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Apache Trail History
Posted: Jan 18 2016 11:13 pm
by outdoor_lover
Has anyone ever heard or know where the Site was for the Fish Creek Hotel and Stables??? I just saw a Photo of it, taken from the Top of Fish Creek Hill...Circa 1912...Apparently, there was also a Town called Fish Creek...Very very Interesting!
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hp ... e=56FC6D3F
Re: Apache Trail History
Posted: Jan 19 2016 12:33 am
by joebartels
In 1909 while visiting the Valley to stock up on livestock Mr W.D. Kern stated roughly 40 people pass Fish Creek station daily!
Jan 1910 Mr & Mrs George Edmunds returned to manage Fish Creek station. Pam what happened here is they managed it for two years. However, they left to take on management of the Alhambra Hotel in Mesa. They were well received in both establishments.
In 1914 the Hotel Edmunds became the new name for the Porter House ( Washington & Center ). You see Pam, Mrs G.M. Edmunds purchased the 36 room Porter House. For the previous 7 years ( minus 1909 ) Mrs E was the manager of the Fish Creek Hotel. Other hotels were envious of her hospitality and guests raved about the meals. Legend has it, this Theodore Roosevelt dude graced the establishment. Would you believe the register became Mrs E's prized possession. With due right I might add. For it was the only signature of an ex-president of such magnitude held in any Arizona hotel register! Needless to say, said register went with Mrs E to the Hotel Edmunds.
August 21st 1918 the hotel was listed for sale due to sickness. That is just one account, it was listed many many times 1916 to 1918.
Mrs Emma Ellsworth resumed control of the Fish Creek Hotel in 1919. She previously gave it up when her sons went to war.
Back in the roaring twenties auto stages notoriously got stuck in the creek crossings. To the best of my knowledge the "Apache Trail Auto Stage Company" was the proprietor of the lucrative operation. Pam would you believe fishing at Lake Roosevelt was on the rise. 2 of the fine auto stage drivers boasted yanking 22 pounds of finny tribe out in 15 minutes flat. Upwards of a 150 auto stages made the trip to the lake monthly. Others traveled in their own automobiles. Stages tended to stop for lunch, which lasted about 45 minutes. Needless to say the stranded drivers often kept the hotel to occupancy. Locals got in on the stranded tourist opportunity too. They would ferry stage riders across the bridge-less crossings.
Jack Fraser may have had something to do with it in the 40s. Sorry gotta be up in four hours... cheerio
Re: Apache Trail History
Posted: Jan 19 2016 12:49 am
by outdoor_lover
Wow, Nice Job Joe! Now, to find out where that was...I'm thinking that it is at the Pullout about 1/2 Mile from the Bridge, going towards Apache Lake...It could be seen from the Top of the Hill and I doubt they had Telephoto Lenses back when that Photo was taken....

Re: Apache Trail History
Posted: Jan 19 2016 6:55 am
by SuperstitionGuy
Outdoor lover is correct. Hike across the road and a little bit east and you will find the hotel site. They threw their garbage and trash into the wash and you can still see broken glass, metal, etc. etc. There was a small terraced garden up the hill behind the hotel. If your good at reading sign you can still make it out.