Out Our Way….The Hilky Way

Tanque Verde and the Eastside of Tucson have always been an important part of the Hilkemeyer Family. Jim, Francie, and their children and grandchildren continue to be captivated by the history, environment, and community of this special part of Tucson.

After spending all of their lifetime in the area, they realize what a wonderful background they have accumulated about this area through word of mouth, reading, and personal experience. Recently, Jim sold out his Recreation and Development business and decided to utilize his years of knowledge of the area as well as his accounting, finance, and marketing experience and is selling mostly residential real estate though the family label, “the HilkyWay”.

Since this new direction started last year, the Hilkemeyers are constantly being reminded about the culture and places that collectively make Tucson’s North and East sides what they are. The idea about collecting their thoughts and sharing this information with the neighbors soon followed. Authorship of what is to be a monthly column will be passed to various members of the Hilkemeyer Family from month to month. They are also requesting ideas and information from all of the other fortunate residents of this grand collection of valleys and mountains as well.

The Gambel’s Gazette wants to make sure that everyone understands this monthly article is not necessarily expected to be historically or even factually accurate, but more of a fun back fence chronicle of hearsay and perhaps gossip passed around over the years and area. Sometimes it may even touch on a serious note. We hope many of you will participate and for now we will turn the pen over to Jim Hilkemeyer to muse about the possibilities.

……………It was only last week that I remember saying to a fellow Realtor, “ you turn right just after where the old Texaco used to be” not thinking at the time that she probably never knew that there was an “Old Texaco”. Our family will take turns talking or reporting about these old ways and places of our Eastern Tucson valleys and hills. We hope everyone enjoys the trips back in time and will get a better understanding or just plain amusement through our long ago past, our recent times, and how it has affected or compares to current lives.

Here is a sampling of some of the topics we hope you will help us explore………….

Interesting stories about Tanque Verde Elementary……….all three of them.

Where did the name Tanque Verde come from? Redington? Houghton? Lemmon?

The Sports facilities of the Eastside and which sports have been popular.

Something about the “homesteaders” of Saguaro National Monument.

Discussions about Prisons, Farms, Camps, Trails and how they tied together.

49ers Country Clubs diverse past uses.

Graves, ghosts, skeletons, and things that go bump in the night.

However, current events lead us to our first monthly visit. Aqua Caliente Park, near Soldier Trail and Roger Road, is the focus of a recent Study for “Restoration” of an eco-system to restore wetlands thought to be originally associated with the natural springs at Aqua Caliente Park. Pima County and the Army Corps of Engineers are sponsoring this Study.

The very early users of Aqua Caliente Park were the predecessors of the Hohokam about 5500 years ago. The Hohokam themselves found the bubbly springs an ideal place to build their village and grow their corn and other crops that suited their culture. A site south of the Park today, called the “Whiptail Site” has undergone significant digs in years past and produced many pots, shards, and evidence of substantial buildings. The Hohokam apparently left about 1450 leaving many of us speculating as to why they would leave such a wonderful oasis.

We can only speculate that during the next 400 years a desert watering place such as this was visited by De Niza, The Conquistadors, and perhaps Padre Kino. We know that about the mid 1800’s that the Butterfield Stage ran within five miles and the Army used the Springs for a rest spot. It wasn’t until 1873 that Peter B. Bain would make the first formal claim to the Aqua Caliente Spring. At this time he was able to perfect his claim as well as he could. He ran some cattle, built a small house, and two years later sold to James P. Fuller.

Historical accounts indicate that Fuller married a wealthy Mexican lady and proceeded to import livestock and produce, legally or illegally, into Tucson and the Aqua Caliente became a working ranch and produce farm. Fuller also owned City Market in Tucson. One account recalls him bringing in a 26.5 pound, 3 foot round muskmelon from the ranch to sell in his market. Fuller grew orchard crops and garden crops as well as raised animals for sale until about 1880. He also started the first recreational uses in the late 70’s renting out cottages and promoting the healing effects of the warm springs and curative minerals. A Mrs. Watson, Fuller’s sister, continued to operate the place as a resort for an additional five years until 1885.

Ownership changed hands several times until the turn of the century. The waters continued to attract visitors for recreation. The spring continued to provide irrigation for the peach, apricot, orange, and fig orchards. Additional buildings were added. We will continue this saga into the 20 Century at the Aqua Caliente next month.