SOLOMON — At a June 10 Town Hall with Graham County Supervisor Paul David, Safford City Councilman Mike Andazola and former Thatcher Bob Rivera, the topic of the Solomon Monument was brought up.
Bill Brandau asked for volunteers to help him shore up the monument on the north shoulder of U.S. Highway 70, near the Bowie Avenue intersection. The ground under the monument was eroding and Brandau said he didn’t want to see the historical marker topple and become damaged.
The Town Hall was at American Legion Lopez-Hernandez Post 95 in Solomon, and post leadership said they would field a group of volunteers.
However, before any work could begin, the volunteers were informed that, due to the monument’s location on Arizona Department of Transportation right-of-way, ADOT needed to be involved. And that meant a review and placing any work on a schedule.
Brandau said he hadn’t heard anything until late last week, when he was told the work was done without his or the post’s involvement. ADOT crews stabilized the ground to protect the historical marker.
“it shows, you just have to keep plugging away,” Brandau said.
The monument is a tribute to the founder of Solomon (originally Solomonville), Isadore Solomon, who not only established the town as the first county seat for Graham County from 1883 to 1916, but also served as its postmaster, county treasurer, banker and merchant.
