What’s in a street name?
Did you know that the Desert Ridge Major Collector and Residential Street Names have a storied and historic significance that runs as deep through the chronicled past of Arizona’s early explorers, pioneers, settlers, founders, citizens and legends. The next time you travel the streets of Desert Ridge keep in mind the namesakes chosen to honor individuals from Arizona’s rich history, and to remind us of their
contributions to the state we love today…and the community we now call home.
MAJOR COLLECTOR STREET NAMES
Cashman Drive Nellie Cashman (1850−1925), Worked as a prospector in Arizona. During the Arizona silver strikes, she operated restaurants in Tucson and Tombstone; “Delmonico’s” in Tucson and “Russ House” in Tombstone. Had great compassion for the poor and never let anyone leave her restaurant hungry, whether or not they had money. Nicknamed “Angel of the Sourdoughs” by miners.
Ranger Road Burt Mossman (1867−1956), First Captain of the Arizona Rangers.
Pathfinder Drive John Charles Fremont (1813−1890), U.S. Senator from California, 1850−1851. First Republican Party nominee for president in 1856. Territorial Governor of Arizona from 1878–1882. Member of the U.S. Topographers Corps, who went on many mapping expeditions in the West. Married Jessie Benton, daughter of Senator Thomas Hart Benton. Fremont was known as “The Pathfinder.”
Trailblazer Drive Trailblazer (1540–1880), Named for the pioneers in Arizona’s past, present and future.
RESIDENTIAL STREET NAMES
Estevan Estevan (1539), First Black Spanish slave explorer to cross into Arizona territory in 1539. Estevan was the first
non-Indian to penetrate the southwest territory.
Gatewood Road Lt. Charles Gatewood (1853–1896), A real hero in the story of the surrender of Geronimo. He negotiated alone with
Geronimo which led to his surrender. Spent a large part of his military career stationed at Fort Apache in Arizona.
Hamblin Drive Jacob Hamblin (1819–1886), Called the Mormon “Buckskin Missionary” and credited for pioneering the trails from
Utah to Arizona and for bringing the first Mormon settlers to Arizona in the 1870’s. Hamblin was recognized for his
efforts in establishing close relations between the Hopi and Mormon colonists.
Hashknife Road Hashknife Outfit (1884–1900), Northern Arizona’s most spectacular ranching enterprise.
Herrera Drive Silvestre Herrera (1917–2007), The first of two Arizonans to win the Congressional Medal of Honor in World War II.
He was the only person authorized to wear both the Congressional Medal of Honor and Mexico’s Order of Military Merit.
Jaeger Road Louis John Frederick Jaeger (1824–1892), A leading pioneer citizen of Yuma. An early ferryboat operator,
began Arizona trade.
Kirkland Road William Kirkland (1832–1910), Pioneer Arizona citizen and rancher. In 1856, Bill Kirkland raised the first American flag over
what was to become Arizona. He also was the first U.S. Citizen to ranch in the region. It also is claimed that he and his wife,
Missouri Ann, were the first Americans to be married in the territory and the parents of the territory’s first American-born child.
Mossman Road Burt Mossman (1867–1956), Very successful Arizona cattleman. Member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. First
Captain of the Arizona Rangers. Superintendent of the “Hashknife Outfit” cattle company near Holbrook.
Poston Drive Charles Poston (1825–1902), Rugged frontiersman of early Arizona, known as “The Father of Arizona”, because of his
role in convincing Congress to create the territory of Arizona. Congress passed the bill and Arizona officially became a
territory on February 24, 1863.
Swilling Road Jack Swilling (1830’s–1878), An adventurer, Confederate officer and gold prospector during the Civil War. Swilling led
a party to the Salt River Valley in 1867 to start a farming community and reactivate an existing network of canals and
ditches designed by Indians of prehistoric tribes. The farming community grew to become the City of Phoenix. He is
known as the “Founder of Phoenix.”
Weaver Road Pauline Weaver (1820’s–1860’s), “Prescott’s First Citizen,” was a scout and mountain man who made two of Arizona’s
greatest gold strikes: the 1862 La Paz strike, along the Colorado River near today’s Ehrenberg, and the 1863 Rich Hill
find, near Wickenburg. The latter was the richest placer gold deposit ever discovered in Arizona.
Williams Road Bill Sherley Williams (1787–1849), One of the west’s most famous “free trappers” and a tireless wanderer who explored
most of the West alone on horseback, earning the nickname “Old Solitaire.” He is considered one of history’s greatest
mountain men. The Town of Williams, 30 miles west of Flagstaff; Bill Williams Mountain, overlooking the town; and
Bill Williams River, which empties into the Colorado River at Parker, are named for him.
