The Greatest Calamity

Back in the mining days, when Wickenburg was just a gold mill at the confluence of Martinez Wash and the Hassayampa River, there were far more people, nearly all men, living in the hills around the many mines.  There were few businesses, saloons, stage, supply stores around the downtown area. These supported the mill and some of the mines. There were also other towns scattered throughout the hills, like Vulture City, Constellation, Gilbert, Congress, Stanton, Weaver and a few others. 

A group of miners from the Monte Cristo, Wren, Black Hawk and Gold Bar mines got fed up with the exorbitant prices charged by the saloon in Constellation, the closest town, and so decided to remedy the problem. 

The disgruntled miners pooled their money and chose a freighter to go to Wickenburg and buy a barrel of whiskey at wholesale and have their own drinking party.  

The wagon driver set out in fine spirits to fetch the spirits and successfully purchased and loaded the barrel in the little burg, which was actually named for Henry Wickenburg’s Ranch, which had gradually become the name of the community by dint of its location next to the stage stopping point at Henry’s Ranch. 

The driver started back east on Constellation road and everything was going fine until he came to the first big wash, which had a steep sweeping turn that also began a climb out to the upper flat road. Suddenly for reasons still unknown, perhaps a rattler or a gunshot, who knows?, the mule spooked and bolted through the wash. The wagon turned over and the barrel of whiskey smashed on the rocks and the hooch soaked into the earth. When hearing the devastating news of the wreck, the miners loudly proclaimed it to be the greatest calamity.

And so, to this day, the site is known as Calamity Wash.