Built Circa 1875 "Granary"

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Tucked into the hillside of Casa de Rues stands a piece of living history: a hand-hewn granary built around 1875, making it 150 years old as of 2025. Believed to be one of the oldest pioneer structures still standing in Apache County, this granary tells a story that spans generations—linking early Mormon settlers, the outlaw trails of the Arizona Territory, and the enduring legacy of the Hale family.

Constructed using saddle-notched logs and wide plank walls, the granary was originally used to store grain, lime, and hides. Inside, the air still carries the scent of time—and hanging from the rafters, the original animal hides remain, untouched. Its rugged design and weathered beauty even drew the attention of Hollywood—serving as a backdrop for the 1950s Western classic Return of the Texan, starring Walter Brennan.

During restoration, a remarkable discovery was made beneath the sawdust and lime:

• A love letter dated August 5, 1889, written by Walter A. Eager, a Mormon pioneer
• A bullet mold used for frontier ammunition
• A leather bag of unmarked pioneer pinto beans, tied with yellow cord and still intact
• And a pair of hand-tooled cowboy chaps, heavily worn, likely used by a working cattleman or outlaw during the height of Arizona’s territorial era

The chaps, stiff with time and coated in fine lime dust, are still housed in the granary today. Their stitching, cuts, and weathering speak of a man who lived in the saddle—possibly one who rode with or ran from the infamous Ike Clanton gang, who were known to roam this region in the late 1800s.

The letter, addressed to Eager’s wife Clara, speaks of loneliness, love, and the unforgiving terrain of the Arizona frontier. In a symbolic twist, Vernal Rue Hale—for whom Casa de Rues is named—passed away on August 5, 2018, exactly 127 years after the letter was written.

Though its earliest use may have been tied to survival and frontier preparation, Rue Hale later used the granary to store grain inside repurposed military gun tubes, reflecting his practical mindset and no-nonsense approach to ranch life.

The granary also sits just miles from trails once traveled by Ike Clanton and his Cowboys. One of them, Billy Evans, murdered James Hale—an ancestor of the Hale family—on Christmas Day, further binding this land to the raw history of the American West.

Today, Casa de Rues is operated by Rue’s grandsons, Wesley Walker and Quincy Walker, who have preserved the granary not as a museum—but as a living part of the ranch. The building stands as it always has, with its original features intact, its history preserved, and its story waiting to be experienced by the next generation.