FORT GRANT CE~1TENNIAL

1872 - 1972

. Ar1:z.. %355.7d G76,n

History of Fort Grant

1872 - 1972

THIS OOCUMl:.NT IS THE l"ROPEIUV Of 1 Hl'i DEP,D,RTMENT OF UBRAHY ,~ND triCtl!VES -- A ~l I :.c: () NA Acknowledgements Arizona Pioneer Historical Society Ryder Ridge\\'ay, State Historian Robert ):'ounr, Vice President West, c;ouncil for Abandoned Military Posts Governor of the State of Arizona

Superintendent, Arizona State ll:ndustria.l School i ·

18th President of the c;ONIENIS

ll. Beginning is Made 1860.-1908

Old c;amp Granto ...... ,...... 7

Camp Grant Massacre...... 9

New c;amp Granr.,...... , ...... 11

Indian Raids ...... 14

Life at the Forr ...... ;15

The Good Old Days at Bonira ...... 21

The Making of an Industrial Schoo! 1901..-1972

The Legislature ll.ppropriares Funds ...... 27

Fort Grant as a Coed School...... , ...... , 28

A New Code and Vocational !raining...... 29

The Vukcevich Era ,,.,, 1953 ro rhe I?resenr ...... '°' ...... 31 nip Grant Days Camp Grant--1876

'.'\io Arizona territorial military post ex­ The post• s name was changed to Fort ceeded the importance of Old Camp Breckenridge on August 6, 1860 and Grant as a bulwark during the bloody remained sucn until James Indian wars. Carelton, Commander of the Volunteers, honoring the governor of While the wars were raging, Old California, Leland Stanford, named the Camp Grant and later Fort Grant were post Fort Stanford, key posts in the military Bowie, Apache, Grant triangle. Unofficial records refer to the post as Fort Breckenridge again between oct­ Upon orders from the United States o ber 1863 and July 1865, November 1, Army on March 12, 1860, Fort Buchanan 1865 the name Camp Grant became was moved to the junction of the Ari­ official. vaipa Creek and San Pedro River. GeneraJ described Old From May 8, 1860 to August 6 1860 the camp Grant as being on a little plateau location was called Fort 'Aravaipa. near the San pedro River. The General In July of that year the post housed spoke of life at the forlorn post without 2nd Lt. John Rogers Cooke, Company B, enthusiasm. ue thought of the post as sth Infantry and a handful of men from inadequate and God-forsaken in both Company D, 1st United States Dragoons. site and construction. Camp Grant Established a peaceful General George Stoneman, under orders Indian reservation near the post for from Washington, set up the first peace cooperative where they lived policy in Arizona by way of Indian and worked in exchange for food and reservations where willing Indians supplies. would be given food in exchange for work done for the white men. Many Malarial infections at Grant in addition Arizonians were infuriated by what they to Jack of water and undesirable location termed "feeding stations" for Apaches led Colonel William B. Royal with 30 of whom they believe would continue his men in October 1872 to side raiding. of Mount Graham to look over the pos­ sible new location of Camp Grant. General Crook had ear-marked this spot In April, 1861 two Indian raids near the previous year while chasing errant Tucson prompted members of the Tucson Apaches. Committee of Public Safety, led by veteran Indian fighter and leading citi­ On December 19, 1872 Old Camp Grant zen, William S. Oury, to set out on a pun­ moved to its present location in the itive expedition to the Aravaipa re­ foothills of Mount Graham--although the servation. The group, consisting of post was still to be called Camp Grant approximately six Americans (Whites), until April 5, 1879 when it became Fort 42 Mexicans and 92 Christianized Grant. Papago mercenaries, began their -re­ taliation trek April 28,

Picnic at Old Camp Grant--1876 William s. Oury--led expedition that resulted in the .

--s-- Sketch of Fort Grant-1884

~ot only enraged by the two recent Lieutenant Whitman personally took raids on San Xavier, the Tucson com­ charge of the mass burial of the dead mittee also objected to agencies Indians in the Aravaipa village with the where Apaches worked peacefully hope that the surviving warriors would for the white men which tended to look upon this as concern and not at= reduce military forces and lessen tempt to revenge their dead. war prosperity. The Tucson group arrived at the Ara­ President Ulysses S. Grant was plagued vaipa reservation in the early morn- with protests and petitions concerning what the eastern newspapers ea Hed ing of April 30 to find a village of "Camp Grant Massacre." Although sleeping old people, women and reaction was not so violent a= children. The avengers ' began their gainst t,he Indian murders, nation= death mission. The Papagos used clubs wide concern prompted the trial of and the Americans and Mexicans fav­ William S. Oury and his followers. ored guns to murder some 144 Ara­ vaipas as they lay sleeping or were be­ All the months of work by Lieutenant ginning their early morning chores. Whitman with the Apaches was cancelled The Indian men, except for a handful, in one nightmarish hour by the hostile were away with their chief, Eskiriimzin Tucson mob. Whitman didn•t rest until leaving the aged and the women and he had brought Oury and his followers children to be annihilated by the Tucson to trial. self-appointed posse. Camp Grant•s F,L. Austi11, post. trader; Oscar Hutton, post guide; Miles L. Wood, post beef contractor and W.iHiam Kness, mail carrier between Camp Graf/it and Tucson, all testified for the prosecution. Wood called the massacre the worst he had ever seen.

Arter five days of testimony, the jury re­ tired for nineteen mi.1rmtes to return with a decision to release the defendents.

Lieutenant Royal K Whitman was harassed by three 1.mfom11ded court­ martials and failed to be promoted in the next few years folfowi.ng his attempted prosecution of the T'!llcson murderers. He resigned from the service still un­ shaken in his belief of the guilt of those who were a part of the Camp Grant Mas­ E sK;iminzin, leader of the Araviapa Apaches, sacre, with daughter and son. Eskinimzin with a band of warriors es­ caped frnm the Camp Grant solldi.ers fearing that the white men might kill them also. The chief took his men to the cabin of his long-time white friend Charley McKemaa to be hidden and fed. After McKem1a amicably fixed a meal for the Indians, Eskinimzin picked up a rifle and shot the white man. Many years later the Apache chief explained that he killed bis white friend to show his men that no tmst existed between the Indians and the whites. Even white friends had to dieo

Apaches all over by the beginning of the 1870'8 had been rounded up ( some voluntarily) or starved 1st U.S. Infantry Band-·J8[{2 into surrender including Eskinimzin, Colonel -Shafter in command chief of the Aravaipas.

Eskinimzin, a ~reat enemy of the "White Eyes" realized the futility of continuing to fight his foes and sent five ol!ll squaws to offer peace to the Commanding Officer at Camp Grant. By March 11, 1870 more than 300 Indians surrendered to Lto Royal F. Whitman.

Captain S.H. Leib was superv1smg co1111- structio1111 at the new post. For a time after the move temporary hcmsing con­ sisted of several tents until more adobe quarters could be built.

Hunt Club-Jst U.S. cavalry 1880'S New C:itiTi]i] Grn111t was an overwhelming impr,:ivem,mt over Old Camp Grant, al­ tho,1gh not to be described as a utopia.

The locatirnrn of the post was closer to water, more sanitary and in a better loc0 ati.on for defense against the roving Apache renegades.

(Old Camp Grant moved its post near the Arivaipa Creek December 19, 1872 to its present site. The post was still called camp Grant until April 5. 1879 when it officially became Fort Grant. The new location, referred to as camp Grant until that date, is our present Ariz~ 011a State Industrial School for boys.)

Army Officers-·-t 885

A local newspaper at the time of the move described the new location as being '•Situated near the base of Mount Graham on the south side with Mount Turnbull to the northwest the Apache Pass and Las Don Cabesas Mountains to the south east, the Dragoon Mountains to the south and the San Pedro Mountains on the west. As far as the eye can reach southward are to be seen mountains, their tops covered with snow, some of them so far away that they look like clouds SUS0 pended in the air. There is no snow at the post but at a distairnce of half a mile on the top airnd sides of Mount Graham there is plenty. A beautiful Httle st• Fort Grant Crossing ream of spring water runs close by the w·est side of the camp."

''Only Uuee officers are present; Cap­ ,tain Mont&"omery in command, Captain Thompson, who is l!.mder arrest by order of General Crook, and Lieutenant Pardee who is AAQM and post adjutant: 1and with superintending the erection of build­ ings, receiving and discharging trains loaded with freight which comes every few days, Lieutenant Pardee has his hands full. Doctor Clark is post sm:= geon. • • There is a stream saw-mill run by soldiers."

"Honorable John B. Allen has a contract to furnish the post with wood for present use at $6 per cord and Mr. Fairbanks supplies hay at $28 per. ton. Mr. Allen sold his stock-in-trade to William Demp­ sey who will run the "Shebang" until the arrival of Mra Warren Buck, the post arade Grounds--Lake Constance in background trader." "It is understood here that don•t (SiC) want a post established in Mount Graham as it is too near his reserve; and further it looks as if government puts no confidence in him and his treat:v.•• Four companies were sent to New camIJ Grant on January 20 1873 under Major Brown. Eleven companies were station• ed at the post by the latter part ol January.

Mail came once a week from Bowie and buildings went up at a rapid pace. By Seotember, Govenor Safford visited the post and found a commisary building con­ structed and the officer•s quarters made of granite almost finished. The enlisted men•s housing of adobe were under con­ struction in addition to new roads. Al­ ready they had finished a one-wagon road Corbisher Family--0/,d Hospital Flats up the side of Mount Graham using camp on Mt. o-aham--t 886 thirty men and three weeks time.

New Camp Grant servelli as a supply base for other military posts fighting the tur­ bulant war with the Indians. Willcox also used New camp Grant for supplies in their fight against the Apaches in southern Arizona.

During 1874 and 1875 the Indians and the whites enjoyed a somewhat peaceful relationship. In 1876 a trader named Rogers who sold whiskey was killed by Indians near Sulphur Springs. Also -in 1875 the ('pache rebels) moved down in Sonora where they con­ ducted minor raids across the border.

Although New Camp Grant was at peace with the Indians, in 1875 Governor Safford wired the post for assistance when Mexican General Serna crossed the American border illegally. By the time troops reached the border, Serna had retreated on his own.

Life at New Camp Grant was fairly un­ complicated With social gatherings at local ranches and horse racing. The Camp Grant Minstrels, formed from soh diers of the 8th Infantry toured the territory entertaining in 1874•

October 7, 1874, Captain E. H. Leib top-notch Indian fighter, was court-mar­ tialed for drunkenness and sentenced to be cashiered. However, his sentence was reduced to loss of rank and command for six months because of his outstanding record. t /!16 ---A Roberts family picnic

~~~~ ------_,---~----- 'r !

Officer• s Row

of the finest hospital in the territory. An officer ranking captain was cautioned During this period in the post• s history, about the company with whom he was New Camp Grant included a store run by charged. The captain was instructed a civilian, a stage line, a lawyer named to not neglect the health and welfare of T.A. Toney and the Hotel de Luna own­ his men in addition to their discipline, ed by Miles L. Wood, leading citizen equipment and clothing. When his men and former beef contractor at Old Camp were sick or wounded, their captain was Grant. to oversee the administration of medicine and provide a comforting and cheering In September of 1877 the new military atmosphere. post experienced and unrecorded epidemic among the women and children with no While the lieutenant was urged to listen fatal results, however. to his men•s legitimate complaints, he Shortage of water became a problem ai was to discourage petty griping and the post beginning in 1877 because of whining, In addition to seeing that lack of rain. By 1879 even animals his men• s diets were adequate and ap• could not drink from the stagnant stream pealing, the lieutenant was delegated to near the post, Water had to be hauled see that they arrived to enjoy these into the military compound, delectable meals on time. April 5, 1819, New Camp Grant official­ ly became known as Fort Grant. During Ensigns were charged with maintaining this same year the first set of standard a clean, weU 0 ordered group of soldiers regulations was published by Baron whether they were carrying out normal Frederick von Steuben for his own of­ duties or on parade. ficers at Valley Forge. t Fort Grant, a frontier outpost, sought to follow these Major A. K. Arnold of the 6th Calvalry regulations set down in a Handbook for commanded the fort from 1879 to 1880. Officers: Major Arnold sent his troops out to scout for Indians in the Upper Gila, Ash Spring, Tres Alamos and the San Pedro River areas as well as near Bowie.

' ..... 13 ..... I

II Much criticism was leveled at the mil­ itary efforts; Arizona citizens complain­ ed that as soon as the troops left, the Indians returned. Arizonians demanded the return of the only commander to successfully oust the Apaches, General George Crook. Crook did return i.11 September, 1888, when , began ~is raids.

Captain Taulk and First Lt. Overton i11 1881 arrived at Fort Grant with troop F, 6th cavalry. The entire troop was im· mediately ordered to Fort Apache but returned to Fort Grant within two weeks, An Apache medicine man and his fol­ lowers killed several soldiers at Cibecue Creek near Fort Apache in 1881· These Indians were killed or captured by Fort Grant soldiers. The captured Apaches named Dead Shot, Dandy Jim and Skippy were brought to Fort Grant to be jailed.

Geronimo···leader of the Apaches

General Crooks Scouts,--described as a ' •turbulent, desperate, disreputable band•, by General Nelson Miles, They helped Major General George Crook Americans track down Geronimo. Post commander in 1881 to 1882 was Major James Biddle who commanded units from the 6th cavalry and the 12th Infantry. BichUe•s wife reported Fort Grant to be of perfect climate with invigorating air. Her only complaint being that the Indians sometimes came too close, presumabley to catch glimpses of her fair-haired, blue-eyed children, Nicholas and Alice whom the Indians considered beautiful. Mrs. Biddle discovered almost a dozen Indians on her kitchen floor once playing with her small children.

5th cavalry--J 877

The three Apaches were tried in Nov• ember, 1881, and hanged March 1882, with post chaplain A. D. Mitchell render­ ing the last rites to the convicted men. Prior to the execution of the Indians, Dead Shot filed through the shackle chain which confined him and ran from the guardhouse only to be brought down by two bullets that lightly wounded him.

A guardhouse prisoner bought his own freedom by springing the trap which hung the condemed men. The bodies were removed from the post cemetery the night following their hanging. Later the post surgeon confessed that he had given three soldiers $25 per body for his own use. Enlisted Men•s Barracks From the encl of Lieutenant Brown•s command until the beginning of Major command in 1887 the top officer remains unrecorded. However, General Anson Mills 011 May 10, 1886, it is reported that Lieutenant John Bigelow, Jr., left Fort. Grant with soldiers to scout ancl patrol the area disignated as the post•s re0 sponsibility. Mills put in fountains ar-ound the fort which could spout water 100 feet in the During 1885 Fort Grant was used mainly air since the reservoirs had 400 feet as a supply and operations base for the pressure. General Miles was pleased, as military fight against Geronimo wl:io was were the residents, with the green now on the warpath. In August of 1886 landscaping which added to the beauty Geronimo and his band were captured of the fort. b:v Lieutenant Charles Gatewood, thus ru'arking the encl of the most critical Lieutenant Colonel E. Pearson from period of the Apache warfare. 1889 to 1890 commanded a fort "1:h_ich was beginning to move toward semhty. Major Anson Mills, 10th Cavalry, took Indians were no longer a threat, the fort the reins of command at the fort in 1887 was badly in need of repairs, according through 1888, Mills busied his troops to General G. H. Grierson who toured with civil duties such as joining peace the post May 30, 1890· The general officers who were after train robbers. reported the food being given the men General Mills also kept the men from was undesirable and precious water was idleness by arranging war games with being used for the picturesque fountains. , , Fort Lowell and Fort Apache. The Valley Bulletin of Salomonville in 1890 viewed Fort Grant as a beauti 0 Directly across from Officer•s Row, the ful place. "It has an extensive and same location as the present swimming well laid out parade ground and a min~ pool, Mills installed Lake Constance ature artifical lake ancl numerous foun° named after his daughter. Under orders tains, well shaded walks and drives, from General Mile~, Mills spent $16,000 elegant officeros quarters and men•s for the construction of the water ancl quarters, corrals and stables, office sewage system with a cement0 lined lake buildings and a warehouse." (Constance) measuring 60 feet by 200 feet. corbusier bad his headaches with the cases of diptberia were results of the mer1l' s off-duty foolishness. A small adobe quarters, Corbusier complained. number of popular whiskey ranches or The old adobe, however, was too poorly locally called • •hog ranches•• in the built to be remodeled. Bonita area were supplyin& the post men with veneral diseases which ra&ed to the point of epidemic. Gamblers and prosititues awaited the payday every two months of the fort men A bowling alley and a canteen established on the fort kept some of the soldiers from the bawd:v life belch,w the fort.

Non-Commissioned Officer• s Dormitory---Brown• s Folly the builder Brown lost so much money on the building he went bankrupt and later committed suicide.

Late summer ol' 1890 saw Major T. S. Colonel Mizner•s command felt the brunt Norwell of the 10th cavalry in command of cll'iticism for its lack of personal of the fort but by September of that year cleanliness due to improper bathing Colonel J. K. Mizner, also of the 10th facilities. Cavalry, was commanding officer; he kept this post until 1892.

.--17.-- Lower Reservior---1890' s In 1892 following Colonel Mizner, Major Henry Carroll, 1st Ca'\ialry, took over the fort. At that time a Captain W. H. Arthur complained of the total lack of Up'f]er Reservior--1880' s cleanliness of the men due to difficulty in getting hot water. Inadequate boilers attached to the water in back of a kitchen stove were responsible for one of the problems. Rainfall had been at a low point during the summer; however, this problem had gone 0111 for several years.

Colonel A. K. Arnold, 1st Cavalry, took command of the post from 1893 to 1895- Arnold spent much time trying to get adequate water into the reservoir.

The fort was all but abandoned in 1896· On July 25 of that year the Arizona Daily Star of Tucson notified Arizonians that on October 13 the lands of the fort would be auctioned. The local civil= ians who depended on Fort Grant for part of their incomes loudly objected.

The post remained in limbo until 1900 when H was used as a way station 011 the route to the new in the Philippines.

1111 February, 1901, Troops B and D of the 5th Cavalry were transferred to the Philippines. By April 1901 Fort Grant was again au but deserted With only the 5th Cavalry present. Captain Overton With four troops of the 14th Cavalry arrived at the fort July 23 of that year. The fort housed 327 men for the army at that time. Cascade Creek Falls--189 On September 10, 1901. Fort Grant was o made regimental headquarters for the 14,th Cavalry and remained so until 1903 When they were sent to the Philippines, Also in 1903 a school was opened at the fort in addition to a Sunday School. During this year at the fort, the post became the center for the new movement called the "Black Movement to Central 1Urica." The objective of this project was to send willing American negrnes back to the country their ancestors were taken from; thereby setting up a haven for the black people and solving Negro problems once 0and for all.

Colonel Lebo then took command from overton and by November, 1904, there was again only one troop of the 5th cavalry remaining on the fort.

During the Spanish-American war in 1904 Captain Pritchard of the 5th cavalry commanded the post until the first of August. At that time Lieutenant p .H. Fort Grant Guardhouse--t 888 Sheridan began command of Fort Grant with Troop C of the 5th Cavalry until June 13, 1905, when he was relieved by Captain John M. Jenkins, Troop D 5th Cavalry, Despite the Gila Valley residents pro­ tests that arose each time talk of closing Fort Grant came up, in October, 1905, the post was finally abandoned. Gen­ eral Grierson•s visit in 1890 may have weighed heavily in favor of its abandon­ ment since he reported adverse condi­ tions at the fort.

General Grinston in 1902 had also recom­ mended abandonment because of the lack of water and the fact that the fort was all but unnecessary. June 29, 1905, the Secretary of war issued an order for its pennanent abandonment. Captain Jenkins marched Troop D across the parade grounds for the final time and out into Gila Valley on October 4, 1905, with only a single caretaker to bid them farewell.

Cantankerous and fiery Colonel Stewart took command of Fmt Grant in 1908• He had charge of only a few thousand acres of rangeland without livestock, many empty buildings,a Chinese cook and a caretaker.

Family Quarters in t 89 o l ,..-19.- i' Good Old Days

at Bonita Bonita store 1890'S

Canadian-born Miles L. Wood migrated In 1876 Wood and his wife moved to the via California to Arizona in 1869 by Bonita 'area where he became a leading where he was swept up in citizen and rancher. The proximity of the fascinating events of our state, s New camp Grant encouraged Wood to see history. Wood's daughter, Jessie Du­ the n~eo for a hotel on the post. He Bois, her son Jim and his family stm built and operated the Hotel de Luna at operate the original Bonita store and live the military post in 1876. in the Wood home filled With documents, antiques and memories of early Arizona This same year Wood, his wife and their before it became a state. Mrs. DuBois small child made a trip to California on recalls amusing and interesting incidents the Butterfield Stage. The trip took told to her by her father concerning the eight days and nights. The adults grew Camp Grant, Fort Grant and Bonita his­ wieary of the small quarters and tedious torv. journey, but the Wood's toddler found the trip a complete drag. Whenever the Wood was the beef contractor at Old travelers stopped for a brief rest, the Camp Grant when it was on the Aravaipa tiny pioneer upon catching sight of the Creek and San Pedro River, During this stagecoach, had to be forced back into time in 1871, Wood was called to Tucson the vehicle. to testify on the side of the Indians at the infamous Camp Grant Massacre Trial. Wood left camp Grant to work at Camp Bowie where he was married in 1874• 11sed the names Henry Antrim ,rnd ,"li1

In addition to stealing government horses and mules, the Kid made himself offens­ ive by drinking, fighting over cards and women, and other unpleasant habits. The Kid shot and killed his mining-ven­ hue partner F.P. Cahill behind the present Bonita store. The unfortunate Cahill insisted on overseeing and hand­ ing out advice on the Kid• s poker game one night at his (CahiU•S) saloon. This rubbed the Kid the wrong way, apparently as he killed Cahill the following morning. Wood and a coroner•s jury found the Kid guilty; however, he was released to continue his pleasure-seeking around Bonita and the military post. Complaints from the military at Fort Grant caused Wood to become determined to capture the outlaw. The opportunity came mm night when a Negro waiter named BiU "Caleb" Martin reported to Wood that the Kid was in the hotel dining room ordering dinner. Woods family believed the Kid had come to the hotel to either kill him or scare him into giving up his determination to see the killer in jail. The hotel owner told the waiter not to panic but take the Kid•s order for dinner. Wood himself served the Kid not only his meal on a tray but a carefully concealed 45=caliber pistol under a napkin.

The Kid was put in Fort Grant's guar1) 0 house by Wood; however, he managed to escape by throwing salt into the eyes of his guard. Since he boldly continued to take part in the daily life at the post and below at Bonita, he was captured again mdy to free himself the second time With leg irons dragging behind him

At a Bonita saloon, the Kid convinced his friend Dobie Varley, the bartender, to help him get away. Varley took him to the Aravaip Canyon to hide for se-11° eral days until plans could be mapped out for his escape into . The Kid•s life was ended some time later Billy the Kid when he was shot and killed by Sheriff l

Wood lived through other adventures wurth recalling such as his bm~h with the famous Indian, Cochise. Mrs. Jessie DuBois, called Nanna by her grand­ children, still bas the leather pouch once filled with gold wl:dch was given to her father by Cochise in payment of a herd of ca.ttle Cochise needed. Wood was traveling with a herd of cattle to Camp Bowie when Cochise and his followers materialized and seized both Woovl and the cattle. Cochise bound Wood•s hands and feet and left him in a teep~e all night. ''I never begged '' Wood•s daughter remembers him telling his family about his capture. All night Wood remained Cochise•s prisoner and in the morning Cochise untied Wood and told him he was free since he hadn•t "Whined like a dog."

Cochise gave Wood a pouch of gold in exchange for the cattle he intended to keep and told his captive to go. The chief sent an Indian behind Wood to see that the white man went on his way. Wood expected an arrow in his back at any moment but Cochise kept his Word and let him go free. Mrs. DuBois has heard her father say that Cochise was honest but that he was never treated fairly.

In 1920 Wood took over ownership or the Bonita general store, This store (Still in operation) was never a "bawdy house" Mrs. DuBois is quick to point out. They had a saloon in the back room which is now used for storage. There were "Hog ranches" around the Bonita area, how­ ever, Mrs. DuBois recalls. These saloons cum brothels supplied enter­ tainment-seeking civilians and Fort Grant soldiers, as well as travelers and local men, with veneral disease, cuts, bmises and other wounds resulting from the racy and ribald amusement centers.

More than a thousand residents could be counted in the Bonita area during its heyday. A bandfui of stores, ranches and Cochise fanns housed the population. Colonel Henry Hooker boasted his fab­ not-so-legal period came forward to ulous Sierra Bonita ranch where he enter­ adjust their marriages. Wood always told tained civilians and Fort Grant personnel couples they had 30 days in which to in addition to supplying beef to the change their minds until he filed their soldiers and peaceful Indians. Cochise marriages in the county seat. . .both often traded with Colonel Hooker in a before and after his naturaHzaticm. businesslike manner. However, accord­ to Mrs. DuBois, Colonel Hooker was One couple galloped up on their horses taken prisoner by Cochise in an off and shouted to Wood that they wanted to moment in their friendship. be married quickly. When Wood instruct­ ed them to dismount and hold hands the Although Miles L. Wood felt like a United young man said there was no time for States citizen, he had not been natural­ such ceremony. Wood married the hasty ized from Canadian citizenship to Amer­ couple while they held hands still mount­ ican during the first 17 years of his ed on their horses. After the final bind­ 45-year-term as Justice of the Peace words were spoken, they slapped for the Bonita area, According to Wood, their horses and galloped off into the rnm_e of the couples married rlurine: this desert. r

·1 "'I I " The Making of an lnJust:irial School

1901 - 1972 Arizona•s First Industrial School at Benson--1901 Girl• s Dormitory--19 20

.\rizona• s current industrial school for HlleC! only olle tioy but soon increased bms had its origin in Benson when m its population to more t!Hl!111 a dozen. 191H legislation gave the green. H~ht Fmm 1912 11.mtil 1919 the school housed for the establishment of an rnstitution only delinquent boys. Separate but equal for both male and female juvenile of­ confinement was provided in 1920 at fenders in the Arizona territory. Fort Grant for wayward girls. They were housed in what is presently known In 1912, the same year tha_t Arizona as the '' Apartment !Him.me•,, now used gained statehood, the Industnal School for staff housing. 1!111 1929 facilities due to 1msatisfactory conditions at the were built ill Randolph for the girls• Benson site, was transferred t? its pre­ care thus separating the boys and the sent location at Fort Grant, Anzona. gil'ls with even greater distance. lnitiaHv the new Industrial School con· Arizona State Industrial School--1925

Despite the fact that the girls were only Tile next superintendent was Roy M teenagers, a local newspaper during the Kelley who was replaced by John R. time the girls were included in the Allen in the early part of 1934. Allen Industrial School Population, called was the former director of athletics and three girls "sirens" who ran away with civics instructor at Globe High School. two male inmates. Kelly and James F. Nuttal, detail More than $65,000 was spent in 1920 for officer, were removed from position by the construction of Campbell cottage Governor B.B. Moeur resulting from and Ross Cottage for the boys and girls what was termed "medieval" punishment (respectively)· Prior to the completion executed at the Industrial School. of the buildmgs, Andrew Baumert, Jr., Secretary of the State Board of Insti­ tutions expressed great concern over the students treatment of the new struct­ ures. Baumert feared that students coming from adobe homes and "other kinds of shacks" might not appreciate the hard­ wood floor and "nifty walls" contained in the new buildings. Several superintendents (loosely recorded) served at the Industrial School prior to 1928 when Sam V. Pollack arrived to administrate the inmate population of of less than 100• Mention h, made in 1918 in a Gila valley newspaper of W. A. Moody, of Safford, as heading the Industrial School and being "a credit to the state".

In 1931 Jacob Hamblin took the reins of power from Pollack. Hamblin is credited with improving the poor physical conditions of the school to a large extent. Commandant•s Headquarters---1925 t i':;, ;; ,! Until 1941 children as young as age Juvenile offenders under 12 years of age eight were often committed to the In- were not sent to the Industrial School • dustrial School, often because of neglect either unless the child and the com­ or abandonment. This practice was out­ munity from which he came could not lawed by the State Juvenile Code that come to terms. year by a provision stating that no child be committed to the school unless the juvenile court had sentenced him.

1 Roy M; John ~ Iii,• Allet etics anti 1 School~ l, deta( sition bi;; ing froit misbmea~ ol. Grant Hall--first boys dorm at A.S.I.S.

Smedberg Hall--along with Grant, a W.P.A. project Jack A. Wilson became the superinten- dent in and saw to it that voc- ational became a part of the boys• rehabilitation program. The superintendent also provided a place­ ment service for juveniles blending back into society. During Wilsows tenure with the Indust­ rial School, the students were the re­ cipients of war surplus supplies Which enabled the administration to use money saved to rejuvenate some of the facilities on the fort.

Dr. Everett L. Edmondson acted as su perintendent from 1949 to 1950 Dr. Edmondson counted among his accomp lishments the construction of a million dollar steel water tank paid for by the Arizona Government. George Ridgeway served as superinten dent from 1950 to 1952- Vocational Training-Initiated by Superintendent Wilson

Old A.S.I.S. Chapel

--30-- vocational Building at A.S.l.S.

Shortly after, Steve J. Vukcevich stepped Six months after Vukcevich took over-the into the much spotlighted Industrial administration, Governor Howard Pyle School superintendent• s position in Jan• called the Industrial School a '' sanctuary uary, 1953. Vukcevich promptly saw to for boys not a desert devil• s island•' as the dismissal of employees that had had been the former snipe thrown at the actually been involved in any questione school. able treatment of the students.

Academic Building

·I

....-31...- Governor Pyle said at this ti~e "my Vukcevich initiated the requirement that highest commendation (to the l~grnlature all instructors be college graduates. Ad­ and administration) for creatmg here, ditionally, the new superintendent saw not a forgotten outpost, but a sanctuary to the construction of a new academic for boys that should be the envy ot every classroom building, a new dining area youngster in the country." for the boys, a gymnasium, more staff

Dairy

Gymnasium housing, a laundry, a dairy, a garage and vocational training buildings with at more vocational equipment for the boys• d­ training programs. In 1958 water was aw found. There were two wells producing ic rnoo·H!OO gallons per minute. ea tff Also included in the recreational program at that time were camping trips in the Graham mountains and a Boy Scout Troop. The 1968 Arizona Senate passed a bill which placed the Arizona State Industrial School under the immediate jurisdiction of the State Department of Corrections. This same Senate was credited with the passage of a bill which enabled -the In­ dustrial School (and other similiar in­ stitutions) to be the recipient of federal funds. water problem is solved.

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Learning a trade at A.S.I.S. Competitive athletic programs build character at A.S.J.S.

The A.S.I.S. Band-a proud tradition Drawing from the famous military names during the Fort Grant era, the Arizona state Industrial School for boys chose names for its dormitories. Grant Hall honors Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United states from 1869 to 1873• The original military post of camp Grant on the Aravaipa Creek and in 1879 Fort Grant (present site) also bears the name of the former President and general. Wainwright Hall pays homage to General Jonathan M. "Skinny" Wainwright who spent time as a child in 1893 at Fort Grant when his father•s regiment, the 1st cavalry, was stationed at the fort.

Read Hall was named after Lt. General George Windle Read Jr., who was born at Fort Grant July 29, 1900· Read•s father was Major General George Read and his grandfather was Lt. General S.B.M, Young. Counting among his military tasks a two year battle with Geronimo, Brigadier Anson C. Mills served as commanding officer of Fort Grant from 1887 to 1888· Mills, born in 1834 and graduated from the United States Military Academy, Staff Housing at A.S.l.S served his country for fifty=four and a half years. Mills Hall is named after this brave and colorful general.

Mills Hall Lt. General Nelson Appleton Miles, born Cooper ii;,s na1ne from the Hall gained August has to his military anny•s Charles Lawrence Cooper who be­ 8, 1839, gan bis military career in New York as a credit the subjugation of Geronimo, private in 1862 and ended his se_rvice as Nahche and the infamous band of Chiri­ a Colonel in the 5th Cavalry m 1903· cahua Indians who terrorized Arizona during the 1soo•s. Arizona citizens Smedber Hall which served A.S.1.s. st~­ presented Miles with a sword of bonor de111ts as a recreation hall, complete with for this accomplishment. Additionally games, television, books and magazines Miles earned the position of Com­ and pool tables, was named after Rear mandor-in-Chief of the United states Admiral William Renwicb Smedberg, 111· Army in 1895• A,S.I.S. meditation dormi· Smedberg was born at Fort Grant Septem- tory is named after this famous military ber 28, 1902· dynamo. The old Junior cottage is now -called Brigadier General Benjamin Henry Grier­ Cochise Hall after Superintendent Vuk, son (July 8, 1826 to September 1, 1911) cevich &ave the students a choice of served as a confonel for the naming the dormitory after a famous In­ during the Civil war and became a famous dian of the Arizona territorial days. In­ Indian fighter in the western states with dian warrior Nino Cochise was both re. the 10th cavalry. A.S.l,S,•s Grierson spected and bated by Arizonians during Hall is used for religious services for his life in the second half of the tsoo•s. students Cochise Hall currently has the CHAPS (Cocbise nan Accelera~ed Pmt_ective Service) program under its domam.

Wainwright Hall

,....36....- Academic Study in Modern Facilities at A,S,I,S. fomia, Texas and , respectively, A.s.1.s.' s Cochise nan Accelerated contributing the next highest out-of-•state P~otective Service program was a result offender to the A.S.1.s. population. ?t the federal benefit. The CHAPS pro­ Ject was formed to provide professional Department statistics also showed that hel~ to the emotionally disturbed ju­ during this time span, 297 of the boys vemles at the Industrial School. This confined at the school were Anglo, 197 prog1am is still in operation. were Spanish-American, 101 were Negro and 28 were Indian. The. D_epartment of Corrections Student Statistics for the fiscal year July 1, 1970 The age groups involved in this break.­ to June 30, 1971 showed an average down were: Four boys of age 12; 36 population of 313 boys. The majority of aged 13; 92 aged 14; 157 aged 15; 175 the students came from Arizona with Cali- aged 16; 145 aged 17 and 14 aged 18·

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