Salt or Seven Wells facts for kids

Seven Wells Station was an important stop on an old mail route called the Butterfield Overland Mail. It was built near natural wells, which were a great source of water in the dry Colorado Desert. These wells helped travelers on their journey between Cooke's Wells Station and Alamo Mocho Station.

The station allowed people to travel on flat ground along the Alamo River. This was much easier than going over the difficult Andrade Mesa.

History of Seven Wells Station

The Seven Wells Station was open until March 1861. At that time, the Butterfield mail route was closed. This happened because the American Civil War was starting, and the mail service moved to a different route.

A Watering Place for Travelers

Even after the mail service stopped, Seven Wells remained a useful place. Travelers on the Southern Emigrant Trail still used it to get water. It also became a camp for Union Army soldiers. These soldiers were moving between California and Arizona Territory.

In 1861, a soldier named Lieut. Col. Joseph R. West wrote about the station in his journal. He said the water was "plenty, but brackish," meaning it was a bit salty. He also noted there was "wood abundant" for fires.

Later Use and Abandonment

Stagecoach lines started using Seven Wells Station again in 1867. It stayed open for ten years until 1877. That year, the Southern Pacific Railroad reached Fort Yuma, making stagecoaches less necessary.

After the railroad arrived, Seven Wells Station was closed for good. However, the wells themselves were still used until 1905. That's when the Alamo River changed its path, and the wells were no longer as easy to reach.

Where is Seven Wells Today?

Today, the old Seven Wells site is about one mile southwest of a modern town. This town is called Bórquez Norte, Baja California.