The Smithsonian institute commissioned the building and manning of a solar observatory high atop Harquahala Mountain in 1920. For years the observatory was manned and there were many stories to tell. To read about them check out the book section of state of Arizona and then look up the title "Harquahala Letters". There is much more in that book than can ever be said here but you will get a taste for what life was like at the turn of the century.