BOUSE,AZ…THEN AND NOW…..HOW DID BOUSE PLAY A PART IN OUR HISTORY?

This is from our February 10, 2013 exploration.
Founded in 1908, Bouse Arizona was first a mining camp and assay office.  It is a very small, friendly town with a population of 996 in 2010.  In a previous post, I wrote about the mining claim and homestead of Thomas Quinn. There were enough prospectors in the area that an assay office was opened.  These four photos are just a few gems and minerals that were found in the mountains around Bouse. 

           Unknown    Crystal                                                   
                     
                                            

                                                          

How many dreams came true and how many were smashed in the Bouse  

 Gold,  gold.


                     Assay Office  




Across the highway from the Mercantile is a Memorial of the World War II military camp and those who so gallantly served and protected our Nation’s freedom.  To these, we owe a heartfelt thanks. The photos speak for themselves.

                                                           

                                                

                                       

      Some serious mementos and some humorous.


Next, we headed to the Assay Office.  

Guess what Rockhounding John is looking for. They have many books on the rocks and minerals that are found in the area.  But that is not all. This small building is also a museum of WWII.




Behind John, in the corner of the room is an exact replica of the turret that the soldier would squeeze into to fire at the enemy.  Actually the soldier was firing “blind.”  had no windows to view  the enemy.  





The cutouts that you see is for people like you and me to see the cramped quarters that the soldier worked.  

 Can you imagine sitting in that small place on that little white board, riding through the desert with ordnance exploding all around the tank?  

The only way the shooter could know where to aim was a black dot on a panel in front of him that was projected by another soldier. Communication way the headphones you see  I cannot remember if the person that was directing the gunner was above or below.  Hopefully, someone will provide that information.      

               

We left with directions to Camp Bouse.

                                                                 

On our way to the camp, we find another great site to explore. There we find many  cactus                                                      varieties  scattered in the wind-blown sand dunes of the desert.

As we continued our search for Camp Bouse, the road became more narrow.  The ruts in the road were getting deeper and the desert rocks much more abundant.  

The wheels of the Miata were slipping and sliding.  I was scrunching up in mental pain every time a rock smacked the undercarriage of the car.  We were approaching a bit of a hill that would be absolutely no problem for The Bayfield Bunch’s Jeep.  Not only was the rocks inches thick, but I had to maneuver a curve at the same time.  One try – failed. Two try – failed.  Just wheels in the rocks.  Rats….foiled again.

Would anyone like to purchase a Miata? 

We never reached our goal. I turned the little car around and headed back down the road.  John spotted a wash and guess what he suggested we do?  I will not even give you two guesses.

We had to go to the Internet to finish our tour.  Hopefully, next year we will have the proper ride.

Camp Bouse was one of eleven desert training centers.  The camp was established in 1942s by General George Patton.  The camp’s location was “top secret” along with the tanks that were being used there.  “Gizmo” was the tank the servicemen were being trained to use for the “new warfare.”

Nine thousand GIs were trained on “Gismo,” a tank with shutters to flash lights in the desert in order to confuse the enemy as to their location.  The GIs were not allowed to reveal the location of Camp Bouse.  Their letters to home were taken to the headquarters then mailed.   

       

What is left today of Camp Bouse are a few foundations, some roads and rock footpaths along with rock decorations.  Their division insignia is laid out in rock.

In 1950, the military returned to Camp Bouse to find and remove stray ordnance. Thirty one tons were removed from the training grounds.  They left behind warning signs saying “no digging” in the area and 
warned of picking up undiscovered ordnance. 

The military left behind one message:

Don’t we all wish we could live the message that was left behind sixty-three years ago?

There is a wonderful message they left for us.  Fitting for this time of the year.

May God bless you and your travels, give you safety and the desires of your heart.

CRYSTAL HILL FELT MORE LIKE A MOUNTAIN

Our drive from LaPosa South to the road leading to Crystal Hill was a short drive south.  Then we turned east and proceeded down yet another dirt and rock road.  Crystal Hill is part of the KOFA Wildlife Refuge where Big Horn Sheep, Desert Tortoises, Kit Fox and other wildlife can be found.



While at the Visitor’s Center, we also discovered that other things can be found there in the desert where General George Patton of WWII fame trained some of his troops.  One can come upon unexploded ordinances!  Some land mines and grenades could even be live.  THAT is a do not touch.  The training was in this area since these troops were heading to Africa. 


But there is also beauty to be found in these mountains.  Saguaro, Ocotillo, Cholla and Barrel Cactus are a few that we saw on our drive to the mountain. This is what John and I were in search of on this trip.  This is a photo of what one person found.  They are clear “crystal clear” quartz.  We do not want them for any New Age faith.  These crystals are hard to find and we enjoy the challenge, the search. 


I think the person that named Crystal Hill must have been younger than John and I.  From a distance, it looked climbable.  And it was, to a point.  About the point I was half way to the top.  John was smart and did his rock hounding about a third of the way.  It was a fun day.  We both try to push ourselves to do just a bit more than our last outing.  We both succeeded.  And we rested for the next two days!  This was our view from the car as we approached the “hill.”




We discovered a new to us cactus as we drove up the road.  Do you know it’s name?








This is the path that I followed up the ‘hill.’  It started out gradually then became more challenging the higher I went.  I accidentally had John’s rockhounding tool bag with me and I did not enjoy the extra weight.  The next day, my elbows and shoulders ached from the extra load.  But, I found that loaded bag mighty useful.  At times the grade was so steep, I felt as if I were going to tumble down the ‘hill.’ I carried that loaded bag in from of me to provide more stability.  At times the problem was that there would be a drop off at my right or left. So I carried it of the ‘hill’ side. 
                                                                                                                                    

My goal with that stand of rocks that has a lighter border at the top.  I told myself that I made it that far, I would stop. At times I pulled myself up with limbs of the creosote bushes.  Al of the Bayfield Bunch does not like them in his yard, but they were a great help to me.   I made it to my goal and just sat on those rocks and enjoyed the scenery.  You know though what goes up, must come down.  And I did just that – safely.



On my way down I tried to take a photo of John.  He is that speck in the center of the photo.  As I came further down the ‘hill,’ I found a place to stop and get a better picture of ye ‘ole rockhounder.  He did not find any crystals, but he also exceeded his climbing goal.  Much better than finding a crystal. 


Yesterday, we were walking in the area north of where we were camping.  John found a crystal there.  He had planned to return to search for more, but he has been hanging some of my artwork and doing some honey-dos. 



We came home to enjoy a beautiful sunset.  The perfect ending to a perfect day even though we did not see the Big Horn Sheep.  Their birthing season extends from January to June.  I imagine some were resting or caring for their young. 

After the sun dropped behind the mountains we went inside and played a couple of rounds of Sequence. He beat me soundly in both games. I got my revenge the next evening.

Our next adventure?  Our journey into Parker and Lake Havasu City.  Until next time,

God Bless you!