After speaking with many of you I found that many want to keep exchanging information on the history of Phoenix and the families so I have opened this blog about Phoenix History and the families that made it happen. It will be based on the period of 1900 to 1970. It will include historical tidbit and facts uncovered by any of us. Picture of the city and it landmark, and of course interesting stories of the families that made it happen. It will be a great way for all of us to learn more of the times and what made the city the city it is today.



I also expect to organize day trip to see some of the historic sites located in the city, The Orpheum Theater, the Mystery Castle, The Rosson House and Pioneer village could be some suggestions, and lunch out afterward is always fun! So pease feel free to add information and tidbits from tours you have been on and the stories that you hear.



As always remember this is all of our blog so please contribute! Whether it is a blog post or just a comment, a picture or something else. I look forward to seeing what everyone brings to the table!


I hope to hear from you soon!

Thank you

I am very excited to announce that I have been given another opportunity, although it is too early to discuss it, I feel that I will not have the time to dedicated the amount of hours that I need to do both jobs correctly. Therefore I have chosen to end my association with Tovrea Castle Society. I leave feeling good about the past year. I feel that we have more than accomplished our goal of setting up the training program, developing trainers, practice tours and taking the society for five docents to close to 30. This is not my achievement but the achievement of all of you. Only with your hard work and dedication and by all of us pulling together were we able to achieve the many successes we have over the past year. I have truly never worked with a more dedicated and hard working group of people! You are all to be saluted for everything that you bring to the table.

I also leave knowing that with the addition of the Tamera to the board and the many hours that are given by the rest of one of the hardest working boards I have ever seen (And Eileen Hayden too!), I leave you in the best hands and the society will continue to move forward.

I have enjoyed working with each of you in the past months and know that all of you will be very successful in all your coming endeavors.

The will be the final post of this docent blog site. Since this is a personal blog, I do not feel it is proper for me to continue it. I do know that the board is in the process of setting up the framework for a new blog. So please look for that in the future.

Thank you for all that you do!

William Plato Sturat Obit

The following is from the Phoenix Gazette on November 28 1960. It is the obit for William Stuart, Della’s husband. Lots of good information on his life. Take a look!

Sky Harbor History

This picture appeared in the AZ Republic in an article about the new sky train. As it notes a private company purchased the land in 1928 and started an airfield named Sky Harbor. The stock market crash of 29 causes Scenic Airline to abandon the property.

This is taken from Sky Harbor Website section on Airport history.

As the state of Arizona and the Valley of the Sun grew, it was important that the area have an Airport that would boost travel to and from the region. There already was an airport located in Phoenix named Sky Harbor. It got its start in 1928 when Scenic Airways, Inc. wanted to get flights going in the Southwest because they thought it would be a profitable venture. Scenic General Manager, J. Parker Van Zandt purchased the land for Scenic, made numerous improvements and named the new airport Sky Harbor. A formal dedication was held on Labor Day in 1929 for the Airport and more than 8,000 people attended.

But the Stock Market Crash of 1929 meant that Scenic Airways had to abandon the airport due to lack of funds and offer it up for sale. The City of Phoenix was not interested in purchasing Sky Harbor at that time so Acme Investment Company purchased it instead. In 1930, American Airlines brought passenger and Air Mail service to Arizona. It was an exciting time for residents as they often came out to greet the planes as mail arrived.

As time passed, however, Acme Investment Company was no longer interested in owning the Airport and finally convinced the City of Phoenix to purchase it in 1935 for $100,000. Back then, Sky Harbor Airport was so isolated from everything that residents nicknamed it "The Farm." This purchase would enable Sky Harbor Airport to become one of the ten busiest in the United States for passenger traffic and be the huge economic engine it is for the state of Arizona today.

On November 11, 1935, the City held a dedication for Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Dignitaries spoke, an aerial circus performed, and a dinner dance was held at the Westward Ho to celebrate.

During the 1930's couples actually used to fly into Sky Harbor and go to the chapel that was in close proximity to the original terminal because Arizona was one of the few states that did not require a three day waiting period to get married. Even celebrities would fly in, have a quick celebration and fly out. One celebrity couple married at Sky Harbor was Donald Novis, a radio singer, and Dorothy Bradshaw, a Broadway dancer. The chapel was near where the Left Seat Restaurant is currently located.


Don't you just love the fish!

Flat Stanley Visits the Castle - Twice in One Day

You never know who will be on a tour.  Today we had guests who brought the world traveler, Flat Stanley, with them - at two separate times. 

The Flat Stanley Project was started in 1995 by Dale Hubert, a third grade schoolteacher in London, Ontario, Canada. It is meant to facilitate letter-writing by schoolchildren to each other as they document where Flat Stanley has accompanied them.

In the Flat Stanley children's books, Stanley travels the world in envelopes. Students who read the books send the paper doll and written notes to students in other parts of the world through conventional mail and e-mail. Children exchange ideas, photographs, questions and culture with students overseas.

Teachers register and arrange exchanges with other classrooms on the Flat Stanley Project website. Other teachers ask students get their parents' permission to address an envelope and send the paper doll to a friend or relative in another state.  The Flat Stanley Project uses blogs for teachers, parents and students to publish stories, describe local traditions and scenery, and post photos. Flat Stanley photos are archived in an online Picture Gallery.  http://www.flatstanleyproject.com/

Check out Flat Stanley and where he's been at http://www.flatstanley.com/photo/gallery  and let's see when he posts about his TWO visits to our beloved Castle and Gardens just today.

Tovrea Stockyards from Vintage Phoenix

The Vintage Phoenix page on Facebook was recently mentioned.  A few months ago they posted these images of the Tovrea Stockyards.  The second image shows the cattle pens extending out from the front of the Stockyards restaurant.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.482875245102015.134840.458073124248894&type=3

You do not need a Facebook account to look at the pictures. 

Don is a MAA Outstanding Museum Volunteer!

Please join me in congratulating Don Appel as a recipient of the Museum Association of Arizona "Outstanding Museum Volunteer"!

http://www.azmuseums.org/

Don is being recognized for establishing the docent program at the TCS and for his work with Pueblo Grande. 

I personally would like to thank Don for his devotion to helping potential docents to become comfortable with the tour format and content by working with everyone individually.  I know that I have enjoyed my time working at the Castle with Don and so many others!

Congrats Don, you are very deserving!