Maricopa’s evolution from stage stop to city soon to be unveiled

Where in Maricopa can you see the town’s first microwave, an 1810 Spanish coin found at Maricopa Wells or the billy club used by John Powers (Maricopa Slim), the town’s only law enforcement in the 1900s?

At the new public library, scheduled to open at the end of next month, Maricopans will be able to see these artifacts and many more, thanks to the efforts of the Maricopa Friends of the Library.

The Friends’ historical committee headed by Patricia Brock, the author of Maricopa’s definitive history book, “Reflections of a Desert Town,” is in charge of putting together the exhibits for the new library. Monies raised for the republication of the book will cover the expenses for the newly created exhibits.

In addition to the 36,000 items in the new library’s collection, 20 computer terminals, an expanded children’s section, a lounge area and a community room (see related story), the history of Maricopa will be depicted.

Photos, dioramas and artifacts will trace the evolution of Maricopa from a stage stop at Maricopa Wells to a railway junction at Maricopaville, a small agricultural town and now a full-fledged city.

Maricopa native Troy Anderson will construct the dioramas or miniature scenes. The Maricopa Wells diorama will be a fort-like structure with military presence in the background. According to Brock, “These military troops were a common sight at Maricopa Wells. They were either traveling east or west or there specifically to offer protection to settlers or travelers.”

The diorama will also include the Pima and Maricopa farmers who lived and grew wheat, cotton and squash along the Gila River.

Maricopa Junction’s replica will depict buildings on both sides of the tracks with the railway station and the Wells Fargo Express in the middle. “There were two hotels then, one north and one south of the tracks. Both were in strong competition for passenger business. The proprietors stood outside and used any method of persuasion they could to lure visitors, including a nest of wildcats in a cage or one of the largest Indian basket collections in Arizona,” explained Brock.

She added, “One hotel offered a special honeymoon train package from Phoenix to Maricopa, which had many takers, and there was no extra charge if there was a hold-up along the way, which happened quite often.”

The photos, artifacts and dioramas will be housed in two nine-foot, glass-enclosed display cases with a four-foot high case in the middle. Wall space above the center case will provide a backdrop for photos of Maricopa then and now.

Providing a space to preserve and showcase Maricopa’s history has long been a goal of the Friends, and particularly the historical committee.

The momentum to detail Maricopa’s history actually began in a classroom at Maricopa Elementary School. “I am truly in awe of how one moment in our lives can ignite the spark that creates opportunities to make a contribution or difference for all of us,” said Brock.

“Twenty-seven years ago my fourth-grade students inspired and lit that flame that has made such a difference in the lives of so many people. They wanted to know about their heritage. They began to research Maricopa’s past and still were hungry for more so they went out into the community to interview families,” she said. “Thus began the first Maricopa history book.”

For Brock, who archives the photos and artifacts associated with Maricopa’s history, the momentum continues to build. “Today we continue to keep the flame, lit so many years ago, burning bright through oral and written history interviews, exhibits and programs that fire up the imagination and bring history alive for students of all ages,” she said.

Photo by Joyce Hollis