The western frontier town of Rawhide is situated in the Gila River Indian Community. The history of this vast, majestic area of the Sonoran Desert and its people dates back to ancient times when the Huhukam civilization was thriving here along side the Gila River.
Later, descendants of the Huhukam, the Pimas as they were called by the Spanish Explorers, designed an elaborate agricultural system throughout their many villages by diverting the waters of the Gila into canals that extended for miles into fields of crops. In their own language they were the Akimel O'othom, or River People. The O'othom were a peaceful group and eventually welcomed the Pee Posh, also known as the Maricopa, as they arrived to the valley seeking refuge from internal warfare. The Pee Posh migrated to the west end of the Gila River after agreeing to three items. One, they would fight the same wars with the Pimas against the Apaches, two, they would follow the leadership of the Pima Chiefs and three, they would agree to live in peace; the two have coexisted in this area ever since.
Together, the tradesmen embarked on laying out the broad main street and construction soon began. One by one, the proud false-fronted structures of the town began to rise from the desert floor and achieve their own identities; some built with adobe bricks, made from mud and straw, while other more grandiose structures were erected of sawn lumber brought down from the White Mountain's Mogollon Rim using large teams of mules. Pound for pound, these were the hardest working and smartest animals to be used on the western frontier.
The first building raised against the infinite desert skyline was the General Store. Owned and operated by Rawley, the store would eventually have available anything needed or craved by a frontier family, from sugar and salt to molasses and meat; even gunpowder and ammunition could be purchased there. During construction of the General Store, another building was taking shape across the street as John Slade, a newcomer to the area was busy putting up the first saloon in town appropriately named, The Number 1.
Gradually, Rawhide began to attract a diverse array of skills and talents that ultimately developed the town. Irvin Mace, a potato farmer and blacksmith out of Idaho arrived and was immediately inundated with business building hardware, as well as keeping local working livestock properly trimmed and fitted with shoes. Mace had brought much of his shop with him and re-built it nearly overnight in order to begin accommodating orders.
Homesteaders continued to pour into the area, as did many professional gamblers and entertainers looking to turn a profit. For as hard as life was on the frontier, Saturday nights were the high point of the week with live entertainment, endless gossip, social dancing and of course gambling. The billiard hall and saloon would be packed with patrons wagering on games of snooker, pinochle, poker, faro and keno. Inevitably, Rawhide would also see its share of desperados, shysters and scalawags; staying just long enough to cause uneasiness among the reputable population, get run out of town or wind up in jail. On the other hand some well-known names have also made appearances here such as Doc Holiday, Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Billy the "Kid" and Annie Oakley.
A favored performer of early Rawhide's townsmen was Ms. Belle Garrettson, a song and dance entertainer who had brought her talents west all the way from Chicago, where she had served an apprenticeship at a "hurdy gurdy" house. It was said that her performance on stage along with her beauty was so hypnotizing that men literally fell out of their seats.
Location: 5700 West North Loop Road Chandler, AZ 85226 480-502-5600
Website: http://www.rawhide.com info@Rawhide.com
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