The 12 photographs on this calendar are closeups of very weathered paint on the metal surfaces of an abandoned dump truck at Ruby Ghost Town near Nogales, Arizona, taken on a Green Valley Recreation Photography Club outing on Nov. 17, 2023. The back cover shows some additional (mostly zoomed-out) photos of the dump truck for context. Here is a portion of the GVR event write-up – the history talk before the photography event was fascinating and fun! Ruby, located about 12 miles beyond Arivaca, was an active mining town producing the most lead and zinc in Arizona in the 1930's. The history is extensive, beginning in the 1700s with the discovery of gold and silver. At one point, the population of the town reached a peak of about 1200 tough citizens. And with the number of murders, including a couple of double homicides, you obviously would have to be! In May 1975, Ruby was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Restoration plans have been in the works for some time but, unfortunately, have not made much progress. As a result, the remaining dozen or so buildings are in various stages of decay. There is a lake on the 300-acre property and lots of mine tailings that look like beautiful white sand; the original name of the region was "Oro Blanco," or white gold. This will be an on-guided tour so you will be able to wander, photograph, and enjoy the property at your leisure. However, Leslie will give a history of Ruby on arrival. For books, calendars, blogs, and much more, visit BruceRawles.com