Bisbee Woman's Club Clubhouse
74 Quality Hill, Bisbee, AZThe Bisbee Woman's Club Clubhouse, constructed in 1902, is historically significant for its role in the social life of Bisbee during the early twentieth century and for its stature as the oldest continually used women's clubhouse in the state of Arizona.
During the period 1885 through World War I, Bisbee was a bustling copper mining community (although the local industry continued through the mid-1970s). By 1898 the town was populated by several thousand people housed on the mountainsides surrounding the operations of the Copper Queen Mine, owned by the Phelps-Dodge Mining Company. It was first and foremost a "man's town", with both mine and smelter working twenty-four hours a day. Saloons and gambling halls lined Main Street, catering to the primary off-hours interests of the mine laborers.
Within this context,. very few social or educational amenities were available other than a grade school, a library, a YMCA, an opera house, and two community churches. In response to the general lack of more refined activities, women who were not employed (typically the wives of the mining company administrators and local merchants) established small sewing and reading clubs. They realized that, in order to be stimulated intellectually and to have any social life resembling that which they had enjoyed elsewhere, they had to obtain these amenities through their own efforts.
On October 24, 1900, a town-wide Woman's Club was organized with twenty-one charter members. The group met at various locations throughout the community, including the Copper Queen Library and the Copper Queen Hotel. This federation was consistent with contemporaneous developments in this part of the country because by 1902 there were four other Woman's Clubs established throughout the Arizona Territory.
Due to the inadequacies of the available meeting locations, the idea of a Clubhouse for the organization was conceived. (Among other factors, the constant noise of the town posed an obstacle to the total success of their activities.)
Funds were secured, and the land was obtained on Quality Hill for the construction of a more permanent and less central location. The architect was Frederick C. Hurst. Hurst came to Bisbee from Canada ca. 1900 and was employed until 1906 as the structural engineer for the Phelps-Dodge Company During this period, Hurst designed the Copper Queen Hospital, the Central School, the Copper Queen Library, the Bisbee Woman's Club, and the Copper Queen Store in Douglas, among others.
Local significance of the building:
During the period 1885 through World War I, Bisbee was a bustling copper mining community (although the local industry continued through the mid-1970s). By 1898 the town was populated by several thousand people housed on the mountainsides surrounding the operations of the Copper Queen Mine, owned by the Phelps-Dodge Mining Company. It was first and foremost a "man's town", with both mine and smelter working twenty-four hours a day. Saloons and gambling halls lined Main Street, catering to the primary off-hours interests of the mine laborers.
Within this context,. very few social or educational amenities were available other than a grade school, a library, a YMCA, an opera house, and two community churches. In response to the general lack of more refined activities, women who were not employed (typically the wives of the mining company administrators and local merchants) established small sewing and reading clubs. They realized that, in order to be stimulated intellectually and to have any social life resembling that which they had enjoyed elsewhere, they had to obtain these amenities through their own efforts.
On October 24, 1900, a town-wide Woman's Club was organized with twenty-one charter members. The group met at various locations throughout the community, including the Copper Queen Library and the Copper Queen Hotel. This federation was consistent with contemporaneous developments in this part of the country because by 1902 there were four other Woman's Clubs established throughout the Arizona Territory.
Due to the inadequacies of the available meeting locations, the idea of a Clubhouse for the organization was conceived. (Among other factors, the constant noise of the town posed an obstacle to the total success of their activities.)
Funds were secured, and the land was obtained on Quality Hill for the construction of a more permanent and less central location. The architect was Frederick C. Hurst. Hurst came to Bisbee from Canada ca. 1900 and was employed until 1906 as the structural engineer for the Phelps-Dodge Company During this period, Hurst designed the Copper Queen Hospital, the Central School, the Copper Queen Library, the Bisbee Woman's Club, and the Copper Queen Store in Douglas, among others.
Social History
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
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The Apache Trail was built by prison labor: The Apache Trail is a scenic drive through the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix. The road was built in the early 1900s using prison labor from the nearby Yuma Territorial Prison.
About Cochise County
Cochise County Timeline
Cochise County, located in southeastern Arizona, has a rich and diverse history that spans thousands of years. The area was originally home to various indigenous populations, including the Apache, Hohokam, and Sobaipuri people. These native groups lived off the land, hunting and practicing agricultural techniques, leaving behind remarkable artifacts and heritage sites.
The arrival of European settlers in the late 17th century brought significant changes to the region. The Spanish established missions and presidios, seeking to convert the native people to Christianity and assert control over the area. However, conflicts between the Apache and Spanish colonizers were frequent, as the Apache fiercely defended their territory and resisted colonization.
In the mid-19th century, tensions escalated in Cochise County as white settlers encroached upon Apache lands. One of the most notable figures of this time was Cochise, a prominent Apache chief who resisted the encroachment and fought against the US Army. Notorious conflicts such as the Battle of Apache Pass and the Apache Wars became synonymous with the region's history.
The establishment of mining towns in the late 19th century greatly influenced the development of Cochise County. Silver, gold, and copper mines attracted a wave of immigrants, creating bustling towns like Tombstone and Bisbee. These towns prospered for several decades, but by the early 20th century, the mining industry declined, leading to economic hardships for the county.
Today, Cochise County is known for its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant communities. It continues to attract visitors with its historical sites, including Tombstone's historic district and the Chiricahua National Monument, while embracing its Native American roots and celebrating the diverse cultural influences that have shaped the region.
The arrival of European settlers in the late 17th century brought significant changes to the region. The Spanish established missions and presidios, seeking to convert the native people to Christianity and assert control over the area. However, conflicts between the Apache and Spanish colonizers were frequent, as the Apache fiercely defended their territory and resisted colonization.
In the mid-19th century, tensions escalated in Cochise County as white settlers encroached upon Apache lands. One of the most notable figures of this time was Cochise, a prominent Apache chief who resisted the encroachment and fought against the US Army. Notorious conflicts such as the Battle of Apache Pass and the Apache Wars became synonymous with the region's history.
The establishment of mining towns in the late 19th century greatly influenced the development of Cochise County. Silver, gold, and copper mines attracted a wave of immigrants, creating bustling towns like Tombstone and Bisbee. These towns prospered for several decades, but by the early 20th century, the mining industry declined, leading to economic hardships for the county.
Today, Cochise County is known for its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant communities. It continues to attract visitors with its historical sites, including Tombstone's historic district and the Chiricahua National Monument, while embracing its Native American roots and celebrating the diverse cultural influences that have shaped the region.
Cochise County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Cochise County, Arizona.
- 1850: Cochise County lands become part of the United States through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
- 1860: The Butterfield Overland Mail establishes a stagecoach route through present-day Cochise County.
- 1861: Cochise County is officially established as a county in the Arizona Territory.
- 1877: Tombstone is founded and becomes one of the most prosperous mining towns in the region.
- 1881: The infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral takes place in Tombstone.
- 1886: Cochise County witnesses the surrender of Geronimo, marking the end of the Apache Wars.
- 1915: The Cochise County Courthouse in Bisbee is completed, reflecting the wealth and importance of the mining industry.
- 1961: The closure of the Bisbee copper mines leads to a decline in the county's economy.
- 2003: The border town of Douglas becomes a key entry point for drug smuggling from Mexico.