Springerville in Apache County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Peter Thompson Home & Blacksmith Shop

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, September 19, 2010

1. Peter Thompson Home & Blacksmith Shop Marker

Inscription. These log structures built by Thompson, a Danish convert to Mormonism, are Round Valley's oldest surviving buildings (1879). The cabin hosted the first Mormon services in Springerville.

Erected 2002 by Round Valley Positive Action Tourism Committee and Springerville-Eagar Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 24.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Arizona, Pistols, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour series list.

Location. 34° 8.234′ N, 109° 17.026′ W. Marker is in Springerville, Arizona, in Apache County. Marker is on North Papago Street, 0.2 miles north of Apache Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Springerville AZ 85938, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Baca Home (approx. 0.2 miles away); Presbyterian & Catholic Churchs (approx. 0.2 miles away); Baldonado Home (approx. ¼ mile away); Springerville World War I Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); El Rio Theatre (approx. ¼ mile away); Becker's Transcontinental Garage (approx. ¼ mile away); Madonna of the Trail

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(approx. 0.3 miles away); Arizona Cooperative Mercantile Institution (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springerville.

More about this marker. This is Marker Stop #24 on the Pistols, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour.

Regarding Peter Thompson Home & Blacksmith Shop. Peter Thompson was born in Denmark in 1825. He fought in the Danish wars with Prussia over the sovereignty of Schleswig-Holstein. In 1864, as the forces of Austria and Prussia crushed the Danish military, Peter converted to Mormonism and came to America with his wife and children. They originally settled in Utah. He lived in Utah for over a decade and was a grandfather by the time he answered the Church’s call to colonize the Little Colorado River area of Arizona.

He came to Round Valley with his wife and seventh, and youngest son, Erastus. Here in 1879 he built a two-room log cabin and the log blacksmith shop. The cabin burned in 1998, but the blacksmith shop still stands.

Those were difficult times for the Mormon settlers in Round Valley. Homes were lost to land-jumpers antagonistic to Mormonism and at times outlaws living in the area would shoot

Peter Thompson Home & Blacksmith Shop image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, September 19, 2010

2. Peter Thompson Home & Blacksmith Shop

The log home which stood next to this blacksmith shop burned in 1998.

at them, or beat them, just for fun. Many settlers left their claims, after urging of the Church, and joined fellow Mormons at the Amity Ward in Springerville.

Peter was a seasoned fighter and refused to be intimidated and chose to stay. He remained here working in his blacksmith shop until his death in 1898.
Source: The Pistols, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour Brochure.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,288 times since then and 45 times this year. Last updated on October 1, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 29, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.