Klondyke, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Klondyke, Arizona
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The general store at Klondyke in 1910
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Graham |
| Elevation | 3,465 ft (1,056 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 50 |
| Time zone | MST (no DST) |
| GNIS feature ID | 42873 |
Klondyke is a small, historic place in Graham County, Arizona, United States. It was founded around 1900 by miners who had recently returned from Alaska. These miners had taken part in the famous Klondike Gold Rush. The town is located west of Safford in the Aravaipa Valley. The Galiuro Mountains are to the southeast and the Santa Teresa Mountains to the north.
A Look Back at Klondyke's History
Klondyke's main activities were mining for lead and silver. There were also many cattle ranches nearby. At its busiest, about 500 people lived here. Today, only around a dozen people call Klondyke home.
The first general store in town was started by Mr. Bedoya in a tent. In 1904, he built a saloon, a wooden store, and a post office. The post office opened in 1907. The store once burned down, but Mr. Bedoya quickly built a new one. Klondyke also had a school and a church.
During the Great Depression, many people left Klondyke. The town's post office closed in 1955. Today, the area is mostly empty. However, the Klondyke General Store and the Power's Cabin have been saved. They are now open for tourists to visit. Power's Cabin is located south of the town.
The Power's Cabin Story
Klondyke is known for a famous and sad story from Arizona's past. It involves events that remind people of the Old West. The Klondyke Cemetery, southeast of town, is where the Power family is buried. This includes "Old Man" Jeff Power, his mother Martha Jane, his sons John and Tom, and his daughter Ola May.
In 1915, Martha Jane died in a buggy accident. Two years later, Ola passed away from an unknown illness. Just weeks after Ola's death, Jeff Power and three lawmen died. This happened when the lawmen tried to arrest Jeff at his cabin in the Galiuro Mountains. His sons, John and Tom, were also hurt. With help from a family friend, Tom Sisson, they escaped. They managed to avoid what was then the biggest search party in Arizona history. They fled into Chihuahua, Mexico.
However, the United States Army found them. They were captured on March 8, 1918, without a fight. John and Tom Power, along with Tom Sisson, were later found responsible for the deaths. They were sent to the prison at Florence. Tom Sisson died in custody in 1957. The Power brothers were released from prison in 1960.
