Arizona Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project

Internet Presentation

Version 020108

Little has been recorded regarding Shelley, AZ. In our research efforts to find history on Shelley the closest we have come is the name on a topo map. While we have stood in the center of town, you wouldn’t know it passing through this area. In a two mile stretch referred to as Minnehaha Flats a chain of communities existed.

Evidence for the existence for Minnehaha, Lapham and Minnehaha Flats are still visible, however becoming fainter with the passing of time. Only the unidentified and unmarked cemetery of Shelley represent this former town. The only way we identified Shelley’s location was using a GPS and find the “Y” intersection that represented Shelley.

In the Shelley cemetery there were 80% female graves with only 20% male graves. This is not typical of ghost town mining communities. Normally males would represent 90% to 95% of the graves in the cemetery. Often children represent a high percentage do to epidemic’s and poor drinking water.

We have found information that tells us there was a ranch here by the name of the Shelley Ranch. But nothing has been found beyond this.

Adding to the confusion, in the beginning town sites by the name of Marion and McCormick which were named after and editor and ex-governor were first platted. No growth came to either town site as the most structure that was ever built numbered one in each community.

A member of the famous Joseph Walker party, one Charles Taylor recorded several claims. By May 21, 1875 had his own ranch and had taken up residence on Minnehaha Creek in the Minnehaha Flat area. It is believed the name Minnehaha was derived from a mine by the same name.

The Minnehaha Flats area got its start with the mining boom at the Tiger Mining District in 1981.This approximately two mile length of roadway was referred to as the Minnehaha Flat’s. Comprising the ghost towns of Shelley to the North, Minnehaha Flat, Lapham then Minnehaha to the South. Numerous mines dot the landscape with the most visible today is the Button Mine.

Route from ghost town of Wagoner to Lapham

WARNING: SMALL, 4 wheel drive vehicle road in 2008 – each storm will change the road conditions. CJ-5 size vehicles are fine anything large may sacrifice body parts.

There is a well here which would suggest it was an important town in its day.

There are remains of mining equipment strewn and abandoned on and near the property. We found no adits, or shafts with any depth and no open pit mining – maybe everything was placer mining at this town.

L-R: Mary Ann Wunderlin, Neal Du Shane marking grave, Kevin Hart

in Lapham, AZ

Photo Courtesy: Bonnie Helten

Be cautious as there are deep well’s along side the road that is very dangerous.

Please leave Historic Lapham as you found it, take only pictures and memories.

If you have information on Shelley that you would like to share with fellow historians please contact APCRP at the below email address.

Arizona Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project

Internet Presentation

Version 020108

WebMaster: Neal Du Shane

n.j.duhane@comcast.net

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