Puzzles

There are (and will be) many puzzling questions regarding various aspects of US 89.
Here we begin with some of the Arizona puzzles we will seek to solve.

Puzzle #1

Various Arizona trail, wagon road and early auto road maps prior to 1920 do not show a logical, continuous route for what would become US 89.  US 89 sprang into full bloom in 1926 as one of the first US numbered north-south highways.  How did US 89's final route get chosen?  And by whom?
What considerations went into the choice of route before the stamp of finality was placed upon it in 1926?

Puzzle #2

What was the original route from Phoenix to Prescott?  When did the process begin to completely realign that route into today's configuration?  AN early Arizona road map shows the current alignment "under construction" approx. two years before issuance of the milestone 1926 map that promulgated the first US numbered highways.  Was the decision already made that US 89 would be THE major north-south route in Arizona? Who lobbied for the funds necessary to build the new alignment?  How long did the project take?  (And many other questions.)

Puzzle #3

What role did the Honeymoon Trail play in selecting the final alignment of US 89 as shown on the 1926 map?  Was there a political-economic movement afoot to envision US 89 and a connection between Mexico and the Salt Lake Valley?  Why did the first 1926 designation of US 89 end at Spanish Fork and not Salt Lake City?  What role did the LDS play in selecting the final alignment of US 89? Did the designation of US 89 as shown in 1926 play a role in obtaining funding for construction of The Navajo Bridge to replace Lees Ferry?

Puzzle #4

We're hoping to finally get to the bottom of Highway 89A through Jerome, Clarkdale, Cottonwood and Sedona.  We know it was originally State Route 79.  When did it become 89A?  Was is US 89A at one time?  How did the designation change and when?

Puzzle #5

We've read many times that  Arizona's US 89 signs did not include either "US" or the word "Arizona".  Is this true?  It seems unusual back in the late 1920's when conformity to the new US numbering system was highly regarded.  Have there been variants of the signs marking US 89 in Arizona?

Note the US 89A sign in this photo.  It uses both "Arizona" and "US" on the sign.  The print is supposedly from an original slide.  We have asked the eBay seller if we can get a "statement of authenticity" and a small print from the original slide.

Puzzle #6

This puzzle concerns a much wider array of American highways than just US 89 but the puzzle is germane enough to be of interest.  As auto travel increased dramatically, so-called "auto courts" sprang up like spring grasses along the routes of all American highways.  US 89 was no exception.  Our puzzling question is whether these auto courts were built with off-the-shelf, cookie-cutter plans or if most of them were individually designed by local builders?  The vernacular architectural of the auto courts seems to contain so many common elements it begs the question as to whether a centralized vendor offered auto court plans for sale.

There are a few other  pressing puzzles that we haven't quite put into words yet.  But you get the picture.  Lots of questions to be answered!