August 2025
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On Aug. 5, Lois McFarland passed after more than 45 years sharing stories of Scottsdale and its rich history.
Lois was born in Watsonville, California, on April 9, 1931, and was raised in Clovis, California. She graduated from Fresno State University with a degree in journalism in 1953. After moving to Scottsdale with her husband Loren, Lois became a columnist for the Scottsdale Progress and Scottsdale Tribune for 21 years. Since 2001, she has been a correspondent and photographer for the Arizona Republic contributing stories about Scottsdale.
Lois authored portions of three books about Scottsdale history. She also contributed many articles in newspapers and magazines.
Lois served on the Scottsdale Historic Preservation Commission, the Scottsdale Library board, Scottsdale Sister Cities board, the Scottsdale Historical Society Advisory board, Scottsdale Leadership Inc.'s public relations committee, the Herb Drinkwater and Winfield Scott Memorial Sculpture fundraising committees and much more.
In 2002, Lois was inducted into the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame.
See the complete obituary.
Scottsdale Neighborhood College opens registration for the Fall 2025 session
Registration is now open for the fall session of Scottsdale Neighborhood College. The classes are offered without charge and include the following history presentations.
Stories from the Files of the Scottsdale Police Department
1-3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th St. (just south of Carefree Highway). Direct from the files of the Scottsdale Police Department come fascinating crimes that happened in Scottsdale! Cases include an explosive situation at a city facility that targeted a city employee and a bank robbery that started in Scottsdale and led to an international manhunt. NOTE: Not appropriate for children. Presenter: Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale. Register.
Hallowed Tales of Scottsdale
7-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Scottsdale Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road. Join us for a fall storytelling classic! Our storyteller digs into the archive to share stories of people in Scottsdale whose lives came to an unusual end over the last 85 years. Could these people be the ghosts that haunt the buildings of Old Town? Did you know the building we host the event in was called "the most haunted building in Scottsdale" by a local ghost tour company? Presenter: Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale. Register.
Nightmare in McCormick Ranch
9-11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Scottsdale Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road. Prepare for a deep dive into a homicide from the 1980s that divided friends and relatives. Could a Scottsdale man kill his wife while in a "dissociated state" and not be a further threat to society? Explore the consequences in response to this case that received national attention. Presenter: Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale. Register.
The Scottsdale Waterfront: From Desert to Destination
1-3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, at the Mustang Library Auditorium, 10101 N. 90th St. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, Scottsdale's Old Town got a new vision. The couplet roadways were built through Old Town, the shopping mall was expanded, and new apartments, condos and businesses were built on the Arizona Canal. Learn about the visionaries who transformed Old Town into the vibrant downtown that is still growing and developing. This is a new presentation. Presenter: Bruce Wall. Register.
For more information, visit Scottsdale Neighborhood College or you can watch videos of previous presentations.
How good was the price Winfield and Helen Scott paid for their land?
In 1888, Winfield and Helen Scott put a down payment on 640 square acres of land that today would correspond to Indian School Road to Chaparral Road, Scottsdale Road to Hayden Road. They paid $2.50 an acre because of the Desert Land Act of 1877 which reduced the price to encourage farmers and ranchers to come to the western U.S. and cultivate the land. They had to pay water rights on top of the price of the land.
The price paid for the land was so good, when Helen sold it after Winfield passed, she received $25 per acre, setting her up for a comfortable retirement in San Diego where her daughter and son-in-law were living.
But how would that compare today? Some of the land in Old Town Scottsdale is used for right-of-way, easements, public space and more and would now sell for $392 per square foot. There are 43,560 square feet in a square acre so according to the Scottsdale Planning Department, they estimated current value at approximately $10 billion.
As they used to say back in the day, "That's a lot of dough!"
Scottsdale Remembers World War II at the Cattletrack Arts Compound
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Started in 1942, Thunderbird Airfield 2 trained more than 5,000 pilots for World War II. Q&A: What is Thunderbird Airfield called today? See the answer below. |
In honor of Veterans Day, join Scottsdale historian and U.S. Air Force veteran Joan Fudala for a photo-rich presentation, "Scottsdale Remembers World War II" at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at the Cattletrack Arts Compound, 6105 N. Cattletrack Road. This year, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in which Scottsdale people served and supported. Come learn more about the impact the war had on Scottsdale, and the impact Scottsdale and its people had on the war effort. Cattletrack itself was the site of fascinating wartime history; all will be revealed.
Scottsdale Garden Club Partnership
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A Scottsdale Garden Club display from 2013. |
Did you know that, in addition to partnering with the Scottsdale Garden Club to host some of the past flower shows at the Scottsdale Libraries, the Scottsdale Heritage Connection digital collection holds many images from previous flower shows and past Scottsdale Garden Club yearbooks?
Go to ScottsdaleLibrary.org and search the catalog using the keywords "Scottsdale Garden Club digital" to explore the impressive floral displays and events organized by the club over the years.
Please stay tuned, as we will be adding more materials soon!
See Scottsdale Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow at the Scottsdale Public Library
Watch this fall for a new series of talks at the Scottsdale Public Library called Scottsdale Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow.
Scottsdale History 101
5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. As the city's 75th anniversary approaches, take this opportunity to hear all about Scottsdale from the city's honored historian, Joan Fudala. Whether you're new to Scottsdale or you've been here all your born days, you will enjoy Joan's historical perspective on our fair city, from its beginnings to the present day. Information.
The Pioneers Built Scottsdale
5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Civic Center Library. Hear stories of the early pioneers of Scottsdale who settled here before most modern conveniences were available. You'll hear about the first business on Main Street, our first businesswoman, Scottsdale's first incredible entrepreneur and their legacy. We'll also explore the story behind the founding of Scottsdale High School and the family that donated the land to the school district. Presented by Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale. Information.
What's in a Name? How Scottsdale Streets, Parks and Places, Got Their Names
5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 8, at the Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th St. Ever wonder how a street, park, neighborhood or building got its name? Scottsdale historian Joan Fudala will present a photo-rich presentation that identifies and honors the men and women for whom our special spaces are named. Some may surprise you! Information.
Never forgotten - Scottsdale lunch event will honor POW/MIA service members
Friday, Sept. 19 is National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and the city of Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission is hosting a free luncheon in honor of those who were prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action.
The program features a special presentation from community historian Joan Fudala, who will offer insight into members of the local community who were or are POW/MIA.
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19
Scottsdale Community Design Studio (7506 E. Indian School Road)
The event is free, but registration is required.
McDowell Sonoran Conservancy PastFinders: Story of the Indian Bend Wash
5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at the Mustang Library Auditorium, 10101 N. 90th St. This presentation covers the complete story of the Indian Bend Wash flood control project and the many steps that made this project possible. A great number of hurdles had to be overcome for this unprecedented project. In the end, the completed Indian Bend Wash project helped establish Scottsdale as a place of imagination, with a willingness to go the extra mile and as a trend setter. Presenter: Don Hadder, Sr., Scottsdale Historical Society. More information.
Gunfire on Brown Avenue: Scottsdale's 1948 Family Feud, Part 1
By Tom Droze, Docent, Scottsdale Historical Society
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Alfredo Corral's Maricopa County booking photo from the Arizona Republic. |
On Saturday night, Aug. 21, 1948, a two-year feud between two Scottsdale families led to a gunfight on Brown Avenue, in which one man was killed, and another was wounded. Killed in the gunfight was 45-year-old Benito Cadena, and wounded was 22-year-old Alfredo Corral, part-owner of the Los Olivos restaurant.
The gunfight took place near the Marx Shell Service station, located on the southeast corner of Main Street and Brown Avenue, where the Bank of Douglas would be built six years later, and Bischoffs Gallery is located today at 3925 N. Brown Ave.
Before the gunfight, it was reported by Constable Al Frederick, that Cadena had tried to fight Corral as he approached the service station. Cadena brandished his seven-shot .45 caliber handgun. Corral was unarmed so he went back to his home to retrieve his eight-shot .32 caliber handgun.
Based on a statement from Corral, Cadena fired first as he approached the scene. During the gunfight, both men emptied their guns with Cadena suffering a fatal wound to the back of his head and a wound to the left groin area. Corral suffered a flesh wound to his left thigh. It was not considered serious, but it required hospitalization. After being released from the hospital, Corral was held in the county jail.
In part 2, we'll learn about the investigation, the coroner's jury, and the court case that followed.
The Scottsdale Historical Museum will open for the season from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3. Starting in October, the museum will be open the regular time 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October to April. To learn more about Scottsdale's history or to volunteer as a docent, check out the Scottsdale Historical Society.
Answer to Q&A
Today, Thunderbird Airfield 2 is now called the Scottsdale Airport, and it anchors the Scottsdale Airpark, one of the largest employment centers in the state.
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