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: “Our part of town was about one mile from center town called great western townsite” Center of town circled and pointed out with an arrow. Written on the back in red ink: “The railroad station (two story frame building) was at the opening of the canyon. There were 2 hotels, a general store & about 25 houses. It was called Great Western Townsite, the main camp was about 2 mile up the canyon. Center town about a mile beyond was Mc Fate town, near the mines. In center of town a one room building was the schoolhouse, used for church on Sunday. Across the road was very small rock building, the jail.” The back has tape residue from when the panorama had been taped together for a complete image. 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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