Trejo's Walking Tours

From this date 127 years ago
August 7, 1897:
Charley “Banjo Dick” Williams
This ad ran for Banjo Dick’s minstrel show in Tucson…2 days after the performance was held. They ran this ad for several days even though the performance had already taken place. No idea why.
Banjo Dick was born into Kentucky slavery in 1849. He joined up with the Union and fought as early as 13 years old and his body bore the scars he’d received in battle for the rest of his life.
He arrived in Tucson in 1872 when there were less than 50 black residents.
He arrived from California with the L.A. Smith family for whom he was working as a “handyman” (i.e. paid servant), and quickly became known around town for his musical ability with several instruments but most frequently with the banjo.
Banjo Dick became a fixture at Tucson’s Levin’s Park, playing his music regularly. He would also play at local social events as well as greet new arrivals off the train with welcome music. In the evenings he would frequently sing and perform in front of his house on Convent Street, attracting groups of children and adults. He was so well loved that he even held paid performances at Reid’s Opera House (later the Park View Hotel) after he left Tucson.
In 1892, Banjo Dick moved to Nogales and enjoyed the same local affection that he’d had in Tucson, perhaps even more so.
There, he opened a bootblack business (shoeshine stand) and worked for years as a city park attendant. He even ran for Sheriff of Santa Cruz County in 1906!
He also traveled frequently to Mexico where he was asked to be the padrino in an Hermosillo couple’s wedding.
The Nogales newspaper would sometimes ask for his opinion on political matters and once he even punched a man who was exposing himself to a woman on East Street in Nogales.
He never stopped performing and writing songs and was beloved by the children and adults of Nogales and Tucson.
Charley “Banjo Dick” Williams passed on May 20, 1920.

From August 6, 1895. 129 years ago today:
The death of Peter “Pete” Kitchen
Pete Kitchen, originally from Kentucky, was a well known and well-respected farmer, beef and pork supplier (his hams were famous throughout the southwest), and teamster in southern Arizona and northern Sonora. Described by other territorial Anglo pioneers as the “Daniel Boone of Arizona”, Pete Kitchen’s exploits made him famous and the stories of his life rival any movie you can find.
He was in Tucson in March of 1856 and was one of the Americans who, as the Mexican Garrison departed Tucson’s Presidio for the final time, raised the American flag in spite of an agreement that they were not to do so until the departing troops were out of sight. When the Mexican Captain (Garcia) protested, the Americans pulled their weapons on him and Garcia chose not to pursue the issue.
Kitchen also had a reputation for fighting fearlessly against the Apache and he established a ranch near Nogales that was fortified with a parapet, loopholes, and a platform. He scheduled a guard 24 hours a day to keep a watch out for attacks. There are countless stories of battles he fought against both Apache raiders and Mexican bandits.
He died essentially broke, in Tucson, on August 5, 1895 after spending his final years gambling and drinking in Tucson saloons.

https://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/death-after-dark-explore-tucsons-eerie-history-on-tour/Content?oid=35939427

Death After Dark: Famed lawman and gambler of the Old West Wyatt Earp didn’t just draw his firearm in Tombstone. He had a killing event at the train station near what is now Maynards Restaurant here in Tucson. It’s just that no one noticed because there was an even bigger event going on Downtown. : “(Wyatt Earp...

A wet week brings above average rainfall totals for Southern Arizona Tucson has accumulated almost four inches of rain since the season began.

More on George Hand, this month’s Tucson History Social topic:

When he got to Tucson, George Hand began keeping seperate entries of deaths in the back of his Tucson diary. Here are some from Julys over the years:

July 9, 1874. Refugio Rivera cut the jugular vein of Refugia Martez. This was a cold blooded murder. He was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death, but he escaped before the day was set. He is living in Magdalena, Mex.
July 24, 1874 Moore and Hall were arrested for murdering two innocent Mexicans on account of seeing them with plenty of money after making a sale of stock. This was a deliberate murder.

July 2, 1878. A man named James Carroll called for a drink at H. H. Holt's bar. He put poison in it and drank it. He died in a short time in terrible agony.
July 9. J. Farrell (alias Finnegan) died on the road today from heat and over exertion. He was brought to town by Whipple and buried here.
July 11. Mr, Ledyard killed himself.
July 28. Thomas Bannon died today in a fit.

July 11, 1879. William Quinn, a stranger, went into Mr. Etchells' blacksmith shop to get out of the rain and was struck by lightning, killing him instantly.
July 19. Mrs. Jones, a sister of Buckalew, died at 3 p.m.
July 30. Henry and Mat Shoenbeck (brothers) were killed by Indians in the Santa Ritas.

July 7, 1881. A 5-year-old boy was bitten by a snake and died at Smith's ranch.
July 8. Harper was hung by the law a few moments before 3 p.m., Sheriff Paul officiating. He died without a struggle.
July 9. John L. Harris died this morning. Cause--stopped drinking liquor.
July 20. A man was found on the railroad track. A coroner's jury was summoned and they found both of his legs cut off and both arms cut off. His back was broken and the bone was sticking out. His liver and heart were torn out and lying beside the body. The jury said he was dead. No one knew him.
He is supposed to have been stealing a ride.
July 23. A woman had a leg cut off and died this morning.

July 5, 1885. Ephriam Warner, aged 66, brother of Solomon, died today of congestion of the brain.
July 11. Wong Joy Gin, a Chinaman sentenced to 90 days in jail, died in the hospital.
July 13. Lee Platt, an old soldier, died in the hospital.
July 23. Received the news of the death of General Grant. Flags are displayed at half mast.

Diary entries taken from “Whiskey, Six Guns and Red Light Ladies: George Hand’s Saloon Diary, Tucson, 1875-1878” - Edited by Neil Carmony
(Photos are AI generated and conceptual)

If you haven’t read “Whiskey, Six Guns and Red Light Ladies” and you are at all interested in history, especially Tucson’s, then you should pick the book up.
George Hand was a former Union soldier and a member of the California Column that retook Tucson from the Confederates in 1862. Originally from New York, he wound up in Tucson and co-owned a bar with a guy by the name of George Foster. He also worked there.
Hand kept a diary and the book is his diary entries from 1875 -1878. It is an amazing first-person account of what life was like at the time. It is however, definitely not a PC book, as racial slurs, prostitution, and violence are in abundance. It’s a great read and an easy one too.

Here is Hand’s entry for this day in 1875:

“Pleasant day. The street is full of carts from Sonora loaded with flour. Stage arrived, no letters for me. It rained some this evening. Leopoldo Carrillo was dealing monte in the house all night. I closed up at 11 o’clock.” July 10, 1875

Summer Savings! through September 1st all walking tours are 50% off!
Use promo code"SUMMER50" at checkout!
The new "Death After Dark" walking tour begins at 8pm and covers the sites and stories behind some of the most gruesome deaths in Tucson's history. Click on the link below for more info.
the Santa Cruz River History Tour, the Tucson History tour and the Barrio Viejo Tours are also all still available. All tours have also been adjusted to early morning or evening hours to help avoid the heat.
I hope to see you on another tour soon!
Click the link below to book or find out more:
https://wix.to/idEqG9o

Summer Savings! For all tours taking place through September 1st.
PROMO CODE - "SUMMER50"
The new Death After Dark Tour is now bookable!
This new tour, starting at 8pm covers the sites and stories behind some of the most interesting and tragic deaths in Tucson's history.
The Barrio Viejo Tour, The Santa Cruz River History Tour and The Tucson History Tour are also all still available in the early morning or evening.
The Summer Savings is good through September 1st, just apply the promo code at checkout!
Click the link below to book or find out more:

History Tours | Trejo's Tucson Walking Tours | Tucson Trejo's Walking Tours. The Real History of Tucson. Local History Walking Tours led by a 7th generation Tucsonan.

Borderlandia’s Alex, Rocio, and I got a nice mention at the end of the article about presidios in New Spain. Good stuff.

Just a few of the beautiful pieces you can see at The Tucson Museum of Art. Celebrating 100 years in Tucson this year!

Yesterday’s Tucson History Social was the first one held at the Tucson Museum of Art as a part of the First Thursday event that they host. Thank you to Los Descendientes de Tucson and TMA for helping me keep the monthly socials going!
Last nights talk was on the importance and legacy of the Apache (Nde) in Tucson’s history. I’ll post an update on the next talk soon.

Thanks to Laura Marshall from Hacienda Del Sol for putting together this video of our Barrio Viejo Tour Yesterday!
www.trejostucson.com

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I was fortunate to be included in this piece on Tucson by VisitArizona. The little preview photo for the YouTube link below is the Trejos circa 1905.
Don Pedro Trejo (my great great grandfather) is sitting in the chair and his daughters from left to right, Adela,Antonia, Ramona, Mauro (my great grandfather), and Lamberto.
Pretty cool stuff.

Arizona Reveled - Episode 2: Tucson How deep do a city’s roots go? What happens when cultures blend to create the identity of a place? The video series “Arizona Revealed” delves into these ques...

Santa Cruz named one of nation's 10 most endangered rivers - AZ Luminaria American Rivers has declared the Santa Cruz, which runs through Southern Arizona and Tucson one of the most endangered rivers in the United States.

Join us this Saturday for a barrio clean up in Barrio Anita. Con Barrio Restoration and . You already know the vibes. Pull up up to the clean up and enjoy some bomb food while we bust a move to some Cumbias and do some good in the hood.