Derek and I took an afternoon to walk around the historic Fairbanks Townsite. Originally the location of a Native American village known as Santa Cruz in the 18th century, the area was later settled around the time the railroad came through in 1881. It was officially named Fairbank on May 16, 1883 after previously being called Junction City, and then Kendall. The name refers to N.K. Fairbank of Chicago, who helped finance the railroad. Fairbank acted as a way point between Tombstone and the rest of the country, bringing supplies into the bustling town, and acting as the departure point for the ore pulled from Tombstone’s silver mines
Before long, the community supported a Wells Fargo office, five saloons, four stores, three restaurants, a school, a jail, and a mill. Like many other mining towns, Fairbank had its share of lawlessness. One such incident was a train robbery that involved one of Arizona’s most respectable lawmen, Jeff Davis Milton. In 1900, Milton was working for Wells Fargo as an Express Messenger on the Southern Pacific run from Benson Arizona to Guaymas, Mexico. Gold and silver bullion comprised most of the cargos and part of Milton’s job was to guard the laden rail cars.
In February 1900, lawmen-turned- outlaws, Burt Alvord, and Billy Stiles, along with three other bandits attempted to rob the express car while it stopped for water in Fairbank. The inevitable shoot-out that ensued and Milton killed “Three Fingered Jack” Dunlop (one of the of the bandits), wounded another, and stopped the gold from being stolen. What a hero!
In 1986, the former Mexican Land Grant was acquired by the Bureau of Land Management and incorporated the town into the San Pedro Riparian NCA as the “Fairbank Historic Townsite”. It’s open to the public, though the museum is only open Fri-Sunday. There is a nice gravel walking path that leads from the parking area over to the townsite and picnic area, or if you’re up for more, there is a 3.8 mile loop that takes you out to the cemetery, an old mill, and along the San Pedro River before looping through the town. You pick.
I just finished reading The Floor of Heaven about the gold rush in Alaska and this trip to Fairbank had me thinking about all the adventures out there.
Happy Friday!
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