Old Pearce Heritage Days

Before going any further, welcome to some new Followers! If I miss your name, please forgive me, I have senior moments now and again! Our new folks are: (1) Erik, Ronda and Loki, who are hoping to full-time someday -- their blog is at Eriks' RV Blog; (2) Pepper, about whom I can't find much information; (3) Barry and Linda Ryan, who RV whenever they want to -- you can read them at RV Anytimers; and (4) Victoria, a lady from Spain -- although my Spanish is muy limited, I can pick up that she comes from the Canary Islands, and doesn't like cruelty and injustice, and I believe she is referring to our animal friends -- see her Spanish blog at Victoria Blogspot.

It seems we are adding new Followers and losing some of our earlier folks. That's okay, as we learn that some stories match our own interests better than others, and there's no sense in trying to follow a bunch of people, when only a few really grab your interest. So, dear friends, if you find you need to move on, Suzy and I won't have our feelings hurt -- at least not too much!

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Now to Old Pearce Heritage Days.

Pearce is an old gold mining town in Arizona's Sulphur Springs Valley. The town was founded after James Pearce sat down to take a rest from his plowing and found gold in a rock he had picked up. Prospectors and others willing to take their money soon came from Tombstone and elsewhere; the Commonwealth Mine was one of the richest in Arizona. Soon there was a post office, a jail, a church, a dance hall -- a thriving community full of life. Then the mines petered out, as did so many others; the depression hit, and the people moved on. Some of the old buildings still stand, and a few folks are working hard to maintain the life of Old Pearce.

One way they do this is by annually celebrating "Old Pearce Heritage Days" on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year, we were there. Parking is free -- just pull off the side of Ghost Town Trail and park in the grass. Admission is free. Just walk on into town. When you get there, listen to the bluegrass music, or the old country-style music, and savor the aromas of pastries, chicken-chili burritos, and a variety of other goodies for sale.

Take a stroll through the old Pearce Mercantile, built in 1896 and today one of the largest adobe buildings in Cochise County. The old Mercantile is open for free just these two days of each year, and is filled with memorabilia of an earlier, if perhaps hell-bent, era.

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

Local authors were selling and autographing their books.

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

Even a dentist's office -- anybody recognize the equipment?

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

And this beautiful locomotive!

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

Check out this beautiful Studebaker carriage!

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

For lunch we grabbed one of the delicious chili-chicken-pecan burritos, then walked the row of vendors as well as visiting the few regular Pearce merchant venues.

The couple from Willcox, AZ, selling alpaca garments, also brought some of their animals, including this 6-day old baby which had been rejected by her mother. The couple have to feed the orphan every four hours, and we were there to be sure they did it right! They used a wine bottle that the owner assured me he had personally emptied of its original contents.

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

The "Shady Ladies of Cochise County" grabbed our attention, kicking up their heels to western music. They were there to garner monetary support for the area's hospice program, and we were more than happy to chip in.

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

The Benson Quilting Shop and Museum brought some of their finest for sale.

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

Old mining equipment was on display. This machine had been used to lift ore from a mine 150 feet below the surface. Like most of the other machinery on display, this was in excellent working condition. It was actually running the whole day.

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

The Bost Family entertained with their delightful homegrown bluegrass music.

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

Listening to the music, I sat astride this somewhat precarious stool until I leaned too far back to take a picture and lost my balance as well as my credibility, and landed on my back with my feet in the air. Sometimes known as "ass over teakettle!"

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

Suzy was too concerned (or too polite?) to take a picture, so we can't show you the full flowering of the event. A couple of nearby gentlemen rushed to my red-faced rescue and brushed some of the dust and detritus from my brand-new wool shirt. We were all thankful I hadn't fallen onto the sharp points of the sturdy agave I had so recently neighbored. It would have been a shame to bathe that fine plant with A-negative blood!

We repaired to our car and the traveling first aid kit, and found that my wounds were superficial. Somewhat bloody, but superficial. The day had warmed up enough that I was comfortable in tee-shirt and light jacket for the afternoon, so I was able to attack the blood inside my shirt sleeve with paper towels and ice water.

After a visit to the local pottery shop and a delightful snack of curly fries, we departed Pearce. But I must tell you about the "curly fries." Upon my order of this delicacy, the wagon's proprietor grabbed three nice russet potatoes, loaded them one by one onto a spindle, and twirled them into paper thin spirals, which he then immersed in boiling oil. Within two or three minutes, I had this steaming hot tray of fries, hot, tender-crispy, and dripping oil. No seasonings were applied; the potatoes were a wonderful $5 treat to share -- with plenty of napkins!

From 2010 Old Pearce Days

On the way home, we stopped at Rattlesnake Crafts outside the ghost town of Gleeson. But that is a story for another day. For more pictures of our visit to Old Pearce, you can go to our Web Album for the day.

We're glad to be back, sharing with you a part of ... Our Life on Wheels!

Now on another point - we regret that we have to return to using the word verification feature. We were getting a lot of SPAM comments that had to be banished. To leave a comment now, you will have to type that silly bunch of letters and hope you get it right. I hope you will feel it is a small price to pay to be part of ... Our Life on Wheels!