Bisbee, Arizona

This is the very first post on the Bisbee lens, so I'll try to be succinct. Not many people know just how many artists, musicians and writers live and work in the little mining town of Bisbee, Arizona, but I aim to correct that.

Bisbee gets tons of winter visitors each year and most of them seem to arrive here from really cold places. Places like (arrgh!) Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois. Can't say as I blame them. Those are some of the coldest places I've ever been and will never return to.

Don't get me wrong. Four seasons works real well for some folks and I'm happy for them. As for the people who visit us, they are, for the most part, just like folks from anywhere else. Treat 'em nice and they reciprocate. Gee, imagine that!

Folks that live hear have the distinct pleasure of enjoying less than 2 cold months (below 35 degrees F) and the rest of the time it is mild, with warm days and cool nights. The summers are never as unbearable as they are in, say, Phoenix. Just about right, I'd say.

In my next post, I'll introduce you to some of Bisbee's characters. They are a hoot and keep things lively 'round here.

Folks Around Bisbee

Of all the interesting people I've met in Bisbee, the most interesting of all is a local author, Henrietta Stockle.

I've known Henrietta for a couple of years now, but it wasn't until last year that I discovered what a prolific author she is.

Her books (over 15 in all!) primarily is an honest anthology of the Apache Indians in this part of Arizona, and cover both the good and bad history of those folks. (You can find a lot of her books at Bookstores.com.

In addition to her writing, she is an active member of the Universal Unitarian Church of Southeastern Arizona, which is where I first met her.

Tomorrow I'm going to introduce you to one of our most colorful characters and take a visit to some of the more historical places in Old Bisbee (actually, they are all historical!).

While looking for material to use concerning Bisbee, I had asked the City Council where I might find some stock photos or historical material. To my surprise, the sent a short email saying to just go look on the Bisbee website and I could find some material to use. Huh?

At any rate, I did find a few things that I found interesting.

One artist is of particular interest: Jesse T. Hummingbird is 3/4 Cherokee and a tribal member is a traditional artist who, in 2000, was commissioned by the new Indian Motorcycle Company, to paint one of his characters on their motorcycles. Who'd a thunk it?">