January 2024
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- The Great Desert Escape - 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, Mustang Library Auditorium, 10101 N. 90th St. A special presentation for the 80th anniversary this year of the largest escape of prisoners of war in North American during World War II that happened in Scottsdale. Join historian and author Keith Warren Lloyd as he explores the factors leading up to the escape, the escape itself and the aftermath. Instructor: Keith Warren Lloyd.
- Treasures of Scottsdale: The Extraordinary Ellis Family - 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, Cattletrack Arts Compound, 6105 N. Cattletrack Road. For more than 70 years, the Cattle Track Arts Compound has been a hub of creativity and innovation in Scottsdale. Its influence reaches around the globe and back again, and yet the site has remained off the radar of most residents and visitors. The family behind this one-of-a-kind home for the arts traces their Scottsdale roots back to just a few years after the founding of the State of Arizona. Their contributions to the community, state and nation have been truly extraordinary! A tour of the gallery and workshop led by Cattletrack Arts and Preservation volunteer will begin at 6 p.m. followed by a presentation at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited. This is an in-person presentation. Instructor: Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale.
- Murder in the First Degree: Two cases that shocked Scottsdale - 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, Mustang Library Auditorium, 10101 N. 90th St. 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, March 18, Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road. Learn about two cases where the perpetrator planned and prepared for the murder of their victim - which made them first-degree murder cases. The first happened in the 1960s and led to repercussion for all the convicted murderers to follow. The second more recent case was solved using DNA from family members to identify the victim. This is an in-person new presentation. Instructor: Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale.
- The Fruit of the Poisonous Tree - 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St, Building B. It began as an extramarital affair in the Bisbee/Sierra Vista area of southern Arizona. It led to the murder of the wife's husband in Scottsdale in 1976. During the investigation, the suspects made a mistake and were apprehended by Scottsdale's finest. But no one could predict what happened at the trial! This is an in-person presentation. Instructor: Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale.
Get additional information on additional classes or register for these history classes.
Save these dates
- "The West's Most Western Town and the History of the Parada Del Sol." 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1 at Scottsdale's Museum of the West, 3830 N. Marshall Way. Join community historian Joan Fudala for a photo-rich talk celebrating the best of Scottsdale. Free to Scottsdale residents, non-resident must pay the museum entrance fee.
- 2024 Founders Day - mark your calendars for 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 26th for the 2024 Founders Day celebration in front of the Little Red Schoolhouse at 7333 E. Scottsdale Mall. This year marks the 136th year since the founding of Scottsdale when Winfield and Helen Scott purchased their land and began promoting the area. Feb. 26 marks the 187th birthday of Winfield Scott and the 114th year since the Little Red Schoolhouse was officially opened as Scottsdale Grammar School with Winfield Scott presiding over the event. This year's celebration will be a combined effort of the city of Scottsdale and the Scottsdale Historical Society with assistance by the Daughters of the American Revolution Winfield Scott Chapter. Joan Fudala will host the celebration. Mayor David D. Ortega will read a proclamation making Feb. 26 as Founder's Day in Scottsdale.
- Women's History Month display featuring women in Scottsdale will be featured at the Scottsdale Heritage Connection at Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. in March 2024!
- "How the Arizona Craftsmen Launched Scottsdale's Post-World War II Cultural Cachet" 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 29, Mustang Library Auditorium, 10101 N. 100th St. A hometown happy hour talk presented by Community Historian Joan Fudala.
When Santa Herb came to town!
Recently added to the Scottsdale Heritage Connection's digital collection are pictures of Councilman Herb Drinkwater in 1972 dressed as Santa Claus for Civic Center Library's third annual "Christmas Around the Yule Log." According to a Scottsdale Progress article, Drinkwater (aka Santa) handed out treats to the children. The other amazing activity was a 10-foot-long blazing yule log outside the library for this event and a reading by Penny Steiner of "Shrimpy the Starfish."
Herb ran for mayor of Scottsdale in 1980 and was re-elected three times until 1996 and is still considered Scottsdale's beloved mayor.
Search the Scottsdale Public Library's catalog for "Drinkwater Santa 1972" to catch some holiday Herb!
Famous alumna
This alumna of a Scottsdale high school and her siblings were born in Phoenix before Scottsdale had a hospital. They grew up when McDonald Road was considered miles north of Scottsdale and she and her siblings could ride their horses to Camelback Mountain without running into another person. Her father invited an artist to live on his property and it developed into an arts colony that continues to this day. It's probably one of Scottsdale's best kept secrets - but it's not supposed to be a secret!
Scroll down to find out who this famous alumnus is.
Photo credit: Ancestry.com U.S. school yearbooks
Old-Fashioned Pancake Breakfast supports Scottsdale Historical Society
The Scottsdale Historical Society held an Old-Fashioned Pancake Breakfast fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 11, in front of the Little Red Schoolhouse, 7333 E. Scottsdale Mall in Old Town Scottsdale.
More than 75 people were there to enjoy some pancakes expertly prepared by the Scottsdale Firefighters.
The event was sponsored by the Scottsdale Firefighters Association and SRP.
For more information on the Scottsdale Historical Museum at the Little Red Schoolhouse, check out the Scottsdale Historical Society website.
Founder's Day celebrations throughout the years
February 26th will be this year's celebration of Founders Day, but this is far from the first Founders Day in Scottsdale.
In the 1950s, Pioneer Days were observed at the Winfield Scott Junior High on the campus of Scottsdale High School. Verner Vanderhoof was present to talk about Winfield Scott. Vanderhoof moved to Arizona in 1892 as a young man and knew Winfield Scott as a friend and mentor. There were no other people in Scottsdale who personally knew Scott.
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In 2002, Dora Jolly and Thelma Holveck attended Founders Day. Both were graduates of Scottsdale High School and were active with the Scottsdale Historical Society. |
In the late 1980s, Roberta Pilcher and "Scott Friends" began organizing Founders Day honoring Winfield Scott's Feb. 26th birthday. Speakers such as historian Bill Phillips and State Historian Marshall Trimble spoke about Scott and his importance to Scottsdale and Arizona.
This has morphed into the Founders Day celebration that we observe today. Since 2022, the city partnered with Scottsdale Historical Society to present the day. The Daughters of the American Revolution Winfield Scott Chapter have shared punch and cookies with attendees.
In 2021, we had a unique pandemic virtual Founders Day that featured State Historian Marshall Trimble, community historian Joan Fudala, and storyteller Bruce Wall.
You can be part of the 2024 Founders Day at the Little Red Schoolhouse at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 26.
Answer to famous alumna
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Janie Ellis from the Cattletrack Arts Compound. |
Janie Ellis is the middle child of George and Rachael Ellis who purchased the land in 1938 that would become the Cattletrack Arts Compound. Although it's been around for more than 85 years, many Scottsdale residents don't know about the incredible artists and programs presented at Cattletrack. It's open to the public and you can go on tours arranged through the Andaz Resort at 6114 N Scottsdale Road. You can also sign up to get notified of the next Cattletrack Talks monthly program from their website.
Janie and her siblings attended the Loloma School and Scottsdale High School where they graduated. Janie attended Texas Christian University for a year before becoming a professional ballet dancer for the New York City Ballet. She danced for more than a dozen years under the master choreographer George Balanchine. She returned to Scottsdale and has choreographed countless local high school productions where her mother sewed the costumes.
Janie has been recognized with the Drinkwater Community Leadership Award by Scottsdale Leadership. She was named to the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame in 2013 by the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce.
Photo credit: Scottsdale Progress
Next Time
You won't want to miss our Scottsdale History March Newsletter with information on the spring Scottsdale history classes. There will be more news and resources about Scottsdale history to come!
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