This is the Arizona Territorial Jail in the old town of Superior, and it is either the smallest or at least one of the smallest jails in Arizona. Built around 1916, according to some, although the faded sign on the building says something or other about 1884 and mentions Civil War officer Captain John Walker.
The purpose of this out-and-back single afternoon trip is simply to photograph some decaying buildings and their surfaces so I can either take inspiration from them or allow them to refresh my memories of details of places visited.
The Uptown Theater here in Superior used to sell movie tickets for a mere $0.28, which included a snack and tax back in 1923 when it opened. If only I had the guts to break in, I’d love to see what the place looks like inside and imagine those who were able to see the magic of the movies out in this dusty mining town some 75 years ago.
MacPherson’s Magma Hotel is just waiting for someone to come in and give it some tender, loving care.
The world is not just in front of your face; it is also below your feet should you decide it’s worth looking at. Just think that Sean Penn or Joaquin Phoenix might have stepped right here during the filming of U-Turn.
These old buildings and places that are being abandoned or neglected are a treasure trove of surfaces that have worn beautifully with the passage of time. New is not always the most beautiful.
Signs offer great insight into the history of a place. When was the last time “Agents” made visits to homes and offices?
I tried to learn something about Weis Market here in Superior but have come up empty-handed. Amazing bit of weathering going on.
Old steam trains used to ply these tracks hauling ore out of the mines. Initially, silver was being mined here, but when silver dropped from $1.50 an ounce to only 20 cents an ounce, it was time to shut the mine or start hauling out copper, and for the next 86 years, that’s how the town survived.
I believe I took this near Kane Springs Canyon down an old dirt road, but as I write this much later, my memory could be faulty.
Possibly the oldest gas station ruin I’ve ever seen is here in Hayden, Arizona, another town devastated by the ebb and flow of mining operations.
If I didn’t need constant tetanus booster shots due to the rusting handle, I’d have this doorknob at home in an instant.
From this old town which is quickly turning into a ghost town, came one famous citizen, Dick Tuck. Born Richard Gregory Tuck in 1924 right here in Hayden, he was better known as Dick and was a political consultant, campaign strategist, and political prankster. On the Watergate tapes, President Richard Nixon can be heard talking about the guy.
Rex Theater on Hayden Avenue hasn’t shown a movie here since 1979. This old mining community has an interesting tale that reflects many small towns across America’s similar problems with aging populations, declining opportunities, industries that closed shop, and those who apparently cannot afford to leave. To read more about Hayden, click here.
Paint bakes in the sun, chips off in the wind and rain, and ultimately allows the rest of the building to start turning to dust.
I just love the irregular lines, shapes, and aging that make up these places. While they were perfect in their time, they are worthless to the future.