History of Phoenix Streets with Vince Murray

Where did Phoenix start? In 1851, the initial point was determined to be at the junction of the Gila and Salt River. The monument was already there at the Mexico and USA boundary (before the Gadsden Purchase gave the area to the USA). In 1870, surveyors started from this point so homesteaders could claim sections of land. Thanks to Henry Wickenburg and Jack Swilling, who realized the importance of the irrigation ditches, the town site was formed. Vince Murray gave an in-depth presentation of historic Phoenix streets as the guest speaker at the Historical League May meeting.

Vince Murray gave a fascinating insight to early Phoenix.

Street names were changed often. Baltimore became Roosevelt Street.

1881 Phoenix was incorporated. Taxes were $3/year

1893 had no zoning laws but a new numbering
system was established and Streets were on the
east side of Central, Avenues were on the west side.

Mary Pat Honey thanks Vince Murray with a copy of Tastes & Treasures cookbook.

1914 Railroad lines were easy transportation in Phoenix

Torreon - great defense against attack

Bonnie Newhoff and other Historical League members
learn about the Torreon.

 Day 2 of our Historical League tour continued in Lincoln, NM. The town was filled with tourists enjoying the historical sights. We felt like we were going back in time to 1850's with attacks by Native Americans, arguments among the locals and early adobe architecture.

Jacal homes

 We learned about this incredible home during our tour of Old Town Lincoln, NM.  Katherine Thornhill demonstrates how tall they were.

2014 Historymaker Marshall Trimble

Esteemed Arizona Historian And Author Entertains Payson
by Gail Hearne, Special to the Payson Roundup

Marshall Trimble, Arizona’s Official State Historian and author, will entertain us with “Trimble’s Tales” from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, May 2 at the Payson Public Library, 328 N. McLane Road. The public is cordially invited to this free event hosted by the Library Friends of Payson.
When asked about the nature of his presentation to the people of Payson, Trimble replied: “I’ll bring along my guitar and play a couple of songs and tell stories about Arizona oddities and why the state is exceptional.

This man of many talents gives stage concerts featuring western folk music and stories with his guitar, answers questions about the Old West from readers around the world in his “Ask the Marshall” column in True West Magazine, and appears frequently on radio and television programs as a goodwill ambassador for the state.

In 2006, he received a regional Emmy award for hosting the television show “Arizona Backroads.”
Trimble is the recipient of a multitude of recognition awards. A former Marine, he was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in 2004. He received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Arizona Office of Tourism and the Wild West History Association in 2007 and 2010, respectively. In 2011, Trimble was inducted into the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, received the Al Merito Award from the Arizona Historical Society, and was honored by the Arizona Centennial Commission as “One of Arizona’s Most Inspiring Leaders” along with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Senator Barry Goldwater and four others. In 2012, he was selected for the U.S. State Department’s “Cowboy Hall of Fame Tour,” a goodwill visit to Kyrgyzstan to visit our troops and share American cowboy culture with the people of that country. Trimble was named one of seven “Historymakers” for the year 2014 by the Historical League of the Arizona Historical Society. In 2015, Trimble was named “Westerner of the Year” by True West Magazine and received the “Semper Fi” award from the U.S. Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.

In short, we could say that Marshall Trimble is a living legend in the realm of Arizona history and folk music.

Lincoln State Monument and the Lincoln Co. War

 Day 2 on our Historical League tour continues to Lincoln State Monument.

Cathy Martin, Laurie-Sue Retts and Ranger Charles Albertson

Deb Hester listens to a fascinating talk by Ranger Albertson

Lunch on the Patio at Ellis & Sons' Store

Charming front porch runs the entire length of the home

Touring Lincoln, New Mexico was so interesting. We started at the Hondo Iris Farm and continued with lunch at the Ellis & Sons' Store, now a Bed and Breakfast. The award winning chef created a delicious salad and entree with outstanding desserts.

Decandent Chocolate Turtle Brownie

Enjoying the sunshine after lunch

Key Lime Pie was VERY flavorful

Table for 36, please.

Hondo Iris Farm

A delightful and refreshing stop on our New Mexico tour was Hondo Iris Farm. Our guide was very knowledgeable about bulbs and ecology. We also spent lots of time in the gift/clothing/jewelry shop. Stop and smell the  . . .