GLEESON(TURQUOISE)

NAME: Gleeson
COUNTY: Cochise
ROADS: 2WD
LEGAL INFO: T19S, R25E
CLIMATE: Mild winter, Hot summer
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Winter,fall,spring
COMMENTS: Current residents.Video available, see below.
REMAINS: Many buildings including the school, jail, and probably the hotel.

The post office hear opened in 1890 under the name Turquoise and closed in 1894. Gleeson's post office was established October 15, 1900 and discontinued march 31, 1939. Originally named Turquoise and located a few miles away, Gleeson was a town of about 500 people mining copper. In 1912 a fire burned down 28 buildings but the town was rebuilt. As the mines played out in 1940, Gleeson became the semi-ghost it is today with a few residents still living there.

Gleeson (Turquoise) and the hills on the Southside of Dragoon Mountains vas used for the mining in many years from Indians who mining decorative turquoise. When the white man came to the area, they found cobber, lead and silver, but they kept the name of the camp - Turquoise. The town become post office in 1890, but the mines closed and the town was abandoned after Jimmie Pearce found the gold by Commonwe-alth lot in 1894. In 1900 one Irish mine-worker from Pearce by name John Gleeson searched the Turquoise area and registered the lot by the name Copper Belle mine. Another mines by the name Silver Belle, Bro-ther Jonathan, Pejon and Defiance followed after Cop-per Belle. The town were moved from the hills to the flatland and come closer to the water resources, and Turquo-ise who loosed post office in 1894 opened again as Gle-eson. John Gle-eson sold his lots in 1914, but progress continued and cobber production flourished during 1.WW. After the war, prices dropped down, production was reduced and the mines closed. Post office closed for the last time on marts 31, 1939. Gleeson was town with about 500 people who worked by digging cobber out of mines. In 1912 a fire destroyed 28 houses, but the town was build up again. When the mines were empty in 1940, Gleeson became ghost town. To day are a couple of people who lives here. Gleeson is a good place to examine. North of the towns main street is a long ruins of the hospital, and there are evidence of the mining in the hills behind the hospital. Down the road from the hospital was saloon/store that opened and closed a couple of times during the years and the saloon is closed now. Across the store are jail ruins (same as jail in Courtland) and foundation of the school. The road that leads north from the store will bring you nearby ruins of Musso House who are blocked with No Trespassing sign. The Gleeson cemetery is west of the town on the main road to Tombstone.-Bobby Zlatevski


Gleeson (arches are no longer there)
Courtesy Tom McCurnin


Gleeson
Courtesy Dolores Steele


Gleeson Cemetery
Courtesy Dolores Steele


Gleeson
Courtesy Dolores Steele


Gleeson
Courtesy Theresa and Cian Corcoran


Gleeson
Courtesy Theresa and Cian Corcoran


Gleeson
Courtesy Theresa and Cian Corcoran


Gleeson
Courtesy Theresa and Cian Corcoran


Gleeson
Courtesy Bobby Krause Zlatevski


Gleeson
Courtesy Bobby Krause Zlatevski


Gleeson
Courtesy Bobby Krause Zlatevski

 


VIDEO AVAILABLE


Gleeson Hospital
Courtesy Arizona Historical Society


Gleeson
Courtesy Kurt Wenner


Gleeson
Courtesy Kurt Wenner


Gleeson
Courtesy Kurt Wenner


Gleeson
Courtesy Kurt Wenner


Gleeson Jail
Courtesy Tom McCurnin


Gleeson Saloon
Courtesy Dolores Steele


Gleeson Hospital
Courtesy Dolores Steele


Gleeson Jail
Courtesy Dolores Steele


Gleeson School
Courtesy Dolores Steele


Gleeson Saloon
Courtesy Bobby Krause Zlatevski


Gleeson
Courtesy Bobby Krause Zlatevski


Gleeson - Musso House
Courtesy Tom McCurnin


Gleeson - Saloon
Courtesy Tom McCurnin


Gleeson Jail after sunset
Courtesy Tom McCurnin

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