Bisbee thirty years ago

I remember Bisbee back then; in the late 70s and early 80s. I lived there a few years when the hippies were not the counter-culture; they were the culture; and I was a young chick that rode in with the second wave on the Yonder bus from the midwest. There was the Boarding house that took in anybody whether they could afford to pay or not, and KSUN radio (1230 AM on your radio dial) and the shepherd's Inn where you could get a free prayer and a kind word. Rev. Isaiah Creekwater of the Friends United Church of Kindness ran the unofficial food bank where the dumpster divers could dibby up their scores. At the time when the hippies took over the gulch the crime rate dropped lower that it ever had been before or since, because they looked after the drunks, provided free crashing, and took in anyone without pumping religion down their hungry throat.
The gentrification came on the wave of the artsie-fartsies in the early eighties, and the hippies were harassed and eventually run out of town. KSun shut down and sold out to Tucson, the Boardinghouse was burned to the ground after its occupants (those too poor or stupid to leave) were put in jail on various charges. The F.U.C.K. church went underground after its founders wrong unreverend ministers were arrested or run out of town, and the Mayor of Bisbee who owned Shepherds Inn was busted on drug charges and Phelps Dodge got their man back in. That's how it was about thirty years ago; how is it now?

I'm saddened to report that we weren't able to run out ALL of the hippies.

"Summer Joy", we still have 'hippies'-- of two kinds. There are those who stayed on, who have been here for all these years, and who by now are the "Old Bisbee Old Guard". There are quite a few of 'em. And then there are those modern-day ersatz hippies, who seem to add little to Bisbee; they're content to hang out, stay stoned / drunk, panhandle, and in general freeload off a community which is still pretty laid-back. You would still recognize the place; it hasn't really changed all that much, gentrification or no.
It's still only 6000 people, scattered across 9 miles. It's still beautiful, most of the people are pleasant, and the climate is a HELL OF A LOT better than Las Vegas!
I came here several years ago after having spent almost 30 years in Vegas. Qu'el culture shock. But I've never been happier, and I've never lived in a more interesting place. I'd recommend it to others, but I've already lived through the Californication of Las Vegas and don't want to go through the process again.(Seems that a number of us who find Bisbee want to pull the drawbridge up after us....)

Goat with wrote:

I'm saddened to report that we weren't able to run out ALL of the hippies.

I'm happy to report we ran off fat ass Eric.

Goat with Delusions wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm happy to report we ran off fat ass Eric.

And Marilyn is gone too, as well as Brien "Suicide Boy" McRae.

"...most of the people are pleasant...."

Lucifers Hammer wrote:

"...most of the people are pleasant...."

Or at least fake it...

Summer Joy wrote:

...The gentrification came on the wave of the artsie-fartsies in the early eighties, and the hippies were harassed and eventually run out of town. KSun shut down and sold out to Tucson, the Boardinghouse was burned to the ground after its occupants (those too poor or stupid to leave) were put in jail on various charges. The F.U.C.K. church went underground after its founders wrong unreverend ministers were arrested or run out of town, and the Mayor of Bisbee who owned Shepherds Inn was busted on drug charges and Phelps Dodge got their man back in. That's how it was about thirty years ago; how is it now?

I've been thinking about that second paragraph of your post. Seems to me that everyone you lauded either got arrested or self-destructed. Meanwhile, the 'artsy-fartsies' you denigrated have in fact been much of the reason Bisbee has survived as the great little place it is. What do you reckon that says?
Of course, P-D is gone, and there's no Great White Corporate Father any more... but then, the hippies even back then didn't want to work, did they? In that regard, nothing's changed.

RIP Beau

It's good to remember,to those who wish we we were all gone, you all ready are, you and your kind are fading away'. Yes we did our thing, helped some folks and proved that human kindness still exist, we are not gone, every where you look in Bisbee you see us. And the only thing I regreat, and have left un done, is a womans shelter. It is a sin,there is no where, a single woman with a child,no history of abuse,and job can.t find emergency shelter. The Tin town shelter is strictly a mens club

he homeless shelter is strickly a mens club. Your Brother Isaiah CreekWater.

Isaiah CreekWater wrote:

It's good to remember,to those who wish we we were all gone, you all ready are, you and your kind are fading away'. Yes we did our thing, helped some folks and proved that human kindness still exist, we are not gone, every where you look in Bisbee you see us. And the only thing I regreat, and have left un done, is a womans shelter. It is a sin,there is no where, a single woman with a child,no history of abuse,and job can.t find emergency shelter. The Tin town shelter is strictly a mens club
he homeless shelter is strickly a mens club. Your Brother Isaiah CreekWater.

Get busy and make that shelter!! It's never too late!!!

I remember going on the dump to make a few dollars for gas money, but don't try that now, as unfortunately P.D. is still present, and if they could, they would probably send you to the gas chamber if you got caught. The management at P.D. is plum loco.

Isaiah CreekWater wrote:

It's good to remember,to those who wish we we were all gone, you all ready are, you and your kind are fading away'. Yes we did our thing, helped some folks and proved that human kindness still exist, we are not gone, every where you look in Bisbee you see us. And the only thing I regreat, and have left un done, is a womans shelter. It is a sin,there is no where, a single woman with a child,no history of abuse,and job can.t find emergency shelter. The Tin town shelter is strictly a mens club
he homeless shelter is strickly a mens club. Your Brother Isaiah CreekWater.

I never thought about a Woman's Shelter in Bisbee. Now that I think about it, I agree there is a definite need. I think there are many abused women in Bisbee who need to get away from those self absorbed macho husbands who treat them like dirt. I have never experienced an environment where women are so silent and passive within their community. It is as though these women are beaten down and afraid. Of course, there are women who have a voice, but when they do, they are scorned within the Bisbee Community especially if that voice is one of activism.

09 Ram wrote:

I remember going on the dump to make a few dollars for gas money, but don't try that now, as unfortunately P.D. is still present, and if they could, they would probably send you to the gas chamber if you got caught. The management at P.D. is plum loco.

Now, the best you can do is to remember to take a dump.

What about the Women's Transition Project? Are they not in Bisbee any more?
The police here definitely won't do anything...I witnessed a woman being roughly grabbed and slapped by her husband right on the sidewalk in Bisbee - I called 911 and their attitude was "Oh yeah, we know who he is, we'll look into it." They did nothing.

(Of course, when you get to be OUR age, the ability to even MAKE a proper dump and send it on it's way is cause for celebration. Pass the bran muffin!)

The Old Timer wrote:

(Of course, when you get to be OUR age, the ability to even MAKE a proper dump and send it on it's way is cause for celebration. Pass the bran muffin!)

Notto mention having to call the cardiologist to get permission to take my daughters for a walk, just kidding, hopefully no ticker problems yet.

shelter wrote:

What about the Women's Transition Project? Are they not in Bisbee any more?
The police here definitely won't do anything...I witnessed a woman being roughly grabbed and slapped by her husband right on the sidewalk in Bisbee - I called 911 and their attitude was "Oh yeah, we know who he is, we'll look into it." They did nothing.

The Womens Transition Project will only help abused or addicted women. If your just stuck, in Bisbee your out of luck.WE NEED ATTENTION BROUGHT THIS TRAVESTY. POLICE USELESS. DES. USELESS, CHURCHS USELESS. EVEN MY OWN...SPRED THE WORD. CW.

Goat with wrote:

I'm saddened to report that we weren't able to run out ALL of the hippies.

While you all seem fasanated with, the F.U.C.K. Church, it stands for "Frie, nds United Church of Kindness". Truth be told we did not purposely abbrevate to cause attention,all 12 well those who are still with us will tell you we were shocked and a little embarassed, yet that is what we were. Also no Ministers were ever jailed, or were at any time in discrace. Our mission was to provide; the God given rights of food shelter and medical care, around 25-40 people at any one time. As stated in our non-profift corp paper, we fullfilled our mission.This is our home we helped build the shelter and we have never given up hope. I wish that you who have a comment please at least be accurate.Rev. Dr. Isaiah Creekwater,I was at least there.

shelter wrote:

What about the Women's Transition Project? Are they not in Bisbee any more?
The police here definitely won't do anything...I witnessed a woman being roughly grabbed and slapped by her husband right on the sidewalk in Bisbee - I called 911 and their attitude was "Oh yeah, we know who he is, we'll look into it." They did nothing.

There is this attitude in Bisbee which flows over to law enforcement, etc. that if a wife or girlfriend, or any woman is being beaten up by her boyfriend she must have deserved it. For some reason, Bisbee law enforcement does not care to get involved in domestic violence. A great deal of this is a cultural thing but it has no boundaries. It is time Bisbee started waking up and get out of its time warp. The Women's Transition Project has changed its name but I think it is still for addiction problems mostly. They do help but are not really a shelter for abused women as far as I know. I can't stand these worthless drunken abusive men in Bisbee and there are plenty. Where I came from men respected women with looks and brains and a career. In Bisbee, men are afraid of a woman like that. Of course, I shouldn't really call them men--just bad kids who never grow up. Much is absolutely cultural and it is about time an educational program is put in place for Mexican woman.