Signal Ghost Town : Mill & Cemetery Arizona
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ก.ย. 2024
- Out where the cactus stands tall amongst the creosote bushes bending in the dusty winds, dirt roads and deep sandy washes are the only way in and out. The creatures that call this land home pause and watch you pass. Signal once stood here. Now only fragments of its existence lay strewn across the hot sands in the shadow of the mill remains overlooking them.
Not a lot is known about this old town, except there was once around 200 buildings which consisted of 5 stores, 3 restaurants, 1 brewery, and 13 saloons. Supplies had to be ordered 6 months in advance by the shop owners due to its extreme isolation. There were around 800 residents at its peak, and lastly, the mill on the hill was to serve the nearby McCracken Mine operation.
It started as a camp as early as 1873, but a post office was established in 1877 and remained open until 1932.
There is evidence that mining continued until perhaps the 40s, but the town had seen the last of its better days. All that has stayed behind are a few scattered tin-can dumps, the foundations of the well, the cemetery, and the stories the wind tends to blow in.
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My cabin is about 6 miles from where the bar once stood , such a beautiful place
*Private Inocente H. Olea* was a member of the 80th Division of the US Army. He served in either the 317th or 318th Infantry Regiment (his headstone states the 318th which was Armor). The 80th Division landed on Utah Beach on D-Day plus 57, August 2, 1944. The 80th Division had been one of the stalwarts of Patton's Third Army.
The 80th Division set sail aboard the SS Queen Mary on July 4, 1944, landing a few days later on July 7 at Greenock, Firth of Clyde, Scotland. Tragically, Private Olea died of his wounds on December 5, 1944. 33:17
The Division had established its Command Post just days before, on November 28, 1944, in St-Avold, which is in the Moselle region of France.
The Division’s last training posts in the states were at Camp Phillips, near Salina, Kansas and in the California-Arizona Desert Training Center (known today as Fort Irwin).
*Award of Purple Heart:* www.80thdivision.com/GeneralOrders/GO105_15DEC44.pdf
*Two Photos in Military Uniform:* ancestors.familysearch.org/en/L6VQ-J37/inocente-halleck-olea-1918-1944
Thank you so much Raoul. We love to honour our fallen military, and are very thankful for all of that information about this true Hero.
Wow. Thank you.
My grandpa and grandma were born there...grampa was Ramon olea Blanco 1897-1979
You always make every excursion so interesting. You don't rush through.
I really enjoyed this. 👏🌞🧡 That cemetery is so amazing. I'm glad it is well respected and protected.🙏
Glad you enjoyed it, Rhonda. We spent 2 days at this site filming and checking google earth for the cemetery.
What a wonderful touch--the wind chime in the cemetery.
They really take care of it.
Wonderfully explore! Loved it ❤
Thanks Lisa. Glad you joined us for the explore
Our family plots. Leivas (Leyva), Olea, and Fass Families. Many are still up kept to today. Please help respect our elders and the mining community of Signal. Fernando Fass was my great uncle who died young. Our families were residents of the ranches surrounding Signal and in Signal itself. Many of the unmarked graves are from miners who worked at nearby mines. Other relatives are buried at nearby Olea, Palmerita and Grapevine Springs Ranch.
Thank you so much for sharing. Signal was one of our earlier explores. It was a very interesting place.
So interesting thank you for sharing your family information 😊
When standing in the cemetery, with the gate you entered through, to your right, there are some crosses on the hills, straight ahead. I never managed to get over to those hills, to explore. That's a fascinating area and there are lots of interesting things you can discover, for many miles around. I enjoy your videos. Keep making them.
Thank you very much, we have plenty more to come! We didn't notice those or we would definitely ventured over to have a look. We will be back once it cools down.
You're about 50 miles north of us... Come on down Wickenburg way...
12:55 too narrow for mine cart and rails are upside down. Thought maybe part of a grizzly, but not sloped.. got me on that one.
16:27 Yes. was to hold the metal forms together so they wouldn't blow out from the pressure when pouring the crete. They pumped water up to tank low volume from creek and let gravity take it down to stamp mill as needed... Flooded tails tails out to a flood plain and water went back in the stream. Why that tail pile is so flat.
17:11 This damage is from Javelinas and Jackrabbits to get water... They find a spot that maybe birds have pecked around spines and they root it out and it heals over.
12:20 is in a wash and most likely cans washed there, congregating line following the deepest part. If camp had a cook they usually just threw cans and broken or damaged cookware, dishes etc. out the 'back door' creating a pile nearby... All the sacks, flour, sugar, etc. would have disintegrated over the years. See where washes intersect uphill and may find dump site.
Mercury and nitro came in heavy glass and ceramic jugs.. Nitro glass jugs were crated packed in straw in crates... Dangerous job hauling it in wagons!
Do you have a drone? Scan miles quickly locating sites. Never been to Signal but a lot of ruins down here. Great exploring!
No drone at the moment. Maybe sometime in the future, /thanks for all the info
Another brilliant stroll through the great outdoors and another "true story/fun fact" thrown in for a bonus. My 2 favourite parts of your video was the spectacular construction of the stone walls and the knowledge that someone is caring for that historic cemetary...thank you both again for a beautiful day out.
You are more than welcome. We are touched by your comment. Thank you
Old cemeteries are great - love the chimes. Countryside is so peaceful and awesome. Cool to hear u guys laughing. shout out to Tonto! See you next time🤙🏽✌🏽🙋🏽
Glad we spent the second day looking for the cemetery and bonus find with the pocket-knife
@@PinInTheAtlas yes! Awesome pocket knife find!💥
@@bernardofitzpatrick5403 We thought that was so incredible, just laying on the surface waiting to be photographed!
I really enjoyed this episode, I love the stone foundation's at the archeological sight. They looked like pretty skilled Stone masons
Glad you enjoyed Signal, Don. The archaeological site was way over the other side of the wash. We were lucky to find it.
Fascinating!Another great adventure.That was lovely the reverence you bestowed upon the departed😔
Thank you Brooke, we really appreciate that!
You found my favourite past time as most of the UK has been explored, I like to look in remote and often unattended graveyards pick some names and dates and see what I can learn about them and the history of their town or village, the UK has no real isolated places that man has not left his mark.
Gravestones do have something intriguing about them. Although you do get ones in the UK several centuries old, but no real isolated places.
Have you found any McCurdy or oBrien, Parker, Gordon's, Price, Martin from way back.
Very nice video, thank you! I was born Aug 1939. The World changes constantly as all things return to basic minerals! My Dad and many other people made Knives and some still do! Love that British accent! Ron PTL USA
Glad you enjoyed it, Ron. And thank you,
In my hometown some of the graves had metal markers like the last one in the corner. These were from the forties and even the fifties. Some were cast concrete. Then in the late sixties they removed those and placed brass plaques in their place, and planted grass. The ones with tomb stones still remained. Looking on google earth, it looks like the grass isn't doing so well, and the cemetery is almost doubled in size. The town now only lists about 400 population, but at one time was 2000 population. For reference I'm now 76 yrs. old, live in Houston, with a population of over 6,000,000 people.
Thanks for sharing that info about the grave markers. We didn’t know that.
Thanks I have a small place near where you are. I call it no where Arizona also . It was funny to hear you use that line. Thanks I have not been to the mine yet. Must go,
Yes, there is a lot to see in this area of AZ. We will be back once the weather cools down a bit.
I have grown very fond of how You Both start your presentations....with Steve announcing the area and the possible query that is on your Map that Needs to be Pinned as he pans over to his Lady, Andrea who then lets us know "The Goods" of this Field Trip! For me it always mesmerizing as my Being finds it's Seat in Soul of Tonto! I'm STILL LAUGHING at Andrea "slipping gracefully" @7:35...for me that is a sign of True Character which is to be able to have a good deep belly laugh at one's expense! Just amazing how solidly built the Bins were and the amount of wood and timber that was used, which of course had to be brought in too. The second time Miss Andrea planted her Bum was when I really started laughing and when Steve started to chuckle I knew The Keystone Cops were close by so cue The Benny Hill Music! LOLOL I do love how you both chat and discuss and then offer up the details of what we are looking at! I learn so much on this Ride but I have Fun too so it's a WIN WIN for All of us Riding in Tonto! The Sub numbers are climbing and I'm positive word of mouth helps from The Fans watching! Thank you as always Steve and Andrea for making sure you had room for US ALL.....Cheers From Ohio
Wow, what compliments. Thank you so, so much. We are glad that you are enjoying our adventures and we bring a smile to your face. That makes our day.
The quality of the video is amazing. I almost could reach out and touch it.
I was surprised by some recent burials at the cemetery. When you consider how far out you are. I wonder if the wind charms are used the same way as in Oriental cultures. That to keep away evil spirits?
Thanks Wayne. We kinda of wondered the same thing, but for us it just added to the calm peaceful ambience.
@@PinInTheAtlas I seen some other videos of cemeteries that had wind charms too! I'm glad it's calm and peaceful .
Oh all those amazing rocks that were used in the cemetery to cover the graves. I am a rock person and I have been noticing some amazing ones in your videos out in the desert...very cool!
Thank you SandySue!
In the area to the East of Signal, all the way up to Highway 93, there is still a lot of placer gold to be found in the washes. In the 90's, a fellow pulled a 15-ounce nugget out of a wash near Nothing [yes, there is a settlement on Highway 93 named Nothing] [see the Gold Rush Expeditions video about the Arrastra Mine]. In the Winter, its a good area to metal detect the washes for gold.
We actually went to Nothing! but there was nothing there. Will take a look at the video, thanks Chris.
The Arrastra placer claim is a bit more than halfway between Signal and Highway 93, to the South of 17 Mile Road. GRE filed a new claim on the Arrastra after the old-timer who lived on the claim for many years died. GRE subsequently sold the Claim to some fellow from Alabama. The area around the Arrastra Claim has dozens of canyons full of black sand and interesting-looking choke points.
@@chrisackerley1842 We will have to go and investigate when we get back to this area. Thanks for the info!
Amazing what you guys find. So nice to see you laugh and have a great time. Lol. The cemetery was so interesting. The views are just magnificent. It must have been a rough place to live back then. Having to order things six months ahead. Your list had to be complete no running back to the store if you forgot something.
It just goes to show how resourceful and resilient those people were. We couldn't begin to imagine how tough life must have been back then. Total respect for those people.
Brilliant video ,loved every minute. Thank you
Thank you and you're welcome.
Thank you 💕
The trees along that river does remind me of the San Pedro when I've been to Charleston and contention. The mill remains were impressive. Good video
Thank you, J.
I like that one rock 18:44 in the top middle corner!
Absolutely love your videos. I’m a new comer. When I was young I lived at Parker Dam CA for 5 years. The government camp is no longer there. On google earth I can see exactly where my house use to be. My mom, grandpa and I would go all through the desert explore and would find all sorts of items. I know we explored where you were at. On google earth it looked like there were several ranches close to where you explored. Again I absolutely love your videos. I’m not sure if you have been to Ut but you should come. There is a place called Delta and it use to be an interment camp. They have a museum plus you can go to the site. Very interesting. Lots of old ghost towns in Utah to explore
Welcome to our channel Maryel! That is really neat you can see the foundations still, keeps the memories alive. We do plan on exploring sites in Utah, when will we get there we have no idea, but have gotten lots of info on places. Thank you so much for the compliments and enjoying our adventures. We have plenty more to come!
Boy, that was a quick 40 minutes. Yee-Haa!!! Been there many years ago. Great video.
Thanks, Richard, glad you enjoyed it
Gave this one a like. It was nice to hear you laugh. I love how much you try to know about the place you are visiting. I also like some of the places you have gone to. I have noticed that neither of you appear on camera much. It would be nice to see you pointing to something and explaining, walking, and being more "natural". I know that I sound critical, but do not get me wrong, I do like that you do your research and are giving it your best. You seem like a nice couple. Don't be afraid to be on camera and have fun.
We are documenting the places we visit, so it's not about us, its about the location. We appear more in some videos than others. If you'd like to hear us lark / laugh, then take a look at our Kentucky Camp video - the out-takes.
@@PinInTheAtlas As you have stated, "it is not everyone's cup of tea". I accept that. I have no interest in documentaries. Good luck with your channel.
Thank you
Love your laughing Andrea
Thank you
It's always nice to get lost somewhere in space and time. Well done video as always. Thanks for sharing this informative video with us that watch your channel.
Thanks Edward, glad you found it interesting.
Another great video. All the stones and dirt piled on the graves must mean they were unable to dig very deep because of all the rocks?
The ground was quite solid, so maybe.
Sweet adventures thks
@@shirleyrichards2514 an old one Shirley but thanks. Glad you liked it
I try to catch ALL of your videos. Well narrated and very interesting! 👍👍👍
Thank you so much, Roy. Glad you are enjoying them. Now we have better mics the sound quality has improved from our earlier ones.
That was really strange at the very end the wind was blowing pretty good and there's no sound coming from the wind chimes!
Those wind chimes are incredible!!!
They were. The motorcycle club take care of the cemetery
Just found your videos. Watching from Canada . Really interesting
Welcome to our channel Judy. We sincerely hope you enjoy our content. We post a new “pin” every Tuesday. See you on our next adventure.
Thankyou❤
Thank you, for your very interesting videos. The ruins of the mining camp were sparse compared to other mining camps you've explored yet interesting still. But, the cemetery seemed very peaceful, also the many crosses, to me, showed tremendous respect for the dearly departed. You mentioned that many of the graves were unmarked, do you think this could be a Potter's field? Maybe individuals that couldn't afford the traditional burial? Again, thank you for your videos, and for the detailed research, you do, and then share with your viewers. Safe travels, and Happy Trails!
Thank you very much Terry, we greatly appreciate your compliments and support. It could be that the club taking care of the cemetery now hasn't been able to find who is buried in those graves or could be as you have mentioned or maybe even a bit of both. Either way, we do absolutely love that there are caring individuals, willing to take the time to remember and care for them still. It is very Honourable and Dignified.
My grandfather and grandma were born there in 1897 Ramon olea Blanco...santa maria river area
Wow. That’s cool
Whatever you do don't go back in those old coal mines they can fall in on you I know because I was raised in a cold camp I love the shows you put on I watch them all the time thank you and God bless all of you
A former girlfriend and I visited Signal, AZ in August on a trip west about 30 years ago. I am from Mississippi so I am used to hot weather. But, I don't know if I ever experienced heat like that day. We had the air conditioner on full blast but we were still sweating in that desert heat.
Can you imagine what it must have been like back then without all the comforts we have today!
I can't imagine. @@PinInTheAtlas
The wind chimes sounded like a church bell. Gramma Candy
Steven and Andrea so happy to see you back in Arizona. I got so excited went and told my husband of what you are exploring be care Andrea you just never no if there might be snakes in those places for them to get out of the heat. i looked on my phone to see where this Ghost town is located I didn't even no there was an old ghost town up there I don't look that far for ghost towns.
There seem to be Ghost Towns everywhere we look. Even in places so hard to get to by todays standards. We do always check before filming to make sure there aren't any unwanted reptiles waiting for a close up.
That's good that you always check the area out before you really enter them especially the dark places and shaded areas. The cemetery that you explored was the best part for being able to see some that dated way back when next weekend if my husband has next weekend off we are want to go up Prescott and try to find an old grave site called Angelina's grave she died while she and her parents were traveling in their covered wagon when they had an accident in which she died and her dad buried her there I do hope we can find it as we looked up all the accordance of where she might be laid.
@@merrydowner7316 It takes lots of time doing the research, doesn't it? Apart from using the web, we go to libraries, information bureaus, talk to locals and even contact historians. Good luck on your quest. Let us know what you find.
I do hope that we find the grave that I'm talking about this will be fun. I sure will let you know what we find and if we find it.
@@merrydowner7316 Looking forward to hearing about your adventure Merry.
Judging from the quality of rock work on the mill I would think it was done by Chinese laborers left over from the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. They built a lot of great rock work here in California. Sometimes its just miles of fence line, all without mortar
Quite possibly, Greg. Most of the ghost towns/mining camps were known to have Chinese workers.
Not much remaining of what must have been a small but bustling town, unless they used tents? Love the windchime at the cemetary, perfect for atmospere.
We thought so too, made everything so much more serene.
The cemetery is amazing!
Found you from Wonderhussy. Enjoy
Welcome, Chuck. Thanks for joining us. Hope you enjoy our content.
I'd love to move into some ove these town if they got enough water from the rain or a brook of some kind bring fresh lumber so the old places stay like they are and fix up one of the better places and build a old style windmill for a generator I don't want toine anything just live in a quiet beautiful place use the waste for sidewalks. Thank you all for the lovely views
Glad you enjoyed it, Tim. It would be great to fix up these old places just how they were.
A quiet place to rest for eternity.
Those all seem to be of Spanish origin.
The road west was paved with cans.
Cheers,
Rik
Great video
Thanks, Ken. Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you for your video, the scenery was spectacular, if the artifacts could only tell there stories......Thanks..........................JB.
You're very welcome, John. So glad you enjoyed it. Many more "Pins" to come
Another great adventure guys, sorrow about Andrea's "bum" , but she thought it was funny. I look forward to your next video, Danny in Alabama
It's that infectious laughter that lets you know everything is alright! Thanks Danny.
Fascinating area. Have you considered getting Drone shots?
I am inspired to get out and explore.
We have but we need to get a license first. Glad we have inspired you to put pins in your atlas, Julia.
You should check out St. Thomas ghost town that spent decades under water at Lake Mead. Gramma Candy
That rail looked pretty heavy like 60# a yard or more? It looks like a heavy duty grating for busting up the rocks??? I would love to know more about the structure. Was it a bin and a bin? Second bin for busting rocks? Ore hauled out in trucks?
Not sure. Interesting though.
So interesting.
Glad you enjoyed this adventure!
GREAT JOB..WOW,REAL BLUE SKY,NICE BREEZE,LUCKY UZ..STAY WELL..FROM GREY SKY MAINE..
Thank you Ralph, the weather was incredible during filming.
I’m Doreen LEIVAS Dart. Leivas pronounced “ LAYVAS”
Not sure if they were my ancestors, as the grave marker didn’t indicate more than the names.
Wow, thank you for sharing Doreen.
The old saying goes, When you come to a fork in the road.... Take it! ( Ha)👍🇦🇺🤪
So true Greg
The cemetery was across the wash adjacent to the mine remnants.
Fernando 1912-1928 he was 16 years old when he died.
Ölmeden önce amerikayi görmek ve gezmek istiyorum umarım bu dileyim bir gün olur macera için teşekürler
Burada plajlardan çöllere, dağlardan göllere ve vahşi, vahşi batıya kadar görülecek çok şey var. Umarım yakında seyahat edebilecek ve atlasınıza çok sayıda iğne koyabileceksiniz.
iv been there before my friends ranch is close by there an he told me that was were they was processing the ore from the McCracken mine it was a silver mine idk why they shipped it across the valley that far but i guess they did
Thanks for sharing.
It may have been the nearest processing operation!
Hope you enjoyed our explore. This is quite an old one. We post new content every Tuesday. Hope you join us on more of our adventures Shaun.
thanks yea i enjoyd that video since iv been there before an even been to the old grave site theres alot more to see around that area also
@@shaunmcmurtry6213 if you can think of more things for us to explore please email us at info4pinintheatlas@gmail.com
As you probably know we don’t disclose vulnerable locations.
“Rust never sleeps”
No it certainly does not, Dennis!
A Sidewinder!
My late grandmother would have said that you fell on your "bumbo" and that makes me laugh. I looked up "bumbo" on the Google urban dictionary, and it had a translation I hadn't expected, and I'm wondering if my grandmother realized the meaning. Still funny tho. 😅
🤣 probably meant how she was using it. They seem to change meanings of words these days. You should hear what I come out with.! Different meanings in England. Two great nations separated by a common language.
Glad you got a chuckle Diane.
@@PinInTheAtlas yeah, grandmother meant your bottom, the urban dictionary said it was something a little more private. I was, nonetheless stunned. Maybe some things are better off not known!!! I still love grandma. She was one of the bravest people I've ever known.
@@diane1390 happy memories
I don’t think that was done by a plasma cutter, I am almost certain it was cut by a “gas ax” (ox/ac torch)
I believe that most of the town was located where the wash is now. There was a flood in 1983 that swept the major part of Signal away. Least, that what I was told.
definitely tent city
Hi. What are yall up too? When are yall gonna come back to the peak?
We will be back soon if you have some great locations to take us out exploring!
@@PinInTheAtlas yea my house.
I absolutely love how you DON'T show where in AZ you are. You know, put a 'Pin in the Atlas'.
The name of the town is in the title. Signal!
@@PinInTheAtlas And how is a name a 'pin in the atlas'?
@@hazcat640 well, Hazcat. We’ve put a pin in our atlas
23:20 How can you tell what direction a snake travels? See 23:03
I was merely following the track with my finger and hazarding a guess as to which bush it may have slithered to
Truck bed: 1955-58 Chevy.
How on earth did you make that out? You are amazing Jan. Thanks
@@PinInTheAtlas I grew up in the 1950's with Chevy trucks. Rear pickup fenders of those years have a unique shape.
@@janblake9468 They are a thing of beauty.
@@PinInTheAtlas Yes, I liked them a lot. I had a 56 Suburban, 56 and 57 pickups, and a 59 panel.
@@janblake9468 My grandfather restored a 57 chevy bel-air. Absolutely amazing car and I grew up a chevy fan myself. But have so much love for Tonto he is an absolutely amazing truck
Probably moved the buildings else where.
Yes very true Janis, they repurposed a lot of things in those days.
Residents probably lived in tents.
The actual date is on those metal washers‼️
Thanks. But we were unable to read them as they were too weathered
Innocent olea was my relatives...we are all olea's....pronunced oh-laya
Thank you for sharing Andrew
You missed the road faces
I saw several. Old Indian settlement ?
Rock faces were I
INDIAN ways to show their Art.
I'm. part Indian. Those are very old.
Rock faces.
We did miss those Ben. Didn’t know they were there!
I would find it informative if you noted the date when the videos were taken. Is there a reason why you don’t?
Never really thought about it. We film about 6 to 8 weeks out. Thanks for the suggestion, Don.
Knowing some history from mining in Az. I suspect the reason for their being sister cities is the Mexicans lived in one city and the whites in another.
An example is the towns of Sonora and Ray Ariz.
I say this because of the Hispanic last names on the graves
Maybe. There were a several mining towns in the area.
@@PinInTheAtlas Yes. Maybe the Chinese had a camp or village
@@saulayala4970 that’s possible too
maybe tents
well folks it was pretty lame, that is until 25:53 and if you pause it there and zoom in on the upper right, changed my whole opinion of the video.
Thanks for commenting. This was one of our earlier videos. We’ve grown a lot and learned a lot since then. We post new content every Tuesday at 7am PST. Hope you join us on more adventures.
If you pause the screen @22:37, you will see that in the well its carved 1933. Just above the two 3's it looks like you can see the perfect outline of a human eye. Looks as if its staring right at you. Lol - creepy!
Didn't notice the eye. will have to take a look. Thanks Jason
You have a good eye to notice that, lol...
Big CROSS may be to symbolize a Christian Cometary.
That last breeze was the Chinese souls ?
Very well could have been William!
Why did The Lone Ranger shoot Tonto?
He found out what kimosabe meant.
Funny, I guess it depends on which tribe Tonto was from! The Lone Ranger could have been a soggy shrub!
9:50, can I volunteer to rub it better! 😂✌❤🙏🥂🇬🇧
@@gregphillips.1312 😂
Take the road less traveled 🤣
And you never know what you'll find.
Whatever you do don't go back in those old coal mines they can fall in on you I know because I was raised in a cold camp I love the shows you put on I watch them all the time thank you and God bless all of you
So glad you are enjoying our pins and thank you for your support. Lots more to come and we are always careful.