What makes Huachuca City special?
This is a compilation video of various Huachuca City residents talking about what makes the town special to them.
Huachuca United Methodist Church
This is a contemporary picture of the Huachuca United Methodist Church, one of the oldest churches in Huachuca City, located in lower at 506 N Gila Road near Skyline Road.
In 2018, the church was destroyed by an arson fire.
Huachuca United Methodist Church
This is the Huachuca United Methodist Church, one of the oldest churches in Huachuca City, located in lower at 506 N Gila Road near Skyline Road. Shown in front of the church is Mike Hessock as a child.
This picture was taken before the later addition.
Annie Glee
Annie Glee served on the Huachuca City Council from 1987-2001 before being appointed as the first African American mayor in Arizona and Huachuca City in 2001. She was appointed mayor by Carole Vaughn.
Glee was born in Mississippi and spent many years in New York, before moving to Arizona in 1967. She worked at Fort Huachuca and the Sierra Vista Public Schools, as well as being active in many community organizations including her church.
Mayor Allie Kimbrell - 1969
Allie Kimbrell was elected as mayor of Huachuca City by city council in 1968 after the previous mayor Morton Milliken resigned.
Kimbrell grew up on a farm in Arkansas and worked in the civil service in the 1950s. He transferred to Fort Huachuca in 1961. He went on to be active in the volunteer fire department, the Lions Club, and city council in Huachuca City.
In 1972, Huachuca City park Kimbrell Field was dedicated to honor Kimbrell who was a supporter of the town's Little League program.
Ken Taylor - 2016
Ken Taylor was the mayor of Huachuca city from 2013-2018. He became nationally prominent when he refused an invitation to the U.S.-Mexico Border Mayors Association in Laredo, Texas in 2016.
In an email to that organization's executive director John Cook, Taylor was reported to have said "I will NOT attend a function that is sent to me in Spanish/Mexican. One nation means one language and I am insulted by the division caused by language."
Sharon Sulger Upchurch interview - July 9, 2020
This is an interview with Sharon Sulger Upchurch. Upchurch’s father, Dave Sulger, was the first mayor of Huachuca City, and her mother, Elaine (Costello) Sulger was the town’s first postmistress. In this interview, Upchurch talks about how her grandparents came to this area, her early memories of her parents, and early memories of the town.
(All content and interviews contained on this site are as supplied by the contributors. They have not been fact checked and do not represent the views of the Town of Huachuca City.)
Mudder, Bailey, and Upchurch interview - July 9, 2020
This is an interview with Sharon Sulger Upchurch, Brenda Phillips Bailey, and Jane Castleberry Mudder, who grew up as childhood friends in Huachuca City in the 1960s and have remained friends since then. In the interview, they talk about their families, growing up in Huachuca City, early businesses there, going to school in Tombstone, different people they remember, and Sierra Vista (Fry) in the 1950s and 60s.
(All content and interviews contained on this site are as supplied by the contributors. They have not been fact checked and do not represent the views of the Town of Huachuca City.)
Senior Center dedication - 1989
The original Huachuca Senior Center was located in the community center at 201 Yuma in lower Huachuca City.
When the library got its own building in 1979, the senior center was moved into that building on Gonzales.
Then in 1989, an Arizona Department of Commerce Community Development Block Grant was awarded for the construction of the building at 504 Gonzales where the senior center is currently located. The grant was for $197,000 which the town combined with $152,500 in other funds to construct a 2,100 square foot center with a kitchen, accessible bathrooms, and a paved parking lot. The grand opening for this facility was held on March 24, 1989 and took place under the leadership of Mayor Carole Vaughn.
The center offers seniors in town meals and other social and recreational services.
The senior center discontinued operations for nine months in 2019 when management was transferred from an outside group to the town and then again in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Huachuca City Fire Department
Huachuca City had a volunteer fire department which was first organized in 1959.
The first fire chief was Robert J. Lancaster, and Bob Fenimore was one of the early fire chiefs.
In 2019, after legal problems and financial challenges, the town contracted out with the Whetstone Fire District to provide fire and first response services to residents of the town.
Notice to voters - 1962
This notice to voters about the proposed franchise for Huachuca City with the Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative appeared in the newspaper in 1962.
At this time, all voting in the town was done at the community center at 201 Yuma Street.
Old railroad building
This is a 2020 picture of the old railroad building, which is no longer operational, located on Railroad Drive on the west side of Highway 90. The Huachuca Siding, as it was originally known, transported soldiers to Fort Huachuca about six miles south of there. In June, 1926, the station's name was changed to Campstone.
Huachuca City started out as a stop along the Southern Pacific Railroad. The railway went from Tombstone and Patagonia and is no longer in operation today.
Huachuca City town hall
This is a picture of the Huachuca City town hall building at 500 Gonzales Boulevard.
Huachuca City started out as a stop along the Southern Pacific Railroad with the Huachuca Siding, renamed in 1926 to Campstone. The railway went from Tombstone and Patagonia and is no longer in operation today.
The town had many names including Campstone Station, Sunset City, Star Route, and Huachuca Vista. With the re-opening of Fort Huachuca in 1954, the area began to grow. It incorporated as Huachuca City in 1958. The first mayor was Dave Sulger.
The town’s nickname is the Sunset City.
Huachuca City
This is the seal of the town of Huachuca City.
Huachuca City started out as a stop along the Southern Pacific Railroad with the Huachuca Siding, renamed in 1926 to Campstone. The railway went from Tombstone and Patagonia and is no longer in operation today.
The town had many names including Campstone Station, Sunset City, Star Route, and Huachuca Vista. With the re-opening of Fort Huachuca in 1954, the area began to grow. It incorporated as Huachuca City in 1958. The first mayor was Dave Sulger.
The town’s nickname is the Sunset City.
Hideout Bar
This is a picture from 2020 of the Hideout Bar now closed. This bar was located adjacent to the old Campstone rail station on Railroad Drive on the west side of Highway 90. Known as a "biker bar," this popular establishment was frequented by a variety of patrons and also served food.
The bar was owned and operated by the Rimmers from 1984 until 2004.
Vote for Verna Barnes - 1963
This flyer asks Huachuca City residents to vote for Verna L. Barnes and elect her as the first female council member for the town. Mrs. Barnes was defeated.
Later, in 1971, Mrs. Barnes donated a triangle-shaped piece of land that was approximately one quarter of an acre to the city. The land adjacent to the north gate of Fort Huachuca became McCrey Park. It was named after Barnes' aunt who was one of the first residents of the area.
The first female council member for the town and also the first female mayor was Margaret Jones. She was appointed to council in 1974 and chosen as mayor in 1977.
Huachuca City Library
The is the current location of the Flora M. Jackman Library in Huachuca City at 506 Gonzales Boulevard.
The Huachuca City Library was begun in 1958 and was originally housed in the community center building in lower Huachuca City. It was started by the Huachuca City Ladies Club with donated books. Early librarians were Alta Leffingwell and Minnie Schaffer. Elaine Sulger was also involved, serving on the board and helping set up the library.
The library was later moved to the Huachuca City School. Then in 1979, the city acquired a surplus Apache Flats building from Fort Huachuca and relocated it to Gonzales Street to house the library in its own building. The senior center was also housed in that building.
In 1992, that building was sold to Michael Sherman , and it was moved. At that point, a new building was built on Gonzales, and that is where the library is currently located.
The library is named for Flora Jackman, a former librarian at Fort Huachuca and in Huachuca City. K.C. Cooper was the librarian from 1996-2007. Suzanne Harvey became Library Director in 2017 after serving as the Children’s Librarian for three years.
Agreement to purchase library building - 1992
This is a legal agreement between the Town of Huachuca City and Michael Sherman for Sherman to purchase and remove the old library building for $1,752.
The Huachuca City Library was begun in 1958 and was originally housed in the community center building in lower Huachuca City.
The library was later moved to the Huachuca City School. Then in 1979, the city bought a surplus Apache Flats building from Fort Huachuca and relocated it to Gonzales Street to house the library in its own building. In 1992, that building was sold to Michael Sherman, and it was moved. At that point, a new building was built on Gonzales, and that is where the library is currently located.
Resolution 266 regarding library - 1979
This town resolution authorizes the acquisition of a surplus building from Fort Huachuca to serve as the library.
The Huachuca City Library was begun in 1958 and was originally housed in the community center building in lower Huachuca City. The library was later moved to the Huachuca City School. Then in 1979, as described in this letter, the city bought a surplus Apache Flats building from Fort Huachuca and relocated it to Gonzales Street to house the library in its own building.
In 1992, that building was sold to Michael Sherman, and it was moved. At that point, a new building was built on Gonzales, and that is where the library is currently located.
Letter to Dept. of Health regarding library - 1979
This letter from the town clerk of Huachuca City to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare asks for more time in procuring a surplus building from Fort Huachuca to serve as the new library.
The Huachuca City Library was begun in 1958 and was originally housed in the community center building in lower Huachuca City. The library was later moved to the Huachuca City School. Then in 1979, as described in this letter, the city bought a surplus Apache Flats building from Fort Huachuca and relocated it to Gonzales Street to house the library in its own building.
In 1992, that building was sold to Michael Sherman, and it was moved. At that point, a new building was built on Gonzales, and that is where the library is currently located.