Fairbank, AZ

Fairbank, AZ is the best preserved Ghost town in Arizona.  It was originally settled in 1881 as the closet railstop to Tombstone, AZ which was the largest city in the southwest at that time.  It was named after Nathaniel Kellogg Fairbank, a Chicago investor who partically financed the Railroad and was the founder of the Grand Central Mining Company.  Fairbank was the supply area for Tombstone and because of this the Fairbank residents could almost have anything they want since Tombstone had supplies coming from everywhere.  It was also a Stage Coach Station, the last before Tombstone, on the Butterfield Overland Mail line.  At its height, the town had around 100 residents and it had  a steam quartz mill, general store, butcher shop, restaurant, saloon, a Wells Fargo office, railroad depot and Post Office.  It was also a local hangout for some of the "outlaws" of Tombstone.  When the mines shut down in Tombstone it affected Fairbank and some of its residents did leave but the town kept going due to the railroad.  In 1890 the San Pedro River flooded and devastated the area and Fairbank.  Most of its residents moved on after the flood.  However, there were some residents that stayed in Fairbank until the 1970's when the final resident left because the buildings were all condemed.  In 1986 Fairbank became part of the San Pedro Reparian National Conservation area. 
Fairbank was a quick stop that we came upon when we were driving to Tombstone.  It is about 10 miles from Tombstone and it is a ghost town.  When we pulled onto the dirt road it took us to this tiny parking lot.  We walked into Fairbank and its buildings.  There are only 5 or 6 buildings left and slowly each are getting preservation renovations.  The School house was just completed and was  made into a museum and gift shop.  It is only open on week ends so we did not get a chance to see it.  The courthouse is the next building to be saved and it is going to be a big project.  Right now the building is being supported with supports to hold up the walls.  The house that is located by the school house is a good size but has a sign on the front door that stops anyone from going in.  It simply says, "Danger Rattlesnakes".  That was enough for me.  That house had a two holer outhouse that is still standing but barely! The Fairbank cemetary is about a 1/2 mile down a path with some old grave markers.  Overall, it is truely a ghost town.  Now, we can say we have been to an actual ghost town in Arizona.
Today we head to Alamogordo, NM.  Our daughter and son in law, Jenny and Nate, live there and we will be spending Thanksgiving together.  I am looking forward to spending time with Jenny and Nate and their dogs Ace and Lily.  As far as Alamogordo goes...well, if you have followed my blog you know!