(Early Cave Creek Arizona Letter) 2ALS
1897. Item #018190
Autographed Letter Signed, 2 pages. Written from Cave Creek on arrival from Seven Springs, Arizona. Because of the many caves, in the area Cave Creek was described as a wash with some surrounding mines, a failed cattle ranch but with Cartwright Ranch mentioned here there soon was need for a Post Office. The Phoenix Daily Herald described Cave Creek as "a delightful place for camping". In the same year as this letter, there was now a stage coach running Monday and Fridays between little Cave Creek and Phoenix. A Post Office was established in 1896, and there was a general store offering tools and tack. Since it would be another decade before a bank was established, cash was dispensed from tin cans or special belts. Though the writer spells "here" as "hear", he talks about his arrival from Seven Springs which was on the outer edge of the Cartwright Ranch (see Grady, Homesteading Along the Creek, p. 47, 137ff.) In the process, he had lost his work team and tried to track them but Mr. Cartwright had not yet come back from an undisclosed location. He expresses sorrow about her buggy (which apparently was governed by an out of control horse. He says while it is hot where Sis is [Phoenix?] it was near freezing on the ranch here on May 20. He notes the stable boy is hitching up his team so he has to go. The original mailing envelope addressed to Miss Mamie Moore c/o of the New York Store on E. Washington in Phoenix. [various city directories show the address as 222-4th E. Washington].
Price: $375.00