The Evolution of SR89 Through the Dells

The Dells top my earliest memories of Prescott -- I'm old enough to have picnicked at the long-gone Granite Dells pavilion and swimming facility in the rocks! And I've long been curious about the major road building project that must have taken place way back when.

It was a grey day that friend Georgene drove me through the Dells earlier this year; unfortunately, this is the best picture of the lot and I haven't been back since. Consider it merely an introduction to a brief pictorial history of the highway through that wonderful collection of ancient granites north of town.

Ever wondered what the original trail might have looked like? Here is a photo of the Prescott- Williams road from the Forest Service files, dated 1921, though that seems rather late for such a primitive back road. If that is indeed a vehicle, not a cart, it looks more like my dad's racer from about 1916 ... or is it possibly a motorcycle with a sidecar?

Obviously, a lot of dynamite came into play between the previous picture and this postcard shot. The highway, for such it is at this point, still looks to be unpaved. Mid to late 20s, perhaps?

The cars from this postcard appear to be from the mid-30s; the highway is almost the same as today -- tho the shoulders aren't nearly as wide.

Two fellow bloggers have cool photos of the Dells today. Oddball Observations aimed his camera at the rock formations earlier this summer; Rich over at Gadget's Airstream Chronicles is living in an RV park in the Dells, has been climbing those monster rocks, complete with pictures and a new blog, Climb Arizona.