 |
History of Mummy Mountain
Charlie Mieg, a Swiss by birth, prospered in banking and real estate in New York
City and later in Florida, before moving to Arizona in the 1930s. He prospected
for gold and other minerals through the Bradshaw Mountains, and spent much time
at the Bagdad mines.
In the early 1940s he relocated to the area that later became Scottsdale and
Paradise Valley. He was profoundly impressed by the beauty and serenity of what
was then called Windy Gulch, a mountain in the midst of what would become the
Town of Paradise Valley. He was so captivated by the area that he borrowed
$8000 of the $12,000 purchase price from his mother-in-law, and acquired the Van
Benscoten Ranch which included most of the property on and adjacent to Windy
Gulch on the north and east sides.
Charlie was an experienced businessman. He recognized the value of property on
his mountain; the views of the valley were exceptional. He discarded his miner's
gear and went back into the real estate business to sell parcels of land from his
mountain property.
Charlie also was a good salesman. He recognized that a mountain named Windy Gulch
did not have the desired marketing appeal. He began to reflect on another name
to use in selling his properties.
One early morning he was riding along the dirt road which later would become Shea
Boulevard admiring his mountain framed in the early morning sunlight. He was
struck by how much the mountain resembled an Egyptian mummy lying down. It
occurred to him that the name Mummy Mountain would be far more appealing than
Windy Gulch. That morning he resolved henceforth his mountain would be called
Mummy Mountain and he would market his land under that label.
Thereby a man born in Switzerland, and an early pioneer in Arizona, gave us the
distinctive name we use to this day: Mummy Mountain. All thanks to Charlie
Mieg, his marketing talent, and his early appreciation of a natural and unique
geographic landmark in the Town of Paradise Valley.
Credit for much of the above information goes to Ann Andeeen. Charlie Mieg was
her uncle. Her grandmother, Mary Waterman, was Charlie's mother-in-law. It was
Mary Waterman that provided the loan for Charlie Mieg to acquire his mountain.
Credit also should go to the "Saguaroland Bulletin" published by the Desert
Botanical Garden of Arizona. Charlie was a trustee of the Gardens from 1954 to
1974. At the Garden Charlie Mieg founded Cactomaniacs, of which he was the
"Chief Maniac". Charlie had one of the most unforgettable cactus gardens in the
area. His exploits in acquiring unique and new varieties of cactus were well
known. And he had an unusual way of deciding where to plant any new cactus. He
simply tossed them over his shoulder and where they lit was where he planted
them.
What is being said about Mummy Mountain Preserve Trust:
PHILIP CURTIS, Renowned Scottsdale Artist:
"Desert and mountain imagery play major roles in my paintings. I have painted each day for
more than 50 years in my studio on Cattle Track with a view across a piece of open desert
and on up Mummy Mountain. Please let the top of Mummy Mountain continue to draw the eye
without the visual clutter of houses."
CLIVE CUSSLER, Best Selling Author:
"I am not alone in saying that I would rather stand on the floor of the desert and look up
at a pristine mountain wilderness than a sea of palatial homes. There is no beauty like
nature's beauty. Development IS a form of pollution.
There is utterly no rationality to build on the upper reaches of Mummy Mountain, except
for greed and narcissism. These are no reasons to spoil the wonderful gift that God has
given us."
HUGH DOWNS, Renown National Television and Radio Personality:
"Being asleep like most mummies, this mountain depends on friends for protection. All of
us in the Valley of the Sun should be its friend."
JOE GARAGIOLA, Major League Catcher and Sportscaster:
"I always thought it would be a good idea to preserve old catchers and broadcasters, but
this is a better idea. Preserve the top of Mummy Mountain. Like Camelback, Mummy
Mountain is one of the jewels of Arizona. We need to protect it."
LOU GRUBB, Car Dealer:
"Those who favor the development of Mummy Mountain would do well to reconsider. Had we not
restricted the development of Camelback Mountain, it would not be the natural landmark
that identifies the Phoenix area. The top of Mummy Mountain is great as it is. Let's keep
it that way."
MAX HAECHLER, (Max of Switzerland) Consul of Switzerland for Arizona:
"I'd rather have the coyotes roaming the upper part of the mountain and have the cactus and
plants up there instead of houses. As one who has lived here since 1964, I appreciate what
the Mummy Mountain Preserve Trust is doing for all of us."
BILL HEYWOOD, Renown Valley Morning Radio Host:
"I think Mummy Mountain should be preserved before Scottsdale can annex it and relocate the
Galleria on it, or before Bill Bidwell decides it is a neat location for a new stadium."
JOE MILLER, Owner of El Chorro Lodge:
"During all the years I've been at El Chorro I've enjoyed the natural beauty of Mummy
Mountain. It was a lot more beautiful back in the 60's than it is now. We should get rid
of the scars caused by building roads and do everything we can to preserve the upper
mountain."
MARSHALL TRIMBLE, Arizona Official State Historian:
"The crest of our beloved Mummy Mountain is one of the few vestiges of natural wilderness
remaining in our community. We are the current trustees of this special place and it's our
duty and responsibility to protect the biotic inhabitants and natural landscape for future
generations to enjoy."
· scope & goals · summary of trust · trust area map ·
·history & background · board of trustees · humor · contact ·
home ·
©2000-2010 Mummy Mountain Preserve Trust
|
