1/26/2009 11:28:00 PM County's 2012 centennial group organizes
Les Stukenberg/The Daily Courier
Wayman Trujillo, at left, explains to Yavapai County microfiche supervisor Sarah Robinson and Martin Heiss what each part of the brand means from a box of registered brands found in Yavapai County. Heiss, from Merced, Calif., was at the microfiche office with his son to research a mining claim.
PRESCOTT - Members of Yavapai County's new state centennial committee had no trouble coming up with a wide range of ideas Monday to celebrate statehood's 100th birthday in 2012.
The commission's nine members met for the first time Monday at the county government offices in Prescott. The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors appointed three people from each supervisor district.
Committee Coordinator Bev Staddon already did quite a bit of work before Monday's meeting, including a list of local websites and books.
And with the help of county government webmasters Robin Schmidt and Rachel Johnson, Staddon already has designed many of the basic elements for a website they hope will be up and running by June or July at www.yavapai100az.org.
It features pages for links to historic information about the county, a photo gallery, list of centennial committee projects, calendar of events and special page for children's activities.
Yavapai County Records Manager Jessie Manley brought along some of the county's historic treasures as an example of something that an exhibit could highlight.
She showed the committee how early ranchers officially recorded their cattle brands by burning them onto pieces of leather. The county has related documents about the brands but it would be neat for volunteers to help organize the information, she said.
A tour of local historic ranches would be fun, added committee member Jan Starkey of the Cornville Historical Society.
Other centennial celebration ideas that came up at Monday's meeting included the creation of county-designated historic roads, a centennial trail ride and a penny drive to help pay for projects.
Tim Robbins said his Prescottonians group has been waiting 40 years for the centennial so they can open a time capsule buried at City Hall in 1964 during Prescott's own centennial celebration.
"We have an abundance of wonderful history," said committee member Karen DeSpain, who retired from The Daily Courier newspaper in 2005 after 17 years and is a third-generation Arizonan.
DeSpain cited the county's extensive mining, ranching and railroad history and suggested the committee would have to quickly focus on its priorities.
Committee Chair Janis Ann Sterling, a retired Superior Court judge, agreed. She asked members to think about that focus between now and the committee's next meeting at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 23.
The members agreed to meet at 10 a.m. on the fourth Monday of every month for now. The public meetings take place at 1015 Fair St. in Prescott.
Other committee members are Elisabeth Ruffner, long-time Prescott historian; Mona Bennett, who was born in Humboldt in the 1920s and now lives in Mayer; Jerry Munderloh, who has lived in the Prescott area since 1956 and researches historical events; Vicki Velasquez of the Yarnell-Peeples Valley Chamber of Commerce; Mary Liggit, who has volunteered at the Clemenceau Heritage Museum in Cottonwood since 1992; and Bill Cowan, a Rimrock historian.
To learn more about Arizona's centennial, visit its official website at www.azcentennial.gov.
Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, February 27, 2009
Article comment by:
Bobbi
What a great committee that has come together! The Chino Valley Historical Society is working on ideas for commemorating the first Territorial Capitol of AZ at Del Rio Springs.
Posted: Sunday, February 01, 2009
Article comment by:
CV Writer
I would also hope that the wonderful SHM staff are consultants on this project.
Posted: Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Article comment by:
Tom Steele
I would hope Sharlot Hall and Prescott will be the main focus. After all, her efforts kept us from being a part of the New Mexico Territory under Teddy Roseveldt's administration. Hopefully, Ken Bennett and local ranchers will assure fair treatment for the first capitol of Arizona.
