Buzz’s road trip through the Copper Corridor stops in the city that was once the economic center of the mining industry for which the area is named, and is still the seat of power in the county known for its mountainous terrain. .
Grove was founded during the time of Arizona Territory and its population has remained at about 7,000 for most of its life.
Its geographic location made it a natural choice to serve as a hub for eastern Arizona from its inception.
According to Molly Cornwell, manager of the Grove Downtown Association, the city was the terminus of a major early east-west rail line.
“So they had to figure out a way to get people off the train, take them to Tucson or Phoenix or somewhere else and go to Los Angeles or vice versa,” she said. “So they’ll put it on the market [Globe] Come see our Native American culture, ride horses, and more. “
The city is also situated among mountains rich in copper and other minerals, and its status as the Gila County seat made it a natural fit for the economic and legal backbone of the mining industry in the area.
“The area was very profitable with a variety of resources. There were gold and silver mines, copper production is still good, thorium and other things in the area, but especially here. Stock City,” said Eli Webb. Tour guide at the 1910 Prison Museum. “So there were several different law firms and many different trading companies that were buying and selling stocks in mines all over the state. While downtown had all the miners and miner related businesses. , there was also a sizeable community of wealthy banker-class.”
Tom Thompson saw the end of that era.He has been an attorney at The Globe for over 50 years.
“I came here in 1973 and worked at a law firm called Morris & Marott. At the time, it was the oldest law firm in Arizona, founded in 1912,” Thompson said. Told. “They were working for the mines. That’s why this place is always just as important.”
But as the mining problem moved from The Grove to places like Phoenix, the town saw its power and influence dwindle. Today, it still retains its appeal as a community away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
Another advantage of being a small city centered on old buildings is that it’s walkable.
Cornwell boasts that the Grove has a level of walkability on par with San Francisco, pointing out what the old buildings used to be while walking.
“This was Woolworths when Grove refused to close Woolworths, so it stayed open for the last time on this side of the Rocky Mountains,” she said. “People came from everywhere to miss Woolworths. There was Sears and JC Penney. The area was buzzing.”
