Mayer High School - Cat Tracks Yearbook (Mayer, AZ)

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f adt Jridtoru OF MAYER Mayer was founded in the spring time.of 1881 by Joseph Mayer. Mayer was just a clump cf brilliant green cottonwoods, sparkling like emeralds in contrast to the more somber hues cf the surround- ing. The wagon road was the stage route that ran from Prescott to Phoenix through the Black Canyon. The clump of green cottonwoods grew around the Big Bug Station. The Big Bug Station was just a shack that was located on the bank. Joseph Mayer was of French descent; he was born in Olean, New York. Joe”, as he was always called, grew up working on cattle ranches, prospecting, working in mines and getting an informal education from the country around him. Joe married Sadie Belle Wilbur, a charming English woman. With courage and determination they moved to southern Arizona. They settled in Tip-Top where Joe opened a store. Knowing Tip-Top was not to be a permanent town, Joe looked for a place for the business to prosper. He headed for Prescott to look for a place to live. Along the way he stopped at Big Bug for the night. He liked the place, and felt the location was right for a future town as it was only a day's ride from Prescott and was very close to the new opening mines. They moved into Big Bug. It paid off. Joe began to prosper immediately. He opened a hotel for stage passengers and a saloon for the mass of cowboys and miners. With heavy eyebrows, dark eyes, and black mustache, he was well-known for his hospitality anJ willingness to lend a helping hand. Joe Mayer prospered and his family grew. He had one son and three daughters. The Big Bug Station was washed out by a flood in the Big Bug River when a dam built by the raining company gave way. Some lumber was salvaged and a new station was built farther back from the river. This house still stands and is the home of Miss Mamie Mayer and he1” sister, Mrs. Winifred Thorpe, who are two of Joe Mayer's daughters. The price of a ticket on the stage between Prescott and Phoenix was $12.50 one way and $22.00 round trip. The George Brothers owned the Mayer stage line. They held the mail contract for both routes. However, when valuable express was carried on the stage, it was shipped around by railroad through Ash Fork to Los Angel's, and back to Phoenix. The stage coach was held up on?y once during its runs. By that time the railroad had reached Frescott and was preparing to build down to Phoenix. ■Vhen the railroad had reached Phoenix the stage line found that itssun was setting. The railroad got both the mail contract and the passengers and the stage was put into retirement.

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History (continued) In 1898 the Santa Fe Railroad built a spur track from Prescott ,o Mayer and the old ox and mule teams gave way to the Iron horse, several years later the tracks were run out to the Crown King Mill .nd mines in the Eradshaw Mountains. In 1909 Joseph Mayer died leaving his son 7 . J. (Burr) Mayer i young town and some financial interests. As the new, recently completed Black Canyon Highway travels ilong the outskirts of Mayer from Prescott to Phoenix, it brings layer nearer to the larger towns in Arizona. The trip that used ;o be made by stage, from Prescott to Phoenix, in 24 to 30 hours is low made in 2 to 2-g hours. This brings many visitors to Mayer, not mly because it is an old mining town with an historic past, but al- io because of the ideal climate and beautiful scenery. Today Mayer lies near the Big Bug River with its cottonwood ;rees, guarded by a symbolic smoke stack. This tall grotesque mon- lment symbolizes the exciting days of miners and the prosperous days ;hat leaves a history. Mayer, however, has survived this prosperity is well as the depression. The town has been sown with a too perm- ment seed to merely spring up and wither. Mayer is nestled in the foothills, richly endowed with landmarks of the past and steadily jaining with improvement for the future. There is something more symbolic than the statuesque smoke itack. Joe Mayer left behind his amiability, good-naturedness and faith. The people of Mayer continue to carry Joe’s virtues. It is ilso made of of good people, real down-to-earth, honest and hard forking citizens. Joe left a faith unequal In any town in Arizona, isk anyone if they have been to mayer and invariably their reply is jomething like, Ch, that pleasant little town? Mayer is little, but what it lacks in size is easily consumed rith its rollicking hills, babbling brooks, and a heaven-blessed Jlimate. Knock on any door and you will find it unlatched; simu- Larly the hearts of Mayer's'citizens are also unlocked. A town is as good as its educational system. The elementary school began approximately sixty years ago. In 1913 the high school was erected. Many graduates continue to reside in town. A bhird generation now attends the unique, rustic, unpretentious ed- ucational buildings. But there is simplicity, and with this there is also beauty. There is nothing unique, rustic or unpretentious about the faith the people have regarding the education for the children, nor is there any lack of spirit and enlightenment in the confines of the school buildings. A history of anything is what man wants to believe, and the history of Mayer's schools is not only a belief, but even more so, a fact. Teachers of Mayer have always been of high calibre; the curriculum as par as any large size school the methods as best as the most modern educational institution. What the schools In Mayer have lacked in facilities, the teachers have compensated with individual attention, compassion, and unlimited guidance. The cleanliness of the buildings, with its high polished floors, desks, and windows, Is as keen as the spirit the encompasses the classrooms. This then is the heritage of Mayer.