A fortuitus gift -- a piece of history, a document signed in 1929 -- has plagued my mind with questions since the first moment I held the old check in my hand to examine the precious memento of Arizona history, a souvenir from the Bank of Bowie. The yellowed, tattered check is representative of more prosperous times in the small southern town of Bowie, Arizona, located off Interstate 10, near its neighboring state of New Mexico.

Lying north of the Dos Cabezas Mountains near the San Simon Valley, Bowie strives to maintain with a lesser presence today than yesteryear when it bustled heartily with a train station, destination motels and yes, even the Bank of Bowie, all of which have long been forgotten. Once a lively commerce station, Bowie today is mainly a tiny agricultural town, producing pecans and pistachios from stretching groves of trees and wine -- homegrown from the local groves of grapes produced by the area wineries.

But in the year of 1929, Burt Parkhurst and his wife Dicie Dooley Parkhurst owned the local shoe shop in Bowie. In the early 1900’s, Bowie sported an opera house, a telephone exchange station, a garage, a drug store and yes, the Bank of Bowie. The antiquated bank note from the Bank of Bowie was written for cash by Burt Parkhurst for a total of $ 1.00 on January 16, 1929. Finalized by small pin holes in the document, “PAID” is stamped on the right-hand side vertically with the numerals 1·16·29 punched below. Awesome! Absolutely awesome!

Yet, questions, questions and more questions plague my mind. Why did Burt Parkhurst write a check for $ 1.00? Who was Burt Parkhurst? What might have life been like in Bowie, Arizona in 1929?

Interestingly, in 1929, $ 1.00 had the worth of $ 15.03 in today’s world. Maybe, Burt Parkhurst needed cash for groceries, or to purchase shoes for his store? Burt and his wife Dicie had a daughter named Ethel Parkhurst. Ethel, known locally as “Parky,” would serve as Bowie Postmaster from 1949 to 1970. (The Bowie postal service was started on June 1, 1914.) According to records, Burt Parkhurst was laid to rest in Bowie Desert Rest Cemetery in October of 1933. He is recorded to have been born October 10, 1875 and passed October 24, 1933.

The history of Bowie is rich, extraordinarily rich. In 1862, the military saw a need to establish Fort Bowie in Apache Pass. Mainly made up of tent like structures, the Fort persevered until 1868, when the Fort became more permanent with durable adobe and wooden structures. After the surrender of Geronimo -- the Apache Chief -- in 1886, Fort Bowie was abandoned in 1894 to be dilapidated and looted at the hands of Father Time. Fortunately, in 1964, the National Park Service acquired the lands to preserve history.

The Fort Bowie National Historic Site is closed currently due to Covid 19; however, when operating normally, there is a 1.5-mile trail leading up to the Fort. The trail gently leads one into the adversities of an historical era. As one walks about the preserved adobe ruins, voices of conflict whisper through time. There is Fort Bowie Cemetery which has been preserved with determination. At the time of abandonment in 1894, it is thought there were perhaps as many as 112 graves, marking the existence of young military men -- as well as a murdered miner -- and others.

Thus, in 1880, the small establishment of Teviston -- named after James Tevis, the Butterfield Overland Stage Station operator -- was founded by the Southern Pacific Railroad, approximately thirteen miles north of Fort Bowie by way of Apache Pass Road. After some conflicting names, such as “Bean,” many concurred to rename Teviston after Fort Bowie, naming the train station Bowie in 1881. Bowie, Arizona also had famous historical figures visit. Pancho Villa, as well as Geronimo, passed through the Bowie Train Station.  

Not only did Bowie have notorious visitors in early times, Bowie also boasts the recognition of being the hometown of Rambo. In the five Rambo series movies, Sylvester Stallone, who plays Rambo’s character, mentions Bowie, Arizona as being Rambo’s hometown. In 2019, the movie, “Rambo: Last Blood,” claims ties to the Hollywood version of Bowie, Arizona in which there was a celebration on September 17, 2019 of what is, in reality Bowie, Arizona, as “Rambo Day.” 

By now, perhaps, the question you are thinking is, “Where did you find the check from the Bank of Bowie? Our generous neighbor found the check in his travels. Unselfishly, he gave the check to Don, my husband, because he knew Don has family connections to Bowie. Perchance, our neighbor represents what makes living in the Southwest so wonderful: neighbor thinking of neighbor!

For more information on Bowie, Arizona, the Images of America BOWIE book, the website Fort Bowie National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service) and the website Memorials in Bowie Desert Rest Cemetery are loaded with many historical facts and photos. Speaking of great photos, I found two postcards of Bowie, one of Geronimo’s Castle, built in 1940 by Clifford Head and one of the Home on the Range Motel, a destination vacation spot for many seeking thrills in the West. 

Speaking of thrills of the West, I find it hard to stop typing due to my enthusiasm for all the historical facts prompted by the 1929 Bank of Bowie check signed by Burt Parkhurst. But until next time, may you find enthusiasm in simple things; may your neighbors be thoughtful of you and, if you travel to Bowie, remember it is Rambo’s hometown! Blessings to you and yours!