May 11, 2009 © Thomas J. Kollenborn. All Rights Reserved.
History is often best served
by the preservation of landmark names. The Superstition Wilderness is
filled with landmarks significant of historical mention. It is very
difficult to research the history of a given area if all the historical
landmarks have been changed or erased. What if we became tired of place
names like Roosevelt Dam, the Apache Trail and Apache Junction or maybe
even Arizona?
Shortly after the turn of the century,
Tortilla Mountain was a victim to a place name change. Early in 1915 a
group of enterprising concession entrepreneurs from Phoenix arbitrarily
decided to change all the names along the Mesa-Roosevelt Road (Apache
Trail) because they believed more romantic names were needed for
tourists. The group felt place names in general along the road were
quite sterile and needed a more Spanish or Western flavor. One of the
first name changes was the Mesa-Roosevelt Road to the Apache Trail. A
young Southern Pacific Rail Road ticket agent named Watson is accredited
with naming the Apache Trail.
Names such as the Bronze Wall, Treasure
Pass, Coronado Mountain and Kit Carson Mountain begin to appear on
travel maps and brochures promoting the beauty of the Apache Trail, the
Canyon of the Salt River and Roosevelt Lake. This occurred around 1916.
These changes, for the most part, went
unnoticed by most Arizona residents. The concession entrepreneurs that
changed the place names along the Apache Trail were not very sensitive
to the recommendations of Arizona historians. There was one Arizona
historian whose ire was raised. This man was James A. McClintock. His
first response was indicative of his outrage.
“Who are these men that would change our pioneer names— change the meaning of Arizona History?,” said McClintock.
McClintock was a noted Arizona
historian. He had been deeply involved with the development of the
Roosevelt Dam site and had suggested the survey route of the Apache
Trail.
He had served with Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War.
McClintock immediately appealed to the
Arizona legislature to set up a historical place name commission that
would oversee the naming and renaming of Arizona landmarks.
The legislature formed the Historical Landmark Commission and McClintock was appointed to the commission in 1919.
McClintock soon pointed out Kit Carson
was never near Superstition Mountain nor was the Spanish explorer
Coronado. The twenty or so place names changed during this period had no
historical documentation to support such a change other than the desire
by the concession entrepreneurs of the Southern Pacific Rail Road to
please the appetite of Wild West tourist. Ironically McClintock had
faced down the most powerful lobby in the Arizona legislature, the
railroads, when he defied the change of place names along the Apache
Trail.
Kit Carson Mountain was changed back to
Tortilla Mountain (near Hayden, Az.). The place name Coronado Mountain
for Superstition Mountain did not survive one year. The names, the
Bronze Wall, Lookout Point, Inspiration Point and Treasure Pass did
linger on for a few years.
Arizona place names are often confusing
enough, but to mix them with romantic history of the times distracts
from the true pioneer history of the state.
There are always those people who want
to change pioneer names or geographic landmarks to better suit their
needs with little or no consideration for history. Recently, we have
been told, the place names within the Superstition Wilderness Area do
not actually exist, the only purpose for the names remaining on maps are
for emergency use by rescue units. The names have no historical
significance in a wilderness area.
Personally, I totally disagree with this
philosophy. It is ironic some people believe we should totally ignore
our heritage for the satisfaction of the future generations. Can you
imagine changing the name of Potomac River, or the Hudson River? Can you
imagine changing the name Washington D.C. to better suit the economic
climate of this nation? The Southwest has a strong heritage were
historical names are of enormous value. Future bureaucrats could easily
make such adjustments in American history.
The name Apache Trail is the most
significant named land mark from this period of Arizona history. The
strong railroad lobby was able to name the Apache Trail to better suit
its bid for tourism in Arizona along the Southern Pacific Railroad.