October 2024
|
|
Jeryl Brown, the great-granddaughter of E.O. Brown and granddaughter of E.E. "Big Brownie" Brown at the opening of the Browns Ranch interpretive trail. |
The Browns Ranch Interpretive Trail opened Oct. 18 in the northern most section of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve at Browns Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Parkway.
The land around the Browns Ranch Trail was first occupied by the Hohokam thousands of years ago and then by the O'odham, Yavapai and Apache peoples. The US military followed and then the ranchers. Thirty years ago, the land was acquired by Scottsdale and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve was created.
This area was first ranched by the partnership of E.O. Brown and Wilford Hayden (Hayden Road in Scottsdale is named after Wilford and Maddie Hayden). E.O. Brown's son E.E. Brown, also known as "Big Brownie," ranched cattle at Browns Ranch until his death in 1966.
Representing the Brown family at the event was Jeryl Brown Varsolona, the granddaughter of E.E. Brown and the great-granddaughter of E.O. Brown. Her siblings Carl and Virden Brown were also in attendance and together they shared stories about what the ranch was like between the 1940s and 1960s.
The Oldest Buildings in Scottsdale - Part 2
By Tom Droze
Thanks to Tom Droze, a local history buff, and a docent at the Scottsdale Historical Museum, we're able to share this three-part countdown on the oldest buildings in the city, featuring his thorough research on the subject:
|
The exterior of Johnny Rose's Pool Hall taken around 1914. |
8. Johnny Rose's Pool Hall - Located at 3933 N. Brown Avenue. The original wood structure was built in 1914 and was rebuilt in 1923. Purchased by the Jew Chew Song family in 1929, the business became known as J. Chew Market and had transitioned into Mexican Imports by January 1967. It was then placed on the city of Scottsdale Historic Register on Oct. 3, 2000.
7. Sterling Drug Store - Located at 7254 E. Main St, this building was built in 1921 and became the home of Saba's Department Store during July 1948. Today, this building is the home of Sunrise Jewelry and Gallery and was placed on the city of Scottsdale Historic Register May 1, 2001.
6. Farmers State Bank of Scottsdale - Located at 7245 E. Main Street, Farmers State Bank of Scottsdale opened for business in this new building on January 15, 1921, as Scottsdale's first bank. Farmers State Bank of Scottsdale closed March 2, 1933, for a "bank holiday" and never reopened. Since 1951, this building has been the home of the Rusty Spur Saloon and was placed on the city of Scottsdale Historical Register May 23, 2000.
5. A.F. Mahoney Mercantile - Located at 3937 N. Brown Avenue, the A.F. Mahoney Mercantile was built in 1920 and became the home of the Basket House during September 1952. The Basket House closed in 1983. Today, this building is the home of Scottsdale Southwest Gifts and Apparel. This is one of two buildings on this list with no historic registration.
We'll wrap up this countdown with the four oldest buildings in the next issue.
For more information on Scottsdale history, check out the Scottsdale Historical Society or visit the Scottsdale Historical Museum at the Little Red Schoolhouse, 7333 E. Scottsdale Mall.
Sign up now for History presentations with Neighborhood College
The fall 2024 session of Neighborhood College has two presentations in the Stories of Scottsdale History Series.
- Murder in the First Degree: Two Stories that Shocked Scottsdale. 6-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, at the Scottsdale Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road and repeated 1-3 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 6, at the Mustang Library Auditorium, 10101 N. 90th St. Learn about two cases where the suspect 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 repercussions for all the future convicted murderers in Arizona. The second happened in 2010 and was overshadowed by another case in another jurisdiction. This is a repeat presentation from the spring 2024 session. Presenter: Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale.
- Treasures of Scottsdale: Two Exceptional Stories, 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13 at the ASU Kerr Cultural Center, 6110 N. Scottsdale Road and repeated 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Scottsdale Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road. From a transplanted cowboy who sings while on horseback to a former adobe home now used as a concert venue, Scottsdale has many treasures that make it exceptional. Presenter: Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale.
You can find out more information, register for these presentations, or watch videos of past presentations.
Save these dates to hear Scottsdale Historian Joan Fudala
Our city historian Joan Fudala will be presenting on Scottsdale history in January. Mark your calendars and don't miss out!
- Yee-haw! Parada del Sol through the years. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, at the Mustang Library Auditorium, 10101 N. 90th St.
- Horsin' Around: Scottsdale's Equestrian History. 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30 at the Museum of the West, 3830 N. Marshall Way. Check the Museum's website to verify the date and time.
History videos added to Scottsdale Heritage Connection
|
Photo by Greg Woodall of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. |
Recently processed for the Scottsdale Heritage Connection digital collection is the donated Greg Woodall Collection of slides. These slides were used for presentations during the planning and development stages of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and contain views of the Preserve before development and also archeological features within the McDowell Mountain region.
The brother of Preserve pioneer Carla, Archaeologist Greg Woodall grew up in Scottsdale exploring the mountains and desert that would become the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. During his service on the 1992 McDowell Mountain Task Force, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission and the 1997 Desert Perseveration Task Force, Greg was responsible for drawing the future Preserve boundary, mapping the wildlife corridors and siting future access areas. Search in the library catalog for "Greg Woodall Collection" to see these unique images.
Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library hosting Historical Exhibit
The Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library is hosting "An Unlikely Pair" Exhibit at the Scottsdale Heritage Connection Gallery within the Scottsdale Civic Center Library at 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. The exhibit features a collaboration between Scottsdale Architect Douglas Sydnor, FAIA, and a Brooklyn Public Artist Vito Acconci, for the award-winning 1994-1997 Loloma Multimodal Transit Center.
The Transit Cener fully integrated the architecture and public art in a singular vision, that is expressed consistently throughout the features and details. The exhibit includes a 100-year timeframe from 1920s to date, and shows the historic evolution of the project site, the 1994-1997 project design process and construction, and recent developments such as the Museum of the West.
The exhibit is made possible through support from the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library, a Scottsdale Community Arts Grant, and Douglas Sydnor Architect and Associates, Inc. The exhibit will be open to the public during library hours from Oct. 16, 2024, to Feb. 1, 2025. More information.
Loloma Multimodal Transit Center Field Tour and Talk
From 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9 at the northwest corner of Marshall Way and 2nd Street, Doug Sydnor will be conducting a Loloma Multimodal Transit Center Field Tour and Talk. There is no cost to attend, but the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library do ask that that you RSVP by emailing [email protected].
Civic Center Library Hosts Desert Dark: Arizona Crime Stories
True crime in Scottsdale and Arizona will be the focus of the series "Desert Dark: Arizona Crime Stories," Nov. 7-9, at the Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. One of the presentations is "Scoundrels, Rascals & Cutthroats, and the Scottsdale Lawmen Who Caught Them" 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7. This presentation tells the story of the first double homicide in Scottsdale from 1901 and a murder of a town councilman in 1954. More information.
You may also visit us at ScottsdaleAZ.gov. This email was sent to ....
Unsubscribe or manage your email subscriptions here.
If this message was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here.
© 2024 City of Scottsdale. All Rights Reserved.