List of historic properties in Bouse, Arizona

Last updated

List of historic properties
in Bouse, Arizona
Bouse-Mining-Assay building-1902-1.jpg
1902 Assay building
AZMap-doton-Bouse.png
Location in La Paz County and the state of Arizona

This is a list, which includes a photographic gallery, of some of the remaining structures and monuments, of historic significance in Bouse, an unincorporated community which is located on Highway 72 in La Paz County, Arizona. mining was the main industry in Bouse in the late 1890s. In 1943, General George Patton established a secret tank training camp, called Camp Bouse in the area.

Contents

Brief history

The area where Bouse is located was first inhabited by the ancient Native-American tribe known as the Hohokam. Hohokam is a Pima (O'odham) word used by archaeologists to identify a group of people who lived in the Sonoran Desert of North America.

Following the expansion of the New Mexico Territory in 1853, as a result of the Gadsden Purchase, several proposals for a division of the territory and the organization of a separate Territory of Arizona in the southern half of the territory were advanced as early as 1856. [1]

In 1889, Thomas Bouse, a native of Missouri, arrived in the region in search of gold. He laid claim to various mines, one of which was called the "Old Dutchman Mine" and he also homesteaded various acres of land. In 1904, the Arizona & California Railroad laid tracks from Wickenburg to California. Bouse decided to make a profit from his investments and sold the right of way to the railroad company. Eventually he sold his well and some of his mining claims. [2]

In 1906, John Brayton established the Brayton Mercantile Company on the Eastern side of the train depot and railroad tracks. Bryton was the owner of the Brayton Commercial Company which were established in the towns of Wickenburg and Salome. The early settlers called the area Brayton, however when they proposed naming their small town Brayton, the application sent to the government was returned with the small town being named Bouse instead of the proposed name. [2]

Bouse did not prosper much until 1943, when the United States was involved in World War II.

Camp Bouse

Camp Bouse historical marker. Bouse-Camp Bouse-Marker.jpg
Camp Bouse historical marker.

During World War II, the US Army established Camp Bouse in the town, a top secret tank training camp, under the command of General George S. Patton. The soldiers who trained in the camp were not allowed to discuss anything in regard to their training with outsiders. The 526th Armored Infantry Battalion, the 554th Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Company, the 9th Tank Group and the 701st., 736th and 740th Tank Battalions trained in Camp Bouse. The 739th (SP) (ME) and the 748th "The Rhinos" also trained there. [3]

The 554th Tank Battalion arrived in Utah Beach in Normandy, France in 1944. They were involved in the Battle of the Bulge. [4] The 701st Tank Battalion fought in Central Europe, Northern France and the Rhineland. [5]

Camp Bouse was closed in April 1944. The men serving in the camp were transferred to Fort Knox, Kentucky and then to Kilmer, New Jersey. They were eventually sent to England for further combat training. [3]

Historic properties

Small steam operated locomotive used in the mines Bouse-Small Mining Locomotive-3.jpg
Small steam operated locomotive used in the mines

The following are some of the historic mining properties and artifacts whose images are included in this list. Also, some of the vehicles and tanks used during the World War II top secret training that went on in Camp Bouse.


Historic structures pictured

The following are the images of the historic structures in Bouse and its surrounding areas.

Further reading

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Ibis</span> California Historic Landmark

Camp Ibis was one of twelve divisional tent camps of the US Army Desert Training Center (DTC) which was established in early 1942 during World War II, originally to advance desert tank warfare and to train troops for desert combat. The DTC was located in the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert, largely in Southern California and Western Arizona. In October 1943, the DTC was redesignated as the California-Arizona Maneuver Area (C-AMA). The headquarters for the Desert Training Center was Camp Young where General Patton's 3rd Armored Division was stationed. Camp Ibis was designated a California Historic Landmark. The site of the Camp Ibis 8 miles (13 km) East of Needles, California off Highway 95, north of Interstate 40 in San Bernardino County, California. The camp was originally named after the Ibis railroad siding in Piute Valley. The camp was located at the west side of the Dead Mountains Wilderness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Coxcomb</span> California Historic Landmark

The Camp Coxcomb was a sub camp of the US Army Desert Training Center in Riverside County, California. The main headquarters for the Desert Training Center was Camp Young where General Patton's 3rd Armored Division was stationed. Camp Coxcomb was designated a California Historic Landmark (No.985). The site of the Camp Granite is 45 miles East of Indio, California off Interstate 10 and California State Route 177 near the Coxcomb Mountains. The train stop at Freda railroad siding delivered Troops and equipment. The camp closed in early in 1944 after about two years of operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Clipper</span> Former US Army camp in Mojave Desert, California

The Camp Clipper and Camp Essex were sub camps of the US Army Desert Training Center in San Bernardino County, California, located near Historic Route 66 and the Santa Fe Railway. The main headquarters for the Desert Training Center was Camp Young. This is where General Patton's 3rd Armored Division was stationed. Camp Clipper was designated a California Historic Landmark (No.985.5). The site of Camp Clipper is at the Fenner Rest Area in Fenner, California, on Interstate 40 and Route 66, 32 miles (51 km) west of Needles in San Bernardino County, California, near Clipper Mountains. Currently at the south end of the Mojave National Preserve. Camp Clipper was just to the east of Camp Essex. Clipper was a temporary camp for incoming and out going troops. Camp Essex was named after a small town near the camp, Essex. Near Camp Clipper was the 4,500 foot Camp Essex Army Airfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Bouse</span> US Army training center during World War II

Camp Bouse was a secret camp of the US Army, Desert Training Center in Mohave County, Arizona. Camp Bouse is located 25 miles (40 km) from Bouse, Arizona, just north of Arizona State Route 72 and about 50 miles (80 km) north of Interstate 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Hyder</span> US Army sub camp during World War II

Camp Hyder was a US Army installation in Arizona, functioning as a subcamp of the Desert Training Center in Riverside County, California. The main headquarters for the Desert Training Center was Camp Young, this is where General Patton's 3rd Armored Division was stationed. Camp Hyder is 2 miles (3.2 km) miles south of Hyder, Arizona. The camp was just north of the Gila River. Camp Hyder is 60 miles (97 km) miles east of Yuma, Arizona, near Camp Horn. Camp Hyder was built at the site of an old 1890s military base. Trained at Camp Hyder, in 1943, for six months was the 77th Infantry Division from April 1943 to September 1943. Then the 104th Infantry Division moved in for training. Unlike the other camps, no large tank activity was done. The camp was built by The 369th Engineer Regiment. Camp Hyder had its own rail station at which most troops arrived. The train station at Sentinel, Arizona south of the camp was also used. Over 13,000 troops were trained at Camp Horn and Camp Hyder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Laguna</span> US WWII army training camp

The Camp Laguna was a sub camp of the US Army, Desert Training Center in Riverside County, California. The main headquarters for the Desert Training Center was Camp Young, this is where General Patton's 3rd Armored Division was stationed. Camp Laguna is 16 miles (26 km) miles northeast of Yuma, Arizona, off of U.S. Route 95. Trained at Camp Laguna were the 3rd Armored Divisions the 9th Armored Divisions, the 79th Infantry Divisions, 80th Infantry Divisions and 8th Infantry Division. The camp is named after the nearby town of Laguna, Yuma County, Arizona on the Colorado River. Camp Laguna was first World War II training camp built in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, it trained thousands of troop for war. Most of the land that was Camp Laguna is now part of the vast Yuma Proving Ground.

References

  1. America's Library
  2. 1 2 Honoring the Past
  3. 1 2 Gizmo and Park
  4. "Where Heroes Trained"; by Roger M. Baty and Eddie L. Maddox Jr.; p. 133; Publisher: Fenestra Books; (August 30, 2004); ISBN   978-1587363160.
  5. Military History