Going past where the old Harmon farm used to be in Peoria Arizona


If you've lived in the Phoenix, Arizona area for a long time, or anywhere that new buildings are replacing old buildings, or even are being built on old farmland, you probably do the same thing that I do - give directions based on what used to be there. This is great for old-timers, but not so good for young people, who just find it confusing. And this morning I went past where the old Harmon farm used to be. If you're too young to remember, I understand, so am I. I'll see if I can explain.

This is the northeast corner of 67th Avenue and Peoria, in Peoria, Arizona. Back before there was anything out here except raw desert, it was simply the southeast corner of Section 24. Specifically, it was (and still is) Southeast 1/4 Section 24 Township 3 North, Range 1 East. That's the legal description.


By the way, I haven't a clue how all of this "Township - Range" stuff works, so thank you to my number one history adventuring detective (who prefers to remain anonymous) for doing this for me, so I can go on daydreaming.


B. (Ben) F. Harmon bought the land on July 16th, 1917. It had to be waaaay out in the middle of nowhere, although it's within the Peoria City limits now, but at least he had a steady supply of water. There had been irrigation water available to this area since 1885 when the Arizona Canal was built (which is still there, of course just a few miles north), and all that needed to be done was to dig laterals, which are of kind of "mini-canals" to the individual farms. The lateral is no longer visible, but you can see the water splashing up from the turnout gates, which look like this:


That's where the old Harmon place was, across the street there, where the McDonalds is. You know, Crossroads Plaza, which includes the Dollar Tree, Goodwill, and Harbor Freight.


I wish that I could tell you more about the B.F. Harmon, but I really can't. I've got some documentation, but I can't imagine that there would be a photo of him, so I'll tell you what I do know. He was as tough as nails. He lived in my neighborhood long before there was a handy Starbucks, or air conditioning. There wouldn't have been electricity there, so whatever power he needed would come from some type of engine, possibly steam, or even diesel.

Hay field at 67th Avenue and Northern today

What B.F. grew on his farm I really don't know. My best guess is hay, because there's a modern farm a couple of miles north, at 67th Avenue and Thunderbird, right across from the QT where I get my morning coffee, that is still growing hay. I'm no agricultural expert, but I recognize bales of hay! I'd like to think that he had some livestock, at least chickens. And maybe he went into Glendale on Chicken Day!


Thank you for going past where the old Harmon place used to be with me today!
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