Welcome To Florence AZ - Where Time Stands Still

Our weather has really been incredible. Highs in the 70s and lows in the upper 40s and 50s.  Lots of sunshine with just the right amount of clouds for beautiful sunsets.

Paul and I meet for lunch a couple times a month and we decided to branch out and try some things that were new to us. The town of Florence is undergoing a renovation while still retaining its old west feeling. While waiting for Paul, I decided to do some exploring. 

The city was established in 1866 and was the 5th oldest settlement in Arizona. Florence also has quite an exciting past, so join me for some good ole stories of the good ole days.

Main Street

My first stop was the Second Pinal County Courthouse. The first courthouse is part of McFarland State Park which is also in Florence. (Haven't made it to the state park yet.) This courthouse was built in 1891 and some interesting trials have been held here. 

 Let me tell you about two of them.

Pearl Hart - Pearl was a Canadian outlaw in the American Old West. She committed one of the last stagecoach robberies in the U.S. and gained notoriety because of being a woman. This stage ran between Globe and Florence and on May 30, 1899, Pearl and her partner, Joe Boot, lifted $431.20 off the passengers. A posse caught up with them on June 5 and her trial was in October. She gave a very convincing plea that she needed the money to go see her very ill mother. The jury found her not guilty which enraged the judge, but immediately after being released she was rearrested for tampering with the U.S. Mail. 

Eva Dugan - In 1930 Eva was convicted of killing her employer with an axe and was sentenced to death. Her final statement was defiant to the end. "Well, I'll die with my boots on, an' in full health. And that's more'n most of you old coots'll be able to boast on."  While in prison she paid for her own coffin by giving interviews to the press for $1 each.  Her plea for insanity was denied and she was taken to the gallows at 5 a.m. on Feb 21, 1930. The trap door was dropped at 5:11 a.m.. At the end of the drop, the snap of the rope decapitated her and sent her head rolling. She was one of the last persons to be hanged in Arizona. The gallows were replaced in 1934 by the gas chamber. Eva was the first and only woman to be executed in Arizona. 

Take a close look at the clock tower on the courthouse. Time does stand still. The county ran out of money to finish the clock tower, so the clock was painted on and time forever stopped at 11:44.

Here's another great story for your history lesson.

Duel at Tunnel Saloon - Pete Gabriel was the Pinal County Sheriff in November of 1884. Joe Phy was his friend that he appointed as a deputy. The problem was, both of them had very bad tempers. In 1886 Pete decides to retire and throws his support behind Joe to replace him. But Joe gets into a fight and lets his temper get the best of him. Pete has to arrest him and then fire him. This situation created a lot of bad blood between the two hot heads. On May 31, 1888 Pete was headed to Florence and was very drunk by the time he arrived. Someone tells Pete that Joe is looking to pick a fight with him so Pete heads for the Tunnel Saloon. Joe finds him there and at 8 p.m. both men open fire and exchange 11 shots. Pete is hit in the right lung and another shot hits his intestines. But he is still able to get up and shoot Joe who is hit in the left thigh and the belly. As he bends over in pain, Pete shoots him point blank in the right shoulder and the bullet collapses both lungs. Against the odds, Pete survives but Joe dies. 

It's time to meet Paul for lunch at Mt. Athos Restaurant for some Greek food. I had chicken souvlaki and Paul had the gyro sandwich. The food was very good and our waitress was a joy. She was so excited about decorating the Christmas tree in their lobby. 

 

A very enjoyable day with more to come. It's amazing the stories small towns have to tell.