By Becky Maxedon

This is one in a series of stories about Wood’s early days in Lake Havasu City.

The early residents of Lake Havasu City are usually referred to as “pioneers” and they fit the definition of the word perfectly.

One such pioneer is Missy Wood.

Missy Wood. Photo courtesy Ashley Wood

Wood came to Lake Havasu City with her family from Martinton, a small town in Illinois.

“When I say small, I went to grade school and high school with the same 22 kids which became 48 in high school.

“We lived in the country and had no paved roads to speak of, everything was gravel except for the main highways,” she said.

“I came to Lake Havasu in August of 1967.”

Wood’s parents, Wayne and Alice Brown, came to Lake Havasu City on a Holly flight in March or April of 1964, at which time they, along with her uncle and cousin purchased lots.

“In 1965, they brought my sister Penny and brother Steve and me out to Havasu to see where they were planning to move. We came out in July and believe me when I say it was hot.

An aerial view of what is now currently called the “Island” in 1965. Photo courtesy Jay Coombs

“We had a pick-up truck with a raised cover on the back in which my dad had built some wooden seats between the back of the pick-up and the tire well. He hooked up a walkie talkie between the front and the back. No air conditioning anywhere.

“When we got closer to Havasu, which was a dirt road into town from the highway, my sister Penny got on the intercom and said, ‘Mom, if you want to fry a hamburger, just put it in the ice chest.’”

The family stayed at what is now known as Crazy Horse Campground.

“Our spot had a picnic table, and the out houses were a ways away from our spot. I remember during the night, Penny and I got up, took a sleeping bag and went outside and slept on the picnic table. There was a little breeze.”

During the visit, the family looked at the lot and Wood said although the roads were mostly gravel, it didn’t seem out of line because it was the same where they were living in Illinois.

The lot they bought was on Widgeon Lane – within walking distance to where Lake Havasu High School was to be bult.

“I was graduating from high school in May of 1966, so this didn’t mean too much to me, but Penny was just starting her freshman year, and Steve was still in grade school level so we were hoping Smoketree would be opening soon.”

The family returned to Illinois. Wood graduated and began business college in the fall of 1966.

“In February of 1967, my parents had packed up and headed out to Havasu to start building our home. They came back to get me and close up our home in Martinton in June of 67.”

Progress had been made on the house at that point. The basement was completed and the upstairs had studs and a roof.

“That summer, Havasu had a horrendous storm and the wind that accompanied it took off the roof of our home. It left everything in the garage exposed and Dad wanted to get back as soon as possible, so we packed up pretty quickly. The U-Haul was attached to the truck, and I drove the car back out to our broken home,” Wood said.

“When Mom and Dad originally came out in February, Penny and Steve had come with them. Penny had to ride the bus to Kingman High School. She had to be at Claypool’s (our only grocery store, hardware store and restaurant (counter) in Havasu) at 5 a.m., to catch the bus. Smoketree (four little attached buildings) was the little grade school which Steve attended.”

Aerial photo of the corner of McCulloch Blvd and Smoketree Ave. where Claypool’s is. Photographer Ken Brown. Photo courtesy Lake Havasu Museum of History.

Wood said McCulloch Boulevard and Smoketree Avenue were the center of town at that time.

“(There was) Claypool’s, a row of buildings housing businesses and right across from that was Valley National Bank. Up the street a little was Gene Duhon’s Pharmacy. That was a far as the street paving went.”

Wood’s story will continue in a future installment in RiverScene Magazine.