December 2025
|
On Nov. 3, we lost another great Scottsdale resident who left a legacy unlike any other. Bill Walton, the man known as the "Father of the Indian Bend Wash," lived to be 96.
Bill was born and raised in Kewanee, Illinois on June 19, 1929. While attending Kewanee High School, he was the starting quarterback, and was named all-conference in both football and basketball. He also served as the senior class president.
Bill graduated from Monmouth College and met Barbara "Bobbie" Faus. They were married and spent 67 years together until her passing in 2019. He served in the U.S. Marine Corp during the Korean War as a communications specialist. After graduating with a degree in Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University, the Waltons relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona.
In 1964, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers proposed to fix the problem of seasonal flooding with a concrete flood channel to run down the middle of Scottsdale. Bill wrote an opinion piece in the local paper proposing a green belt concept that had never been tried in any community. His plan was eventually adopted after years of floods divided Scottsdale both literally and figuratively. The Indian Bend Wash has been studied by communities around the world. It is a flood control during the rainy season and a beautiful recreation space the rest of the year.
Bill served as City Planner (1970 to 1973), City Councilman (1984 to 1992), and Vice Mayor (1986, 1992). He worked on the Tournament Players Club (TPC) and helped bring the Phoenix Open to Scottsdale.
The Indian Bend Wash stands as a legacy for our community.
See the complete obituary.
Automania: Scottsdale's Historic Love of Cars and Car Events
|
These Scottsdale women in the car are about to go hunting in the slough. Q&A: What is the slough called today? Scroll to the end of the email to find the answer. |
Join Scottsdale historian Joan Fudala at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, at the Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street for this wonderful historic presentation.
Take a scenic ride through Scottsdale's long love of everything automotive. From the evolution of local vehicles and cars to our historically popular car events, this photo-rich history should bring back lots of memories of your favorite cars, along with some surprising vehicle lore.
There is no cost to attend, and you don't have to register.
More information.
Great turn out for the Scottsdale Historical Society's Old-Fashioned Pancake Breakfast
|
L-R: Councilwoman Maryann McAllen, Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas, Councilman Barry Graham, join SHS board members Jason Song, Cindi Eberhardt, Roger Klingler, Bob Fowler, Doreen Reinke, and Eleanor Brierley |
On Saturday, Nov. 22, the Scottsdale Historical Society held its annual Old-Fashioned Pancake Breakfast fundraiser at the Little Red Schoolhouse. The event was sponsored by the Scottsdale Firefighters Charities and SRP. The schoolhouse is owned by the city of Scottsdale and houses the Scottsdale Historical Museum operated by the Scottsdale Historical Society. All funds raised by the event support the mission of the Scottsdale Historical Society.
More than 200 people were in attendance to show their support and eat wonderful pancakes cooked by Scottsdale Firefighters. Looking around the event, it was a "who's who" of Scottsdale and especially Scottsdale history.
The Little Red Schoolhouse was built after a $5,000 bond was approved by members of the tiny Scottsdale community in 1909. It was completed in 1910 under budget and was officially dedicated on Winfield Scott's birthday on Feb. 26, 1910. Arizona territorial governor Richard Sloan was in attendance as was Indiana Governor Thomas Marshall who would later become Vice President of the United States of America.
Scottsdale Historical Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. There is no cost to visit the museum. To learn more about Scottsdale's history or to volunteer as a docent, check out the Scottsdale Historical Society.
Scottsdale Serenade: Celebrating 75 years of Scottsdale Music and Musicians
This concert will kick off the city of Scottsdale's 75th anniversary of incorporation with music and history! It will be narrated by Scottsdale historian, Joan Fudala, and interspersed with music written over the years about and in Scottsdale.
The concert will feature a unique blend of Scottsdale musical treasures, including classical, choral, instrumental, and chamber music. There will be presentations of music by Native American, Mariachi, and Western cowboy musicians for an afternoon of musical and historical discoveries. You will deepen your appreciation of Scottsdale's cultural history.
Join us at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25, at the Pinnacle Presbyterian Church sanctuary, 25150 N. Pima Road. The concert is free.
Visit Scottsdale's 75th to find out how Scottsdale is celebrating this wonderful milestone anniversary.
Save the Date for Founders Day!
Mark your calendar for Thursday, Feb. 26, for the celebration of Winfield Scott's 189th birthday! Founders Day will be celebrated at the Little Red Schoolhouse, 7333 E. Scottsdale Mall.
Founders Day is our annual commemoration of Helen and Winfield Scott and their willingness to move to the area before there was running water, flush toilets, or electricity. We will also be recognizing the 250th birthday of the U.S.
There will be talks about Winfield and Helen, and their efforts to grow and expand the small village during their lifetimes.
This year's theme is Statehood. There were members of the Scottsdale community that were part of the Arizona Constitutional Convention. They crafted our state constitution that eventually was approved by Arizona voters and signed into law by President William Taft.
Plan to attend Founders Day and learn even more!
The Stillman family celebrates the Golden Jubilee of the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
|
L-R: Brook Stillman, Brook's son Jessie Sillman, Sharee Stillman- Brookhart, Charles Stillman (on scooter), Alex Stillman, Alison Withers (who accepted on behalf of her mother, Tori Withers). |
On Saturday, Oct. 4, the children and grandchildren of Guy Stillman celebrated the 50th anniversary of the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. The park opened on Oct. 4, 1975, with free train rides, games, music and a wild west shootout.
Guy Stillman was the son of Anne McCormick and stepson of Fowler McCormick who owned the McCormick Ranch. Stillman chartered the Scottsdale Railroad & Mechanical Society, and the family donated 100 acres of land that became the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. He donated his Paradise & Pacific steam railroad to the park, that is still in operation today. The railroad is 5/12 scale.
Sharee Stillman-Brookhart still lives in the area and has been a strong supporter of the McCormick Stillman Railroad Park by serving on boards and commissions.
Stephanie Tippett, the manager of the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park recognized the Stillman family and presented each of Guy's children or grandchildren with a Golden Jubilee plaque that can be seen in the photo above.
There were also bounce houses, face painting, balloon artists, local food trucks, live music and the park's first ever drone light show. It was a celebration for all ages!
Scottsdale Neighborhood College opens registration for the Spring 2026 session with history presentations
Registration is now open for the spring 2026 session of Scottsdale Neighborhood College. The classes are offered without charge and include the following history presentations.
Nightmare in McCormick Ranch
2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th St. 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 'disassociated 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.
Scottsdale: Fact or Fiction
6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 24, Scottsdale Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road. This class will examine several tall tales and determine if they are fact or fiction. Stories include: Did Scottsdale's namesake serve in the Union Army as a general in the Civil War? Was Scottsdale a dry town until the 1930s? Is there a tree on Main Street that's over 100 years old? Presenter, Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale. Register.
The Scottsdale Waterfront: From Desert to Destination
1-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, Scottsdale Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road. The Arizona Canal brings life to Scottsdale and much of the Valley while it passes through Old Town. In the 1980s and 1990s, Old Town was transformed into an economic engine that made the canal a showpiece. Learn about the visionaries who transformed Old Town into the vibrant downtown that is still growing and developing. NOTE: This presentation is about the Arizona Canal and not the Indian Bend Wash. Presenter: Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale. Register.
More stories from the Files of the Scottsdale Police Department
1-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, Mustang Library Auditorium, 10101 N. 90th Street. Join us for more stories of crime that happened in Scottsdale. First about a business that offered financial investments that were too good to be true, and the second concerns a murder suspect who went to extreme measures to try to avoid being found guilty by planning another murder while in jail. Presenter: Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale. Register.
For more information, visit Scottsdale Neighborhood College or you can watch videos of previous presentations.
Scottsdale's RedBall Project in 2008
Scottsdale Heritage Connection recently added pictures of the RedBall Project at Pinnacle Peak Park from January 2008. This giant red ball was placed in several locations in Scottsdale between Jan. 17 to Feb. 1, 2008.
RedBall Project is designed by Kurt Perschke and is a temporary art considered to be the longest running street artwork. The red ball has been exhibited all over the world and encourages imagination, interaction, and humor. There is only one ball which weighs 250 pounds, with or without air. It is approximately 15 feet high. To see these images, go to ScottsdaleLibrary.org and search redball project.
Did you get a chance to see the RedBall in 2008? The Scottsdale Heritage Connection would love to add pictures to the historical digital collection of the different locations it visited. RedBall Project was at Marshall Way Bridge, McDowell Mountain Skate Park, Arabian Library, Pinnacle Peak Park, Bell Tower Space, Granite Reef Senior Center, Loloma Station, and Bentley Gallery. Reach out to the Scottsdale Heritage Connection at [email protected] and let them know.
Gunfire on Brown Avenue: Scottsdale's 1948 Family Feud, Part 2
By Tom Droze, Docent, Scottsdale Historical Society
In part 1, we learned about the steps leading up to the gunfight. How a heated argument between Benito Cadena and Alfredo Corral led to a gunfight in the area today would be the southeast corner of Main and Brown. In this chapter, we'll learn about the investigation and trial that followed the shooting.
|
Feb. 4, 1949, Arizona Republic headline, page 1. |
During the Scottsdale's coroner's jury, which took place on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 1948, three days after the gunfight, the jury investigating the fatal shooting of Benito Cadena was unable to assign blame. The coroner's jury was only able to determine that Cadena died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head.
In the Friday, Aug. 27, 1948, edition of the Arizona Republic newspaper, it was reported that a criminal complaint had been filed and Alfredo Corral had been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of Benito Cadena.
As reported in the Thursday, Sept. 15, 1948, edition of the Scottsdale Progress, Alfredo Corral, appeared before Superior Court Judge Thomas J. Croaff, pled not guilty to the second-degree murder charge; and trial was set. Alfredo Corral, who had been in the county jail for over a month, was finally able to post bond on Friday, Sept. 24, 1948, when the judge reduced his bail from $5,000 to $2,500. After a few postponements, the trial date was set for Thursday, Feb. 3, 1949.
On the first day of the trial, Alfredo Corral testified he fired in self-defense when killing Benito Cadena. His testimony was corroborated by other witnesses who also testified that Cadena had fired first. On Sunday, Feb. 6, 1949, the Arizona Republic reported that the jury of nine men and three women deliberated for six hours late into the evening on Saturday before returning a not-guilty verdict. Judge Croaff ordered Corral released, and Corral immediately left the courtroom with friends and relatives who were in attendance.
In October 1966, Alfredo Corral, along with his wife Lydia, took over the operation of the Old Corral restaurant on 1st Street in Scottsdale (a different restaurant than Los Olivos). That restaurant opened in 1958. It relocated to Phoenix in 1974 because of the development of the Scottsdale Mall, also known as the Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza. Alfredo and Lydia Corral also owned Ortega's restaurant in Chandler.
The next time you eat at Los Olivos, tip your hat to Alfredo Corral, Benito Cadena, and the last gunfight of Scottsdale!
Answer to Q&A
The Slough is now called the Indian Bend Wash.
You may also visit us at ScottsdaleAZ.gov. This email was sent to ....
Unsubscribe or manage your email subscriptions.
If this message was forwarded to you, you can also subscribe.
© 2025 City of Scottsdale. All Rights Reserved.