Robert Thompson (1880-1937) became the second district ranger for the Huachuca Forest Reserve in January 1922, succeeding Robert Rodgers (See Glimpses, October, 2023). A collection of early 20th century Forest Ranger notebooks, recently donated to the Bowman Stradling History Center, provides firsthand accounts of his activities and responsibilities for the first six months of his tenure [March-August 1922].
Thompson entered the Forest Service in 1906 and had been the ranger of Tumacácori district since 1918. He lived in Nogales with his wife Emma Violet Hosfelt (1891–1957) and their three children: Charles (1910-1975), Bert (1912-1981) and Helen Mary (1915-2004). March 1, 1922, foundThompson working on improvements to the station dwelling and grounds, which had apparently been neglected. Wallace R. Beaty, brother of Arizona Ranger Marshall Beaty, was working with Thompson. On March 4th, Thompson returned to Nogales to pack for his move to Canelo. He took the stage to the Elgin train depot, where he boarded “the Bug,” arriving in Nogales that evening. By March 15th, Thompson had moved in, and “you can now see there is a house at station from afar.” Day-long trips to Ft. Huachuca were made to purchase supplies for the station and medical care. Additional supplies and material arrived by train at the Elgin depot and were delivered to Canelo.
Evaluating homestead applications and managing Forest grazing leases required long days in the saddle and overnight stays at local ranches. The diaries provide a “who’s who” record of area ranchers, including Nick Bercich; James Parker; Bill and Stone Collie; Charles Everhart; Clyde McPherson; J.A. Jones; Lou Pyeatt; Pete Bergier; W.H. Hathaway; De La Ossa. Special use permits were issued to construct drift fences and create “waters” on the Forest. Juan Telles was granted a permit to cut 33 cords of wood.
Maintenance of Forest Service telephone lines, essential for communication about fires and between the field and headquarters, was a never-ending task. Ranchers were allowed to use the phones in return for reporting fires.
In May, Thompson began supervising the construction of the Lyle Canyon trail. A trail camp was established, local workers hired, and supplies ordered. Beef (100 pounds a month) for the crew was purchased from J. A. Parker. Mr. Bond provided the burros to pack in materials including blasting caps and TNT.
May also called for heightened fire awareness and hiring of lookouts. Each report of smoke had to be investigated, often requiring a long horseback ride to a higher elevation to determine if the fire was in the Forest or Mexico. The 1922 fire season passed without any serious fires. On July 8th, Thompson wrote: “Heavy rains today all over district fire season over – lucky again, no serious fires during season since fire tools would only furnish 10 men.”
Thompson’s doesn’t mention his family in the diaries except for an incident on May 9th: “In going after mail Mrs. Thompson met with serious accident on sharp turn of road. Car coming from the opposite direction ran into her car broke windshield twisted axle frame and hurled youngest daughter out the windshield on fender. All came through safely, except shock and small bruises.” Newspaper reports note that Mrs. Thompson frequently called in fire reports and once took care of one. “She loaded tools and supplies into her car, enlisted her two boys as firefighters and left for the blaze within five minutes from the time (1:15) she had received the report. The party traveled 12 miles in the car and about one mile on foot, and had the fire entirely out by 3 p.m.” [Arizona Republic, 7/29/1926].
Thompson served as Huachuca District ranger until 1930, when he transferred to the Rincon district of the Coronado National Forest and later to the Tusayan and Prescott National Forests. He died suddenly, in the field, in 1937.