Lunch at Monti's

President Pam Ryan, Margaret Baker and Pam Stevenson are ready to enjoy lunch inside.

Framed oil painting of the original Hayden home.

Charles Turnbull Hayden

Historical League members wander through the many rooms of the restaurant.

Charles Turnbull Hayden had been a merchant in Tucson since 1858. Seeing new opportunities, he moved to the Salt River Valley when the first settlers started coming here to dig canals and clear fields. His store offered good and credit, and his mill and freight wagons provided a market for the wheat local farmers grew.
 Charles Hayden’s 80-acre settlement was called Hayden’s Ferry. It was the business center for the growing town of Tempe. By the 1880’s he had built the mill, store and home, and warehouses and orchards. This home is now Monti’s La Casa Vieja Restaurant.
Former Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman was an interesting guest speaker at the lunch. Mary Garbaciak presented him with a copy of Tastes & Treasures as a thank you gift.