Stoddard
 It is located 5 miles
east of Mayer on the Agua Fria River.
A permit from the State Land Department
is required to visit since parts are on
State Trust Land. The original
town sat on the banks of the Agua Fria
River that flows year round. Its US post
office began December 15, 1882 and was
terminated September 15, 1927. The town
is named in honor of Isaac T. Stoddard.
The town had a school, a boardinghouse,
a general store, auto garages, and
saloons except during prohibition. Many
of the homes were a combination of tent
and board. Its maximum population was
300.
Nearby copper mines supported the town;
the most noted mines were the Stoddard,
the Binghampton, and the Copper Queen.
Most are northwest of the river and the
town. Several are very impressive.
Shafts go down to 1000 feet.
History reflects two mills were built,
unusual for such a small area. Most
impressive was the copper smelter.
A few foundations remain as well as the
old warehouse and other house chimneys
in the area. After studying many of the
old buildings’ photographs, most
appeared not to have had foundations,
but instead were built quickly on cement
blocks. When you walk the area, one
suddenly comes across a pile of nails
where a house or a business once stood.
As with most ghost towns throughout the
West once they turned "ghosts", ranchers
and nearby townsfolk salvaged all the
lumber. This was especially true during
the depression. There is, also, an old
meat house built into the hillside and a
couple of water pumping stations hidden
along the river banks.
 Mines are literally everywhere around
Stoddard. There are several locations
that I recommend visiting. First,
the impressive slag piles. They fill an
entire canyon with pure white sand as if
hauled in from White Sands National
Park. Slag was a by-product from the
nearby smelter, made up of metal oxides
and silicon dioxides. It’s not wise to
breathe this stuff so travel slowly when
crossing. Second, the smelter area is
worth a visit as well as the two mill
sites. There is, also, an old wooden
shoot that still stands. See map for
locations. After World War I ended
in 1918, the need for cooper declined.
Finally in 1927, the town post office
closed. Stoddard became a ghost town,
but had a brief comeback during the
years of 1945 to 1950.
During the last 5 years much of the
Stoddard area has been mined for
landscape rock. I recommend visiting
Stoddard in the fall or winter months.
During summer monsoons and spring runoff
the Agua Fria River can suddenly flood,
and one has to cross it to get to
Stoddard.
For more information on Stoddard click
here.
Google Map
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