A black and white postcard that is a portion of a panorama of Courtland, Arizona, circa 1908. The front caption written in red ink at the top reads: “Leads to lower townsite out to the Sulphur Springs Valley.” Written on the back in red ink: “Went there in June 1909 lived there until April 1910. In June the 2 railroads were fighting to get to the camp first. Several Mexicans workers were killed. Great Western people carried water from a well until august when water was piped down from the mine at center town. Bathroom only. Cold water tub. (No inside plumbing).” The back caption reads: “COURTLAND Most promising copper camp in Arizona, the land of sunshine and possibilities. Courtland, the gem of the dragoons in the Turquoise Mining District, near the center of Cochise, the richest county in Arizona, was born Feb. 24, 1909. Elevation five thousand feet. Four large mining companies, Copper Queen, Calumet & Arizona, Great Western and Leadville, have ten working shifts all in ore. The new camp has railway connections over the Southern Pacific and El Paso& Southwestern systems. It overlooks the beautiful Sulphur Springs valley with its millions of fertile acres. It is a mile from mines of Gleeson, a producer of a quarter of a century. The ore of the district is the same character as that of Bisbee, the greatest copper camp in the southwest. The coming city has good hotels, two newspapers, water works, telephones and telegraph, graded streets, and the finest climate on the globe. Courtland as a future mineral producer and the commercial center of Arizona's greatest valley is a proven quality. She sits on her many hills awaiting her wedding to undying fame as a perfect city, a rich one, and the foundation of many an honest fortune. The postcard was unused and was published by the West Coast Art Company, Los Angeles, California. Bob Jeffrey Collection.

Courtland, Arizona was once a copper mining town on the southern end of the Dragoon Mountains. It was named after one of the founders of the Great Western Mining Company, Courtland Young. The postoffice began service on March 13th. Amoung the businesses that operated there included Wells Fargo, the Southern Arizona Auto Company, a cinema, and a newspaper- the Courtland Arizonan. Two rail lines were built, one heading north while the other was going south to Douglas. The active mines included the Maid of Sunshine, April Fool, Germania, May, and Silverton Mines. At the town’s peak, 2,000 residents called Courtland home. As the mining prospects dwindled so did its population. The Courtland family lost their fortune trying in vain to find other ore bodies. The Courtland post office shut down on September 30th, 1942 and it remains a ghost town to this day.

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