903, the Salt River Valley Project was authorized by the Bureau of Reclamation.
On this date in 1910, 1,000 lots were sold in Parker in a single day.
On this date in 1913, John J. Gospers, Secretary of State of the Territory of Arizona during the administration of Gov. John C. Fremont, died as a charity patient in Los Angeles County Hospital.
On this date in 1922, 60-year-old undelivered letters were found with the skeleton of a Pony Express carrier in the cellar of an old cabin near Oatman.
On this date in 1929, Phoenix road maintenance crews were provided with first-aid kits and tubes of anti-venom against snake bites after 50 rattlesnakes were killed by road crews within a few days.
Thursday, May 15
On this date in 1899, the Phoenix Daily Herald ran an ad placed by a local contractor asking residents why they continue to spend $5, $10 or $15 a month on rent when they could own a lot in the heart of Phoenix for $65 to $200.
On this date in 1899, the Phoenix Daily Herald reported the departure of John Gorman, who was the tollgate keeper on the Riverside-to-Globe road until it was abandoned. Gorman took tolls for 18 years, often with a pistol or shotgun in his hand.
On this date in 1922, outlaws attempted the holdup of the Southern Pacific Golden State at Jayne’s Station near Tucson. One was killed and the others fled as the express messenger used his shotgun.
On this date in 1925, a fire in the Cave Creek area of the Chiricahua Mountains near Douglas spread over an area three miles long and two miles wide.
Friday, May 16
On this date in 1898, Arizona barbers raised their prices to an unheard of high for a shave - 25 cents.
On this date in 1910, Edward Hughes, one of the original locators of the Helvetia mines, died.
On this date in 1916, the town of Pima was incorporated.
On this date in 1929, high winds toppled the new Somerton Junior High school under construction at Somerton, south of Yuma. One workman was killed and another seriously injured.
On this date in 1930, outlaws set fire to the railway trestle between Miami and Globe in an effort to wreck the Southern Pacific train but the engineer opened the throttle and raced through the flames.
Saturday, May 17
On this date in 1900, an Arizona and New Mexico Railroad freight train crashed through a bridge near Clifton. Three people were killed and nine injured.
On this date in 1910, the Douglas police chief arrested the mayor on a charge of failing to hitch his horse.
On this date in 1910, a carload of wild broncos was shipped from Phoenix to New York where they would be ridden, three each day, at the New York Hippodrome by rodeo rider Bert Bryan.
On this date in 1931, Nogales dedicated its new international airport.
On this date in 1940, the University of Arizona radio bureau director said women were too artificial on the air to be successful.
On this date in 1910, the Hotel Adams in Phoenix was destroyed by fire, with the loss estimated at $275,000 and two people killed. Gov. and Mrs. Richard Sloan, who were living in the hotel made their escape without injury.
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