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| Tucson is known as the "Old Pueblo". A colorful history suggests that the area has been inhabited for over 8,000 years. A walled Presidio was created August 20, 1775, near the center of downtown, by Irishman, Hugh O'Connor, and a Colonel in the Spanish Army. The original wall no longer stands, but is commemorated in the historic El Presidio neighborhood. Tucson, a first class desert city with an estimated population of 491,750, was noted as one of the fastest growing cities in the nation at the turn of the century. A unique mixture of Native Indian, Spanish, Mexican and Western Pioneer culture makes up a very fascinating blend. |
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| by: Art Of Computers |
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| Tucson Weekly Newspaper Tucson Citizen Newspaper Arizona Daily Star Arizona Daily Wildcat News News of The University of Arizona |
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| Candy, Lucille and Rose are part of a new posse in Tucson, the "Presidio Girls", and are here to report on topics of greatest interest to website visitors. These girls are stuck in time zones of the 30's, 40's and 50's, dressing much more fashionably and formally than is the trend in 2006. They really are something else. |
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| This "Presidio Girl" is Rose Rose reports: "Site visitors from Tucson and around the country want to know what the “Sonoran Desert” is and how it is different from any other. The best way to explore the desert surrounding Tucson, which is part of the Sonoran Desert, is to pack a lunch and take a hike. The Sonoran Desert encompasses 120,000 square miles and provides a home for 500 species of birds, 120 different mammals and 3,500 species of plants. Tucson is recognized as the Arizona Upland, with many cacti such as the prickly pear, saguaro and Cholla adding charm to this lush section of the Sonoran Desert. Eight to sixteen inches of rainfall each year makes this desert unique, and because of this it is amazingly green." Rose a "Presidio Girl" stuck in the era of the 1940's has kept her heart forever in tune with the Tucson desert which is ever so easy to love; and ever so hard to leave. |
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| Meet Lucille According to "Presidio Girl" Lucille: "Ghost Towns lend to questions and curiosity for people living in, or visiting Tucson - and southern Arizona exploration leads to a pursuit to navigate old haunts that sprang to life and once flourished, offering promise to miners, and a hope of getting rich. In Pima County alone thirteen towns that once flourished are no more. Dating back to when Total Wreck was formed in 1879, to when Greaterville ceased to exist in 1946, these town sites beg to be explored. A little blast from the past, I am one of the "Presidio Girls", from the 1930's era, and I know what remains of these lost towns and stories that sustain them and am delighted to guide you back in time to what once was." |
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| "In the town of Total Wreck a bizarre shooting occurred when Mr. E. B. Salsig got into a dispute with another man, who drew his gun and fired. Salsig would have been killed except for the fact that he had a huge pile of love letters stuffed in his vest pocket and the bullet lodged in missing his heart. He did marry the love who wrote the letter later on. This shoot out occurred some time between when a post office in Total Wreck was established, which was started August 12, 1881 and discontinued November 1, 1890." "Total Wreck was discovered by John L. Dillon and got the name because he thought the ledge of the mine he was on looked like a total wreck. A mine and a mill were the reason the town was born and as the story goes there were once two hundred residents, fifty houses, three store, three hotels, four saloons, a butcher shop and a lumber yard." "Total Wreck is located east of Tucson in the Empire Mountains. Take I-10 to the exit which will take you to Sonoita, Arizona - located at the crossroads of US Highways 82 and 83. There is a gate to a road with a fence following your exit from I-10, and it is impossible to explain the exact location where you turn because it is not marked. There is another way to get there coming from the Sonoita area, and is also unmarked. The best way to find this haunt is to ask around town in Sonoita where the people are friendly and very proud of the area. Even with the best directions keep in mind the fact that the roads are very bad and take a lot of time to travel; once there exercise extreme care around the many holes in the ground at this site. A few walls remain but there are many dangerous holes." "I, Lucille have been around for a long time and plan to stay for a while and tell you some tales about the other great Ghost Town in Pima County. The thirteen Ghost Towns in Pima County include Total Wreck and Greaterville in the Cienega Valley, Twin Buttes and Helvetia in the Upper Santa Cruz Valley, Cerro Colorado in the Altar Valley, the Silverbell mining camp in the Avra Valley, and Clarkstown on the west side of the Tohono O'odham reservation; all of which reflect the important role of mining silver, gold, lead and copper, in Pima County's history. Check back often because there is much that will come." |
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| Introducing Candy |
| This “Presidio Girl” is reminiscent of the 1950’s and truly loves cactus flowers that characteristically have large, single flowers with numerous stamens. She offers: “Think purple, red, yellow and white; from these glorious flowers the fruit of the cactus develops containing an amazing number of seeds. In the lifetime of a Saguaro cactus 40 million seeds may be produced but will be considered successful if only one grows to replace the parent plant. Life is a struggle for Saguaro seeds. Summer rain is essential in order for them to sprout and a Saguaro forest cannot survive in a desert that receives less than two inches of rain. Heat is important and adversely, even a one, day-long frost can kill these deserts sentinels." "Oh, by the way - all of you who have been asking about the online version of local newspapers; here are links to all of them!" |
| The "Presidio Girls" are anxious to find out what you would like to KNOW about - and are here to report back to you 24 - 7. |
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