|
Grand Canyon Pioneers Society - Monthly Bulletin |
|---|
| Vol 4, No 6 | June 2000 |
Grand Canyon-Flagstaff
Stage Coach Line Field Trip
On May 20, the Pioneers met in Flagstaff for a field trip along the Grand Canyon-Flagstaff Stage Coach Line that was in use in the 1890s lead by Dick and Sherry Mangum.
After a short talk and instructions, a group of about 10 vehicles left the Flagstaff Visitors Center on schedule with about 30 pioneers. The weather was beautiful and sunny.
The road was dusty, but we could roll up the windows on our vehicles--unlike the early stage travelers.
It took us about 7 hours to follow the historic route, with stops for interesting talks at Rabbit Canyon where the road made an "impossible climb," then for lunch at the Moqui Stage Station, for a rest stop at the Grandview Fire Lookout Tower, ending near Hance's Camp site. The tour ended with a climb to the Lookout Point that was used by the first Canyon tourist. A great view not enjoyed by modern-day visitors.
Jim Ohlman then lead Tom Carmony and Dan Cassidy east one-half mile to see the "New Hance Cabin" site. The picture of this cabin shows up in J. A. Munk's "Arizona Sketches," 1905.
It was a great day, with great stories of the old stage route.
Dick & Sherry Mangum are the authors of the book "Grand Canyon-Flagstaff Stage Coach Line, A History & Exploration Guide."
GCPS Meetings for 2000
| June 17: | Grand Canyon Collection Tour and Annual Picnic. See below for details and map. |
| July 15: | Lauzon Homestead and Bass Camp tour by Pat Lauzon. We'll meet Pat at Moqui Lodge just past Tusayan at 9:30 a.m. to carpool. Bring a picnic lunch to eat under the pines at the picnic table at the South Bass Trailhead. If you have pictures of the Bass and Lauzon families please bring them to share. |
| August 19: | Phantom Ranch history by Keith Green at Albright Training Center, Grand Canyon Village. |
| September 16: | Condor Release Program. Start with a presentation at Vermilion Cliffs by the Condor Release Team, with possible drive and lodging or camping on the North Rim. To make reservations at the North Rim Lodge, call 1-303-297-2757. Prices range from $78 to $104 per night plus tax. Make reservations soon if you plan to go, as North Rim accommodations are limited. |
| October 21: | Annual Board Meeting and a talk by Tom Vail in Flagstaff. |
| November 18: | The Mystery of the Flute Player by Jay Cravath at Poco Diablo Resort in Sedona. |
| December: | No meeting |
Powell Plateau Facts
[from "Archaeology of the Powell Plateau: Regional Interaction at the Grand Canyon" by Effland, Trinkle, and Euler]
Powell Plateau is 9.6 square miles. This archeological team surveyed 20% of the plateau and recorded 85 human habitation sites with 195 rooms. They estimate that there are 316 sites with 700 rooms. Most of the sites are found on or near ridge lines. Based on an evaluation of the pottery found, the site was inhabited from AD 1050 to AD 1150. The occupation appears to have been seasonal but the larger dwellings could have been used year-round.
The small, narrow rooms were used for storage. The medium-sized rooms were for habitation. The larger rooms were for ceremonies. A few of habitation sites had extra large square sized rooms that may have been used for group ceremonies as was a kiva.
They estimate that from 200-400 people lived on Powell Plateau. The question is what did they use for food and water. The soil is too thin to be used for large-scale agriculture. The hunting is limited. Pinon nuts do not produce every year. There is no permanent source of water on the plateau but there are permanent springs in Mauv Saddle and off the plateau on the south on the esplanade. Snow melt would have been a source of water in the winter and early spring. Many indications point to seasonal habitation.
There are also habitation sites immediately off the plateau in Deer, Tapeats, Galloway, Shinumo, and White Canyons indicating that the people lived on top of the plateau during the summer months and lower down during the winter.
Much of the paper was devoted to comparing Powell Plateau to other sites in the canyon. This survey was done over a 6-day period in the fall of 1978. They flew over and back by helicopter. We should be so lucky.
Kim Besom will give a tour of the Grand Canyon Collection starting at
10:00 AM, meeting at the Albright Training Center parking lot.
After the tour, join the group for the picnic at Shoshone Point.
From the main entrance, take the Desert View Drive, continue east about 1.5
miles beyond the road to Yaki Point, and turn left into a parking area
and look for Fred and Jeanne Schick who will have the gate open to the Point
by 10:30 AM.
Everyone should bring their own individual table service, drinks, a dish
(i.e. casserole) to share and, if desired, some meat to barbeque.
Tablecoths and briquettes for the barbecue will be provided. Fred will have the
fire ready by 12:00 Noon.
See you there !
The recent fires across the southwest have reminded me of another fire
that also made headlines news (although before my time). Here are excerpts
from the Phoenix Gazette newspaper in 1932:
GRAND CANYON LODGE BURNS
KANAB, Utah, Sept. 1 - (AP) - Fire which broke out in the Grand Canyon
lodge on the north rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona early today
destroyed the lodge, valued by Union Pacific railroad company officials
at a million dollars, and two cabins.
Employees of the lodge and about 50 guests escaped without injury.
The fire stated at 5:30 a.m. and quickly spread through the rustic log
and stone building.
The fire, started by flying sparks, was fought by Grand Canyon national
park employees and those of the Utah Parks company, operator of the
lodge. Guests and employees joined their efforts.
Flames Visible Across Canyon
SOUTH RIM, GRAND CANYON, Ariz., Sept. 1 - (AP) - Shooting flames and
billowing smoke, visible across the 13-mile wide chasm of the Grand
Canyon aroused national park headquarters and South Rim tourists this
morning as the central dining room and two deluxe cabins of the palatial
Grand Canyon lodge burned on the North Rim.
M. R. Tillotson, Grand Canyon national park superintendent, with
headquarters here, who fled across the canyon in a government plane to
investigate, sent back word there had been no loss of life or injuries.
* * * * *
The unfortunate loss of the original lodge, but at least no loss of life
back in that 1932 fire.
Let's hope for rain and no more fires this year !
Outings Contacts Information
Outings Coordinator:
The Bulletin welcomes comments, stories, or Reflections and Remembrances.
Please send them to
June Outing:
Annual Picnic and Grand Canyon Collection Tour
Fires. Fires . Fires
Guests Flee As $500,000 Fire Razes Big Resort
Two Deluxe Cabins Also Destroyed
Tillotson Flies Over Big Chasm To Direct Fire-Fighters
Betty Leavengood
6045 Edison St.
Tucson AZ 85712
520-885-3570
HikerBetty@aol.com
|
Diane Cassidy
8540 North Central Avenue #27 Phoenix, AZ 85020 |
or e-mail them to Diane@grandcanyonbooks.com
|
|
|---|
|
|---|