Boot Hill

Boothill Graveyard was the Tombstone City Cemetery from 1878 to 1884. It was not called Boothill until the 1920s. Its occupants ran the spectrum of all the cultures and nationalities of early Tombstone. Cowboys who "died with their boots on" lie next to housewives, business men and women, miners, gamblers, ladies of the "red-light district" and all the famous and not so famous occupants that contributed to Tombstone's early history. By the 1920s, Boothill had fallen into ruin with many grave markers lost or unreadable. A group of citizens in Tombstone and Cochise County began the task of researching old burial records, consulting with relatives, older residents, and using all means available to identify the occupants and mark the graves properly. The task took several years and the efforts of many to accomplish. This resulted in the graveyard being restored much as it was in the early years when it was the city cemetery.

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Cheers,
Ross and Beverley 

The Rose Bush Story - Tombstone

There are many interesting story's inTombstone one of which is The Rose Bush Story.  A mist the madness of gun fights of the day there remains The Lady Banksia Rose Bush.  The roots of which date back to 1885 .  It was planted by a young bride by the name of Mart Gee from Scotland.  At the time the property at Fourth and Toughnut Streets was a boarding house.  The woman in charge of  the building befriended Gee who had recieved a box of schrubs and roots of the Lady Banksia Rose from Scotland.  Both ladies planted the the tree and placed it on the patio and it has grown its brachches to welcome Tombstone tourists for over a century.  It spans over 8,000 square feet and for 132 years it has not stopped blooming.  It requires watering , triming and fertilizing

 The home is now a museum.

Cheers,

Ross and Beverley 

Tombstone , AZ

Tombstone is an historic city in Arizona, USA, founded in 1879 by a prospector Ed Schieffelin.  It became one of the last boomtowns in the American frontier.  The town grew significantly into the mid -1880's as the local mines produced $40 to $ 85 million in silver bullion.  It was the largets productive silver district in Arizona.  Its population grew from 100 to around 14,000 in less than 7 years.  However, the miners who worked very long hours earnt the princly sum of $1 per day.  This was not enough to rent a room in the local hotels and were required to camp.  It is best known these days as the site of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.  Today its a tourist haven with actors in period costume who add interest to the the area.  

                                                       

The Main Street and it's like walking back in time.

One of the several Hotels along Main Street with an interesting story to tell.

This home was the home of the Attoney who was reported to be always drunk but seemed to win all of his cases.  He also falsified the death certificate of a prisoner who had requested that he be hung quickly and that after death he did not get shot.  Well the story goes it was a very cruel hanking takeing 22 minutes for him to die.  So not to offend or upset those who had perpetuated this cruelity he ammended the death certificate to read " that the prisoner died fron natural causes'  An interesting way to explain " lack of oxygen."

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was a 30 second shoot out between lawmen and members of a loosely organized group of outlways called the Cowboys that took place at about 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 1881, in Tombstone, Arizona Territoty.    It is regarded as the most famous shootout in the history of the American Wild West.  It was the result of a long simmmering feud, with Cowboys Billy Claiborne, Ike and Billy Clayton, and Tom and frank McLaury one the one side and town Marshall Virgil Earp, Special Policeman Morgan Earp, Special Policeman Waytt Earp, and temporary policeman Doc Holliday on the other side.  Billy and the brothers were killed, Ike, Billy C and Wes Fuler ran from the fight.  Virgil, Morgan and Doc H were wounded, Wyatt was unharmed.   The re enactment of this gun fight is central to the energy of this place. 

These are the actors who participate intoadys shot out.  They are the good guys.

There is the opportunity to ride in a Western Coach.

On our trip around Toombstone we saw some of the original Governement buidings.

The Bird Cage Theatre was opened December 26, 1881.  It was owned by Lottie and William Hutchinson.  William,  a variety performer, originally intended to present respectable family shows he had seen to San Francisco that had enticed large crowds.  Initially they hosted Ladies Night's for respectable women of Tombstone who could attend for free.  However, this did not pay the bills so these nights were cancelled and they began offering entertainment more appealing to the rough mining crowd.
The longest poker game was played here.  Those who wished to play had to pay $1K up front.  Notables who played here include George Hearst, Diamond JIm Brady, Adolphus Brusch, Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday and Wayatt Earp.  The game itself was played continuously 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week.  It continued from 1881 to 1889 for a total of 8 years.  The Bird Cage retained 10% off that money.  It closed in 1892.

Bird Cage Poker Table where the longest poker game was played.

Interior of the Bird Cage which shows evidence of many shoot ups.

Old Tombstone is were the Chuchwagon is located and is reputed to be a good place to eat.

More to follow.

Cheers,
Ross and Beverley 

Deming , New Mexico

We are staying in Deming which is about a 2 hours drive west from Las Cruces.  Deming was founded in 1881 however, its history goes back nearly a millennium, to the flourishing era of the Mimbres civilization.  They lived in villages along the Mimbres River.  They lived, farmed and produced their world famous pottery, painted with distinctive birds and animal figures.  They vanishes iin the 13 th centuary, following the arrival of the Spanish settlers.    After the Americans came to the Southwest around the 1800's , Deming was known as a notorious Wild West.   Like many town across the US Deming became a stagecoach stop. There was and still is a rail line which continues to today.    Today it has a mixed population mix including Whites, Afro Americans, Hispanics  and American Indian. 

Example of Mimbres Pottery:

We visited the Deming Luna Mimbres Museum which was completed after the Pancho Villa Raid ( March 9, 1916) at Colombus, the Armory later served both as a community socila centre  and as a USA activity centre.  It was purchased by the Luna Historical Society in1977nfor use as a museum when the new armory was completed.    It has a huge number of exhibits.

Such as  the Doll Room which houses fine dolls carved by pioneers, elegant German made dolls, storybook dolls and dolls from other lands.

There is Bessie May Room which is elegantly set for a formal occassion.

There is the history of the original inhabitants.

There is a fantastc music display.  This magnificant violin is circa 1850, Antonius Stradivarius, made in Germany.

 Another ancient mandoline.

The Cowboy exhibit which features a huge chuckwagon with many other items of this time.

A little further on there is the horse and carriage area.  Here is a Crane, Breed and Company Hearse 1893 - 1909.  It was a donation from an Estate.  It is in mint condition.  

As we contiued on we wandered through anothe bygone era.  

An 1850 Fire car.

A quilting and lace room.

A Doctor's clinic.

 A typing pool of the past.

 Some interesting tapestries.

The Military displays covery every war from the Wild West days to the current time.

It is an amazing museum and well worth a visit.

Cheers,

Ross and Beverley 

Easter Sunday - 2019.

We celebrated the the Reserection of our Lord at the 11 am Mass at the Basilica of San Albino , Mesilla, New Mexico.

Outside the Bascillia is a poignant reminder of those who have been lost and will never have an opportunity to enjoy life.  

Following church we enjoyed brunch at the Double Eagle restaurant just across from the Bascilica.  It is known as The Crown Jewel of Historic Old Mesilla and it is a a large adobe buliding bullt in 1845 and is located on the historic Mesilla Plaza.  
The story goes like this.  Its haunted by two teenage ghost lovers, a la Romeo and Julet.  The couple is named Armando and Inez, but the story is very familiar.  Armando, son of a wealthy family, and Lenz one of the many maids employed by the family fall in love.  the wealthy mother finds out, is not happy Jan who fires Inez and banishers her from the house.  Son is told not to see his love again.  Well this did not happens and with the help of the community they support the young lovers until that fateful day when mother comes home early unexpectedly and finds them in her son's bedroom.  Mother is furious so she grabs her sewing shears and stabs Inez to death.  In the strugge she also stabs her sonmwho dies 3 days latter.  Not of his wounds it is said but because of a broken heart.  Hence Chost Lovers who are known to are known to inhabit the restaurant.  Their presence is most felt in the bedroom were they were killed sitting on the chairs.
This is the formal dinning room.  Its very elegant.

Its listed on the National Historic Register.  On entering the restaurant you are met with a sparkling baccarat crystal chandeliers, beautiful antique art, sculptures and paintings.

We were fortunate to dine in the garden area which was very pleasant.

Brunch was fantastic.  The dessert bar was amazing.

There was a wide range of delicious food ranging from hot meats, seafood, many varieties of other foods.  It was impreesive and delicious.

The fountain attracted many children whose parents had bought rolls of cents for the children to throw into the fountain and to make a wish.  It was a real family day.

Cheers,

Ross and Beverley