The sign said OPEN RANGE. They weren't kidding.
There's an old cabin at about 6,000' elevation on Magee Ranch Road, west of Green Valley on a patent mine claim, land that's been in the Magee family for five generations. The only access to the road is on foot, unless you have a key to the gate. I don't.
I hiked in today because I've never written a real estate post about land that's been in the same family for five generations, and I knew you would enjoy reading about it.
The cemetery on the right hand side of the dirt road is the first thing you see. I unlatched the gate and spent half an hour reading the gravestones. (Epitaphs on gravestones are one of my favorite things.)
This particular gravestone is etched with the drawing of a cabin, and in front to the right is a circular structure with a vertical bar in the center. I knew what that was; I'd seen it up the mountain on a previous hike.
Latching the gate behind me, I continued up the road. The cemetery is at elevation 5,000. My destination, three miles or so in front of me, lay 1,000 feet higher.
I startled the bull every bit as much as he startled me. He had been taking a nap in a patch of Mexican Blue Oaks and juniper. Up came the camera. Thank goodness for autofocus. And as I clicked the shutter, it occured to me that this young bull hadn't had the pleasure of making my acquaintance.
I work cattle every April in Caddo, Oklahoma--this year will be my 14th year working the same herd. I'm comfortable around cattle. Usually.
When the head starts to come down, and the tail goes up, it's time to skedaddle. We weren't 20 feet apart. I fixed that real quick.
I found the cabin an hour later. This part of Magee Ranch is a patent mining claim established in the 1800s.
Do you know what that circular thing on the right (and on the tombstone) happens to be?
I'll tell you tomorrow.
___________________________________________________________
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Mike,
I'll just have to wait until tomorrow, but it looks like a failed water tank and well head.
As a farm kid from Michigan I'm use to more civilizedcattle! Except for bulls and the cow de jour we could handle even the worst of them.
Bill
Very interesting post and I like the name, thanks for sharing!
What the heck are you doing in Caddo, Oklahoma, Mike (besides working cattle)?!?! I'm gonna guess it's a stone wagon wheel. LOL
Hey Mike - Great photos. And skedaddling was a good idea. You ahve such a variety of interests. Never knew you were a cowboy! Looking forward to finding out what that thing is in the photo. It looks a little like a paddock, but why would a miner need one?
Its a watering tank of some sorts? I know its common in your area to have a place for the animals to find water. Cool place!
What is that dang thing? I was thinking it was some type of grist mill but I don't see a stone. So, I'm going to go with the mining theme and figure it's some type of mining wash.
I can't wait to find out.
GOOD MORNING MIKE! I've been in suspense since last night! The bull looks kinda cute! -- Gabrielle
Mike,
Another good localism post with some very nice photos. I will be waiting until tomorrow to find out what the circular thing is. Glad you put some distance between you and the youngster. ;-)
Don,
Me, too! LOL
Gabrielle,
Good morning! YOU come dance with him...
Lenn,
You're the closest to what it is when you talk about a mill.
Laura,
Nope!
Marlene,
Whoopee ti yi yo!
Randy,
There's nothing to do in Caddo except work cattle. That's not exactly true... They have a post office and a little theatre, but no traffic light. It's not a wheel.
Robert,
Good to see you!
Bill,
Another cowboy! Nope. Not a failed anything.
And off I go to church.
Mike in Tucson
Here's a hint: How do they get the gold out of the ore?
Mike, Ooh thank you. No, I have never visited the McGee Ranch. Google Maps says its only a 34 minute drive from my little GV homestead. Maybe I can check it out one of these days.
Mike,
Love the story so far - done in kind of a western serial format. How appropriate. :)
Steve
Hmmmmm. I was always taught that if there was a lock on the gate, and I didn't have a key, I was to keep out.
Mike - I have no clue as to what the round fixture is. I'm interested in learning more.
Now ... as for that bull. He looks like a youngster and quite possibly has not figured out his role in the balance of nature. When you are in Caddo do you pen, cut or herd? I always preferred cutting and herding. Penning got pretty monotonous.
Do you have your own horse or do you ride a local horse? I'd love to see some pictures from your cattle ranching work. I'm sure they will make me yearn for my old farm, but I'm prepared... LOL
Oooo I love a mystery. Can't wait to find out what the circular thing is. I like reading gravestones too. Not sure why.
I don't know what the dang thing is but it looks like some type of mill or husker.
My guess is that it has something to do with water storage, but that's probably wrong.
Mike, I just asked a question on my blog about some mortgage brokers organization. Maybe you can answer it: Click here.
A little Saturday night adventure for you and the bull.
Sunday Evening, 6 p.m.
Okay, boys and girls! It's time to fill you in. High grade ore, mined elsewhere on the ranch in various locations, had to be crushed to get the gold and copper. Until the owners were able to buy and install a stamp mill, the primitive (but effective) way to crush the ore was this circular mill, one form or another of which has been around since the fifth century. Power was supplied by a donkey walking around in circles. Click here to see an image of such a mill at the Cave Creek Museum.
Cool story Mike, but be careful - we don't want to loose you. Happy Day, Sis-in-law
Mike,
Thank you for the history lesson about the circular mill.
O.K. Where's my head. I could clearly see it would be powered by some strong Roman muscle types. Or, of course, a beast of burden, donkey, oxon.
I could also see that it would work to crush, husk, grind, etc. something.
Where I went wrong was to focus on food (grist mill, husker) and not on ore. Since I haven't eaten since last July, I think about food all the time.
Very interesting story Mike. And you are so right about head down, tail up better get the heck out of his way. My granddaddy had a beef cattle farm when I was growing up... now I just see beef at the super market.
Looking at that circular mill, it makes me wonder, then, why didn't they build it a few feet further out from the hillside?
Does the beast walk around on the ~inside~ of the circle or on the ~outside~?
If it is the outside, the poor beast must climb uphill each time he walks on that side of the circle.
Or maybe the hillside has slid down since the last time the mill was used. :-)
CJ,
It's the last thing you thought about. The hillside has encroached over the past half century or more.
Tammy,
You could fix that by taking a day trip somewhere...
Lenn,
That last comment makes me wonder... I'll email you.
Don,
You're welcome!
Kathie,
Me neither! LOL
Mike in Tucson
You sure go out of your way for a blog topic! Nice post. Great pics.... but the bulls the wrong color for around here.
Well, as Tex Earnhardt would say, "And that ain't no bull!"
What a cool place! I love Cheryl's map. I'm kind of surprised google had it in there.
Doreen,
I'm not surprised! Thanks for commenting; I just went to your blog, but I've already commented on your last post. Time to write another.
Judi,
There's a herd of white Charolais just north of Durant. I'll see them when I drive through this Saturday. How far are you and Don from Caddo, OK?
Mike in Tucson
Mike - that is a cool place, and thank for sharing. I would have been startled by the "bull" as well. I once got too close to a buffalo in Catalina, and that was enough for me. (too bad I didn't have my camera - but I was moving pretty fast!!!).