Apricity West 3

November 11, 2022 - Friday

Look who came to Congress in their new KIA Sportage Hybrid! 

November 12, 2022 - Saturday

Today’s post is packed with pictures of Vulture City Ghost Town Historic Site Museum:

Please take only photographs and leave nothing but footprints. For the first time since 1863, Vulture City and Vulture Gold Mine are separately owned. In 2014 the mine was put back into operation, this time via surface mining. In 2017 about 30 acres was partitioned from Vulture Mine to create Vulture City, where surviving structures have been preserved and restored. Visitors can now enjoy a rare glimpse of the operating Vulture Gold Mine across the fence as they tour the restored remains of Vulture City-the town that supported Arizona's largest and most productive gold mine.

Henry Wickenburg, a Prussian immigrant, discovered gold here in 1863. There are many tall tales of how Henry discovered the rich gold deposits in the quartz outcropping and why he named it Vulture, however no credible records exist. One legend has it that he discovered gold while retrieving a vulture he had shot. By the early 1900s Vulture City had grown to five thousand residents. Records suggest about 360,000 ounces of gold and about 260,000 ounces of silver were produced (more than 200 million dollars worth). The exact amount is unknown due to theft or “highgrading” for which some 18 men were hanged.

Prior to construction of a 15-mile water pipeline to bring water from the Hassayampa River in 1880, all gold ore was hauled to the Hassayampa and Wickenburg for processing. This arduous process quite often left the precious cargo vulnerable to theft along the route and most likely the real source of the Lost Dutchman's Gold!

Gas Station: From early 1900s, provided parts, kerosene, fuel, oil and more for both vehicles & lighting. Note the remains of the early gravity fed gas pump & 1924 National Cash Register.

Vulture's Roost: Private residence of Earnest Dickie the last Mine Manager. Typical of 1880s period construction. Today it serves as a small museum displaying a collection of over 100+ years of artifacts from this era. 

This is a retired 3rd generation Ferrier who teaches classes and makes modern metal art.

Bad picture, but look closely at the progression of forging a cowboy hat. 

 

Wells Fargo Post Office

Henry Wickenburg House and Hanging Tree

An artist displayed pumpkin carvings at Vulture City, so you will see the results throughout the following pictures.

 

Doctor’s Office & Boarding House

And Brothel…

School House

Charles Genung, an old friend of Henry Wickenburg, and several townsfolk paid for the construction of a one-room wooden schoolhouse in 1881. Less than a year from opening a diphtheria epidemic took the lives of nearly twenty of the sixty pupils. Sometime before 1934 the mine got a new schoolhouse and two new outhouses funded by President FDR's Works Progress Administration, one of the many New Deal programs of the 1930s. Shortly thereafter the first schoolhouse was left dormant.

Today the schoolhouses, children's swing, teeter-totter, and slide are located in their original place on BLM land about 500 yards north- east of where you are standing. The buildings are in very poor condition, however, the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and Vulture City Tours are working to develop a preservation/restoration plan.

Bunk House

Cook House & Mess Hall

Other…

A wedding is scheduled for this evening.

After relaxing/visiting in the warmth of the sun, we went to Charley’s Steak House for a delicious dinner. The owner came over to our table to check in - he has been there for 50 years and just lost his wife last year. 

 

November 13, 2022 - Sunday  

Breakfast at Nichols West before Terri and Jim hit the road for Tucson. It was wonderful to see them again. Things were hopping at Nichols and we met Noah and Nick's other brother, Evan, working busily bussing tables - three brothers working there. 

 

November 14, 2022 - Monday

Line dancing, cardio drumming and laundry today. See a clip in the body of the email.

 

November 15, 2022 - Tuesday

Went for a short walk with Lu mid-morning. John and Eileen drove up from Surprise for lunch. It was good to visit and we talked about the Thanksgiving dinner plans at their house. 

 

November 16, 2022 - Wednesday 

Line dancing tired me out today. We learned several new dances which taxes my body (hip in particular) and brain. Check out the clip of Runaway in the body of the email. 

 

This group of crafters are making paper mache snowmen. 

November 17, 2022 - Thursday

Ukulele with Joanne and Jam session. Yes - I joined the circle thanks to Joanne’s hubby, Denny, to my right. He brought a mic and plugged into his amp. I took the instrument I am most comfortable with - voice. It was NOT a successful singing debut! Left the ukulele behind. Two weeks until I get another chance…🤪