How the West Was Won… By Waitresses

This isn't quite about a Phoenix area family or history, but AZ's unique history. 



I've been enamored by the idea of the Harvey Girls for quite a while- there's something romantic about being a smart young woman venturing off into the unknown wild west to grow as a person...and for some to find a husband!

It's just a fun article from the Smithsonian that I thought some of you might enjoy!

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/2013/07/how-the-west-was-won-by-waitresses/?utm_source=smithsonianhistandarch&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=201307-hist

2nd Century Initiative

John Driggs, former mayor of Phoenix, has thrown his name and influence behind a new bill that will protect several areas in the Phoenix area including a new proposal for The Castle and parts of Papago Park.

http://www.trivalleycentral.com/florence_reminder_blade_tribune/news/state-should-begin-its-nd-century-by-preserving-series-of/article_f9c68a4a-e36b-11e2-936a-001a4bcf887a.html

Sounds like some great new designations for some local landmarks!

Musuem Association of Arizona Awards Ceremony

See this website for  an article on the awards ceremony for the Museum Association of Arizona Awards Ceremony.

http://www.azmuseums.org/Default.aspx?pageId=1592829

New picture of the dovecote at Tovrea Castle

This new picture of the Castle and of the famous Dovecote was taken in the 1930. It is by far the best picture that I have ever seen. It does make you wonder where all the wood that is in the current pile came from. Was a roof added later?

Jody got nothing on Winnie!

With all the interest in Jodi the last few month, I was reminded of a woman from the past that would make her look like an amateur, Winnie Ruth Judd


According to police, on the night of October 16, 1931, she murdered her roommates, LeRoi and Samuelson after an alleged fight among the three women over a conflict of interest—reportedly, all three were interested in the same man, prominent Phoenix businessman John J. "Happy Jack" Halloran. Halloran, 44, was a married local businessman and a friend of all three women. The prosecution at Judd's murder trial would suggest that quarrels over men and the relationship between LeRoi and Samuelson broke up the friendship of the three women, and that jealousy was the motive for the killings.


The two victims were killed with a .25 caliber handgun in their rented bungalow located at 2929  N. 2nd Street. According to prosecutors, after the two women were murdered, Judd and an accomplice dismembered the body of Samuelson and stuffed the head, torso, and lower legs into a black shipping trunk, with the upper legs being placed in a beige valise and hatbox. LeRoi's body was stuffed intact into a second black shipping trunk.

On Monday evening, October 19, the Phoenix police entered the bungalow where LeRoi and Samuelson resided for the first time; neighbors and reporters were also allowed in and subsequently destroyed the original integrity of the crime scene. The following day the bungalow's landlord took out ads to be placed in The Arizona Republic and The Phoenix Evening Gazette newspapers informing the public that tours of the home were available for ten cents per person. In the next three weeks, hundreds of curiosity seekers toured the three room bungalow. During the trial, Judd's defense protested by stating, "By the advertisements in the newspapers, the entire population of Maricopa County visited that place." The police maintained the two women were shot while asleep in their beds. The two mattresses were missing the night the police entered. Although one mattress was later found with no blood stains on it miles away in a vacant lot, the other remained missing. No explanation was ever offered as to why one was found so far away nor what ever became of the other mattress.

The jury found her guilty of first-degree murder on February 8, 1932. An appeal was unsuccessful. Judd was sentenced to be hanged February 17, 1933, and sent to Arizona State Prison in Florence, Arizona. The death sentence was repealed after a ten-day hearing found her mentally incompetent; she was then sent to Arizona State Asylum for the Insane on April 24, 1933. She escaped many times and was finally released December 22, 1971.Judd moved to Stockton, California. In 1983, the state of Arizona issued her an "absolute discharge," meaning she was no longer a parolee. She died 23 October 1998 at the age of ninety-three, 67 years to the day from her surrender to Los Angeles police in 1931.

Looks like not much has changes in the trial scene in Phoenix. Still sex, intrigue and murder sells

and not much has change at the house which still stand at 2947 North Second street in Phoenix.

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!