The Ted White Tour Part 1 - The Plaza

In Arizona Guy, Ted White comes to Ajo to house sit for his aunt and uncle.  They aren't home to meet him as planned.  Ted's first step to locate them is to check around town to see if he can find them.  Thus the Ted White Tour.  This section has photographs of Ajo the way it really is.  Notes are given on place names as depicted in the book.  (These pictures were taken by the author's brother, Ronald Spitzer, on a visit from Michigan in April, 2013.)

THE PLAZA

On the right at the Plaza is the original depot for the Tucson, Cornelia, and Gila Bend Railroad.  Copper from the smelter was taken out as anodes on this railroad.  When the mine closed it became the Depot Diner, which also sold ice cream cones.  Later it became the headquarters of Project PPEP.  Today the depot has become the Ajo District Chamber of Commerce.  In the Ted White mystery series this is the location of The Milky Whey, an ice cream shop.

Another part of the Plaza shows the signature archway and the former Phelps Dodge Mercantile Company.  In the Ted White Mystery Series it is depicted as the Ajo Gift Gallery.  Copper Coffee Shop was on this side of the Plaza for many years.  When it closed the restaurant became successively Copper Kettle, Ajo Lily, and Ajo in the Wall.  In Arizona Guy the restaurant is called Copper Café.

On the west side of the Plaza are two churches. Shown above is Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. To the right is Ajo Federated Church. In Arizona Guy 2 the Federated Church will be called the Ajo Community Church. Ted White will become its choir director.

Shown is the north side of the Plaza which at one time contained the Recreation Hall.  Today it contains the offices of the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Si Como No, Oasis Cafe, Ajo Eye Care, and the U.S. Post Office.

The flag of the United States of America flies high above the center of the Plaza.  The Plaza was built to be the gathering place for all Ajoites.