History of AZ Heritage Center Musuem

Linda Whitaker shows us some of the hundreds of
boxes of records she went through this summer.

The first meeting of the year with President Anne Lupica included a wonderful talk by museum archivist Linda Whitaker. Linda values the League and all it does, impressing on us the need for keeping accurate records as well as taking oral histories of our members to provide the emotional side of the story.

President Anne Lupica and Linda Whitaker hand out some printed history of the museum.

Susie Brinegar (L) and Renee Donnelly (R) greet Linda after her talk.

Original AHS Museum was the Ellis Shakelford house on Central Ave.

Peter McDonald speaks to Historical League tour group

Thanks to Nancy Evans for arranging a surprise visit with Navajo Code Talker Peter McDonald during our bus tour at Navajo National Monument. Peter was very entertaining, telling many stories of his experiences during WWII. As did many of his fellow Code Talkers, he enrolled at a young age. He was 15.

Susie Brinegar with Peter McDonald

He referred to "boot camp was a breeze" since he had lived his youth in the outdoors, sleeping under the stars, walking everywhere.  Of the 420 who served as Code Talkers, there are only 17 remaining.

Monument Valley and Navajo Nation

Bonnie Newhoff, Leslie Christiansen in front of Hogan

 Big blue sky and towering rock formations -You are surrounded by this vast beauty in the NE corner of Arizona. We actually went into Utah to see some of this land on the Navajo Nation.

Navajo mother and baby

Clede Gorrell, Ruth Ann Hogan, Susie Brinegar

Guide David explaining summer shelter area

Maxine Lakin and her daughter with Kay Holcombe in background. Shopping is next.

More Happy Faces at Family Holiday Party

Pat Faur, Helen Szeto, Chantelle Szeto, Pete Faur, Kate (Faur) and Victor Szeto

Lots of smiling faces tell us the Family Holiday Party at Phoenix Theatre was a success.

Ruth McLeod with Earlene, Nadene and Rebecca Alauria

Janie Burke with granddaughter Ava Bramini.
Ruth Ann and Phil Hogan with grandson Daniel Simpson.

Kay Holcombe with Emma and Sarah and new friends.

Sharron McKinney and Patt Walker enjoy the joyous
Christmas Carols expertly played by Susie Brinegar.

So much history at Fort Stanton, New Mexico

Susie Brinegar becomes a soldier

Officers quarters

In 1855, the U.S. Army established Fort Stanton as an Infantry and Cavalry post to protect settlers in the New Mexico Territory. Featuring over 155 years of history ranging from its beginnings as a military garrison to a Marine Tuberculosis Hospital, to WWII internment camp, to a training school for the mentally disabled, to a drug/alcohol re-hab facility to a low security women's prison, it was a fascinating stop on our Historical League tour.  It is currently a state monument and museum, visited by tens of thousands of tourists each year.

Dressed in authentic military uniform including wool
pants, our tour guide Sargeant Larry Pope was very
knowledgeable and entertaining.

Hubbard Museum of the American West

Susie Brinegar and Karen Overton at the entrance. Interesting
that this facility was a hockey rink in 1970.

Cathy Aimone Martin is dwarfed by the size of the horse

Greeting us as we approached the Hubbard Museum of the American West was this amazing installation of running horses.  Larger than life, we felt caught up in their movements. Another amazing stop of our Historical League tour of New Mexico.

White Sands Photos from Susie Brinegar

Leslie Christiansen, Laurie-Sue Retts,
Bonnie Newhoff, Nancy Evans,
Dianne Linthicum

Delores Tomasek feeling free!

Laurie-Sue Retts, Nancy Evans,
Dianne Linthicum, Delores
Tomasek, Carolyn Mendoza

Susie Brinegar left her camera at the top
before she rolled down this enormous hill!

Lindy Isacksen and Linda Fritsch
relaxing in the breathtaking view

Capturing the vastness of the White Sands National Monument, Susie Brinegar's pictures show how joyous we felt surrounded by all this beauty.

White Sands National Monument - more pictures

Ruth McLeod and Julie Moore climbing
to the top fighting the wind.

Karen Overton climbs back up after she ran down the entire hill!

Hard not to take pictures of this fascinating place!

Cathy Martin from Socorro, NM finds lots of sand
in her pants. Cathy was a guest and good friend of
Ruth McLeod from Michigan Technological University.

Fearless Susie Brinegar still smiling after
she rolled down the entire hill!

Susie Brinegar entertains us playing the grand piano at Springerville Museum

What a thrill to see this grand piano come to life when Historical League member Susie Brinegar sat down to play her own version of "Wind Beneath My Wings." The Historical League tour was impressed with the Renee Cushman Gallery in the Springerville Heritage Center but a highlight was the haunting melody Susie created on the grand piano.

Note the 15' X 25' Persian rug is in mint condition because everyone wears "booties" over their shoes to protect the rug and the hardwood floors.

dinner at Molly Butler Lodge

The Historical League 3 day trip to the White Mountains was fabulous, including dinner at Molly Butlers. Lots of laughs and stories from the many members who enjoyed the trip.

Ruth McLeod, Susie Brinegar, Mary Garbaciak

Lunch at Torreon is start to Historical League tour

Great way to begin a 3 day tour of the White Mountains.

Delores Tomasek and Mary Garbaciak enjoy Torreon ambiance.

Susie Brinegar and Sally Schaefer are deep in discussion!

Annual Christmas Meeting for Historical League

Fabulous home and delicious food were delivered at the December Historical League meeting. The Hospitality Committee did an amazing job and deserved the post-party celebration complete with champagne. Kay Holcombe, Karen Swanson, Susie Brinegar, Iclia Wilkinson, Mary Garbaciak, hostess Joan Galloway and Sally Schaefer toast a VERY successful event.