On Tuesday, March 15th, author Gerald T. Ahnert will discuss his book The Butterfield Trail and Overland Mail Company in Arizona, 1858-1861, at 10:30 a.m. at the Foothills Library. Over the course of forty-seven years of research, Mr. Ahnert was able to collect many first-hand accounts about the stagecoach service. Books will be available for purchase, and book signings will commence after the program. There is no charge to attend.
Gerald T. Ahnert is a member of the Rio Colorado Chapter of the Arizona Historical Society, from which he has received an award for his book and efforts to preserve the trail. His recent discovery of Montezuma Head Tank in the Forty Mile Desert east of Gila Bend is the only third known manmade structure that can be attributed to being used by Butterfield’s Overland Mail Company. Kirby Sanders, the Congressional researcher assigned the task for compiling the history of Butterfield’s Overland Mail Company and trail to support the bill in Congress to designate it a National Historic Trail has declared Ahnert’s book the definitive book for the Butterfield Trail in Arizona.
The Foothills Library is located at 13226 E. South Frontage Road. For more information, call (928) 342-1640.