We have been in the habit of taking a Sunday-type drive on New Year's Day. We got off on a back street in the border town of Naco, AZ and discovered Camp Naco. As many times as I have been in Naco, I had no idea that these adobe remains were there.
This military compound was constructed between 1919 and 1923 as part of the War Department’s Mexican Border Defense construction project. It was a plan to build a 1200- mile “fence” along the southern U.S. border. American soldiers were the primary component of this “fence,” and the construction project was to establish or to upgrade border military posts to protect the soldiers against the elements and to protect U.S. citizens and economic interests.
The plan for the camp in Naco, part of the Tenth Cavalry Patrol District, was to construct 35 adobe buildings. It's the only site of the nine western camps to be constructed of adobe and the only site in Arizona largely intact today. There are plans "in the works" to preserve and use the old facility for community purposes.
Now, this is today's border fence - an actual fence. Click on the photo to enlarge it and you can see the line of the fence marching across the valley floor. It's that dark line in the mid-ground.
Now, this is today's border fence - an actual fence. Click on the photo to enlarge it and you can see the line of the fence marching across the valley floor. It's that dark line in the mid-ground.It was a beautiful sunny, 70 degree day with little wind . . . a perfect day to be out 'n about enjoying the scenery.
Thanks for sharing those interesting photos. I look forward to the day when we can spend more time in the desert.
ReplyDeleteThat was a very interesting post. Love the historical aspect of it.
ReplyDeleteWow. That was really interesting. Thank you and a Happy New Year.
ReplyDelete(Even though it's summer here in New Zealand it's been a wet New Year - never mind.)
Given all the hoopla about having a fence on the border these days made this an even more interesting post. I had no idea this was even there and you don't hear all the politicians even mentioning that! Very, very interesting. Thanks.
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