Fairbank in Cochise County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Water...
for mining... for life
Water! It took enormous amounts of water to run the silver stamp mills, and quench the thirst of mules and men.
The water of the San Pedro River was the essential ingredient to mining that Tombstone lacked. Until water was "struck" during underground mining, all of the ore was processed near the most reliable water source: the San Pedro River. Nearby towns "dried up" once the ore processing mill was built in Tombstone.
Although water was certainly essential for the life of a town, there are many "ghost towns" along the river. Mining brought the people, and when the industry collapsed, so did the towns. What Fairbank had that the others didn't was its key location as a transportation hub. Besides the railroad, State Highway 82 was built right through it in 1936 ensuring its survival as a roadside stop miles from anywhere else. Until the 1970's people were able to stop in the store for a soda or a snack.
The townspeople knew the value of a good water supply. The San Pedro River provided water for household use, gardens, farming and recreation.
Spanish:
En los dias anteriores a los grandes proyectos de presas e irrigación, la gente tenia que asentarse cerca de suministros de agua convenientas para vivir trabajar.
Mientras que las minas de plata estaban cerca de Tombstone, los molinos que procesaban la plata en bruto estaban ubicados alo largo del Rio San Pedro. ¿Por que pasar por todo el problema de jalar los pesados vagones cargados de metal en bruio todo ese trecho?
Agua! Se necesitaban enormes cantidades de agua para hacer funcionar los molinos de acunación da plata y saciar la sed de mulas y hombres.
El agua del Río San Pedro era el ingrediente esencial para la minería que te hacia falta a Tombstone. Hasta que el agua fue, "descubierta durante la minería subterránea, todo el procesamiento del metal en bruto era hecho cerca de la fuente de agua más confiable de los alrededores el Rio San Pedro. Los pueblos cercanos se "secaron" una vez que el molino de procesamiento de metal fue construido en Tombstone.
Pie de ilustración: la gente del pueblo conocia el valor de una buena fuente de agua. El Rio San Pedro proveia aqua para uso en el hogar, jardines, granjas y recreación.
Aunque el agua era ciertamente esencial para la vida de un puento, hay muchos "pueblo funtasmas" a lo largo del rio. La mineria trajo a la gente y cuando la industria se agoto, también lo hicieron los pueblos. Lo que Fairbank tenia que no tenian los otros pueblos era su ubicación lave como centro de transportación. Además del ferrocarnil se construyo en los años 1940, la Carretera Estatal 82 que lo adovesaba, asegurando su supervivencia como un parada en el camino, millas de distancia de cualquier otro lugar. Hasta los años 1970 la gente paraba por un refresco o un bocadillo.
Erected by Bureau of Land Management and the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1936.
Location. 31° 43.348′ N, 110° 11.337′ W. Marker is in Fairbank, Arizona, in Cochise County. It is at the intersection of State Road 82 and North Old Fairbank Road on State Road 82. The marker is located on the grounds of the Fairbank Historic Townsite. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2679 N Old Fairbank Rd, Huachuca City AZ 85616, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Sky Islands and in Southeastern Arizona. It is also in the American Southwest. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also the Gadsden Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Boom Days (within shouting distance of this marker); On the right track (within shouting distance of this marker); Fairbank... (within shouting distance of this marker); A diversity of people (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Fairbank Historic Townsite (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Huachuca (approx. 0.2 miles away); Edward Schieffelin (approx. 5.1 miles away); Grand Army of the Republic Memorial (approx. 6½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairbank.
Also see . . . Fairbank Historic Townsite. Department of the Interior (Submitted on July 1, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 176 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 1, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.


