History of small town Warren, now part of Bisbee

Ever wondered about the names of the mountains in Arizona? How about where to take your kids for indoor fun during the summer? And why do some public schools in the state offer full-day kindergarten, and others don’t? These are a few of the questions that were answered this week. Find them at ask .azcentral.com. Check out the video blogs, as well as the written blogs, gleaned from questions sent in by readers and viewers.

Here’s today’s question: In the early 1950s, I lived for two years in the small town of Warren, which adjoined Bisbee. It is still a separate community or has Bisbee absorbed it?

Answer: Scott Craven, who writes for The Arizona Republic’s storytelling team, researched this question. Here’s his report:

“Warren has indeed been absorbed by Bisbee. Assimilated. Joined in civil union. Whatever you want to call it. But Warren has not lost its identity or charm as a distinct neighborhood, much like the various historic districts in Phoenix. That answers the question, but how about a little history?

“Around the turn of the 20th century, Bisbee was a booming mining town. A little too booming. Housing was built quickly and cheaply to keep up with miners who cared more about fortune and less about the quality of infrastructure, particularly sewers. One mining company drove the construction of a planned community where the standard of living included quality drainage. That community was Warren, which rose in the middle of nowhere (actually it was 3 miles southeast of Bisbee, but in 1910, when Warren boasted 650 residents, that was one heck of a commute).

“Besides wide streets and a modern sewage system, the town also boasted the Warren Baseball Park, built in 1909 for a game that seemed to be catching on with folks. The ballpark still stands and each year hosts the Copper City Classic Vintage Base Ball Tournament, playing the game as it was meant to be, when baseball was two words.

“We would like to thank Bob and Al Ring for their wonderful Warren website, where you can find these details and much more history.”

Find more about Warren by going to ringbrothershistory.com, clicking on “Arizona history convention papers” and scrolling down to “Warren, Arizona — The City Beautiful.”