Cancelled envelope mailed from Calabasa, Ariz., March 7, 1886. The canceller appears to have no final "S" in the town name. The area of Calabasas had been inhabited since the late 1600’s, under various peoples and names. The Spanish name "Calabazas" was given from the wild gourds growing in this valley. Sometime between 1797 and 1828, Calabasas became a ranch, was used by the Mexican military and became the approximate site of the Fort Mason, established in 1864. The United States First Dragoons stayed two years at the old ranch and from time to time, Calabasas was used for various purposes. The name survived for the Calabasas School District. A post office which was established October 18, 1866 with Edward N. Fish as first postmaster was discontinued in 1868. The spelling was changed from Calabazas to Calabasas in 1882 and final closure of the office was enacted August 15, 1913.
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