We spent most of today driving from Barstow, California, back home in Tucson. We took a circuitous route because we wanted to drive past the Salton Sea and we wanted to visit Ajo. The Imperial Valley of California, in the Mohave Desert, was not nearly as beautiful as the Salinas Valley with its emerald green hills, but still there was a lot of agriculture! We stopped for lunch in Yuma, and continued our journey, with a drive through Ajo.
We were impressed by Ajo. We had read about the Curley School, built Spanish Colonial Revival Style in 1919 as the public school for Ajo, with additional buildings added in 1926 and 1937.
"In 2000-2001, a group of concerned Ajo residents came together with the University of Arizona on developing a comprehensive plan for the town of Ajo. More than 400 people participated in the forums. The results determined that Ajo needed and wanted to save historic treasures like the Curley School that were in disrepair and falling apart. The conclusion was that an arts and culture center, based on Ajo’s tri-cultural heritage should be the center-piece of a strong, new, creative economic development strategy for the town. More than $9.6 million dollars was raised to purchase and develop the Curley Project. The Curley School completed a multi-million-dollar renovation into 30 affordable live/work rentals for artists, artisans and creative home businesses by early 2007." Ajo is quite remote but in a nice setting in the Sonoran Desert, with lush desert all around thick with hills and mountains. New housing has been built, a coffee shop was open on the main plaza... it felt like a real community.
We drove on through the lush Sonoran Desert, thick with brush, palo verde, mesquite, chollas, and a carpet of grass from the rains of the past month. We even saw a few poppies along the roadside, as well as organ pipe cactus. We drove through Sells and past Kitt Peak as the sun set and the sky turned pink and purple. We made fond memories on our road trip to California this week!
We were impressed by Ajo. We had read about the Curley School, built Spanish Colonial Revival Style in 1919 as the public school for Ajo, with additional buildings added in 1926 and 1937.
"In 2000-2001, a group of concerned Ajo residents came together with the University of Arizona on developing a comprehensive plan for the town of Ajo. More than 400 people participated in the forums. The results determined that Ajo needed and wanted to save historic treasures like the Curley School that were in disrepair and falling apart. The conclusion was that an arts and culture center, based on Ajo’s tri-cultural heritage should be the center-piece of a strong, new, creative economic development strategy for the town. More than $9.6 million dollars was raised to purchase and develop the Curley Project. The Curley School completed a multi-million-dollar renovation into 30 affordable live/work rentals for artists, artisans and creative home businesses by early 2007." Ajo is quite remote but in a nice setting in the Sonoran Desert, with lush desert all around thick with hills and mountains. New housing has been built, a coffee shop was open on the main plaza... it felt like a real community.
