Hecla is a former way station situated in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States.[2] Its name is derived from the nearby Hecla mine.[3] It is also known as Stone Corral. Hecla has an estimated elevation of 4,596 feet (1,401 m) above sea level.[1]

Hecla, Arizona
Populated Place
Hecla Location within the state of Arizona Show map of Arizona Hecla Hecla (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 34°32′17″N 112°07′18″W
Country	United States
State	Arizona
County	Yavapai
Elevation [1]	4,596 ft (1,401 m)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (MST)
Area code(s)	928
FIPS code	04-32335
GNIS feature ID	42742

John Stemmer, a former trooper, set up a waystation there on Ash Creek in the 1870s for travellers on the route between Prescott and the Verde Valley.[4][5] Facilities included at least seven furnished rooms, a bar, retail store, kitchen, dining room, stables and two stone corrals.[4]

In 1884 it passed to AJ Hudson, who with his family continued to operate it as an inn for travellers.[4] Facilities added included a root cellar, and for 18 months a post office under the name of Hecla, by which it was then known.[6][4] As well as providing for travellers, it was an important location for social gathering for the nearby small communities.[4]

In August 1898 a flash flood on the creek destroyed most of the facilities and the site was abandoned.[4] The stone corral and root cellar remain and it now exists as a historical site on the Prescott National Forest Reserve, accessed by the General Cook hiking trail.

References

Further reading

• An Archaeological Opinion on the Stone Corral (Ash Creek Way Station), United States Forest Service, 1976
• Steve Ayers (July 23, 2008). "Ash Creek Station". The Verde Independent & Camp Verde Bugle.
• "Days Past: The Ash Creek 'Stone Corral': Part I". The Daily Courier (Prescott, AZ). 2011.
• "Days Past: The Ash Creek 'Stone Corral': Part II". The Daily Courier (Prescott, AZ). 2011.