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Grand Canyon Pioneers Society - Monthly Bulletin - April 1999 |
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GCPS Meetings for 1999
| March 13: | Join the Grand Canyon Pioneers for a ride on Verde Canyon Railroad in Clarkdale. We'll meet at 1:00 PM at the Depot at 300 North Broadway in Clarkdale. Check in with Tom Carmony. We'll take the 2:00 PM train. The railroad has a cafe and picnic area if you would like to meet for lunch. No matter where you have lunch, be at the depot at 1:00 PM. March is the best time of year to ride the train because the golden and bald eagles nest along the Verde River. Fares are Adults: $35.95; Children ages 2-12: $20.95; Seniors 65 and over: $32.95. Make your check payable to Grand Canyon Pioneers and give it to Tom Carmony the day of the excursion. |
| April 17: | A talk about the Northern Arizona University Special Collections by Diane Grua at the NAU Cline Library Miriam Lemont Reading Room at 10:30 AM. Diane, a Library Specialist, will speak on "Intellectual Control in the Acid-Free Zone." [Hint: it has something to do with collections!] Note that the main library does not open until 10:30 AM. The Miriam Lemont Reading Room is inside Special Collections area which is located on the second floor of the library. Please be prompt. The Special Collections door will be locked when Diane begins her presentation. After Diane's talk, we'll meet at Furr's for lunch. |
| May 15: | Come to the Canyon to hear Michael Anderson, author of "Living at the Edge: Explorers, Exploiters and Settlers of the Grand Canyon Region", tell us about such pioneers as Captain John Hance, Big Jim of Indian Garden, Pete Berry, David Rust, and many others. He will illustrate his talk with slides of historic photos. We'll meet at 1:00 PM in the multi-purpose room of the Shrine of the Ages. There is parking at the Visitor Center. If you want to bring a picnic lunch, you'll find picnic tables and grills across the street at Camper Services. Nearby Yavapai Lodge offers cafeteria dining. May is a beautiful time to be at the Canyon. If you want to spend the night and do some hiking on Sunday, May 16, Jim Ohlman will be leading a hike for the more adventurous hikers. Diane Cassidy and Betty Leavengood are planning an easier hike. Look for details in the next issue of this newsletter. |
| June 12: | Annual Picnic at Shoshone Point and a tour of the Grand Canyon Cemetery by Stew Fritts prior to the picnic. |
| July 17: | Jim Tuck of the National Park Service will be doing a program on the Grand Canyon Master Plan Implementation. |
| August 17: | To be announced. |
| September 18: | John Westerlund, our scholarship awardee for last year and this year, will show slides and tell us about his doctoral project on the World War II prisoners at Navajo Depot and the Japanese internees at Leupp. We'll meet for lunch at Furr's Cafeteria in Flagstaff at 11:30 AM and afterwards make our way to the meeting room. The presentation will be in the Liberal Arts Building at Northern Arizona University at 1:00 PM in Room 135. In case you do not come to the lunch, the Liberal Arts Building is on the north campus, Building 18. Parking is in Lot 10. Room 135 is on the north end of the building, first floor. Maps are available at most campus entrances. |
| October 16: | Annual Meeting. |
| November 13: | Possible Tucson meeting - Ruth Stephens Baker will give talk on the Shiva Temple Climb. A tour of the Arizona Historical Society and a talk by Debbie Shelton, curator of photos, about the Bass Collection Photos will follow. |
| December: | No meeting. |
New Members
We welcome the following new members to the Society:
Margaret Thune, Palm City, Florida
Betty Sharp Waterman, Eugene, OR
Theda Flynn, St George, UT
The February Meeting
The Poco Diablo resort played host to the Grand Canyon Pioneers on the thirteenth day of February. After lunch in the dining room those attending were treated to an excellent program on Buzz Holmstrom, one of the last of the great river adventurers. Brad Dimock, one of three authors of "The Doing of The Thing: the Brief Brilliant Whitewater Career of Buzz Holmstrom," told the story of the young Buzz's daring and successful solo trip down the Colorado River. Buzz was the first and last person to ever run all the rapids in the river. Now, this will cause some raised eyebrows. The last person you say? Why look at the river trips that ply their way down in the big boats every year--they run all the rapids. True they run all of those that still exist. But Buzz ran those now covered over by the waters behind the Hoover Dam, namely Lava Falls and Separation, two of the roughest on the river.
The meeting was well attended and every one enjoyed the talk and the chance to visit with Brad and other members.
For more information on Buzz see the article in the Ol' Pioneer, Volume 10 number 2.
The March 19, 1999 Verde Train Ride
Saturday, March 13, was an unusually beautiful day, one of those days
that made you feel good to be out doing things. I guess that is the way
a lot of Grand Canyon Pioneer members felt, because a goodly number
drove to Clarkdale, Arizona to take the Verde Canyon train ride. Betty
Leavengood had made pre-paid reservations and then worried about losing
money on the deal. Her worries were over when more showed up than we had
tickets.
The diesel driven train is made up of alternate coaches and open gondolas where passengers can roam freely and enjoy the scenery. Without the obstruction of glass windows the open car is ideal for looking and photographing the sights. Our group, along with others, was herded into the chair car named Phoenix for a body count, but not for long. As soon the conductor opened the gate to the gondola the seats were empty.
At first, as the train moved out from the station and through a pile of black slag left from the old mining days, and then into a flat desolate looking landscape, I wondered if the trip was going to be worth the price. I had seen flat barren desert before and was not the least impressed. This changed after a few miles. We entered the Verde River Canyon and the train began winding and twisting, following the river with high rock cliffs towering on our left and more on our right across a river that reflected the cloudless blue sky. Trees were beginning to bud and a few small birds ignored the movement of cars as we passed. Our attention was called to a spot high up on the cliff across the river. We were enthralled to see an eagle€s nest with a bird looking unperturbed as we passed. Further on blue herons glided over the river; some stood in the shallows searching for food. A flock of mallard ducks flew in formation just above the cliffs. Cameras clicked and binoculars were out tracking them as they passed.
We passed the mouth of Sycamore Canyon and the flow of the Verde River became broken with rocks and boulders forming rapids. Three hardy souls in canoes made their way through the turbulent waters. At one place a troop of boy scouts camped along the river lined up to wave. We passed through a tunnel and a few miles further we reached our destination, Perkinsville, Arizona, or I might say what is left of the once booming village. There were four buildings still standing, one of which was the old railroad station. Standing was about all it was doing, as it appeared to be in pretty bad shape. However, I was glad to see it had not been destroyed.
The engine disconnected and pulled around to the opposite end for the return to Clarkdale. What I first thought was going to be a dull trip through desert environment turned out to be most fascinating and enjoyable. For those who have not made this journey, I recommend it highly-- you won€t be disappointed.
A Remembrance
by Dortha E. Bosley
In the early days, the Fred Harvey Company offered bus trips along the Hermit Road to Hermit's Rest, the Desert View Drive to Desert View and longer trips to the Navajo Reservation.
Mechanics at the garage took care of the buses. The chauffeurs washed and cleaned their assigned vehicle inside and out. The drivers notified a mechanic of any clatter or unusual problem when noticed.
Every bus was equipped with a first aid kit, a couple of blankets, extra water and a few tools. Richard Bosley, called Dick by everyone who knew him, was one of the chauffeurs. He wore the Fred Harvey Company uniform: English riding breeches, high leather riding boots, a ten gallon hat, a western wool shirt and a flashy silk scarf.
The dispatcher at the garage used a work board that listed the bus schedules. Information on the board included the bus number, the chauffeur's name, time of departure and time of arrival.
The two lane roads were sufficient for that day and time. They followed the contour of the ground and curved around boulders or trees. When the driver came to Buggeln Hill he would shout out "Everyone lean forward to help the bus get up the hill." The passengers responded to the request and then would realize the joke that was played on them.
Mary Jane Colter provided the chauffeurs with a list of sights to point out to the passengers when the bus stopped at the various viewpoints along the rim. The drivers would also provide supplemental information and answer the questions of their passengers.
Sometimes a bus would breakdown. If the driver could not fix the problem, a passing motorist would be flagged down and given a message to deliver to the dispatcher at the garage. The wait for help was often long, as traffic was not heavy in those days. Finally a mechanic or two would arrive with a tow truck or another bus. Dick had a few delayed trips with unhappy passengers that did not make it back to their hotel on schedule.
The chauffeurs discussed what could be done to improve the service. Someone suggested the use of homing pigeons. Soon homing pigeons were housed in cages behind the garage. After the birds became accustomed to their home, a homing pigeon was a part of the emergency "equipment" for every bus. The system worked many times but there were failures. Stormy weather blew the birds off course and the message never arrived. One time Dick and his passengers watched a carrier pigeon circle and then dash for home with a message requesting help. Then a hungry hawk dived from a pine tree and attacked the pigeon. In a shower of feathers the two birds and the message hit the ground. Dick and his passengers had a long wait for help to arrive that day.
I don't know how long the pigeons were used but their use is an event to remember.
1999 GCPS Scholarship Award
John S. Westerlund, a doctoral student at Northern Arizona University, has been awarded the Grand Canyon Pioneers Society€s 1999 Scholarship.
The amount of the award is $1,000. John will use the money to pay for travel related research expenses pertaining to his doctoral dissertation in American history. His topic is titled "From €Indian Village to Minuteman Missiles: Navajo Ordnance Depot in the American West."
His research will take him to the Washington, DC area and to the reservations in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah to obtain oral interviews with former Navajo and Hopi depot employees. The Navajo Ordnance Depot is a munition depot located west of Flagstaff, Arizona.
John will be the speaker at our September 18th GCPS meeting at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.
News Flash
The Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff recently sponsored a contest to name an asteroid. Grand Canyon Pioneer Society member, Mike Gibson submitted the name Keet Seel, the name of an ancient Indian Pueblo ruin in Northeastern Arizona. Mike's entry was the winner. Congratulations Mike. Now every time we look up into the night sky we can say, "I know the man who named one of those asteroids floating around up there."
Thank you
The GCPS expresses their thanks for the donation from Charles A. Hoffman. The funds will be applied to one of our on going projects. Thank you Charlie.
The Bulletin welcomes comments, stories, or Reflections and Remembrances.
Please send them to
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Tom Carmony
206 W. Caroline Lane Tempe, AZ 85284-3021 |
or e-mail them to carmonys@extremezone.com
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