Hashknife Memorial Trail Clears First State HurdleMarch 6th, 2008
By Tammy Gray-Searles
“I think this is something the community could rally around,” said Holbrook Mayor Jeff Hill, referring to the proposed designation of a Hashknife Pony Express Memorial Trail.
Hill, along with Posse Captain Mark Reynolds and Navajo County Supervisor J.R. DeSpain, testified on Feb. 26 before the Arizona Senate Transportation Committee in support of the official designation. They received the unanimous support of the five-member committee, who voted to make a recommendation that the rest of the Senate pass a resolution recognizing the route used by the posse between Holbrook and Scottsdale as the Hashknife Pony Express Memorial Trail.
If the measure is passed, the Hashknife Posse will be responsible for the cost of the signs that will be placed along the roadway to mark the designation. The following roadways are included in the Senate reso-lution:
* State Highway 77, from the intersection of Erie Street and Navajo Blvd. in Holbrook to its intersec-tion with State Route 377.
* State Route 377, from its intersection with State Highway 77 to its intersection with State Route 277.
* State Route 277, from its intersection with State Route 377 to its intersection with Mogollon Drive in Overgaard.
* State Route 260, from its intersection with Mogollon Drive in Overgaard to its intersection with State Route 87.
* State Route 87, from its intersection with State Route 260 to its intersection with McDowell Road, and from its intersection with State Route 260 to the post office in Pine.
The resolution is sponsored by Senator Jake Flake (R-Snowflake), and Representatives Jack Brown (D-St. Johns) and Bill Konopnicki (R-Safford).
Hill explained that the designation could benefit Holbrook in many ways, such as bringing citizens to-gether to support the effort, increasing tourism, and honoring generations of men and women who kept the Hashknife pony express going for more than 50 years.
The Senate resolution notes, “The Pony Express was established in April of 1860 in an effort to shorten the length of time needed to deliver mail from the eastern U.S. to settlements in the west. The Pony Express featured 80 riders traveling on horseback to deliver first class mail. The Hashknife Pony Express was cre-ated in 1958 and is the oldest officially sanctioned Pony Express in the world. Beginning in Holbrook, the horseback mail route covers over 200 miles from the Mogollon Rim to the Scottsdale Stadium. For the past 49 years, each January, the Hashknife Pony Express memorializes the Pony Express riders and each rider is officially sworn in as an honorary mail messenger. January 29, 2008, marked the 50-year anniversary of the Hashknife’s annual ride.”
According to a Navajo County press release, Hashknife Captain Reynolds appeared before the commit-tee in his Hashknife leather, and described how the mail exchanges take place every mile or so at a full gallop, or as fast as the weather will permit.
Supervisor J.R. DeSpain noted, “This has been a joint effort between the communities that support the Hashknife Posse. We all recognize and appreciate the contribution the Hashknife Posse has made to each of our communities and hope that, if passed, this legislation will increase awareness of the program.”
The resolution will next be considered by the Senate Rules Committee, before going before the full Senate for a vote.
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