"About 20 miles Southeast of Phoenix on Arizona-Eastern R.R. 3 miles from the Salt River. Established February 1878 by Mormon Colonists from Salt Lake City, Utah. So called because it was located on a plateau or mesa somewhat above the valley. Incorporated July 5, 1883. P.O. established as Mesa Jan. 19, 1889. George Passey, P.M. First called Zenos, then Mesaville. Mesa City on Smith map, 1879.
The land on which the town now stands was located first in May 1878, by T.C. Sirrine who deeded it to three Trustees: C.I. Robson, G.W. Sirrine, and F.M. Pomeroy who named and platted it. All streets were 130 feet wide. Incorporated July 15, 1883. A.F. McDonald first mayor. First called Hayden, because for a time mail went to Hayden Ferry. Postal authorities first refused to allow the name Mesa for a postoffice because of a Mesaville in that region. That town died however and Mesa came into its own. Census of January 4, 1894 gave it 648 persons."
"The first Mormon settlers in this area stayed for some time in Lehi, which was on the bluff above the Salt River, an area they called "the mesa". In May 1878, T.C. Sirrine located and deeded a section of land for an unnamed Mormon community under trustees C.R. Robison, G.W. Sirrine, and F. M. Pomeroy. Mail came via Hayden's Ferry until the new community had its own post office. The Post Office Department refused to acept the name Mesa for it because there was a Mesavill in Pinal County. Therefore, to honor Charles Trumbull Hayden, the settlers named their community Hayden. Although Hayden's Ferry had meanwhile changed its name to Tempe, then, as now, it was easy to confuse the post office. Mail service between the new Hayden and the Old Hayden's Ferry was so snarled that in 1886 Hayden became Zenos (a prophet in the Book of Mormon). WHen Mesaville ceased to exist as a post office in 1888, the name Zenos was rapidly changed Mesa. The location was also known as Mesa City, and, according to an 1880 newspaper article, Bottom City. PO Est Hayden June 27, 1881, Fanny V. McDonald pm; named changed to Zenos, May 15, 1886; name changed to Mesa June 19, 1889. Incorporated July 15, 1883."
Barnes, Will C.; Granger, Byrd (ed.) Arizona's names : X marks the place Falconer Pub. Co. : distributed by Treasure Chest Publications, c1983. P. 400
Websites
Arizona Department of Commerce Community Profiles- Mesa, Arizona
http://www.commerce.state.az.us/pdf/commasst/comm/mesa.pdf
http://www.commerce.state.az.us/pdf/commasst/comm/mesa.pdf
Colleges
Newspapers
Sites to See
Mesa Historical Museum
2345 N. Horne St. Mesa 85203-1823
Open September-May, Tue-Sat 10-4
(480) 835-7358/Free
http://www.mesaaz.org/
2345 N. Horne St. Mesa 85203-1823
Open September-May, Tue-Sat 10-4
(480) 835-7358/Free
http://www.mesaaz.org/
Mesa Southwest Museum
53 N. MacDonald Mesa 85201-7325
Open Tues-Sat 10-5; Sun 1-5
(480) 644-2169/Admission charge
http://www.ci.mesa.az.us/parksrec/msm/msmdefault.htm
53 N. MacDonald Mesa 85201-7325
Open Tues-Sat 10-5; Sun 1-5
(480) 644-2169/Admission charge
http://www.ci.mesa.az.us/parksrec/msm/msmdefault.htm
Sirrine House
160 N. Center Mesa 85201-6627
Open October-March Sat 10-5; Sun 1-5;
(480) 644-2760/Free
160 N. Center Mesa 85201-6627
Open October-March Sat 10-5; Sun 1-5;
(480) 644-2760/Free
Books/Manuscripts found in the ASU Library Catalog
Mesa : beneath the shadows of the Superstitions/ by Tray C. Mead and Robert C. Price ; produced in cooperation with the Mesa Southwest Museum.
XUME 9.2:M 37
XUME 9.2:M 37
Mesa historical survey : a project of the City of Mesa, Arizona/ authors: Linda Laird and Jones ; edited by Tracy Mead and Che du Puich.
XUME 9.2:H 47
XUME 9.2:H 47
