By Associated Press - Wednesday, March 7, 2018

PHOENIX (AP) - Sunday, March 11

On this date in 1913, the Guggenheim syndicate obtained an option on the Copper Chief Mine near Jerome, binding themselves to do $500,000 in development work on the mine.

On this date in 1931, the Secretary of the Interior awarded the contract for construction of Boulder Dam to Six Companies Inc. of San Francisco. The $48 million bid was the largest labor contract ever given by the federal government at the time.

Monday, March 12

On this date in 1885, the 13th Territorial Legislature passed an act allowing the establishment of a Territorial University at Tucson.

On this date in 1895, thousands celebrated the arrival of the first Santa Fe train into Phoenix.

On this date in 1913, the president of the Tucson Chamber of Commerce endorsed the Sabino Project, which would provide a dam, reservoir, power plant and water to the city.

On this date in 1928, the city of Chandler dedicated its first airport.

Tuesday, March 13

On this date in 1913, Eliphalet B. Gage, former superintendent of the Grand Central Mine at Tombstone, president of the Tombstone Consolidated Mines Company and president of the Phoenix National Bank, died in San Francisco at the age of 74.

On this date in 1913, Mexican federal and constitutional forces battled in Nogales, Sonora. About 25 houses in Arizona were struck by bullets and the U.S. Fifth Cavalry was positioned around Nogales ready for defensive action.

On this date in 1922, the University of Arizona campus was buried under 7 inches (18 centimeters) of snow.

Wednesday, March 14

On this date in 1849, Bill Williams, mountain man, fur trapper and guide, died. The town of Williams, Bill Williams Fork and Bill Williams Mountain are named after him.

On this date in 1911, the polished, native granite cornerstone was placed for the Phoenix Women’s Club Building on First Avenue and Bennett Lane by Mrs. Dwight B. Heard.

On this date in 1913, a mountain lion measuring 8 feet (2.4 meters) long was found in a fox trap in Sabino Canyon near Tucson.

On this date in 2013, a federal appeals court throws out the convictions of Arizona death row inmate Debra Jean MIlke, who was found guilty of murder in the 1989 killing of her 4-year-old son. The boy was shot in the back of the head.

Thursday, March 15

On this date in 1711, Father Francisco Eusebio Kino died in Sonora, Mexico.

On this date in 1881, the Tombstone stage, carrying $80,000 in bullion, was robbed. Stage driver Bud Philpot was killed during the bungled robbery.

On this date in 1899, an international tug of war contest was held in Phoenix.

On this date in 1899, Santa Cruz County, the state’s smallest county, was established after being formed out of Cochise and Pima counties.

On this date in 1936, the monument to Father Kino was unveiled in Tucson.

On this date in 1960, Kitt Peak National Observatory was dedicated.

Friday, March 16

On this date in 1860, Mrs. Larcena Page was kidnapped from her husband’s lumber camp in Madera Canyon. She suffered 16 lance wounds and was beaten before being left unconscious in the snow. After three days, she crawled 15 miles (24 kilometers) back to her husband’s camp.

On this date in 1902, plans for a telephone line to Picacho were announced after right-of-way across the Yuma Indian Reservation was granted to the Colorado River Telephone Company.

On this date in 1906, A fire caused by defective wiring caused $4,000 in damage to the Arizona Journal newspaper office in Lowell.

Saturday, March 17

On this date in 1904, The Arizona Daily Star reported that a large body of onyx was discovered in the Santa Rita Mountains.

On this date in 1936, clouds of dust from the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma covered the state making breathing difficult for Bisbee residents, cutting visibility to .5 mile (.8 kilometer) in Tucson and leaving a yellow haze over Phoenix.

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