The Ghost Town Trail - Gleeson, Courtland and Pearce, Arizona

The Ghost Town Trail

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The Commonwealth Mine in 1910.

Pearce Mining Remnants today, Kathy Weiser, April, 2007.

This image available forprints and downloads HERE!

A post office opened in March, 1896, and soon dozens of other businesses followed, including the Soto Brothers & Renaud General Store, which still stands today. Listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings, the old structure has been lovingly restored, providing an extremely accurate view of the past. Though the store is not open for business, stopping for a photo opportunity is a must.

Peak production of the Commonwealth was realized quickly in 1896, but it would continue to operate for years. Other businesses included a school, hotels, several saloons, and a motion-picture theater. Many of the town’s early buildings were actually transported over the mountains from Tombstone. The population of Pearce increased to some 1500 residents.

Like other mining towns, Pearce was not always a peaceful place, as miners and cowboys made their way to the new boom town. Though never as lawless as Tombstone, Pearce needed a constable and in 1896 hired George Bravin, who in turn, hired a tough deputy named Burton Alvord. At that time, Alvord still had a reputation as a fearless lawman. Later Alvord would join up with Billy Stiles and the two would form the Alvord-Stiles Gang, robbing trains throughout Arizona Territory and often using Pearce as their headquarters. But, in 1896, Alvord had not yet begun his crime spree and after working as a Pearce deputy for about six months, Bravin decided that there was no longer a need for the toughened lawman and Alvord moved on the Willcox. There, Alvord would gain a reputation as a killer and by the turn of the century would be robbing trains.

Ironically, George Bravin, who by 1900, had moved to Tombstone as a lawman, would again come face to face with Burt Alvord inside his own jail. There, Billy Stiles would help Alvord to escape and in the resulting melee would shoot of two of Bravin's toes.

Meantime, back in Pearce, the new Commonwealth mine owner, John Brockman built a 200-stamp mill. With the rampant thievery going on throughout the territory, the mine deliberately formed their gold bars to heavy that they could not be carried out on horseback. The stamp mill burned to the ground in 1900; however, business was so good that they soon built another. Brockman continued to operate the mine for two more years until he sold it in 1902. In 1904, a cave-in caused the mine to temporarily shut down. But, the shut-down was brief and the following year, a cyanide plant was erected and another fortune was made extracting the tailings.

The Great Depression took its toll and in the early 1930’s the mine closed and the railroad pulled up its tracks. Over the years, the Commonwealth Mine was one of the richest in Arizona, producing over 15 million dollars in Gold.

In the meantime, Pearce became a ghost town. Though just a few residents remain in the area and the vast majority of its buildings are gone, Pearce amazingly hangs on. The old post office, decommisioned in the late 1960's is now a private residence. The historic general store will be re-opening in the Fall of 2007. Another business, Old Pearce Pottery, operates out of another historic building. The area is seeing rejuvenation as retirees and others are attracted to the climate and are buying real estate. In fact, for the real estate investor with deep pockets, even the Commonwealth Mine is for sale as of this writing, for a mere 13.5 million dollars.

A number of other remains from the past can be seen including a school, the old jail, several ruins and foundations and the Pearce cemetery west of town on Middlemarch Road. This historic path crosses the Dragoon Mountains into Tombstone, for those looking for a more adventurous trek. The old road once was commonly used by soldiers moving between Fort bowie and Fort Huachuca in the 1870s and 1880s.

To access the Ghost Town Trail from Tombstone, take the well-marked turnoff for Gleeson Road heading east and follow for about 15 miles to Gleeson. A mile beyond Gleeson, turn left onto Ghost Town Trail and continue to Courtland and Pearce. Drive northwest from Pearce to reconnect with Interstate 10. Some of the route is unpaved but suitable for passenger cars.

The Pearce post office continued to operate until the late

1960s, David Alexander, April, 2007.

This image available for prints and downloads HERE!

An old home in Pearce, Kathy Weiser, April, 2007.

This image available for prints and downloads HERE!

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From the Rocky Mountain General Store

The All-American Cowboy Grill by Cheryl Rogers-Barnett, Ken Beck, and Jim Clark
The All-American Cowboy Grill will blaze a new trail through the Old West as it partners savory recipes from American cowboys and cowgirls of movie, TV, rodeo, and music fame with dozens of photos and sidebars of related interest. The book will have 20 to 40 short sidebars with real western history as well as western pop culture trivia from the movies and TV.