Comments on: Remembering my Hometown of San Manuel Arizona http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona The DIY source for aspiring entrepreneurs. Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:18:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John Olson http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona/comment-page-10#comment-16196 John Olson Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:18:43 +0000 http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona#comment-16196 Jim, I knew your dad very well since my family moved into San Manuel in January of 55 also. I have very fond memories of your Dad's drive-in. It was the only place for teenagers to hangout in town. Your dad put a coin operated pool table in almost as soon as he opened. It was one that only returned the cue ball if you put a ball into a pocket. The kids got smart and started stuffing tissues or even half eaten hamburgers into the pockets to keep from having to pay for each game. One day I stopped by for a coke and saw that the pool table was covered. I asked Joe what was going on and he said he was tired of the hassle of constantly removing the trash from the pockets so he just put a cover over it. I told him that I would give him a $100 for the table if he wanted to sell it but he declined. I went on home and the phone was ringing as I walked in and it was Joe telling me to come and get the table. To make a long story a little shorter, I still have the table after all of these years. It is presently in my 38 year old daughter's game room and it is still a great table, slate top and all. Oh yeah, when I tore that table down to recover it, I found over $35 in quarters still in the drawer. I bagged them up and took them back to Joe but he wouldn't take them since he said that I bought the table as is. Great memories of a neat drive-in and even nicer owner. I was very fond of Joe Arrington. John Olson Jim, I knew your dad very well since my family moved into San Manuel in January of 55 also. I have very fond memories of your Dad’s drive-in. It was the only place for teenagers to hangout in town. Your dad put a coin operated pool table in almost as soon as he opened. It was one that only returned the cue ball if you put a ball into a pocket. The kids got smart and started stuffing tissues or even half eaten hamburgers into the pockets to keep from having to pay for each game. One day I stopped by for a coke and saw that the pool table was covered. I asked Joe what was going on and he said he was tired of the hassle of constantly removing the trash from the pockets so he just put a cover over it. I told him that I would give him a $100 for the table if he wanted to sell it but he declined. I went on home and the phone was ringing as I walked in and it was Joe telling me to come and get the table. To make a long story a little shorter, I still have the table after all of these years. It is presently in my 38 year old daughter’s game room and it is still a great table, slate top and all. Oh yeah, when I tore that table down to recover it, I found over $35 in quarters still in the drawer. I bagged them up and took them back to Joe but he wouldn’t take them since he said that I bought the table as is.

Great memories of a neat drive-in and even nicer owner. I was very fond of Joe Arrington.

John Olson

]]> By: john http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona/comment-page-10#comment-16177 john Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:46:13 +0000 http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona#comment-16177 grew up in tucson and where we would drive through reddington pass and you would know you made it when you saw the smokestacks of the san manuel mine ,funny how time marches on....... grew up in tucson and where we would drive through reddington pass and you would know you made it when you saw the smokestacks of the san manuel mine ,funny how time marches on…….

]]> By: Thomas Malone http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona/comment-page-10#comment-16150 Thomas Malone Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:21:07 +0000 http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona#comment-16150 I was wondering how the reunion came out? I was unable to attend because of illness. Also copper town days? Thomas Malone tmalone1[at]frontiernet.net I was wondering how the reunion came out? I was unable to attend because of illness. Also copper town days?
Thomas Malone

tmalone1[at]frontiernet.net

]]> By: sergio montes http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona/comment-page-10#comment-16100 sergio montes Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:07:04 +0000 http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona#comment-16100 Absolute fact, another rich moment in Salmon Oil history unraveled. I, like many of you readers, also enjoyed the high level of cuisine at this fine dining establishment. ( Reservations never required) But, I'll bet I have a historic fact that few are aware of. In 1972, Weldons was robbed by some dim-witted burglars that ransacked the "Joint" and made off with a bag of coins and many boxes of candy bars. Albeit, this crime was never solved, rumor ran amok of teens with stomach aches, and young girls flashing new jewelry from the Pratts fine drug emporium. I have it on good source that Coach Donaldson was hot on the trail of said culprits, but the forensic technology of the day could not help close the case. BTW, I hope you fellow readers get on board with the fund to erect a bronze efigy of the Zauzueta sisters in Mels parking lot. They are the true artisans that made Mels famous, Mexican labor exploited once again. Ernestina, if you ever want to open a chain of burger joints, please call me. PS Make sure you have a good alarm system!!!! Absolute fact, another rich moment in Salmon Oil history unraveled. I, like many of you readers, also enjoyed the high level of cuisine at this fine dining establishment. ( Reservations never required) But, I’ll bet I have a historic fact that few are aware of. In 1972, Weldons was robbed by some dim-witted burglars that ransacked the “Joint” and made off with a bag of coins and many boxes of candy bars.
Albeit, this crime was never solved, rumor ran amok of teens with stomach aches, and young girls flashing new jewelry from the Pratts fine drug emporium. I have it on good source that Coach Donaldson was hot on the trail of said culprits, but the forensic technology of the day could not help close the case. BTW, I hope you fellow readers get on board with the fund to erect a bronze efigy of the Zauzueta sisters in Mels parking lot. They are the true artisans that made Mels famous, Mexican labor exploited once again. Ernestina, if you ever want to open a chain of burger joints, please call me. PS Make sure you have a good alarm system!!!!

]]> By: Jim Arrington http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona/comment-page-10#comment-16012 Jim Arrington Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:24:41 +0000 http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona#comment-16012 My Dad was one of the first employees of Magma Copper Company. (Joseph Weldon Arrington) He hired on in 1955. Dad open the first and ONLY hamburger joint in San Manuels History. It was called WELDON'S DRIV-IN. We opened the doors on April 8th 1966. It is still in operation today, over 40 years later, under the name Mel's ... It is the only original store in existance. Every store or gas station has been closed , torn down, or turned into a different type of business. But not WELDON'S.... ( across from the High School.) Weldons was known for its Hamburgers,with a secret sauce that is still unknown but to a handlful including myself. Weldon (joe) invented the sauce. Jim Arrington My Dad was one of the first employees of Magma Copper Company. (Joseph Weldon Arrington) He hired on in 1955. Dad open the first and ONLY hamburger joint in San Manuels History. It was called WELDON’S DRIV-IN. We opened the doors on April 8th 1966. It is still in operation today, over 40 years later, under the name Mel’s … It is the only original store in existance. Every store or gas station has been closed , torn down, or turned into a different type of business. But not WELDON’S…. ( across from the High School.) Weldons was known for its Hamburgers,with a secret sauce that is still unknown but to a handlful including myself. Weldon (joe) invented the sauce.
Jim Arrington

]]> By: John Olson http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona/comment-page-10#comment-15773 John Olson Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:33:39 +0000 http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona#comment-15773 I was just browsing through this neat site again and noticed that I had made a mistake with my E-Mail address. Shirley and I would love to hear from any of our old friends from San Manuel. We now live in Tempe (been here since 1973) and retired a couple of years ago. We can be reached at johnolson87[at]yahoo.com or give us a call at 480-838-8351. John and Shirley Olson class of 1963 I was just browsing through this neat site again and noticed that I had made a mistake with my E-Mail address. Shirley and I would love to hear from any of our old friends from San Manuel. We now live in Tempe (been here since 1973) and retired a couple of years ago.
We can be reached at johnolson87[at]yahoo.com or give us a call at 480-838-8351.

John and Shirley Olson
class of 1963

]]> By: Tom Peyatt http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona/comment-page-10#comment-15403 Tom Peyatt Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:07:15 +0000 http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona#comment-15403 Donna and I had been hearing for years how San Manuel had died off and was becoming a ghost town. The houses were in bad shape, the parks were being let go and the shopping centers were empty. We decided to visit it one last time in September. What a shock it was. The town was far from dying. Most of the houses looked great. The new pool was set up for a swim meet. While there were some empty stores, most seemed to be in business. We saw a few empty houses on McNabb, but almost none on other streets. We were sad to see that our 1st house at 305 Ave A had burned down and had not been rebuilt. Our second house at 319 Ave A looked good. We came to Maryland in 1989, right after I was layed off. I came out to help reopen the old Kenncott refinery in Baltimore and have lived in the area ever since. We have recently bought another place in Liverpool, Pa. I think we just missed small town living too much. Tom Peyatt Class of 1977 Donna and I had been hearing for years how San Manuel had died off and was becoming a ghost town. The houses were in bad shape, the parks were being let go and the shopping centers were empty. We decided to visit it one last time in September. What a shock it was. The town was far from dying. Most of the houses looked great. The new pool was set up for a swim meet. While there were some empty stores, most seemed to be in business. We saw a few empty houses on McNabb, but almost none on other streets. We were sad to see that our 1st house at 305 Ave A had burned down and had not been rebuilt. Our second house at 319 Ave A looked good.

We came to Maryland in 1989, right after I was layed off. I came out to help reopen the old Kenncott refinery in Baltimore and have lived in the area ever since. We have recently bought another place in Liverpool, Pa. I think we just missed small town living too much.

Tom Peyatt
Class of 1977

]]> By: Cathy Caraway-Fiihr http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona/comment-page-10#comment-15360 Cathy Caraway-Fiihr Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:13:01 +0000 http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona#comment-15360 We moved to San Manuel in January 1956. I went from first grade through high school (1968), as did my four siblings. What a great place to grow up. Everyone knew you, you could walk to town, walk to school, go to little league games in the summer, swimming at the community pool, play hide and seek but remember to come home when the street lights came on, cruise town, go to the drive-in movie, burgers at Mels! There aren't many places like that anymore to grow up, and that's really sad. We were family. We survived without 200 cable channels, without cell phones and computers, without helmets. It was just as childhood should be; safe, fun, best friends, and memories to last a life time. I only wish more kids could have the childhood I did in San Manuel. We moved to San Manuel in January 1956. I went from first grade through high school (1968), as did my four siblings. What a great place to grow up. Everyone knew you, you could walk to town, walk to school, go to little league games in the summer, swimming at the community pool, play hide and seek but remember to come home when the street lights came on, cruise town, go to the drive-in movie, burgers at Mels! There aren’t many places like that anymore to grow up, and that’s really sad. We were family. We survived without 200 cable channels, without cell phones and computers, without helmets. It was just as childhood should be; safe, fun, best friends, and memories to last a life time. I only wish more kids could have the childhood I did in San Manuel.

]]> By: Tina http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona/comment-page-10#comment-15284 Tina Sun, 18 Sep 2011 01:04:17 +0000 http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona#comment-15284 Web Surfing today. I went from Perkins Canyon volcanic dome, rhyodacite, Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona and then down the rabbit hole to San Manuel, Arizona where I grew up. Google earth is amazing. I was able to find my old school (Ave. B) and follow the streets I used to travel home. I found my old house. (Why was there so much garbage across the street? Why was the view of the mountains not what I remembered?) Well, a few more excursions to sell where old friends houses used to be, the dime store, pool, etc. All the while I kept wondering what happened to this place? I wanted to show my kids the town but I had to figure out what happened? Your blog post has answered that question. Those smoke stacks were the landmark that defined the town. They were what I would see each time I walked out my front door. They were what was missing from my "remembered view". They say smells create some of our strongest memories too. The smell of sulfur and the image of those smokestacks will always be San Manuel for me. It was unexpectedly sad for me to watch the video of them toppling. I left San Manuel as a teenager and never looked back (or so I thought). That was over 30 years ago. It was also happy to see Frank Valenzuela in the video. What a wonderful man with an awesome rock and mineral collection. (and family too!) Funny how things work out. I was looking for information about a rock and I ended here watching a video that included the first person I ever knew with a rock collection. I also think I see my sister's alias in one of the comments above. It really is a small world. I like that. Thank you for putting San Manuel in your blog. Web Surfing today. I went from Perkins Canyon volcanic dome, rhyodacite, Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona and then down the rabbit hole to San Manuel, Arizona where I grew up.

Google earth is amazing. I was able to find my old school (Ave. B) and follow the streets I used to travel home. I found my old house. (Why was there so much garbage across the street? Why was the view of the mountains not what I remembered?) Well, a few more excursions to sell where old friends houses used to be, the dime store, pool, etc. All the while I kept wondering what happened to this place? I wanted to show my kids the town but I had to figure out what happened?

Your blog post has answered that question. Those smoke stacks were the landmark that defined the town. They were what I would see each time I walked out my front door. They were what was missing from my “remembered view”. They say smells create some of our strongest memories too. The smell of sulfur and the image of those smokestacks will always be San Manuel for me. It was unexpectedly sad for me to watch the video of them toppling. I left San Manuel as a teenager and never looked back (or so I thought). That was over 30 years ago.

It was also happy to see Frank Valenzuela in the video. What a wonderful man with an awesome rock and mineral collection. (and family too!) Funny how things work out. I was looking for information about a rock and I ended here watching a video that included the first person I ever knew with a rock collection.

I also think I see my sister’s alias in one of the comments above.

It really is a small world. I like that.

Thank you for putting San Manuel in your blog.

]]> By: T. Craig http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona/comment-page-10#comment-15154 T. Craig Mon, 29 Aug 2011 03:13:11 +0000 http://theclosetentrepreneur.com/remembering-my-hometown-of-san-manuel-arizona#comment-15154 This is amazing to see the love and the wonderful memories most of you all share. I was not raised in San Manuel, in fact up until a couple of years ago did I live here. I was however aware of it and visited SM as a young adult with my ex husband. He worked for Magma for many years. I am a resident now because I married Larry Craig, who was born and raised here. This is truly his home in every respect of what home should be. I love to hear the fond memories he and his family share along with going around town to show me where things use to be. But at the same time it saddens me greatly to see such a wonderful place turn out to be such a eyesore now. Businesses closed, buildings all boarded up, and no sense of belonging in any sense. I am going to make this my home for many years to come and will stay anywhere just to be with my husband. I will, but not without trying to do something to make a difference. I am a ordinary person, working to make a living but have a deep passion to do whatever it takes to make this town home again to those who stayed and those who have come to make this town their home. My first passion is to find out how we can make a beautiful playground for the children that live here...they deserve that as every child does. I believe BHP owns whats left of the play areas and has not maintained them what so ever.This upsets me because many great people worked their whole life for them. In doing so many generations have stayed here as they always felt this was home. But its just not fair that the company could not have took care of the people here as the people did all that they could to take care of the company. If anyone knows who I should contact and they would like to help me or has any suggestions for me please contact me. tcraig2010@live.com This is amazing to see the love and the wonderful memories most of you all share. I was not raised in San Manuel, in fact up until a couple of years ago did I live here. I was however aware of it and visited SM as a young adult with my ex husband. He worked for Magma for many years. I am a resident now because I married Larry Craig, who was born and raised here. This is truly his home in every respect of what home should be. I love to hear the fond memories he and his family share along with going around town to show me where things use to be. But at the same time it saddens me greatly to see such a wonderful place turn out to be such a eyesore now. Businesses closed, buildings all boarded up, and no sense of belonging in any sense. I am going to make this my home for many years to come and will stay anywhere just to be with my husband. I will, but not without trying to do something to make a difference. I am a ordinary person, working to make a living but have a deep passion to do whatever it takes to make this town home again to those who stayed and those who have come to make this town their home. My first passion is to find out how we can make a beautiful playground for the children that live here…they deserve that as every child does. I believe BHP owns whats left of the play areas and has not maintained them what so ever.This upsets me because many great people worked their whole life for them. In doing so many generations have stayed here as they always felt this was home. But its just not fair that the company could not have took care of the people here as the people did all that they could to take care of the company. If anyone knows who I should contact and they would like to help me or has any suggestions for me please contact me. tcraig2010@live.com

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