Elgin

As one travels east along Highway 82 from Sonoita, Arizona, he notices the gradual increase in the density of grama grass. After -er the turn south has been made ten miles from Sonoita, the grass becomes even heavier. One northern Arizonan asked, when he saw the grass around Elgin for the first time, "Boy, where did all of that grass come from?"

He had good reason to ask about the grama grass growing there, because during certain seasons of the year it grows belly high to the cattle.

One of the old-timers at the Elgin Community Store tells the story about the time five hundred head of cattle were lost on one of the ranches until the first killing frost; then they were found when they had eaten their way far enough down in the grass until their backs could be seen. Another old-timer said, "Why, in the early days here we used to see something move in the grass, throw a loop; never did know whether the rope would catch a rattlesnake or a steer." Of course, the grama grass isn't quite as tall today as the old-timers say it used to be, but it is very nutritious for the cattle and cures very well while still standing on the range, making an ideal year around feed. The ranchers around around Elgin say they have the richest grazing land in the state of Arizona.

"Where the sun shines and the wind blows" is the slogan painted in large black letters on the building which contains the post office and general store at Elgin. Russell Van Gorder is the operator of the store, which sells everything from band aids to some of the lighter ranching equipment. During the days of the war he had another sign on the front of his store which read, "Controlled by the O.P.A., operated by the Van Gorders." The two signs show the easy Western humor that exists in Elgin.

Located in the southeastern part of the state in Santa Cruz County, Elgin is a ranch community with a grammar school, combination post office and general store and several private homes. Five people live there. The post office handles mail for fifty families and the grammar school has 21 students. Eight children attend school in Patagonia, traveling a minimum of 26 miles to Patagonia. Some students travel 40 miles each way to get to school from their ranch homes. Elgin has a bi-weekly train service from Fairbank, Arizona, although all cattle from the area are shipped from nearby Sonoita. According to Cicero Martin, Sonoita cattle inspector, Sonoita is used because it has pens and scales and Elgin doesn't. The ranching communities of Canelo, Elgin, Sonoita, and Vaughn all overlap and it is rather difficult to make a clear cut division. Mr. Martin stated these communities ship between twelve and fifteen thousand head of cattle from Sonoita each year. Elgin was named after the railroader's model of the Elgin watch when the road was owned by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. The railroad is now owned by the Southern Pacific. As well as being famous as a ranching community, Elgin is noted for the dances which are held at the Community House twice a month on Saturday nights. People come to the dances from as far as one hundred miles away because of the informal friendly hospitality of the little community. The dances are sponsored by the Community Club, which has members in Bisbee, Benson, Douglas, and Tucson as well as the Elgin area. Accommodations for the traveler to the Elgin area are rather limited, with the Hacienda Los Encinos at Sonoita and the Mustang Ranch at Elgin offering housing. Both are working guest ranches and offer the true ranch life to the visitor. The Hacienda Los Encinos is open from the first of November until the first of May. Mustang Ranch stays open all year. It is advisable to make reservations in advance. There are no restaurants in the area, although groceries can be obtained at either the Elgin or Sonoita general store.

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