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!

A Thank You from some Satisfied Guests

Barbara D and I were lucky enough to tour these lovely ladies around last Friday morning.

I recently found this picture of the Papago Buttes in 1930. It gives you an idea of how rural the area was then! I found it on a great facebook site call Vintage Phoenix. If you have a facebook page and like history check it out!