Sunnyside, Arizona - A Different Kind of Ghost Town

ARIZONA LEGENDS

Sunnyside - A Different Kind of Ghost Town

Twenty miles northeast of Lochiel is the old ghost town of Sunnyside. Interestingly, Sunnyside is far removed from the "typical” Arizona ghost town, as far as its make-up, beginnings, and lifestyle, not to mention its remote location. Not like other mining camps, it was not filled with saloons, brothels, and lawless elements, but rather, it was a religious community. Were it to exist today, modern writers would probably call it a commune, or worse, a "cult.”

It all began with a man named Samuel Donnelly, who popular history would have us believe was a hard drinker in San Francisco, California. However, he changed his ways when he stumbled out of a waterfront bar into a Salvation Army meeting in the early 1880’s. Having "seen the light,” Donnelly stopped his drinking and became Salvation Army preacher.

Sunnyside, Arizona, Kathy Weiser, April, 2007.

Though this is the more often told version of the tale, family members say that Donnelly was actually an immigrant from Barrhead, Scotland who had recently arrived in San Francisco, and though a drinker, not a drunk. He did in fact "see the light” when he became affiliated with the Methodists (rather than the Salvation Army.)

He first took a post preaching in Methodist churches in Los Angeles, but he was rapidly developing his own religious ideals that did not suit those of the congregations’ leaders. Soon, he could find no pulpit in order to spread his "word."

In 1886, he went to the lawless town of Tombstone in order to bring salvation to those rowdy elements. While there, he acted as a street preacher, continuing to spread his own ideas, which often criticized major religious denominations of the day, as well as their doctrines, actions, and social policies. At the same time, he was also developing an interest in mining and eventually co-founded the Copper Glance Mine some nine miles southeast of Sunnyside and some 50 miles southwest of Tombstone.

A few of Sam’s converts followed him to the Copper Glance Mine in order to continue to hear his preachings. In the meantime, Sam was also continuing to prospect when he found the place he would call Sunnyside, high in Huachuca Mountains. Soon, he led a group of about 20-30 of his followers to the new "colony” he founded in the wilderness.

Supported by the nearby Lone Star Mine, Donnelly established a communal camp, where his followers ate, lived, worked, and worshipped together. A socialist type of community, all money was pooled and each person worked to the betterment of the entire camp. The early settlement had a common kitchen, dining hall, barn and one-room school house. Unlike many other mining camps of the time, this place had no saloons, "painted ladies," or lawlessness. Though some eight miles from the nearest wagon trail, new followers and those looking for work, would drift into the camp, until it numbered almost 80 converts. But, new residents were required to work hard and show an interest in the Scriptures. If they did not, they were asked to leave.

Much like how such a place might be perceived today, the camp quickly drew controversy.

Sunnyside, Arizona, David Alexander, April, 2007.

On February 27, 1897, the Bisbee Weekly Orb printed an article entitled: "A False Report. A Man Who Claims To Be A Divine Teacher Sent By God. He Rules By Hypnotism. His Following Consists of some Twenty or Thirty Persons. An Investigation Needed.”

The defamatory article presented a grisly picture of Donnelly and his mining camp, accusing Donnelly of being "expelled from the Salvation Army,” and making the members of the camp out to be deluded prisoners by saying: "All who join the camp must leave friends, relatives, children, wife or husband and follow God and Donnelly.” The article further claimed that the camp provided no privacy, that a woman was being held against her will, and that Donnelly was involved in adultery.

Donnelly sued the newspaper for libel, but the case never came to trial.

Later, he was accused of aggravated assault on a child, stemming from rumors that when one woman tried to run away, she was forced to leave her children, who were in turn, abused by Donnelly. Fighting the case, Donnelly took it all the way to the State Supreme Court, who said in part:

"The evidence in this case discloses the fact that up on top of the Huachuca Range of Mountains, is a community located so that a wagon road will not come nearer than eight miles of the camp, and the balance of the way taken on foot or on the backs of animals. So isolated, this man Donnelley [sic] has surrounded himself with a community of religious zealots who have surrendered to him absolutely.”

However, the facts found that the mother had voluntarily left her children while temporarily away, and that Donnelly had disciplined one of them while acting in the role of "schoolmaster.” The higher court did not totally exonerate Donnelly, but returned the case to Cochise County, who dismissed the charges in May, 1898.

That same year, the Lone Star Mine, which had never really produced much more than just enough to take care of the camp, filled with water when the miners had inadvertently opened an underground spring. Though they invested in pumps, they were unable to clear the mine of the water.

Late in 1900, Sam Donnelly fell ill from Bright’s disease and died on April 14, 1901. By 1903, everyone had left Sunnyside Canyon, except one man. Later, around 1912, the camp would revive itself for a time as a ranching community, but that too, passed into history.

Over the years, Donnelly’s followers were often referred to as "Donnellites,” a term he abhorred because he hated denominations. His followers and family felt the same.

Today, Sunnyside is just as remote as it was when it began. Located 20 miles northeast of Lochiel or 32 miles southeast of Sonoita, the turn off is at the intersection of Lochiel Road and FR-61. Turn northeast on Sunnyside Road (FR227), then travel about 4 miles to FR 228, where it is another 3.2 miles to the town site. The last stretch is very difficult.

Though we had a high clearance vehicle, we really needed a four-wheel drive. This last patch is very rough, with the forest road filled with large rocks all along the way and a rough riverbed near the end that may very well require about a ½ mile hike.

Sunnyside, Arizona, Kathy Weiser, April, 2007.

Though the history of this old town is fascinating, we don't recommend the trip. Signs to the the town site are non existent, there are numerous opportunities for getting lost, the road is terrible, and by some accounts, you'll find a locked gate and "no trespassing signs" at the end of your journey. This was not the case when we "accidentally" stumbled onto the town site, after a ½ mile hike; nor was it posted "no trespassing." (The buildings are posted.) However, we felt like it was a miracle that we just happened to bump into it. The area is also, according to the Border Patrol, rife with illegals and drug traffickers.

Compiled and edited by Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated March, 2010.

Sunnyside, Arizona, Kathy Weiser, April, 2007.

Free eNewsletter

Our eNewsletter features articles on the Old West, travel destinations, ghostly legends, and subscriber only specials from our Rocky Mountain General Store. Sent directly to your inbox, grab a cup of coffee and travel the historic paths of the American West. Sign up today!

From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Arizona Postcards - If you're like we are and can't get enough of Arizona, take a virtual tour through our many Arizona Postcards. Each one of these is unique and, in many cases, we have only one available, so don't wait. To see them all, click HERE!