A request to Cochise County officials to make Jim Burnett Justice of the Peace at Fairbank. Years before Burnett had presided over a court during part of Charleston's boom days, making himself notorious in the mind of many, and getting away with many questionable activities that should have landed him in jail.
A close in view of the N.M. & A. depots southern facing wall at Fairbank. Note that even in the historic period, both spellings of Fairbank, with and without the s were used. Telegraph insulators as well as the sign for the Western Union telegraph office are visible at the left side of the image, as is the Well Fargo Express sign just above it.
During the writing of my most recent book, "On The Road to Tombstone: Drew's Station, Contention City and Fairbank," I came across items long buried in files, some of which was not used in the book, but still of interest in studying Fairbank's historic period, as well as its post historic era. This first article is such an example. There's an oft repeated story in Tombstone today that the old N.M. & A. Depot (New Mexico and Arizona) from Fairbank was moved to Tombstone in the 20th Century and it remains today as a private residence. But this Arizona Daily Star article from 1966 argues that it was demolished, and the picture that accompanies the same shows a building already an early stage of being taken apart. -John Rose
As is often the case with newspaper articles, they contain a mixture of fact and fiction. This article does illustrate that long after its neighbors near the San Pedro River had gone to ruins, such as Drew's Station, Contention City and Charleston, Fairbank would endure well into the 20th Century, and today is the last of the river towns with any substantial buildings still intact, but still a mere shadow of its former self.
A Western Union Telegram with a dateline at Fairbank sent to Albert Springer at the Tombstone bank, from Tombstone Mining success story E.B. Gage. Prior to becoming clerk at this bank, Albert Springer had tried his hand at being a merchant in Charleston, first in the partnership of Springer and Detoy, and later as one half of Springer and Hackes. Following a robbery and a substantial bankruptcy, Springer moved to Tombstone and more steady employment.
E.B. Gage is remembered in the Earp story for his financial support of Wyatt Earp when in need of bail money, as well as during his vendetta.