Desert Messenger

22 www.DesertMessenger.com December 18, 2019 Concord stages. As early as 1862 the stage line serviced the station twice weekly, and here the weary travelers were offered shade, cool water, food, supplies and overnight housing at the Oasis Hotel. The Stationmaster's duties included tending the livestock as well as visi- tors for a salary of about $30-$40 per month. Water had to be fetched from his well across the street near the present historical marker on W. Main. Animal pens stretched across what is now the I-10 freeway. For a monthly wage of $50, Coach drivers, including Wyatt Earp seated atop the coach, handled teams of 4-6 horses or mules on a double line which were stopped with a hand brake, tug of the rein, and verbal commands. The Concord coaches serving Tyson's were built by Abbott, Downing & Company of Concord, NH, cost $1400 and weighed approximately 3000 pounds with the capacity of two tons. The harnesses for the team were made by James B. Hill & Sons from the same town. Only 100 of these coaches were built, under the direction of John Butterfi eld, who's southern Stage trail passed thru Ar- izona City, today's Yuma. The wagon's interiors were lined with leather and could accommo- date 6 to 9 passengers, offering a crowded and dusty ride along with protection from the rain and sun. The top provided seating for addi- tional passengers and storage for luggage. At the rear was an area By Archie Lumbert Quartzsite Historical Society As early as 1856 Charles Tyson dug a well to service the local wagon road, then used by horsemen, pack trains, freight wagons and US Army troops traveling between Prescott and La Paz, Arizona Territory. Sta- tions, at the time were spaced about 25 miles apart for the safety of the teams and personnel. Tyson built a "fort" to protect his interests against marauding bands of robbers. A Post offi ce was established in 1893 as "Tyson" which is the loca- tion of the present day Quartzsite Museum. In 1896 the post offi ce was moved and renamed Quartzsite, which is a misspelling of the word "quartzite" a mineral found in abun- dance locally. N. H. Darton of the USGS claimed that locals preferred the spelling, after the Post Offi ce had rejected the name "Quartz Valley". In 1869 James Grant started the Arizona Stage Company using called the boot or trunk where larg- er heavy cargo and mail could be stored during transport. The stage used routes including the La Paz Trail running east from the Colorado River through Wickenburg to Prescott, Arizona and the Brad- shaw Trail traveling west from the river to Dos Palmas, Ca near Palm Springs where it connected to the Southern Pacifi c Railway. Together they were called the Gird Trail. At Blythe, coaches crossed the Colorado River on Bradshaw's Fer- ry for the outrageous price of $4, (equivalent to $100 today). A typical passenger fare overland amounted to about twenty-one cents per mile. Stage companies went out of busi- ness or changed names, owners and routes often depending on the road conditions and mail contract which they needed to fi nance operations. Carrying the Wells Fargo strong box, which was risky, helped the lines to be profi table. An additional mail route also ser- viced the area being on the road be- tween Yuma, Castle Dome and Min- eral City (now Ehrenberg). We know that the offi ce in the old stage station was discontinued on Sept 21, 1895. There are refer- ences to the stages running as late as 1908 when the road to Bouse was improved enabling travelers bet- ter connections to the Arizona and California Railroad. Though we haven't determined the day or time of the last stage to service Quartzsite, volunteers have now created an opportunity for visi- tors to get their picture taken, pull- ing into (or out of) Tyson Wells Stage Station Museum every Wednesday thru Sunday, 10 AM until 4PM at 161 West Main Street. Now & Then... Takin' the Stage N�� P���� O� �� ��� M�����! 928-916-9812 RV ROOF COATING FREE Estimate Very Reasonable! 1YR FREE Service w/Roof Call Bob (Not a licensed contractor)

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