One Stop~Three Historical Landmarks

 While geocaching in old town Tucson last week, we stopped to explore a historical landmark and found the location had three significant incidents to the history of Tucson.

This little building was the divider for two historical landmarks. The one on the south side of the building had to do with water and the one on the north side a shrine.

no water today from this beautiful tiled fountain

EL OJITO SPRING OR LITTLE EYE SPRING

• -At one time, the source of water for Tucson residents was El Ojito Spring; it is no longer there. The spring slipped beneath the earth, diverted by an earthquake in 1887 and eventually drained by the ever-increasing population of Tucson.
• -For many years, the spring gave a year-round supply of water. It supplied the soldiers in the presidio with water before wells were dug within the fort.
• -Guards were posted to protect the people from the Apaches when they were gathering water and washing clothes at both the El Ojito Springs and the Santa Cruz River.
• -An Irishman, Martin Toughey, made a business of delivering water in canvas bags, that he tied to his burros, to the residents of Tucson for a penny a gallon; later two other enterprising fellows used a two-wheeled cart for delivery and sold the water for 5 cents a bucket.
• -In the late 1800s, “Simpson Baths” took the water from the spring, heated it and provided a bathing opportunity for the men of Tucson. All social levels of men, rich and poor, frequented the baths, conducting business while soaking in the metal tubs. Women were not allowed to bathe there; they had to haul water to their homes and heat it themselves.
• -The public bathhouses (with zinc or tin tubs) cost 25 cents for a weekly bath; water was considered far too important to use for bathing more than once a week.
• -In 1873, Hiram Stevens erected the first windmill to pump water from the wells. Windmills were soon erected throughout the town. (More about Hiram Stevens later.)
• -In the 1880s, W.C. Davis installed Tucson’s first personal bathtub in a Congress Street home.
• ~ Arizona Historical Society

And then on the other side of the building...

a wishing shrine along the walls of an old building

El Tiradito

the only Catholic shrine in the United States 

dedicated to a sinner buried in unconsecrated ground

It's the story of a love triangle involving murder and suicide. Juan, an 18 year old son-in-law of a Mexican sheep rancher, fell in love with his mother-in-law. If you are intrigued, Wikipedia tells the story of how this shrine to a sinner came to be. El Tiradito  (The Little Throwaway or The Castaway)

And the third historical landmark was also in the same corner of the street, Tucson's first free public park. An 8 acre park developed by Leopoldo Carrillo in 1885. The park contained an assortment of fruit trees, man-made ponds and lakes hosting bathhouses and boat rides.

3 Tucson ladies enjoying the garden in 1887

look at the clothing!

The gardens no longer exist. The springs which supplied water to the gardens dried as the water table decreased due to usage. Today Carrillo Intermediate Academy is on the land that used to host the gardens built by Leopoldo Carrillo. Another person with an interesting history, although not quite as colorful as that of Juan, the sheep-herder.

To be honest, I believe the springs were original to this corner lot because of the fountain. The shrine is located nearby, but I don't believe Juan is buried in that location; it is where people lit candles for his soul. The original gardens were to the west of the first building on this post and the academy is across the street. Quite an interesting history to the little street corner.

There was no information regarding the mural, but it too, was at the street corner.

***Remember, you can click on any photo to enlarge it.***