Sunday, 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.
Monday, 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.
Tuesday, 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.
Wednesday, 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 a half-mile 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometer) in Tucson and leaving a yellow haze over Phoenix.
Thursday, March 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 (113 kph).
On this date in 1911, Theodore Roosevelt dedicated Roosevelt Dam.
On this date in 1917, Corydon E. Cooley, Arizona pioneer, Army scout and good friend of the White Mountain Apache Indians, died.
Friday, March 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.
Saturday, March 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.
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