Pedrick's, Arizona facts for kids

Pedrick's was an important stop along the Colorado River long ago. It was a special place called a steamboat landing. Steamboats were like big boats that used steam power to travel. Pedrick's supplied wood to these boats so they could keep moving.

Pedrick's: A Historic River Stop

Pedrick's was owned by a man named John Pedrick. It helped steamboats on the lower part of the Colorado River. This river stop was active from the mid-1850s to the late 1870s. It was a busy place for boats needing supplies.

Where Was Pedrick's Located?

When it first started, Pedrick's was in Sonora, Mexico. But things changed in 1854 with something called the Gadsden Purchase. This was when the United States bought land from Mexico. After this, Pedrick's became part of the New Mexico Territory. Later, in 1863, it became part of the Arizona Territory.

Pedrick's was on the east side of the Colorado River. It was about 24 miles (39 km) north of another place called Ogden's Landing. It was also about 31 miles (50 km) south of Fort Yuma. Today, this spot is near the border between Sonora, Mexico, and Arizona in Yuma County, Arizona.

A Busy Ferry Crossing

Pedrick's was not just a steamboat landing. It was also a place where people could cross the Colorado River. This crossing was known as Paddock's Old Ferry. Before the American Civil War (which started in 1861), it was a way for people to get from one side of the river to the other.

A Ruined House

However, the ferry was not running for some time before the Civil War began. A letter from November 21, 1861, tells us this. Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. West, who was in charge of Fort Yuma, wrote about it. He said that the adobe house at Pedrick's was in ruins. An adobe house is a building made from sun-dried mud bricks. This shows that the place was no longer as busy as it once was.