This is a list, which includes a photographic gallery, of some of the remaining historic buildings, houses, bridges, structures and monuments in the mining town of Clifton, which is located in Greenlee County, Arizona. The Clifton Townsite Historic District is a historic district that covers and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 1, 1990, reference: #90000339. Some of the structures are within the historic Chase Creek Commercial District. There are some structures which are located on Coronado Trail and Park Avenue. Also, included in this list are photographs of the town's flood gates, built to protect South Clifton from flooding, the Clifton Cliff Jail and the Baby-gauge “Number 8” locomotive used in the mines.
Brief history The specimens of pottery and stone implements found in the cliff dwellings along the San Francisco River by archaeologists are indications of the existence of an advanced ancient native-American civilization, such as the Anasazi, in the area hundreds of years before both Fray Marcos de Niza and Francisco Vasquez de Coronado passed through the area.Clifton's Colorful PastRich History; Clifton A Town Born of ChanceNative American Tribes & the Indian History in Clifton, ArizonaGreenlee County Library System
New Spain The mission of the Spanish explorers led by Vázquez de Coronado was to find the Seven Golden Cities. Vázquez de Coronado at the time was serving as governor of a province in New Spain (in Mexico). When he heard reports of the legend of the Seven Golden Cities, which he believed were located north of Mexico's western coast, he organized an expedition which eventually passed through the area where Clifton is currently located.Francisco Vasquez de Coronado The two main tribes of Native Americans who eventually lived in the area called themselves Dineh, "the people”. The Navajo stayed in northern Arizona, and those in the south became known as Apaches, or "enemies”. The Apaches, who became the dominant force, were hunters, gatherers, and raiders of the more sedentary groups they found here.
New Mexico In 1821, Mexico became independent from Spain. The territory that includes present-day New Mexico and Arizona was designated as "New Mexico”. Hats made from the fur of beavers were very popular in the 1800s. There was a team of mountain men and trappers that were led by James Ohio Pattie in 1824 and 1825. They searched the San Francisco River edges for beavers in the area where Clifton is currently located.
In 1845, Mexico severed its relations with the United States because of the annexation of Texas by the United States. United States President James K. Polk declared war against Mexico in what became known as the Mexican–American War. The Mormon Battalion was among the troops which entered the area. Arizona north of the Gila River was taken by the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo at the end of the war. Mexican-American War
Arizona Territory The California volunteers pursuing the Apaches in 1856 discovered the first minerals of the Clifton area. Conflicts between the Apaches and the advancing Anglo settlers resulted in a war known as the Apache Wars. The conflict with the Apaches lasted 26 years. Mining for gold and silver began in 1864, followed by copper in 1872.Greenlee County; Clifton
The booming mining town of Clifton was officially founded in 1873. In 1874 the Longfellow Copper Mining Company, founded by Henry & Charles Lesinsky, built a smelter where Chase Creek emptied into the San Francisco River. Among the other mining companies that would be created in the area were the Arizona Copper Company and the Detroit Copper Company. In 1881, the Lesinsky brothers hired stonemason Margarito Varela to build the Clifton Cliff Jail. In 1882, the Lesinsky brothers sold their mining business to the Arizona Copper Company.Legends of America
The town also had its share of outlaws as it continued to grow. Among the outlaws of Clifton was Kid Louis and his gang. Kid Louis and his gang robbed many of the local businesses and participated in many shoot-outs. He was always acquitted of his crimes. In 1882, he decided to rob the Detroit Copper Company's office in the town of Morenci and beat William Church, the manager, with his gun until Church opened the company's safe. He relieved him and the Detroit Copper Co. of all available currency. After the heist, Kid Louis and his gang went into town to celebrate. While celebrating he accidentally shot his girlfriend and he sent for the doctor. The doctor did not show up, and his girlfriend died. Kid Louis went looking for the doctor with the intention of killing him. On the same day in Ward's Canyon there was a posse of well-armed Mexicans, organized by a Mexican rancher who had had some of his cattle stolen, in search of the cattle-thieves. Kid Louis and two of his men ran into the posse, and shooting commenced between the two groups. It ended with the death of Kid Louis.pp. 149, 150.University of Arizona LibraryChas. Y. Clark, "Clifton Memories", Phoenix Republic, June 16, 1929The History of the Clifton–Morenci Mining District; Chapter III, The Reign of Kid Louis; pp. 23–31
Greenlee County was created in 1909 and named for Mason Greenlee who was an early settler in the Clifton area.Mason Greenlee With the creation of Greenlee County on March 10, 1909, Clifton was chosen as its seat.Clifton, Arizona – Mining Copper Through Thick and Thin
Abduction of orphan children
In 1904, Catholic nuns from New York City sent forty Irish orphans to Clifton by way of the railroad with the intention that they be adopted by Catholic families. As it turned out, most of the Catholic families in Clifton were Mexican. When the Anglo residents of the town found out, they became furious and kidnapped the children because they considered this an “interracial” transgression and claimed that placing a white child with a Mexican family was the same as child abuse. The group of vigilantes almost lynched the nuns and priest. The courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, ruled against the Catholic Church, who claimed that the children should be returned, and ruled in favor of the vigilantes.The Great Arizona Orphan Abduction
Lives and properties were lost as a result of the 1903 flood in Clifton. Thunderstorms with heavy rain created torrents of water which converged on the junction of Chase Creek and the San Francisco River, forming a crest that ripped through the length of Clifton.Clifton, AZ Flood, Jun 1903 In 1906, there was an accident in one of the mining shafts, which gave way, and thousands of tons of rock and waste poured down upon three Mexican workers, who were instantly killed.Clifton, AZ mine cave-in, Jun 1906 In 1913, a devastating fire occurred on Chase Creek Street, killing five people and causing approximately $200,000 in property damage. Among the properties which were affected was the Cascarelli building, which at the time was Chase Creek's only three-story building. The new building is two-story and was built from the bricks of destroyed one. The reason that so many buildings (25) were destroyed by the fire was that there was no water available to help fight it.Walking Tour of Chase Creek
Greenlee County Historical Society The Greenlee County Historical Society is located in the Eagle Hall building, now the Greenlee Historical Museum Building, built by Antonio and Ambrose Spezia in 1913, 299 Chase Creek Street. According to the Greenlee County Historical Society, their mission is the following: "The mission of the Greenlee County Historical Society shall be: to collect, preserve, interpret and disseminate relevant and historically significant materials pertaining to Greenlee County and Arizona and to develop and maintain ethical, effective and efficient professional standards in carrying out these endeavors for the benefit of present and future generations."Greenlee County Historical Society
Jim McPherson, Arizona Preservation Foundation board president, has stated the following:
Two individual structures are listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). They are: The Park Avenue Bridge (Zorilla Street Bridge) listed on September 30, 1988, reference: #88001661 and The Clifton Casa Grande listed on June 26, 1979, reference: #79003445.
On March 1, 1990, the National Register of Historic Places declared Clifton's Townsite a historic district; reference: #90000339. According to the NRHP, Clifton's historic significance is information potential, architecture/engineering, event and includes the periods of significance of 1850 to 1949. The district designation covers the confluence of Chase Creek and the San Francisco RiverArizona – Greenlee County
Historic properties Chase Creek Street
The following historic business structures are listed as contributing factors within the Historic Chase Creek Street District The original name of the street was Copper Avenue. The names posted are the original names used when first built and address. The address in parentheses is the current new address. Included is the Palacio House located on the adjacent Palacio Loop.NRHP Granny's Attic – built in 1930 – 243 Chase Creek Street Restaurant/Shoe Repair – built in 1910 – 211 Chase Creek Street Woodmen of the World building – 1910 – 250 Chase Creek Street. Chase Creek Marketplace – built in 1890 – 215 (251) Chase Creek Street – It was originally the one-story Hoeye Barber Shop The Hollywood Shop – built in 1950 – (255) Chase Creek Street Zorrilla's Meat Market – built in 1893 – 221 (259) Chase Creek Street – This building was built by two brothers, Jesus and Manual (Lolo) Zorilla. The brothers established a meat market in the lower floor of the building. Billiard Hall/Brothel – built in 1893 – 225 (263) Chase Creek Street – This building now houses the Headframe Apothecary " La Feria – Rafael Valdz – built in 1906 – 229 (269) Chase Creek Street Saloon – built in 1913 – 235 (271) Chase Creek Street Jewelry Store – built in 1904 – (273) Chase Creek Street J.C. Penney Store – 251 – (275) Chase Creek Street Dry Goods Store/Farmer's Market – 253 (283) Chase Creek Street Gatti Meat Market Building – built in 1914 and located on 286 Chase Creek Street. The Cascarelli Building – built in 1913 – (295–297) Chase Creek Street – This building once belonged to Ippolito Cascarelli, an Italian immigrant. Before the fire of 1913, the Cascarelli building was Chase Creek's only three-story building. The Lyric Theater ruins – (299) Chase Creek Street – A century ago, the arches (pictured) are the remains of the façade of the Lyric Theater. The superstructures started to warp and sag, after 20 years of expansion and contraction, and eventually the roof caved in. ABC Market – (291) Chase Creek Street Eagle Hall-Greenlee Historical Museum Building – built in 1913 – 299 Chase Creek Street – built by the Spezia Brothers. The upper floor was originally used for meetings and for periodic dances. The upper floor was also used for offices of the city's police court, with justice of the peace Matt Danenhauer serving as judge. The lower floor was occupied by J. Alvarez's Meat Market. Villesca's House – built in 1918 321-325 Chase Creek Street – Romulo Villescas had an open-air vegetable market directly in front of the house. Zappia Bakery flour warehouse – the flour warehouse of Rocco Zappia's Bakery. Zappia made an apartment there so that he could rest after finishing his baking Picken-Anderson Overland Car Agency – 345 Chase Creek Street Antonio Spezia's Hay & Grain Store – built in 1913 – 325-327 Chase Creek Street Laundromat/Drug Store – built in 1913 – Chase Creek Street Sacred Heart Catholic Church – built in 1917 – 329 Chase Creek Street Claude Hooker House – built in 1896 – 389 Chase Creek Street. Claude Hooker who lived in this house was a Chase Creek attorney.