Verbon Yates

Oral history interviews in the Museum’s collection provide great insights into Clarkdale life in earlier days.  Many interviews have been recorded, especially in recent years by Dinah and Jim Gemmill.  This summary shares just one of the great stories they recorded in an interview with Verbon Yates at his home in Ajo, Az in 2017 (see pic, below). 

Verbon's Dad left Alabama for Arizona in 1935 and got a job at the Clarkdale smelter.  Verbon's family lived in 3 different houses on 2nd Street from 1936-1943. In 1943, the Yates family moved to Main St (today, Ruth Wick's house).  Verbon has many recollections including:

- In the early days, the coal sheds in Lower Town contained a toilet.

- The Clark Memorial Clubhouse was Verbon's 2nd home the summer, especially the pool where he spent the entire day.  At 13 y.o., Verbon started setting pins on the 4-lane bowling alley.  Verbon remembers the old widowers and bachelors who worked for the Company who would eat dinner at King's Cafe, then go to the Clubhouse and read magazines/newspapers in comfy easy chairs while smoking cigars.  Verbon describes getting a library card which enabled him to use the Clubhouse library; books could be checked out, but had to be used on site.  Verbon played pool at the Clubhouse when he was in High School and won a lot of money. 

- The Drug Store was where you went to get popcorn for the movie.   As a young child, he would let his buddies sneak into the Clarkdale Theatre via the fire exit door.

- To earn money for college Yates worked for the smelter’s railroad from 1948 - 1950 as a brakeman, conductor, on the rip track, at the round house and with the fire locomotives.  See pic below from his smelter employment days. 

- He caddy’ed at the Verde Valley Country Club and skinny dipped for golf balls at Peck's Lake.

- Near Verbon's residence on 2nd St., burros could often be found.  Verbon lost many a belt after using them for halters. 

- Many hours were spent playing at the softball field near the grade school (Lower Town).  Verbon describes how Jimmy Stewart and other movie stars played him and a team of local guys, while filming a movie.  Softball games were a regular community event.  Arden Ice Cream from Cottonwood would sell ice cream in insulated bags.  After ball games finished, the 15-16 year old kids would walk down Bitter Creek to Barrigan's Pool Hall in Patio Town which had a beer bar and grocery store. 

- With hard-earned money, Verbon and Ray Wease bought tennis rackets.  They would play tennis at night when Amy Roberts, caretaker of the Men's Dormitory (today’s Clarkdale Lodge) would turn on the court lights (the court surfaces and score board are still present and front Main St.)

- When the smelter was shutting down, Verbon and his Dad were told if you want to go to Ajo, you have a job.