I missed the talks at this years Chiricahua Peloncillo Heritage Days but did help with one of the walks on Sunday. Co-sponsored by the Chiricahua Peloncillo Historical Society, the walk covered the historic Catanzaro Ranch which is north of Highway 9 and the Painted Pony Resort. Because of illness Craig McEwan and I were last minute fill ins and the discussion centered on early transportation in the valley. First a discussion of early "roads" in the valley starting with the old road, the first trail running north/south through the valley connecting native villages and used by the Spanish. Then on to the highway that preceded the Current Highway 80. This highway shows up on the 1917 topographic map (labeled the "Borderland Highway") lies one mile east of the current Highway 80 and crosses the San Simon with a low concrete bridge. The bridge has no markings indicating its construction date so I compared the first topographic map of the area with satellite imagery. Shown on the 1917 topographic map this highway and bridge also paralleled the San Simon riverbed, spanning over the lowest portion of the San Simon river. During heavy rains the river can carry a significant amount of water as shown below in some historical images. We followed this early highway north, now passable only with high clearance vehicles, to a homestead of one of Gus Chenoeth's offspring on the other side of cowboy pass north of the current ranch house. After finishing with the old bridge and drive along this early "Borderland Highway" the group moved on to the old Rodeo Intermediate Field where I talked about the history and uses of the old airfield from its' inception as part of early commercial aviation through its use as an Army Auxiliary field during WWII, then as a private facility, and finally abandonment. A good day all in all and I had a chance to learn, see, and explore a little more the area's history as well as sharing what I have found with others.
