Lake Elmira

Lake Elmira Lake Elmira is Tucson's oldest man made lake. Complected in January of 1936.The Lake was Added to the National Register of Historic Places Sep. 30th 1988.

This page is dedicated to Elmira Doakes a real life Tucson folk hero! We know the stories are mostly made up but some of us love her anyway! She was a household name in Tucson up to the mid 1950s. It was well known that she was a fictitious and fanciful legend but everyone loved her and seemed to have thier own special personal story to share about the adventures of this amazing pride of Tucson. S

he was created by a Az. Daily Star reporter named Howard Owetly way back in the summer of 37. Back then in summer before AC most people who could leave Tucson would. The Old Pueblo was vacant of news. Nothing much of note was happening! Stuck in a place with no news to report. And desperately needing something to send to print the journalist had a brilliant idea and thus our legend was born...The Legend Of Lake Elmira.

02/01/2019

So sad that historical buildings are being bulldozed, I hate that there is no way to stop it.

11/24/2018

The adventures of Elmira Doakes!
The Warlord
After Pearl Harbor In December of 1941 Joseph Doakes of Tucson wanting to be a part of the war effort he figured The Flying Tigers would be his best chance to fly again. Since he was somewhat older than the ideal the Army Air Corps was searching for. Plus he hadn't flown a plane (Spad XIII) since the great war ended 23 years earlier. So he volunteered to fly for the First American Volunteer Group in China commanded by Claire L. Chennault.
Elmira head strong and patriotic chose to join her father since she had a natural aptitude and genius for mechanics! She looked forward to fixing and maintaining planes for the AVG. Mother was a bit sad & afraid to see her little girl go into harm's way! But was reassured because she was confident in Elmira's more than adequate abilities in dealing with evil and dispatching danger! The powers she had acquired after that swim 4 years earlier Elmira could conceal it from most other people but Mothers know things!
In China Elmira was one of the squadron's best mechanics! But the head mechanic was old fashion and said she could only work 4 hours a day because after all she was a little girl. And still needed time to play and have fun like a normal young las. Elmira was a bit disturbed and irritated after all she was almost 18 ya know! Anyhow this meant she had lots of free time so whenever she wasn't fixing planes she was exploring the countryside, meeting the locals and learning the regional Chinese dialect.
In the near by village she met a Chinese girl her same age and they became fast friends and loyal lifelong pals! Her friend Yim Wing Chun was the most dazzlingly attractive young lady in the entire Provence! Yim's fiance was in Manchuria fighting with a small band partisan harassing and resisting the Japanese in small hit and run Guerrilla ops!
one day the local warlord looking for a new wife got word of Elmira's friend Yim's stunning completion and enchanting wit and charm. He came to the village and demanded her as his bride. Yim refused knowing it meant certain death to ever refuse the warlord anything! Yim thinking of her Leung the man she promised her undying love before he went to the war! Said "no you will not have me! I would best die before I ever forsake my beloved! Go to hell bastard! :/ "
The warlord thought she would be easy sport and challenged Yim to mortal combat the next spring. If she could beat him he would leave he alone for ever! Chortling He left taunting boasts of his great power and skill! Yim looked at Elmira and said "he will kill me! Look at me I'm tiny and he's huge the best fighter in the Northern Territory! It will be my doom Elmia what can I do!" The two hugged and cried! Elmira knew they the Americans had to stay out of local political disputes and such as. Elmira with her powers never felt so helpless!
Suddenly hope appeared! The two sobbing friends were interrupted by an old woman Sifu Ng Mui (The last of the 5 elders that lead the rebellion against the dark evil forces of the Loc Nar empire long ago) She told Yim and Elmira about the idea she had of new style of fighting! She had been developing a form of fighting to better suit a woman or other fighter who do not have the advantage of size and strength. A simplified martial art that can be acquired in months instead of years. All she needed was two students to teach and prove her brand new fighting theory! The girls seeing no other hope agreed to the harsh tutelage and brutal regime of Sifu Ng Mui! Elmira took to the training like a fish to water! The girls trained and sparred every day! Knowing what was at stake Elmira never let up on her friend! Relentlessly pushing Yim harder every day. Sifu was very impressed but never told them knowing the girl would need the edge uncertainty gives a fighter! She demanded perfection! "Do it again, not good enough!" "Faster" "too sloppy" she screamed over and over!
The day came and the warlord looked confidently at Yim saying "I will give you one last chance. Marry me and be satisfied for the rest of you life or die! What do you say?" Yim shouted "Bastard!" like lighting slipped and closed with a quick flurry of strait punches to the chest of the beast followed by a right uppercut stunning and shocking the giant. Yim was surprised looked at Elmira saying "It works!" She took the initiative and gave him everything with the heart of a Dragon and ferocity of a Honey Badger! Sifu and Elmira cheered as their style was proven in front of every one! Yes without sustaining Lasting damage Yim broke the warlords spirit cutting him down handily. Finishing him with a gracful ax kick to the face! He lay there out cold lifeless! Yim's heart dropped "oh no I killed him" but just then the sweaty oaf began moving to his hands and knees. He apologized to Yim who was relieved and delighted that she wasn't a killer. Motioned to Elmira and they both helped the warlord to his feet! Yim hugged her vanquished opponent as she told him "be nicer and maybe you'll find a woman that wants you for you! Ya old Bastard!"
All the town cheered and laughed! All the girls in town wanted to learn the new self defense! Happily Sifu agreed!
Sifu Ng Mui asked her girls Yim and Elmira her first two students to help teach in the new Girl's Self Defense Academy? The school and new fighting style was named after the first person to demonstrate it in mortal combat Elmira's Bff Yim Wing Chun! (Based on a true story)

11/18/2018

Old newspaper clipping about Elmira.

11/18/2018

Can you believe this guy?!
Help I'm being cyber bullied with the most slanderous hurtful accusations and stuff! I believe I shan't pry the back of the wrist from me forehead anytime in the near future!
"Ok, I have written abut this a number of times. This whole story, as well as Elmira Doakes herself is a huge myth. She never existed and is in fact a figment of the imagination of an almost out of work newspaper reporter trying to keep his job by increasing circulation of his newspaper here in Tucson. I could go back through my posts and retrieve his name, but I am kind of aggravated right this moment, so I will leave that to you all to do. The plaque hanging by the underpass here in Tucson was not/is not approved by the City of Tucson or anything else. It was placed there by private individuals intent on furthering the myth of this fictitious person and their own senses of humor. Tell your friends and neighbors if you will, but also fill them in on the REAL story as well. She never existed"

11/17/2018

El Tour de Tucson happening this weekend

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Tucson, AZ
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