The Can-Can Can

In 1879, Quong Kee established one of the best restaurants in Tombstone.  His management skills were many as he served ham and steaks as well as Chinese food to the cowboys.  His customers included Wyatt Earp, Billy Clanton and Curly Bill.  Quong like Clanton, saying he always ate at his establishment and paid his bill.  Too bad he got killed.  All he said about Bill Brocius was he ate a lot.    He liked Wyatt ... said he was nice.  A man of few words.

In 1886 it was sold to John Henninger who turned it into a first class place to eat.  He's pictured here with his family.

Unfortunately with the unique bunch of owners to follow, it's restaurant career came to an end.  In 1928 it became a Piggly Wiggly Market.  Finally in 1945 it was turned into a medical center by Dr. Paul Zin and Father Aull.  They treated respiratory ailments until Father Aull died in 1948.

Not much more is known about the Can Can other than it was a coin shop in the 70's, now turned into an old time photo business.  From their reviews, they need a little customer service help.  It is one of the few buildings in Tombstone that doesn't appear to have changed at all.

In 1882 law came to the frontier and the courthouse was built in the shape of a cross.  It housed not only the court, but the Sheriff's office, the jail and the treasurer's office including a huge safe.  In the back courtyard stands a replica of the gallows used to hang seven bad guys.  

The Halderman brothers, 21 and 18, killed two lawmen who went to arrest them for cattle theft.  It seems they were fighting with one of the lawmen over two women and thought they would not receive a fair trial.  They of course said the lawmen drew first.  The trial went on for some time as their family was rich and influential.  

It didn't matter ... they were sentenced to hang anyway.  Even though the family got the hanging postponed while they came up with more evidence, nothing sufficient ever appeared.  They were hung in November of 1900.  One of the girls, thinking she caused it all, committed suicide and her sister was put in an insane asylum.  

The other hangings (I know you are just SO interested in this stuff) were five cowboys who robbed a general store in Bisbee.  They didn't have a bank ... payroll was kept at the store.  Too bad they figured it wrong and the money was not there yet.  Once found out, there was a shootout resulting in the death of four people including a lawman and a pregnant woman.  Justice was swift.  

One was sentenced to prison which didn't set well with the citizens.  They drug him from the jail and hung him from a telegraph pole.  The other five were hung at the courthouse.  The five are now buried in Boot Hill Cemetery.  

Recording of mining claims had to be completed in Tucson, a rough 70 mile journey North.  The residents voted to separate from Pima County and make their own Cochise County with Tombstone it's seat.  It remained so until in 1929 when Bisbee outgrew Tombstone, it's voters changing the County seat to their own town.

The Courthouse remained vacant, with the exception of an ill fated try at the hotel business (that would have been cool) until 1955 when the restoration committee took control and it became a state park.

You can tour through every room, including up the ancient staircase to the second floor courtroom.  Definitely worth a stop.  Go early though, as Tombstone's parking spaces fill up quickly.  Even on a Thursday, it was the busiest I've ever seen it with every parking lot and square inch of dirt covered with vehicles by 10:00.

No matter where you go in Tombstone, you can see the courthouse standing high above the surrounding buildings.  

On this day some of the locals came to town.  Maybe they were on a trail ride and got lost.  Although they tried to line up for pictures, most of the horses wouldn't cooperate.  

As usual, I went from store to store, staring up at the ceilings and checking out the architecture.  I picked up a few things, but in the interest of keeping this short, I'll show you later.  Last year some of the buildings were vacant, but I'm happy to say they are all back in business.  There's a new shooting gallery at the Undertakers Office (appropriate, don't you think?) and a bakery.  OH the bakery!!!  I'll definitely be going back there!!