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| Hiking | 0.99 Miles |
251 AEG |
| | Hiking | 0.99 Miles | 1 Hour 59 Mns | | 1.01 mph |
| 251 ft AEG | 1 Hour Break | | | |
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| no partners | | A few years ago I located a benchmark on the southern end of Screwtail Hill called SCREW Triangulation Station. Doing a little research on the area, I became aware of the words, “MACK’S REST”, being chiseled into a big boulder on Screwtail Hill by a professional stone cutter. I kept that information with the info on the benchmark I located, and kept it for a future adventure.
Now, fast forward - A couple months ago, Nighthiker commented on one of my photos (‘Black Mesa - Boulder Mtn Quad’ hike, which is right across Rte 87 from Screwtail Hill).
He said “Mack's Rest (grave site) is a little further North”.
That reminded me of my research a few years ago, so I dug out that research and then did a bit more. Armed with all that, I set out to visit - Newton B.F. "Mack" McCord’s grave site, and to possibly discover exactly where his casket was placed.
Some accounts say - “Mack McChord is the only person to be buried, legally, in the Tonto National Forest”.
Bob Thomas, a writer for Arizona Highways, wrote a piece on Mack McCord’s unique grave site in the Tonto National Forest, in the Oct 1995 Az Hwys. Find a copy - It’s a good read.
I’ll paraphrase some of his article. (If you already know the story, you can skip the following).
- Newton B.F. "Mack" McCord was a retired railroader from Los Angeles, with friends in Mesa.
His friends would take him along on picnics ‘on the Tonto’, with one of those trips being to Screwtail Hill, where Mack McChord declared he’d like to be buried, right there on Screwtail.
Mack said he didn’t want to be in a cemetery with lawn mowers running over him.
In 1935 he petitioned the Tonto National Forest for a gravesite on Screwtail Hill.
He found out that there’s no provision for grave sites in the forest, but Forest Supervisor, F. Lee Kirby bent the regulations for the old railroader, and granted McChord a “special-Use” permit.
It was the first burial permit for any Arizona national forest, and it was also the last.
The writer goes on to say that the special-use permit was written up in formal Forest Service terminology and signed by the supervisor.
Here it is.
“At no charge, Mr. McChord is entitled to an eighth of an acre of the Tonto Forest, subject to the following conditions”:
He had to use the premises for "at least 365 days a year," had to comply with all Forest Service regulations, observe all sanitary laws, keep the premises in a neat and orderly condition, dispose of refuse, prevent forest fires, conduct all business in a sane and orderly fashion, and notify forest officials of any change of address.
Mack McChord agreed to the offer, and sent a note to Forest Supervisor Kirby.
Mack said "I want to thank you for the permit so graciously granted for me to be buried in the national forest, and I promise you after I locate there, I will not violate any of the forest violations that are enumerated in the permit. Thank you. It won't be long now."
It turns out, it was 11 years ‘long’ before Mack died in 1946, at the age of 82. The forest service kept their word and the “special-Use” permit was honored.
Mack’s friends had to use dynamite to blast a hole in the all-granite Screwtail Hill, then carried the casket up the hill, skidded it into the dynamited hole, then covered it with rocks. No services were held and only the pallbearers were present.
A bit later a professional stone cutter carved out the words “Mack’s Rest”, (including the apostrophe), on a nearby boulder. He wore out 3 chisels carving those words.
Another account states that the entire carving was going to say “Mack’s Resting Place”.
Who knows - Possibly the stone cutter gave up after ruining three chisels.
I visited the huge boulder, that faces Rte 87 and can be seen from the north lanes, if you look quick. I also wandered around further up the hill for any signs or markings of the actual grave site. If any markings exist, let me know, because I didn’t find any.
There is a plaque in front of the boulder in the shape of a forest service sign, but nothing appears to be in the metal sign.
After almost 70 years, the info inside the sign-case could have disintegrated, or vandals could have taken the contents.
Possibly that’s where a copy of the “special-Use”permit was placed. |
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Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
J.R.R.TOLKIEN |
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Route Editor
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