In the 1950s (below), the intersection of Maricopa Road and what later became the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, was the business district north of the tracks. At left are the Texaco Station, Woods Apartments and Headquarters. At right are Valley Auto (soon-to-be Napa Auto Parts), Jessie Estep’s Diner, Black Diamond Bar and Maricopa Mercantile. In 1956, Maricopa Road was paved between Maricopa and Phoenix and then restructured into a divided road (State Route 347) in 1995. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway was completed in 1956 and paved in 1959.

Today (above), the intersection has turned into a curve and goes under the overpass, which finished construction in 2019.

The only surviving business is the Headquarters bar and restaurant, now called The New HQ. Napa was demolished in 2020 after the overpass was completed.

The intersection in the 1950s. [Maricopa Historical Society]
The intersection in the 1950s. [Maricopa Historical Society]
This story was first published in the August edition of InMaricopa Magazine.

Brian Petersheim Jr., Reporter
Brian Petersheim Jr., Reporter
Brian became part of the InMaricopa team in October 2020, starting as a multimedia intern with a focus on various multimedia tasks. His responsibilities included file organization and capturing photos of events and incidents. After graduating from Maricopa High School in the class of 2021, his internship seamlessly transitioned into a full-fledged job. Initially serving as a dedicated photographer, Brian's role evolved in October 2021 when he took on a new beat as a writer. He is currently pursuing his studies at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Brian's primary focus lies in covering public safety-related stories. In his free time, Brian finds joy in spending quality time with his family and embarking on adventures to explore the landscapes around him.
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