ORACLE is a small, unincorporated, Arizona
mountain town founded in 1880. Its population is
approximately 3500, not including cattle, horses,
and wild critters. The town is located in Pinal
County 30 miles north of Tucson city limits.
Oracle is at an elevation of 4500 feet on the
northeastern slopes of the Santa Catalina
Mountains. The hilly countryside is covered with
mesquite, emory and gray oak, cat-claw acacia, bear
grass, prickly pear and cholla cactus. There are large
outcroppings of rock known to geologists as Oracle
Granite. The diverse wildlife includes hawk, quail,
roadrunner, coyote, javelina, deer, rabbit, bobcat,
and an occasional mountain lion or bear.
The story of how Oracle got its name begins with
AlbertWeldon of New Brunswick, Canada.Weldon
made the trip to theWestern United States around
South America aboard his uncle's ship, The Oracle,
built in Bath,Maine and launched in October, 1876.
In 1878, AlbertWeldon, Jimmy Lee of Ireland, and
AlexMcKay of Scotland joined forces to prospect
for gold and silver. Starting fromTucson, they began
to explore the north side of the Santa Catalina
Mountains.
Weldon, Lee andMcKay staked claims in 1878.Weldon
and Lee, who discovered the first mine, named it The
Oracle. According toMcKay, interviewed some 50 years
later,Weldon had been impressed by the sea-worthiness
and good fortune of his uncle's ship in withstanding the
fierce storms usually encountered on a voyage around
Cape Horn.
