A Trip To See Roosevelt Dam Being Built - And Superstition Mountain

In the early 1900's a long drought caused much hardship for the farming communities of Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix, Arizona.  Orchards and vineyards dried up and died.  Many people lost everything and ended up moving out of the Salt River Valley.  It was a sad, difficult time for everyone.  Eventually it was decided that a dam needed to be built on the upper Salt River so water could be stored to prevent catastrophes like this from happening in the future.  My great grandfather was part of the planning committee, and his daughter Ethel, my Grandma Russell, wrote about the dam in her memoirs. 

Soon after the dam was begun my papa said he would like to go see how the work was progressing, so he took us to see Roosevelt Dam being built. The Dam was about 50 miles east of Mesa, where Tonto Creek joins the Salt River.  It was a long trip to make, over rough dirt roads, but we were sure excited to go.  Five families, neighbors of ours, decided to join the party.  Our wagons were like the pioneers used.  We carried water on the wagon sides in barrels.  Mother’s bed was on top of the wagon box and my sister and I slept on a mattress in the bottom.  The grub box and other camp equipment was conveniently placed as it had to be removed when we prepared meals. 

It was fun to cook over the camp fire and we often made a bonfire to sit about after supper was over and listened to stories about the pioneers. 

We saw  big freight wagons hauling supplies to Roosevelt along the Apache Trail, which was just a dirt road.  There were 6 or 8 horses on each of these freight outfits.  The driver used a stick with a long leather strap on it to crack over the horses to make them pull the heavily loaded wagons.

           

We camped the first night at Goldfield, not far from our beautiful Superstition Mountain.  Did you ever hear how the mountain got it’s name?  The old-time Indians began calling it Superstition because of the mysterious things that happened there.  On the front of the mountain, about two thirds of the way up, a white streak shines brightly.  The old Indians claim this mark was made by flood waters.  They say that back at the beginning of time the ancient Indians were mean and selfish and would not listen to the Great Spirit when he told them to stop.  The Great Spirit finally sent a huge flood to destroy all of the bad people.  As the water got higher and higher the people climbed on top of the mountain, but they were still being selfish and mean, pushing and shoving to get the highest places to stand.  The Great Spirit got so angry with them that he turned them into rock.  When you look at the mountain from the sides, you can still see the rock Indians standing along the top of the cliffs.

It is said the Indians won’t go near the mountain because long years ago when the Spaniards claimed this land they had many very rich gold mines near by.   One day as they were carrying the gold to Mexico a band of Indians attacked them and many of them were killed.  The Spaniards hid the gold in one of the many caves in the mountains and fled.  It is said the Indians know where the mine is, also where the gold is hidden, but they don’t want the white man to dig in the mountain as many of the Indians lie buried there and they claim they hear the spirits of their dead people moaning on the mountain. 

Many people have lost their lives searching for this gold.  We saw is a little white tent up on the north side  of the mountain.  Papa said a Dutchman by the name of Walch lived there.  He came down to the “Co-Op” where papa works for supplies and he knew him well.  Papa said Mr. Walch seemed to have plenty of money.  It is said he and his partner quarreled over a mine and the partner disappeared.  No one ever knew what became of him.  It is supposed Walch walled his body up in the mine which is called “The Lost Dutchman Mine.”  When Walch died he sent a map to his nephew in the East telling of it’s location, but it has never been found and people continue to search the area.

           

(to be continued tomorrow)