Near Fredonia in Mohave County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
995 Miles of Wire
— Pipe Spring National Monument —
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 10, 2016
1. 995 Miles of Wire Marker
By 1880 Mormon settlements from Idaho to Arizona could communicate easily with their neighbors and the Church leadership via the Deseret Telegraph system.
The passing of the transcontinental telegraph through Salt Lake City in 1861 inspired Brigham Young to plan a new Mormon Church-owned communication network. After 1864, prices of Civil War-surplus telegraph materials dropped enough to make his plans affordable.
From 1871 to 1888 at least seven women operated the telegraph instruments here at Pipe Spring.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Forts and Castles • Settlements & Settlers • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.
Location. 36° 51.788′ N, 112° 44.411′ W. Marker is near Fredonia, Arizona, in Mohave County. Marker can be reached from North Pipe Spring Road, 0.3 miles north of Arizona Route 389, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located along the Ridge
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Yoowuv' (here, next to this marker); When the Good Grass Goes (a few steps from this marker); How Can 10 Million Gallons of Water a Year Suddenly Appear in a Stony Desert? (within shouting distance of this marker); Moamop' (within shouting distance of this marker); Pipe Springs National Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); A Good Drink of Water (within shouting distance of this marker); Skoomp (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Stephen Tyng Mather (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredonia.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Pipe Spring National Monument
Also see . . .
1. Deseret Telegraph Line. On October 18, 1866 a wagon train of sixty-five wagons arrived in Salt Lake City with 84 tons of wire, insulators, batteries and other equipment to be used in the construction of the lines. During the winter of 1865-66 men living in different parts of Utah cut the telegraph poles and hauled them to points along the line while others surveyed the proposed route. (Submitted on May 5, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Marker detail: Deseret Telegraph Company
From Winsor Castle, Utah, December 15, 1871
We have opened a telegraph office here this morning, Miss Luella Stewart, Operator. Winsor Castle is progressing rapidly.
A.M. Mussen
We have opened a telegraph office here this morning, Miss Luella Stewart, Operator. Winsor Castle is progressing rapidly.
A.M. Mussen
2. Deseret Telegraph Company (Wikipedia). The company was organized in 1867 to direct operation of the recently completed Deseret Telegraph Line; its largest stakeholder was The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Deseret line ran north and south through the Utah Territory, connecting the numerous settlements with Salt Lake City and the First Transcontinental Telegraph. Later the line was extended north to Paris, Idaho, and south to Pipe Springs, Arizona. (Submitted on May 5, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Eliza Luella Stewart. Eliza Luella “Ella” Stewart sent the first telegraph message from Winsor Castle on December 15 of 1871. She had been learning the art of telegraphy from Sarah Ann Spilsbury at the Toquerville, Utah telegraph station. Stewart stayed at Pipe Spring for “less than a month” and then went to be the operator at Kanab. (Submitted on May 5, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
4. Sarah Alydia Terry. During the summer of 1876, Sarah Alydia Terry was telegrapher at Pipe Spring. Miss Terry learned telegraphy in 1872 when Daniel M. Tyler came down from Beaver to the town of Hebron (near present-day Enterprise, Utah) to run the telegraph office there. That year she took over the duties at the Hebron office. (Submitted on May 5, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Marker detail: Luella Stewart
Telegrapher 1871
Telegrapher 1871
4. Marker detail: Sarah Terry
Telegrapher 1876
Telegrapher 1876
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 10, 2016
5. 995 Miles of Wire Marker
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 10, 2016
6. Juniper Telegraph Pole
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 10, 2016
7. Deseret Telegraph Company Sign
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 10, 2016
8. Operator's Desk & Telegraph Key
Credits. This page was last revised on May 7, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 526 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on May 5, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
