The surrounding mountains are wonderful to look at, so we are never bored. But I still have that nagging feeling that I have dragged Granpa into a wild goose chase. There certainly aren't a bunch of folks trying to find this - we've been alone on the road for quite awhile now.
Finally, we find the turn off for the Monument. Just a couple more miles through the grass sea and I'll know if I have truly messed up Granpa's days off.
Hmmm. We're at the entrance, but there's no one in attendance - further proof that we may be the only goofballs to try and come here. We would use our Senior Pass, so they're not losing any money from us, but still.
Just past the entrance is a very small, wrought-iron fenced cemetery. These were the very first white settlers to attempt ranching here!
.JPG)
Look at those dolls that child has!
These are the Erickson's. Emma and Neil married and immediately moved to this area. Their first child, Lillian, was born at Fort Bowie. Their other two children, Hildegarde and Ben, were born at a ranch close by. All but Lillian are buried here. Lillian grew up and became the "Lady Boss of Faraway Ranch,"and she and her husband continued living at the ranch until the late 1970's. It was their love and appreciation for this mountain that led to it's becoming a National Monument. Lillian is resting a few miles west of here in her husband's family cemetery.
(Well, that's encouraging. If they thought is was pretty enough, their "wonderland of rocks," to create a tourist industry back in the early 1900's - how much traffic could there have been then - perhaps there's something to see here after all!)
(Well, that's encouraging. If they thought is was pretty enough, their "wonderland of rocks," to create a tourist industry back in the early 1900's - how much traffic could there have been then - perhaps there's something to see here after all!)
We move on, hopeful (especially me!) of seeing something worthwhile. And we were definitely not disappointed!
No comments:
Post a Comment