Saginaw and Manistee Lumber Company: Perkinsville Area

 Saginaw and Manistee Lumber Company: Perkinsville Area

I recently took a day trip south of Williams, Arizona. The weather has been mild this Fall, and I have learned from past experiences that you must take advantage of this before four feet of snow envelopes your reality.
South of Williams, Perkinsville is one of the easiest areas to find; simply follow Perkinsville Road South from Williams. This will take you past the Santa Fe Dam, Bill Williams Mountain and Barney Flats (one of my favorite areas to putter away another day.) The Road is paved, until you pass the cutoff to Drake. The gravel and dirt road can be rocky, so consider driving a suitable vehicle for moderate road conditions. A citified sedan might have problems, so use good judgement. Always take supplies in case you get stuck; however, this road is fairly well traveled so someone will wave as they pass you by on the side of the road. 
Perkinsville was a town area, once served by the railroad, currently the Verde Valley Railroad. This town has a connection with the Saginaw, in that the Saginaw Southern was planning to connect Williams with the Jerome area. The Santa Fe edged out the Saginaw Southern as the main north-south line by building a subsidiary through the canyon to the Jerome area. This provided a standard gauge connection to the outside world, enabling the smelters to ship their product directly market, instead of using the now-obsolescent Jerome narrow gauge line (all of this has been touched on with earlier posts; just search the Saginaw Southern or Jerome.) 
Perkinsville has three noteworthy historical points of interest: the rail line that is still in service that connects with the Santa Fe at Drake; the original station which is located on private property and is inaccessible except by train; and the original bridge. 
The original steel bridge dates back to about the 1920s-30s, making it 90-100 years old. The bridge design was common back in that era, and many examples can be seen in use today across the continent. It was simple to fabricate, transport to the worksite, and assemble. The structure was tied together with hot rivets and large bolts. Although the lattice type construction of the girders reduced weight and added strength, each rivet and part became a potential weak spot due to corrosion and stress. Usually, they can be found with copious amounts of metalized paint covering every exposed piece of metal. This bridge is no different. 
This particular bridge is slated to be replaced, and one day may disappear unless it is saved as part of a walking trail. If you want to see a piece of engineering history, it is best to do so before this disappears forever.  
The bridge site has been closed to overnight camping. It is posted for day use only. Be aware that water attracts wildlife, including poisonous snakes. Given the aromatic evidence, there appears to be a large number of skunks in the area. 
Also be aware that this is a remote area. To get here may not require a 4x4, but the road can be rocky and at times steep. Being remote, always be aware that not all persons may be friendly or have your best interest in mind. I usually travel the backroads properly armed; you make your own decisions.
Nevertheless, I find this to be a remarkable site, with old cottonwoods and oak trees, nestled in a river bottom that usually is running with water. A nice, peaceful area where you can enjoy the bridge, the trees and the babbling of the stream. A welcomed change to the semi-arid local environment.


The Perkinsville area is surrounded by private property. Respect the locals. The red rock area starts just east of the bridge. There is no access to the area except to locals.


The Verde Valley Railroad is nearby. This is an active line so watch for trains.


Take heed of the potential for flash floods. This area is dotted by a number of ravines.
 Stay aware of the weather conditions. If a storm is imminent, find higher ground. 




Something I didn't notice until reviewing the images; this is a twin span structure.



Wonderful old trees. This living wonder could have seen the earliest peoples visiting 
this source of water.








Hope you enjoy your visit. Stay awhile; listen to nature, calm down.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

COUGAR PARK, HELL CANYON BRANCHLINE; BARNEY FLATS: Recent Findings and Research

Image
  COUGAR PARK, HELL CANYON BRANCHLINE; BARNEY FLATS Recent Findings and Research COPYRIGHT; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED (5/10/22)           The  spur starts at the intersection of FR3110 and Highway 73 (Perkinsville Road.) Satellite imaging shows the grade crossing Cougar Park, then entering Hell Canyon. This entire region is rugged, steep and challenging to traverse. Evidence indicates, from the numerous stump fields, that a centrally located spur might have existed in the Canyon.      Recent research, conducted in the field, and in the climate controlled archives at the Cline Library, NAU, have offered evidence that challenges my earlier view that a line existed within the confines of the canyon.     Field research, Forest Service maps, and satellite imaging confirms that a line did exist to the mouth of the Hell Canyon; it is a speculation as to how far it penetrated the area. Stump fields exist that tell a story of early logg...
Read more

THE SAGINAW AND MANISTEE LUMBER COMPANY MILL, WILLIAMS, ARIZONA 1893-1941 (Updated and Revised 7/2023)

Image
  THE SAGINAW AND MANISTEE LUMBER COMPANY MILL, WILLIAMS, ARIZONA  1893-1941   COPYRIGHT; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED (5/10/22) Updated and Revised 7/2023, including the Fire Department, The Roundhouse and Commissary                        An overview picture of Williams Township and the Mill, looking westward,                                circa 1920s. The town was situated on an East-West axis; the mill was on a more                          N or th-South axis. The mill site was just west of town.  (All Historic Photographs in this section, unless otherwise noted, are from the  Arizona Memory Project: Williams, Arizona Collection. A copy of the original scan is available at the Williams Historic Photo Project, located i...
Read more

SAGINAW AND MANISTEE FLAGSTAFF OPERATIONS: 1941-1952

Image
    SAGINAW AND MANISTEE FLAGSTAFF OPERATIONS: 1941-1952   On March 1, 1941, the Saginaw and Manistee leased the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company from manager Joe Dolan. The S&M had acquired vast timber holdings in the area of Mormon Lake; the lease of the AL&T allowed them to harvest these holdings.      The Saginaw extended the Howard Spring line an additional 14 miles to Allan Lake, located South of Mormon Lake.  The Allen Lake Line was essentially a steam engine powered, reasonably straight conveyor belt to and from the mill. With the exception of several short spurs and a "Y" near the southern end, the line was fed by trucks.   Mechanized logging had replaced the need to constantly relay spurs into the forest. A steady flow of quality timber was provided to the leased Flagstaff mill, and during WWII made a significant contribution to the war effort.     In October of 1944 the Saginaw and Manistee purchased its' first a...
Read more