List of historic properties in Quartzsite, Arizona

Quartzsite got its name from the quartz that was found in the area. The town was established on what used to be Fort Tyson, which was once used for protection against Indian raids.

In the early years of the American gold rush, pan handlers began to arrive in Arizona searching for the precious metal. Gold deposits was discovered in the desert mountains of Plomosa and Dome Rock in the area and a boom in the mining industry followed.[1][2][3][4] Charles Tyson was a miner who foresaw the mining potential of the area.

The Yavapai tribe (a.k.a. as Mohave-Apache) resented the arrival of the Anglo-European settlers, who arrived from California and other places in the United States, on their land and raided the early settlements. The water supply in the area became the main target of their raids. In 1856 Tyson built a Fort to protect the settlers and the settlement became known as Fort Tyson.[2][3][4]

According to the Quartzsite Historical Society, in 1864, Tyson dug a well by hand. The well served the stage coaches that traveled from the towns of Ehrenberg and Prescott. Tyson's Well Stage Station became a busy stage coach station since it was located on the Butterfield Overland Mail route between Prescott, Arizona and Riverside, California.[2][3][4]

In 1897, the town was officially named Quartzsite. Tyson owned three store, two saloons and a post office. The establishment of the railroad affected the commercial aspect of the area since most people preferred to travel by train. However, Tyson's Well stage station continued to provide rest and refreshment to travelers and freight drivers.[2][3][4]

Gertrudis Serna & Hadji Ali

Hadji Ali (1828 - December 16, 1902), a.k.a. "Hi Jolly" and "Philip Tedro", was an Ottoman subject of Syrian and Greek parentage,[5] who was among the men hired by the United States Army to introduce camels as beasts of burden to transport cargo across the "Great American Desert." Ali was the lead camel driver during the US Army's experiment with the U.S. Camel Corps. The cost of the American Civil War resulted in that the Congress did no longer approve more funds for the Corps. The camels were auctioned in 1884 in Benicia, California. Ali was discharged from the Quartermaster Department of the U.S. Army at Camp McDowell in 1870.[6]

Ali hired by the U.S. Army in Arizona in 1885, under the command of General George Crook during the Geronimo campaign where he was in charge of packing mules. Later Ali moved and to Quartzsite, Arizona with his wife Gertrudis Serna and family. During his years as a resident of Quartzsite, he did some mining in the local mines and on occasion served as a scout for the US government. He died in 1902 and was buried in the Quartzsite Cemetery which was renamed the "Hi Jolly Cemetery" in 1903, in honor of Hadji Ali. The cemetery is located in the intersection of West Elsie and Hi Jolly Lanes.[6]