Sunday, June 21
On this date in 1860, the original Baca Float Grants were made by act of Congress.
On this date in 1867, Pauline Weaver, who had come to Arizona in 1839 and became a guide, scout, trapper and hunter, died at Camp Lincoln at the age of 70.
On this date in 1913, an entire flock of goats drowned in an irrigation ditch in Tucson when they were driven from the Tucson Mountains by thirst and stampeded into the ditch at the smell of water.
On this date in 1922, Arizona’s first licensed broadcasting station, KFAD, went on the air in Phoenix.
On this date in 1936, A.J. Eddy of Yuma developed the first home evaporative cooler.
Monday, June 22
On this date in 1854, the first steamer on the Colorado River, The Uncle Sam, sank at Pilot Knob.
On this date in 1857, the U.S. Government signed a contract with James E. Birch for semi-monthly mail and passenger service from San Antonio, Texas to San Diego via Tucson. The line became known as the “Jackass Mail” because the passengers had to ride mules from Fort Yuma to the coast.
On this date in 1892, the Casa Grande Ruins were declared a national monument by President Benjamin Harrison.
On this date in 1930, a cloudburst dropped 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rain on Tucson, and was immediately followed by hurricane force winds that ripped roofs off houses.
Tuesday, June 23
On this date in 1844, Mary Bernard Aguirre was born in St. Louis, Mo. She married Ephifanio Aguirre, a Santa Fe trader, and came with him to Tucson where she became one of the first school teachers, and the mother of several sons who became prominent in mining and ranching in southern Arizona.
On this date in 1881, a barrel of whiskey exploded in a Tombstone saloon starting a fire which destroyed the business section of the town.
On this date in 1906, the final survey was completed for the narrow gauge railway from Patagonia to Mowry. It was reported the engineers then planned to go to Salero to survey a line from Salero to Calabasas.
On this date in 1926, Aimee Semple McPherson, a colorful Los Angeles evangelist who had been missing since May 18, ended a two-state search when she staggered into Douglas with a tale of kidnapping, torture, ransom demands and imprisonment somewhere in the desert.
On this date in 2013, aerialist Nik Wallenda completed a tightrope walk that took him a quarter-mile over the Little Colorado River Gorge in northeastern Arizona. Wallenda performed the stunt on a steel cable 1,500 feet (457 meters) above the river on the Navajo Nation near the Grand Canyon.
Wednesday., June 24
On this date in 1874, the first woman Postmistress in Arizona was appointed at Walnut in Yavapai County.
On this date in 1888, Kingman was destroyed by fire.
On this date in 1902, Charles D. Poston, “Father of Arizona,” died in poverty in Phoenix.
On this date in 1910, five Papago Indians were seriously burned during the observance of San Juan’s Day near Menager’s Oasis. A large quantity of explosive powder was accidentally ignited, injuring three children and two adults.
Thursday, June 25
On this date in 1895, the Peralta-Reavis claims to 12750000 acres (51597.47 square kilometers) of land in Arizona and New Mexico were declared fraudulent by the U.S. District Court in Santa Fe. James A. Reavis was later convicted of perjury and sentenced to two years in the penitentiary.
Friday, June 26
On this date in 1869, Leopoldo Carrillo opened Arizona’s first commercial ice cream saloon in Tucson.
On this date in 1933, Tucson bakers raised the price of pound loaves of bread from eight to nine cents.
Saturday, June 27
On this date in 1881, 30,000 pounds (13.6 metric tonnes) of gunpowder exploded in Zeckendorf’s powder magazine at the edge of Tucson, smashing windows and dishes and damaging buildings all over town. Churches were quickly filled with people who feared the end of the world was at hand.
On this date in 1921, a fire destroyed the mining town of Oatman with the loss estimated at $500,000.
On this date in 1926, a shoulder blade of a huge prehistoric animal was discovered at Arivaca.
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