Can you figure out where this is, and what is its context? Send in your thoughts to elliott@brack.net and be sure to include your hometown.
What we thought might be a difficult Mystery Photo easily caught the eye of several readers, with Rob Keith of Peachtree Corners saying: “Well, this one was a lot easier than the last. It’s the statue of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday at the Historic Railroad Depot in Tucson, Ariz. Many people may not know that Doc Holliday was born here in Griffin, Ga. in 1851.” The photograph was sent in by Sandy and Rick Krause of Lilburn.
Also spotting the photo were Jim Savadelis, Duluth, Lois Solomon, Dacula, and David Earl Tyre of Jesup. Howard Williams Jr. of Snellville tells us: “It’s a life-sized statue of Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp by sculptor Dan Bates dedicated by the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum at the restored Historic Railroad Depot in Tucson, Arizona, on March 20, 2005, the 122nd anniversary of the killing of Frank Stilwell by Wyatt Earp. The statue stands at the approximate site of the shooting on the train platform.”
George Graf of Palmyra, Va. adds: “Wyatt Earp joined his four brothers in the silver-boom town of Tombstone in 1879, where brother Virgil was deputy U.S. Marshal. Wyatt was a sometimes-lawman himself, and hoped to become sheriff of the newly formed Cochise County in 1881. He withdrew from the race when the other candidate, John Behan, promised to make him chief deputy. Behan was associated with a rowdy element known as the ‘cowboys,’ who were involved in periodic rustling forays, robberies and similar unscrupulous pursuits. Behan reneged on his promise to Earp, causing hard feelings between the two, a situation made worse when Earp stole Behan’s girlfriend, 18-year-old Josephine Sarah Marcus. Hostility between Behan and his supporters and the ‘Earp crowd,’ which included John H. ‘Doc’ Holliday – a tubercular, hot-tempered dentist and gambler – reached a flashpoint Oct. 26, 1881 with the infamous shootout near OK Corral that left three of the cowboys dead. In the weeks that followed, ambush attacks left Virgil Earp crippled and Morgan Earp dead. Thereafter, the Earp group is believed to have systematically extracted revenge on about a dozen of their enemies including Frank Stilwell. Stilwell was shot at the Tucson Depot on March 20, 1882.”
EEB adds: “Isn’t it amazing what we all learn from these Mystery Photos!”
Hoffman gets award from district parks-recreation group
The Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA), District 7, has presented its Distinguished Program Professional Award to Pam Hoffman of Gwinnett for her commitment to excellence and extensive involvement in the community for the last 26 years. In addition, the Parks and Outdoor Professional Award was presented to John Rowe for being an outstanding member of the conservation park district. From left are Tina Fleming, director of the Gwinnett Department of Community Service; Hoffman and Wayne Maddox GRPA District 7 president, from Forsyth County. The Volunteer Award was presented to Liberty Mutual Insurance for their “Serve with Liberty” program that provides assistance and resources to Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation on volunteer workdays. The program is the company’s employee community service program. For the past four years, this program has averaged 70 volunteers per year completing 450 hours of service. For more information on GRPA, visit www.grpa.org.
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