Thanks for making time to listen to a few of my stories.
I have always been interested in American history but heading a children's charity and raising a family did not allow time. Upon retirement I spent several years re reading those history books that I had just read in school to pass the test. During these reads, I paid particular attention to record (for retelling) those interesting and informative stories my history teachers didn't have time to share.
I organized Santa Express Trains to the North Pole for 10 years during my tenure with the children's charity. This intensified my passion for trains which I had had from youth. Upon retirement, I continued feeding my train passion by riding most of Amtrak's trains, even serving as an Amtrak tour guide.
My train passion went through the roof when I learned Robert Todd Lincoln arguably set the record for riding the most miles on trains before age 25, and while Secretary of War he traveled by train to many military places out West, AND at age 55 replaced George Pullman as the CEO of nation's largest rail manufacturing company, the Pullman Palace Car Co. Robert serve as CEO for 11 years and then continue as chairman of the Board for another 14 years! He definitely became a railroad baron.
With this knowledge, I chose to become a Robert Todd Lincoln reenactor. I found only 2 books on Robert Todd Lincoln. Yet, these books contained valuable information and stories I found delight in sharing as his reenactor.
For information and stories about
Robert Todd Lincoln tap here Mary Todd Lincoln tap here
Tucson is often referred to as the "Old Pueblo" as it rivals St. Augustine, FL for the title of oldest U.S. city.
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Few people know that modern Tucson was founded by an Irishman, Hugo O'Conor, a Spanish mercenary from Dublin, Ireland.
Interestingly, sitting on the main entrance to Tucson is a statue of the 2nd to last person to invade the United States:
Tucson. Home to Davis-Monthan Air Force base, Tucson has a long history with airplanes. In 1910, a small group of citizens gathered in Elsyian Park along the Santa Cruz River in Tucson waiting patiently to see Charles "Birdman" Hamilton, fly an "aeroplane", the next transportation technology since the locomotive: Tap here for the story.
Green Valley. Following I-19 south for 30 minutes from Tucson, one can see a continuous sea of trees - over 100,000 pecan trees. In the 1950's a California cotton farmer moved to Green Valley and eventually chose to grow pecan trees rather than grapes.
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Tubac - 'where art meets history and shopping'. In its early years the Spanish cited a Presidio (fort) here to protect the citizens from Apache attacks.
Later, Charles Poston, known the father of Arizona, headed a mining company located in Tubac which quickly surpassed Tucson in population. Poston proclaimed "when a railroad is built in Arizona, Tubac would be on the main line". Tubac still doesn't have a railroad station.
In the 1940's two art teachers decided to move their studio here and establish a place for artists to paint the beautiful desert and mountain sceneries. Thus, once again, putting Tubac on the map.
For Tubac's short history tap here
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Tumacacori
Talbert T. “Tol” Pendleton, a former All American football player from Princeton and a member of the Eastern aristocracy, gravitated to the Texas oil business after World War I.
As he absorbed Texas culture, however, Pendleton must have realized that the ultimate symbol of Western aristocracy was a showcase ranch, not an oil derrick.
Taking advantage of plunging land prices during the Depression, Pendleton and his partner, F.M. Dougherty, bought out several other land owners.
By 1932, they were ready to form Baca Float Ranch, Inc.
For the next three decades, Pendleton lived the life of the gentleman rancher.
He imported Santa Gertrudis cattle from the King Ranch in Texas.
Santa Gertrudis Lane became known as Santa Booze Lane.
Nogales. In 1882, a train from Benson connected with a train from Guaymas, Mexico in modern day Nogales. The train station actually straddled the border of these two towns named Nogales. Line City was the name of Nogales, AZ before being named Nogales.
Bisbee. A very productive mining town at one time, Bisbee has remade itself into a tourist destination. Located on a side of a mountain, this town's streetcar carried over a million riders annually when the Copper Queen mine was in its heyday. A hotel, with the same name, continues to draw tourists, only in part because some say it is "haunted". One of the town's main draws is it art shops.
The first baseball stadium, and still is use, was built in Bisbee.
A touring major league baseball team played here.
One of the historical events the town wishes never happened occurred when the mining company corralled most of its workers at gun point, put them on cattle cars, and sent them to New Mexico!
This was known as the Bisbee Deportation.
Nacozari, Sonora, south of Bisbee.
The U.S. has its railroad heroes, so does Mexico.
Jesus Garcia, a young railroad brakeman, jumped on a burning train full of explosives, moved it to safety, but perished when the train exploded.