Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Adobe Wall By Imperial Sand Dunes

I finally found it! I found the information I was looking for. I was looking for the answer to my question. Why is that wall there ? Is it a stage coach horse exchange? After trying to find out who the mayor of Winterhaven California was I found out there was no mayor. So I called the Winterhaven Court and they said they had no mayor, no city council, no city administrator nothing. The Winterhaven Court referred me to Sheriffs office and I was transfered me a couple of times before I spoke to someone. They referrd me to the Quechan Indian Tribe Administration. I called them and they had no idea who to call. Then I called The Yuma Crossing Historic Park and they had no idea what I was talking about. At this point I was getting desperate. I called the BLM I was transferd a couple of times then was told they would get back to me. I didn't get a call back so I called the Arizona Historical Society in Yuma Az. I was given a conact name of Carol Brooks. I called Carol and she was able to give me what information I was looking for. Ms. Brooks told me that adobe wall was thought to be a Stagecoach Horse Exchange. According to a letter dated 1910 the adobe wall that is still standing was a pump house for the American Gold Mine. They would have pipes from the river to the mine and pump the water to the American Gold Mine. Ms. Brooke said it could not have been a Stage Coach Horse Exchange because it was too close to the Crossing. The Stage Coach Horse Exchanges would be posted 5 miles from each other and since there was one in Yuma the next one would be close to or located by Pilot Knob. What is now an old Adobe wall also may have served as a boating dock although it is unclear wheather it was or not. The adobe wall could have been constructed some time between 1850 -1880 that was the time the American Gold mine was in it's peak operation time. So to answer my questions, was it a Stagecoach Horse Exchange? No it was not. Although it has a lot of historical value the owners of that land are the Quechan Indian Tribe. It would be up to the tribe to preserve it. That wall being historical remains of a building. I can tell you that many times I have gone through the freeway not even giving that "wall" a second thought. I would never have thought that such a wall would have so much significance. If you are wondering where the American Girl Mine is, according to http://www.gamineral.org/rr06_yuma-az_ogilby-road.html the way to get there is go down Ogilby road untill you cross a rail road track. Then you turn ride on American Girl Rd, there are a lot of RVs that are dry camping there. And according to Gold Rock Ranch Rv Resort they are located 12 miles away from Yuma, and there are tons of trails to ride and you could actually access the Imperial Sand Dunes from there. This might be a point of interest for people that are out there dry camping at Imperial Sand Dunes and have nothing to do. Maybe someday soon I might blog about it. Mission accompished mystery solved. To see pictures of this wall check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/jetrent/sets/72157612463726441/

Veronica

No comments:

Post a Comment