Mines, Camps, Ranches and Characters of the Dragoon Mountains Book Review
By Matt Marine
In the past few years, I have been exploring the Dragoon Mountains of southern Arizona more and more. I am drawn to their rugged beauty and rich history.
There are numerous places to explore out there: Dragoon Springs, Marble Mine, China Camp, Council Rocks, Cochise Peak, FR4393 and others I've yet to discover. I am always interested in the history of the places I visit, so it was with great excitement that I found the Mines, Camps, Ranches and Characters of the Dragoon Mountains book, by Lynn R. Baily.
I purchased the book from a local bookstore on a recent trip to Bisbee. It's taken me about a month to read the book from cover to cover. Some portions of the book were intoxicating and hard to put down. I really enjoyed it when Baily showed us some of the personal details of the characters of the Dragoons. Definitely some interesting folks with the kind of can do spirit that made living in the southwest not only bearable, but enjoyable.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I did have trouble with some portions that had way too much detail for my taste. I understand some people want to know exactly who bought which mine, from so-and-so, when and for how much, but too much of that information can make it a dry read.
I was also hoping for more recent information on the current status on some of these historic places. What's the current situation of Pearce, Glee son or Black Diamond? Who owns these properties? Are they accessible? What's still there? Baily only hints at the answers to these questions throughout the book. So if you're a ghost town fan, read this book for its history, not for current information on the sites. It's not going to help too much.
Where to buy: you can purchase this book at local bookstores in Tombstone and Bisbee.
Pros
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Great reference on everything you may want to know about the people and places of the Dragoon Mountains.
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Lots of detail.
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Some nice old pictures.
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Interesting history.
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Some good snippets about personal accounts in Arizona during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Cons
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I could only find this locally - not offered on Amazon.
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More detail than I like for a historical read. Can be used more like a reference book. I really wanted more personal information about these people, not just who bought what mine for how much money.
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Would have like more specifics on what has happened to these places, what is there today and exactly where they are/were located.
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More about the Indians who lived in the area during this time
The bottom line
This book is a great reference for anyone interesting in the Dragoon Mountain and their history. Lots of details and facts. I will be using it frequently as I plan on returning to the Dragoon's more and more. For those who want a "historical" read that will draw you in with personal accounts, this may not be the book for you. I would buy this book again.