February 2021 A partnership among Scottsdale Neighborhood College, Scottsdale Public Library and the Scottsdale Historical Society to provide information, news and resources about Scottsdale history.
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Feb. 26 marks Scottsdale's Founders Day, a public celebration of the birthday of Scottsdale's founder, namesake and chief promoter during the town's formative decades, U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott. His wife, Helen, also gets credit as co-founder. Due to COVID precautions, however, this year's commemorations will be virtual.
The free celebration will begin at 1 p.m. on Feb. 26 as a Zoom webinar. The special guest will be Arizona State Historian Marshall Trimble. Hosting the event will be community historian Joan Fudala and historical storyteller Bruce Wall. There are special invited guests.
This celebration is presented by the city of Scottsdale and the Scottsdale Historical Society. Thanks to the Major Winfield Scott chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for their past support of the in-person celebrations.
So plan on sitting down, eating some cake, sipping some lemonade (you provide the cake and lemonade) and celebrating the birthday of the founders of Scottsdale! You must be REGISTERED to get the Zoom link for the presentation. The event will also be streamed to YouTube.
(Photos courtesy of the Scottsdale Historical Society)
Saddle up for the virtual Parada del Sol
The Scottsdale Heritage Connection at Scottsdale Public Library features a digital collection that includes videos of past Parada del Sol Parades and Rodeos, as well as interviews of previous participants and attendees, vintage promotional films, and features describing the history of the events.
The Parada del Sol Parade, Parda del Sol Rodeo, Western Week, and the Hashknife Pony Express annual reenactment are some of the main events of this celebration in Scottsdale. The parade itself, first started in the early 1950's, was originally named the Sunshine Festival. The Scottsdale Jaycees later adopted the event and renamed it. These videos can be viewed online through the Scottsdale Public Library catalog or downloaded to a computer. Learn more about these Scottsdale traditions!
(Photo Credit: Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce.)
Scottsdale history classes on Scottsdale Neighborhood College
The city of Scottsdale's Office of Communications and Citizen Service presents two virtual classes in the "Stories of Scottsdale History" series in the Spring 2021 session of Scottsdale Neighborhood College. There is no cost to attend the classes.
Classes this session:
- Scoundrels, Rascals & Cutthroats Part 2 - 1-2 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 18. Our historical storyteller is back with two Scottsdale crimes from the 1970s and 1990s, yet they have a relevance today. There is a story of a teenager who was believed to have run away from home but was found dead more than 10 years later, and a shocking story of two men who were murdered after a road rage incident. This is a repeat presentation.
- Scottsdale Stories: Behind the Business - 1-2 p.m., Tuesday, March 2. Some businesses stay around for more than one generation. But do you know the story behind the business? We will look at an auto parts store that became one of the longest lasting restaurants in Old Town and an insurance agent whose office has become a museum of Arizona history! This is a brand new presentation!
The classes use Zoom Webinar as a presentation platform so you can safely watch the presentation from your home.
You can find out more information or register. You can also direct questions via email.
(Photo Credit: city of Scottsdale)
New videos on Scottsdale history
Are you missing the excitement of the famous Scottsdale car shows? Community historian Joan Fudala has recorded her presentation "Automania" at the Scottsdale Heritage Connection at the Civic Center Library. You can watch it anytime on YouTube.
The Scottsdale Public Library will present a program by Joan Fudala called Scottsdale's First Century of Golf on Feb. 12. The following month, you can see Joan present Baseball in Scottsdale on March 12.
There is also a YouTube video from the Fall 2020 session of Scottsdale Neighborhood College called Stories from the files of the Scottsdale Police Department. This class examines two famous crimes that happened in Scottsdale. One involves an explosive situation at a city facility that targeted a city employee. The other is about a bank robbery that started in Scottsdale and led to an international manhunt.
For more information, explore the Scottsdale Video Network or the Scottsdale YouTube Channel.
(Photo courtesy of the Scottsdale Historical Society)
Famous Alumnus
Can you guess who is this famous alumnus of a Scottsdale high school?
This Scottsdale area graduate started out in stand-up comedy, then was on Saturday Night Live as a writer and performer. He starred in movies and then went on to several successful TV shows. He's been in movies with Adam Sandler and done voice work for Disney animated movies. His latest project was a late night TV talk show before the pandemic.
Scroll down to see the answer!
(Photo credit: Ancestry.com U.S. School Yearbooks 1900-1999.)
K-thumping down Scottsdale Road in the 1950s
Scottsdale Road south from Thomas Road in the late 1950s was a two-lane paved "farm-to-market" road. The surfacing was concrete that had been poured in 12 feet by 12 feet pads.
After many years, the edges of each pad separated from each other and curled up. Driving down the road felt and sounded like being on a train, k-thump after k-thump!
On Saturday evenings it became a popular place to drag race. Unfortunately, there were many racers who lost the competition due to flat tires and broken axles.
You can find out more about the history of Scottsdale at the Scottsdale Historical Society. The Scottsdale Historical Society operates the historical museum located in the Little Red Schoolhouse near Brown Avenue in the Old Town area. Although currently closed, when they re-open they will need volunteers to serve as docents. This involves about four hours of time, generally once a month, and is a great opportunity to meet visitors from all across the country as well as all over the world and to introduce them to Scottsdale. Read their latest newsletter to learn about the Scottsdale Historical Society.
(Photo courtesy of the Scottsdale Historical Society)
A brief history of the northeast corner of Scottsdale & Main Street
Mort Kimsey moved to Scottsdale after his parents around 1917. He opened the first gas station called the Scottsdale Service Station on the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Main Streets. He later became the manager of the Scottsdale Light & Power Company that was started by his father William Kimsey, Charles Miller, and E.O. Brown in 1918. The business was purchased by Arizona Public Service and Kimsey eventually retired as the Scottsdale manager of APS.
Mort Kimsey served on the first town council of the town of Scottsdale 1951-1957 and was elected the second mayor of Scottsdale from 1958-1962. He was mayor when the incorporated town of Scottsdale became a city.
Kimsey closed his gas station in the 1940's and it eventually became V.D. Fredericks Chevron Station and then Frederick's Auto Livery Stable (western themed gas station). There was a long story to the fate of Jim Fredericks that you can see in the presentation, "Scoundrels, Rascals & Cutthroats" that is available in the Scottsdale Heritage Connection or the Scottsdale YouTube channel
In the 1970s, it was an Exon gas station and a Firestone store. Later in that decade, Gilbert Ortega opened his Gilbert Ortega Fine Indian Jewelry on the site of the former gas station. It has remained a Gilbert Ortega store to the current time, now called Gilbert Ortega International Collection operated by Gayle Ortega.
(Photos courtesy of the Scottsdale Historical Society)
Answer to Famous Alumnus
David Spade moved to Scottsdale at age four. He graduated from Saguaro High School in 1982 and attended Scottsdale Community College (go Artichokes!). He graduated from ASU with a degree in business.
Spade started doing standup comedy locally and then performed nationwide. He was hired as a writer and then performer on "Saturday Night Live" in the 1990's. He and former SNL cast member Chris Farley were in the movies "Tommy Boy" and "Black Sheep."
After Farley's untimely death, Spade went on to other movies and then stared in long running TV shows, "Just Shoot Me" and "Rules of Engagement." He was in the movies "Grown Ups" and "Grown Ups 2" with Adam Sandler. He was the voice of Kuzco in the Disney animated movie "The Emperor's New Groove" and the sequel.
His latest project was the late night TV talk show "Lights Out with David Spade" on Comedy Central. The show went on hiatus at the start of the pandemic.
You can find most of the yearbooks from Scottsdale high schools in the Scottsdale Heritage Connection located in the Scottsdale Public Library's Civic Center Branch, 3839 N Drinkwater Blvd.
(Photo credit: Variety.com)
NEXT TIME
We'll be sending out the next e-newsletter around May/June with a report on Founder's Day and the list of upcoming virtual Scottsdale history classes presented by Scottsdale Neighborhood College and the Scottsdale Public Library. There will also be more resources from the Scottsdale Historical Society and the Scottsdale Public Library. In the meantime, stay healthy, wash your hands and practice physical distancing.
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