tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84212311135477168512024-03-13T07:13:52.188-07:00Make Higley Historic!The definitive source of Higley, AZ happenings -- past, present and future.Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-91327321355063925082013-03-18T22:24:00.001-07:002013-03-18T22:28:38.729-07:00Home, Home on the Germann Homestead<style>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Much of the land that
we are familiar with in and around Higley was claimed and farmed by pioneers
who took advantage of the federal government’s homesteading program during the
1800-1900s. One such pioneering family was the Germanns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On January 2, 1913
Anna Mathilde H. Germann applied to the U.S. Department of the Interior for a 311-acre
tract of desert land in Higley. Her intentions were to convert this harsh and
untamed land into a working farm. That she did, and soon after, her husband ,
John, and sons Paul, Edmund and Walter would follow her example and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>increase the Germann farmland holdings
to over 1,700 acres. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I invite you to my
website, </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.germannhomesteaders.org/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.germannhomesteaders.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to learn more about the homesteading
process, the original Germann homestead and what was to follow.</span></span></div>
Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-71783633183681860832012-10-17T10:37:00.001-07:002012-10-17T16:26:16.956-07:00Dust to Dust...<span style="font-size: large;">This week, Higley lost an important piece of the town's story. Not just its own, but in the Town of Gilbert where Higley now resides. We all have a sentiment about what role history plays in strengthening our communities, our economy and our environment. But when our visible reminders are razed without public recognition and deliberation, benefits are likely to remain unrealized or forgotten. Hopefully, that's not where the story ends for little ol' Higley....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/20121015gilbert-razes-iconic-higley-store.html" target="_blank"> Gilbert Razes Iconic Higley Store by Srianthi Perera at azcentral.com</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To learn more about Higley's history and the surrounding communities, please visit the <a href="http://www.santanhistoricalsociety.org/" target="_blank">San Tan Historical Society</a> in Queen Creek, Arizona. Research what fits your fancy, share your story, or support ongoing preservation efforts in our area.</span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-57966743613948035352010-10-04T13:37:00.012-07:002011-04-17T23:49:09.795-07:00OPEN HOUSE: Crossroads of Historic Higley<span style="font-size: large;">Well, there have been no blog posts this year about </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-size: large;">Higley's</span><span style="font-size: large;"> history, but with good cause. Your Friendly </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" style="font-size: large;">Higley</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Historians have been hard at work completing <a href="http://www.santanhistoricalsociety.org/crossroads.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Crossroads of Historic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Higley</span>: An Oral History Project/Narrated Driving Tour of the San Tan Mountain Communities</span></a> with the San Tan Historical Society.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We invite the public to attend the free event and learn about the <a href="http://www.santanhistoricalsociety.org/">San Tan Historical Society's</a> efforts in preserving the areas of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" style="font-size: large;">Higley</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Chandler Heights, Combs and Queen Creek history in the rapidly changing landscape of the Southeast Valley. The disc with the self-guided, narrated driving tour will be available at the event for a nominal charge of $3.00 and free for download on the <a href="http://www.santanhistoricalsociety.org/">Society's</a> website after the event. The dates are as follows:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Higley</span> Center for the Performing Arts</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">4132 E. Pecos Road</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Gilbert, Arizona 85295</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday, October 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span>, 2010 - 5 PM to 8:30 PM</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday, October 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span>, 2010 – 10 AM to 8:30 PM</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This project is honor of the community of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" style="font-size: large;">Higley's</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Centennial this year. We look forward to seeing you there to learn and share about the area's people and places which made us who we are today, all the while looking ahead at the next 100 years. Contact Project Director, Leslie </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" style="font-size: large;">LeRoux</span><span style="font-size: large;"> - 480.220.0341 leslie_leroux@cox.net for any additional information.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;">This project was made possible in part with grants from the </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.azhumanities.org/" style="font-style: italic;">Arizona Humanities Council</a></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;"> and </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.southwestoralhistory.org/" style="font-style: italic;">Southwest Oral History Association</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><br />
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</span><a href="http://www.azhumanities.org/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524308979615233634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTP3LflAzRZpB73LL09Fhe3t24gHAsjJwipWAvICK4oiXQNKePv4PVoWTiGG7Qrout7qlSpU_Ks2xlxCW__Fi_5YURnifon9cBRMihWm7-kMekwtEemMd_KmZIog4j4P1kGvIA54GNvgo/s320/AHC_RGB.bmp" style="cursor: pointer; height: 102px; width: 215px;" /></a> <a href="http://www.southwestoralhistory.org/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524309492458388802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS9WOSnZtmv_tjkdZb0HunK02jEAUSNJfHpl4xBd8KExOqvt4thi_io_7rpVwRJU6Yt2LL15Xna60vrJtGKimPuiB0lmsCEqi7jFFHVMK3m-TL9wBGPSxDvKYO95A-aWu64OGWsL21Shf/s320/soha_logo.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 98px; width: 186px;" /></a>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-85801726515598482772009-12-28T22:38:00.018-07:002010-01-18T10:56:28.185-07:00Thoughts on the New Year, Courtesy of the Higley Family<span style="font-size:130%;">As we approach the New Year, Your Friendly </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Historians have been laboring away to bring </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" style="font-size:130%;">AZ's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> recorded story to light. In addition to our new project, </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.santanhistoricalsociety.org/crossroads.html">Crossroads of Historic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Higley</span> at the San Tan Historical Society</a>, history continues to unfold at </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Make <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Higley</span> Historic!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> courtesy of a uniquely American family.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://makehigleyhistoric.blogspot.com/2008/11/our-founder-stephen-weaver-higley.html">S.W. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Higley</span> </a>was described by his grandson Thomas Stephen </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> in a letter dated 1973 </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.library.arizona.edu/speccoll/">(University of Arizona Library Special Collections)</a>:<br /><br />"S.W. was my grandfather, a tough, western man, post Civil War railroader, rancher, farmer, saloon owner, mercantile store owner, stagecoach shotgun guard, newspaper publisher and the owner and lover of some fine horses in territorial Arizona and later."<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQEgfP29DBzI-myI0bQik9mgiuetL0T5Xz1c2TTJ7QUjLJgkYyblNsbBYT9VEU9TA9rY1pScXhw7wmGozRv7MxHtpnnpHC5V_8p8yFuonWJzAlutkaUq_KqfSvgEJgdoCyYFUp0zvLdH7/s1600-h/SW+Higley.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQEgfP29DBzI-myI0bQik9mgiuetL0T5Xz1c2TTJ7QUjLJgkYyblNsbBYT9VEU9TA9rY1pScXhw7wmGozRv7MxHtpnnpHC5V_8p8yFuonWJzAlutkaUq_KqfSvgEJgdoCyYFUp0zvLdH7/s320/SW+Higley.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420796429380169746" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >S.W. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;">For a man so prominent in Arizona territorial times, who had his hands in </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >everything</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> as Arizona became a State in 1912; settling in Prescott while working for Santa Fe Rail; living in Phoenix at the <a href="http://www.rossonhousemuseum.org/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Rosson</span> House </a>(even longer than the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" style="font-size:130%;">Rosson's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> themselves); his is a story which has really taken some work to uncover. Thankfully, the Internet can stretch to all ends of the research spectrum and as a direct descendant of Captain John </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, his family's history is well recorded and definitely worth sharing.<br /><br />In 1896, Mary Coffin Johnson, completed a publication named <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/higleystheirance00johniala">"The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Higleys</span> and their Ancestry: An Old Colonial Family" </a>describing in great detail the family's first American immigrant from England, Captain John </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, who arrived in Connecticut in the late 17</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" style="font-size:130%;">th</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Century. As an apprentice glove maker, he fled England to escape the clutches of his abusive master and start a life in the new American Colonies. At the time, England was a place marred with oppressive politics, Puritans and pestilence (the Plague), so despite leaving his family, it wasn't that hard for John </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> to say goodbye to his home country. However, his departure was very much illegal since he broke the term of his apprenticeship to stow away on a ship heading West. Once he arrived in Connecticut, he was sold for labor to the Drake Family to cover the expense of passage across the Atlantic. In his new home, he labored hard, returned to England to pay his dues to the "offended employer" whom he left, returned again to America and married his new employer's daughter, became a military and political leader, a wealthy landowner, legislator, and even had a hand in starting the Collegiate School, later to become known as Yale.<br /><br />Now the life of Captain John </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> as written in this book (all 854 pages of it), extends over 200 years of family history, including the life of his great-great-great-great-grandson S.W. </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">. It describes him just at the beginning of his life, married with one child (both had passed away by the time the book was printed), yet to reach the places where he left his mark and name in Arizona. The author mentions the intended audience as the new generations making their way in the 20</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" style="font-size:130%;">th</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> century, who will one day look to see how their ancestors' history touched on every aspect of not just being American, but the tragedy and triumphs of being human. As you can imagine, the family has grown even larger since. Leroy </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, family historian, has accounted for over 37,000 descendants of Captain John </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, with countless members who had lost their lives in every war America has been in, including the attack of 9-11.<br /><br />Near the completion of her work recording the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> family history, Mary Coffin Johnson writes in the book's appendix of a family reunion in 1890 with over 300 members who gathered in </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" style="font-size:130%;">Simsbury</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, Connecticut. They visited together and shared a glimpse of how far they all had come since John </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> left his mother and sisters in England and stowed away on a 50 day journey across the Atlantic to make his home in America. Together at the old First Church they sang a song which your Friendly </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Historians find appropriate as we think of days long past, family near and far, here and gone, and as we celebrate another new year...<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Should </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" >auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > acquaintance be forgot</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >and never brought to mind?</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Should </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" >auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > acquaintance be forgot</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >and days of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >?</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >For </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >, my friends</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >For </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" >Syne</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >We'll join the hand of kindness now,</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >For </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Our fathers here their dwellings reared</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >In social life combined,</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >These swelling fields their labors cleared</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >For </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >For </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >, etc.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Those ancient homes they guarded well,</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >And stood by freedom's shrine;</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >And many a fearless warrior fell</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >In days of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >For </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >, etc.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >And we were nursed amid these hills</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >And in these vales reclined;</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >But we have wandered far away</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Since days of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >For </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >, etc.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >We've roamed across the prairie wild,</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >The mountain pass we have climbed,</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >And placed the schoolhouse in the wild</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Since days of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >For </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >, etc.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >We've mingled in the city's strife,</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >We've delved within the mine;</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >And braved the ocean's stormy waves,</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Since days of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >For </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >, etc.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Our sturdy sires of yore have gone,</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >And kinsfolk in their prime;</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >The </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54" >lov's</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > and good have disappeared</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Since days of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >For </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >, etc.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >We'll part again to distant scenes,</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >And leave this hallowed shrine;</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >But oft we'll think with grateful praise</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Of days of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59" >Auld</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Lang </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60" >Syne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />As we move further into the 21st century, rest assured that the common thread of history's lessons are still the same with family seeking a place for opportunity, justice, safety and peace for their young ones, ACROSS ALL NATIONALITIES AND CREEDS.<br /><br />However, today, we thank the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> family for demonstrating the greatest lesson of all, it is only history when we take the time to record and preserve it in the present. What we do with it remains part of the mystery which belongs solely to the future.</span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-80794173624379627382009-10-01T20:52:00.009-07:002011-04-18T00:06:23.695-07:00Crossroads of Historic Higley<span style="font-size: 130%;">We are very proud to announce that our Friendly Higley Historians have been hard at work with the volunteers at the San Tan Historical Society in Queen Creek, and are gearing up to do a history project 100 years in the making, <a href="http://www.santanhistoricalsociety.org/crossroads.html"><i>Crossroads of Historic Higley</i></a>.<br />
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For new readers, when Higley was settled in the years leading up to Arizona becoming an "official" state in 1912, the town was representative of the whole San Tan farming community, providing postal, educational, and commercial services to the expansive lands around San Tan Mountain. As the years passed, the unincorporated town became smaller when communities moved forward on their own including Rittenhouse (Queen Creek), Chandler Heights, and Combs. What we now know as Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport was Higley Field before it was Williams Field Air Force Base. And we are most familiar today with the last bit of Higley holdings near Williams Field and Higley Roads annexing into the Town of Gilbert again proving wherever you look, you can always find a little bit of Higley.<br />
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Although the endless miles of land in Higley's past are gone,<i> </i><a href="http://www.santanhistoricalsociety.org/crossroads.html"><i>Crossroads of Historic Higley</i></a> will record the voices of our community, creating a narrated driving tour of the people's history around the San Tan Mountains. The project will be produced over the next year and will aim to inform residents and tourists alike of the area's heritage so in Higley's 100th year, its legacy will not be forgotten.<br />
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Visit <a href="http://www.santanhistoricalsociety.org/index.html">San Tan Historical Society's web page</a> for information about the kick-off to our project on Saturday, October 24th, 2009. We will host an open house and special guest speaker, Dan Shilling, who will discuss the relationship to <a href="http://www.civictourism.org/">Civic Tourism</a> and its place-based approach in creating sustainable communities.<br />
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We welcome all who would like to attend the free event and hope you all can be there to share and learn the stories of YOUR heritage... in Historic Higley.<br />
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<i>Update - 10/19/09</i><br />
<a href="http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_155fe1fc-c2c2-5dcc-8b06-a0f198627d9b.html">Project Aims to capture Higley's History by Amanda Keim - East Valley Tribune</a><br />
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<i>Update - 10/22/09</i><br />
<b>Public can get early look at Higley history project Saturday</b><br />
<i>by Astrid Galvan - Gilbert Republic</i><br />
<a href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2009/10/22/20091022gr-historyproject1023.html">http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2009/10/22/20091022gr-historyproject1023.html</a></span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-22820991591668992702009-10-01T15:23:00.015-07:002010-01-16T20:36:14.236-07:00History Abound in Higley<span style="font-size:130%;">Last Sunday, 9/27/2009, the Arizona Republic released a special edition filled with "Good News" in the Southeast Valley's papers. The feature touched on "More good news, good people, good things" with all stories relating to the history of Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa and the community's central role in preserving it. Below is a link to the series of articles on azcentral.com:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2009/09/20/20090920mr-gn-linkset0920.html">http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2009/09/20/20090920mr-gn-linkset0920.html</a><br /><br />For obvious reasons, the "unofficial" town of Higley was not given its own section within the special edition; however, we were rather proud that our history was distinctively featured under <em>all three cities</em>, proving our findings that wherever you are, you can always find a little of bit of Higley :)</span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-11781747990207426532009-09-16T15:54:00.035-07:002010-01-16T20:35:51.258-07:00Mr. Conrad's Airship<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ADDPtWoG2wqTZlsrehPJ8dU8NvJpJh-7CN6bmfO71-BEpKCscX2PgcuQeLfnOB_s7tjK2Aqn945DC3Bn9sfaaS7oHJEsUhpeYJf_uy2-do-_X0Cm3ErQIu37r2U8zoNryotkrrOvwdji/s1600-h/saucercrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 166px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382508989395551586" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ADDPtWoG2wqTZlsrehPJ8dU8NvJpJh-7CN6bmfO71-BEpKCscX2PgcuQeLfnOB_s7tjK2Aqn945DC3Bn9sfaaS7oHJEsUhpeYJf_uy2-do-_X0Cm3ErQIu37r2U8zoNryotkrrOvwdji/s320/saucercrop.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-S6WDb3u57I8XGJ93BQXJiqWN0_iVm5bslbc9zMew4ox0RUmhxfXQdik_ZRrXQilgoMO4LA17AjAlFUK_NIAYq5s0z3rOcJJP-U01WeM11CPewpsgdbJTiTbBIVqPjmrH9hUCP49Vn-o/s1600-h/airship3crop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 209px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382508891697883266" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-S6WDb3u57I8XGJ93BQXJiqWN0_iVm5bslbc9zMew4ox0RUmhxfXQdik_ZRrXQilgoMO4LA17AjAlFUK_NIAYq5s0z3rOcJJP-U01WeM11CPewpsgdbJTiTbBIVqPjmrH9hUCP49Vn-o/s320/airship3crop.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNsWY1EWu8PiFaBVWT-YK7naoZC_iSiFK9J8nEv3MoYHVO0XHhhNwQ-OlWLRhqBuzN_jHFCJJ3skdcKlZSj8mjQ5dqTt0v1nNCTsXe5T25GzwenFgBghSZD6Wu3g0yW8aPTyh9cMhhB0S/s1600-h/airship11crop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 157px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382346436564532274" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNsWY1EWu8PiFaBVWT-YK7naoZC_iSiFK9J8nEv3MoYHVO0XHhhNwQ-OlWLRhqBuzN_jHFCJJ3skdcKlZSj8mjQ5dqTt0v1nNCTsXe5T25GzwenFgBghSZD6Wu3g0yW8aPTyh9cMhhB0S/s320/airship11crop.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw9FCT9y35i-xVf-1xkVBXZBEz4CXHDpPXrMdr6bJvS6lRu4P6DO2P1eM8UkC17Hs9WNA0MnaudP2dMfEYvq0ZfB4gYDCl-k1G7fG007gxTDCorRCST4XhZ_AvExjg0KV7ulTGT_S2clo/s1600-h/airship6crop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 199px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382345844000800578" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw9FCT9y35i-xVf-1xkVBXZBEz4CXHDpPXrMdr6bJvS6lRu4P6DO2P1eM8UkC17Hs9WNA0MnaudP2dMfEYvq0ZfB4gYDCl-k1G7fG007gxTDCorRCST4XhZ_AvExjg0KV7ulTGT_S2clo/s320/airship6crop.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">On the front page of the Arizona Republic dated July 2, 1974, an article by Dave </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Spriggs</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> reads "<em>Pilot hopes to revive age of zeppelins.</em>" For many newcomers in the area, such a title may have little significance in understanding </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> history; to long-time residents and travelers of the past, it strikes a chord of remembrance for Mr. Conrad's airship, constructed in the grassy pasture off of Williams Field Road.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">For a short introduction into the semantics of airships, the rigid type has an internal frame (airships, dirigibles and zeppelins) differing from the non-rigid type (blimps) which are most commonly associated with Goodyear's current aerial advertising. Goodyear was in charge of constructing rigid-frame airships for the US Navy, but stopped its efforts after the crashes of the USS Akron in 1933 and the USS Macon in 1935. A couple of years later, the famous German passenger Zeppelin, the Hindenburg, crashed in New Jersey on May 6</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">th</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, 1937, killing 36 passengers/crew and crippling global interest in the industry.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Despite the </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">dirigible's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> flaws having been so widely broadcast to the world, rigid-frame airships did have successful flights as well, having logged thousands of hours and miles of trans-Atlantic service for military assistance and passenger flights during the 1900's to 1930's. Since the construction of <em>any</em> aircraft is a costly venture with little expense for error, and the peak of the airship's trials and tribulations pushed towards the start of WWII (the industry leader, Zeppelin, was based in Germany), experimentation with technological advances were set aside. Consequently, the idea of constructing a successful rigid airship took on a mythical interest to many aviators, including Clarence "Clare" Conrad forty years later, just "east of Chandler" in </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, Arizona.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Clarence W. Conrad hailed from Washington state where his life-long interest in aviation was honed as a private pilot. After years of independent study, he started a 20' airship project in 1969. His son Darwin moved to Arizona to attend </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">ASU</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> in 1972 and Mr. Conrad followed the next year to start a task of epic scale, the construction of a dirigible 225' in length and 50' in diameter. The airship was envisioned for advertising and touristic purposes. It was designed to travel 100 miles per hour and carry 25 passengers all the while being "petroleum free" and raising to the skies on helium, the non-flammable alternative to hydrogen. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">While laboring as electrical contractors during the day, Mr. Conrad and Darwin, along with family and friends, toiled on nights and weekends to complete the airship. As they were pursuing the amazing feat, the press picked up the story, and Mr. Conrad's vision was spread across the state <em>and</em> country <strong>("</strong><a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19750527&id=8QgOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VnkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7357,2885559"><strong><em>Father and son try to bring back airship</em>," John <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fialka</span>, Washington Star Service, St. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Petersburg</span> Times, FL 5/27/1975</strong></a><strong>).</strong> As the Conrad's finished the frame and prepared to move closer towards completion, a tornado-like monsoon storm came through the area and blew Mr. Conrad's airship with it, reducing it to rubble 100 yards from the construction site (<em>Storm Losses High</em>, Mesa Tribune, 7/17/1975). Although smaller models including a saucer-shaped airship were constructed by the father-son team, the storm, along with financial constraints, stymied their efforts and the project was never completed.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Despite the setbacks, the press coverage continued for Conrad Airship Co. and in the subsequent years, fascination and support still proved to be widespread. <a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=932&dat=19751222&id=SBYPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=84IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7044,5563769"><strong>The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kingman</span> Daily Miner (AZ) reported on 12/22/1975 "<em>There's Still Hope - Dirigible Will Be Aloft by Christmas</em>."</strong></a> Over a year past the storm on 10/21/1976, the Christian Science Monitor featured a special article penned by reporter Dale Van </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Atta</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> revisiting the story. Because of the national syndication of </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">CSM's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> articles, the story "<em>Backyard builders working on airship</em>" appeared in such places as the<strong> </strong><a href="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&dat=19761107&id=6dwPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=V40DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6967,763093"><strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Boca</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Raton</span> News (FL) on 11/7/1976.</strong> </a>Ten years after that, Mr. Conrad and his airship appeared in the 5/26/1986 Tucson Daily Star article titled, "<em>Airships are making comeback to become new heroes of the skies.</em>"</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">In May 2002, Mr. Conrad passed away in Mesa, Arizona with his dream of completing the airship to the scale of his vision unrealized. However, after crawling all over the place to piece together his history, rest assured that his legacy is not one forgotten. When it came to contributors, they were everywhere! Your Friendly </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Historians thank the following: </span></div><ul><li><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.lib.az.us/archives/"><strong>Arizona State History and Archives Division</strong></a> with their stellar keyword searches and careful placement of the story's 7/2/1974 Arizona Republic headline in their card catalogue of Arizona history (yes- card catalogues still do exist and this is the best one in the state!). All in-state articles without links were found with the help of their service - copies will be placed at the <a href="http://www.santanhistoricalsociety.org/"><strong>San Tan Historical Society</strong></a>.</span></li><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><li><span style="font-size:130%;">The staff of the Chandler Airport, whose former employees like Mike Smith, were able to recollect Mr. Conrad's airship with perfect detail, as the saucer airship was housed there prior to airport expansion. Current employees jumped at the opportunity to recite the story as well since it was a legend passed on to them.</span></li><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Google, who is working away at making publication archives </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">searchable</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and accessible across the world. Every article mentioned in this story with a link is courtesy of their diligence.</span></li><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Countless community members, visitors and far-away readers who shared how Mr. Conrad's work made them marvel at the thought of flight. Darrell Campbell, owner of Turtle Airships, was one of these readers and cited Conrad Airship Corp. in his blog as inspiration for airship technology with upward thrust (as the saucer-shaped airship permitted). In 1979, Mr. Campbell was led to Mr. Conrad by searching the archives in his own library where he found an article in <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=tOIDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64&dq=Popular+Mechanics+%22big+boom+in+gas+bags%22&lr=&as_brr=0&as_pt=MAGAZINES#v=onepage&q=Popular%20Mechanics%20%22big%20boom%20in%20gas%20bags%22&f=false"><strong>Popular Mechanics, July 1977 edition, "Big Boom in Gas Bags"</strong></a><strong> </strong>by Bill Allen. </span></li><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Darwin Conrad who thankfully shared his story and provided the absolutely spectacular photos above (make sure you click on them to get the "big picture"). He continues his legacy of taking flight in Spokane modifying aircraft with 500 completed to date.</span></li><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><li><span style="font-size:130%;">The inspiration for this article, Chip Cunningham, who when asked, "What do you know about </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">?" without a breath was the first to exclaim... "the dirigible."</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Modern-day rigid airships are hard to come by, but companies are still out there constructing them and tightening the technology to expand uses including cargo transport, military surveillance, humanitarian applications, touristic uses and advertising. We wish them all the best of luck in their endeavors and thank them kindly for allowing us to discover their history in </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">. As for Mr. Conrad, his airship stayed grounded but his story took flight and captured the imagination of many across the world. We owe him the biggest debt of gratitude for reminding us that great achievements take great risk, and for that, he will always be a <a href="http://www.tv.com/higglytown-heroes/waynes-big-big-discovery--dirigible-day/episode/424149/summary.html"><strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> Town Hero</strong></a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”</em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>-Leonardo <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">da</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Vinci</span></em></span></p></div></div></div>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-71535842899857950882009-08-23T13:17:00.011-07:002011-06-22T17:19:07.982-07:00Higley opens 10th school; more on horizon<span style="font-size: 130%;">The East Valley Tribune.com has published a new article by Hayley </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ringle</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> on 8/22 outlining the tremendous growth of the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> Unified School District in its centennial year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"> <a href="http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_106da28c-0c5f-5165-9ce7-b2a1e78facdd.html">Higley opens 10th school; more on horizon</a><i> </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><i>*Fun Facts*</i><br />
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<i>In the last 10 years, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Higley</span></span> Unified School District has opened nine new schools with 10,000 new students enrolled.</i><br />
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<i>In 1910, the US Census Bureau recorded Arizona's population at 204,354. The current estimate was at 6.5 million in 2008.</i><br />
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<i>The Town of</i> <i>Gilbert's 2009 Business Development plan states their population is at 215,000, having doubled every five years since 1980. (And to think this was roughly the population of Arizona as we approached statehood in 1912!)</i><br />
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In between all of these numbers, the "unofficial" town of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> may have been one of the only places in Arizona to have seen its population decline, but your Friendly </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> Historians couldn't be more grateful to see the ingenuity and resilience it took to make this home in the desert continuing on through our schools.<br />
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Congratulations </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> Unified School District in rising to the challenges of such rapid change. We look forward to documenting your history during this year's centennial celebration and are excited to see what the next 100 years have in store!</span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-19488596442762255432009-07-24T15:39:00.010-07:002010-01-16T20:34:52.909-07:00Higley Center for the Perfoming Arts<span style="font-size:130%;">On June 25</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">th</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">azcentral</span><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">com's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Srianthi</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Perera</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> wrote an article about </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> largest cultural resource, the </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Center for the Performing Arts. The article notes that the center has yet to have a sold out show, so <em>Make <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> Historic!</em> wanted to be sure to get the word out about the Center's progress and upcoming performance schedule detailed in the text.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/06/25/20090625gr-higley0626.html">http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/06/25/20090625gr-higley0626.html</a><br /><br />Tickets can be purchased for </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" style="font-size:130%;">their</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> events through their website -<br /><br /><a href="http://www.higleyarts.org/">http://www.higleyarts.org/</a> (updated 7/27/09)<br /><br />We thank </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">HUSD</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and the </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">HCPA</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> endlessly for their mission in “providing a facility in which all members of the community can participate as audience, as performers or as presenters.” We also wait patiently for their "historic" sold out show - you'll see the review here first at <em>Make <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> Historic!</em></span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-6917484614991143092009-07-24T15:00:00.016-07:002010-01-22T22:00:37.953-07:00Sustainability for Higley - The Issue of Our Age<span style="font-size:130%;">In 2007, </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">ASU's</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> <a href="http://www.asu.edu/copp/morrison/">Morrison Institute for Public Policy</a> and <a href="http://sustainability.asu.edu/">Global Institute for Sustainability</a> issued a publication named <em><a href="http://morrisoninstitute.asu.edu/publications-reports/APC07_SustAZ-IssueOfOurAge/view">Sustainability for Arizona - The Issue of Our Age</a></em> to bring light to a topic detrimental to the future of our communities.<br /><br />For many who think of sustainability, the term "green" often comes to mind first, however, <em>Make <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span></span></span> Historic!</em> has linked to this ground-breaking publication to demonstrate the issue is much more than recycling, keeping the air clean and conserving water. Sustainability, in a nutshell, is achieving a balance between environmental, social and economic issues as to not deplete our resources for future generations.<br /><br />In all actuality, "</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sustainable"</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> can be applied to any practice it </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">precedes</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">, but fostering sustainability, local through global levels, has been historically challenging for citizens and governance alike. Today, <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">azcentral</span></span></span></span>.com</em> has released two articles referencing the challenges of achieving sustainable <em>growth</em> in and around the community of </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">. We have included them to illustrate the broader view of the topic.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2009/07/24/20090724gr-annexcosts0725.html"><strong>Gilbert county island fire district annexation costs millions </strong></a><strong>- Alia Beard <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rau</span></span></span></span></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2009/07/24/20090724gr-expansion0725.html"><strong>Williams Field - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span></span></span> road widening in Gilbert delayed</strong></a><strong> - Astrid Galvan</strong><br /><br />To explore the history of these articles further, a library card and/or access to news archives will reveal plenty of information as they have been in discussion for years. And again, we invite everyone to report their findings on the community's relationship to sustainability here at <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">MHH</span></span></span></span>!</em> To research other public policy issues affecting our great state and find more about the history of the Morrison </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Institute's</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> namesake, check out <a href="http://www.morrisoninstitute.org/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">morrisoninstitute</span></span></span></span>.org</a>. The </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Institute's</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> research is truly invaluable to Arizona and the family's </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Road farming fame makes us swell even more with pride. We thank all the players there for making it known that in </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley's</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> 100</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> year, and <a href="http://www.azcentennial.gov/">Arizona's upcoming Centennial</a>, sustainability is an issue of historic proportions.</span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-24698169391212708822009-07-08T08:40:00.005-07:002010-01-16T20:33:43.900-07:00Native works to preserve what's left of Higley<span style="font-size:130%;">Check out the July 6</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">th</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2009/07/06/20090706gr-higleypreserve0708.html"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">azcentral</span>.com </a>article by Astrid Galvan. The story has also been printed in the Midweek July 8</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">th</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Gilbert Republic. </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Someone's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> stirring up </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2009/07/06/20090706gr-higleypreserve0708.html">http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2009/07/06/20090706gr-higleypreserve0708.html</a></span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-59366745964140883972009-06-11T11:25:00.017-07:002011-06-22T17:26:45.670-07:00Higley as Home<div align="left"><span style="font-size: 130%;">In pursuit of documenting history, Your Friendly </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Higley</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> Historians have closely observed the reasons why people have come to the home they know as </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Higley</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;">. Varying personal differences aside, it is clear that all found opportunity and peace of mind in </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Higley</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;">, discovering that if you worked hard enough with the resources available, what was seen as an unforgiving desert would open up with everything needed to sustain generations to come. The damage of floods, fires, droughts, and dust over the years did not make the citizens of the area falter, instead added to the resilience of their character.<br />
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As the years have passed, the residents of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Higley</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> have strengthened their ability to deal with the elements but witnessed their environment and common goals shift drastically under the weight of growth. While </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Higley</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> faces </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">obsoleteness</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;">, residents ponder daily on what </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Higley</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> as home means to them, what they'll do to fight for it and the implications of leaving it all behind. In the upcoming months we will share the stories of residents instrumental in asking and answering these questions.<br />
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Below are links to the East Valley Tribune's articles regarding the litigation between </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Leni</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Cazden</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> and the Town of Gilbert. </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Cazden</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> owns a home adjacent to </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Higley</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> Road that TOG has slated for widening. The caveat is that </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Cazden's</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> property is located on a county island in what was known as the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" style="font-size: 130%;">unincorporated</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> town of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;">. What land belongs to who has been mediated, decided in </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Cazden's</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> favor and appealed by the Town repeatedly in court. Parties attribute the conflict to aesthetics, safety, greed and necessity.<br />
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For a little bit of history, county islands were created decades ago when towns all over the valley strip annexed small, thin strips of land beyond their limits creating "planning area" boundaries. The act of strip annexation kept competing towns outside the lines, and allowed incorporated towns to claim land away from city center as available for annexation, permitting that utilities/services were able to be provided in the best interest of government. As the i</span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">ncorporated</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> towns and cities grew, official annexations were done on an as-needed basis, leaving a map of random town holdings and non-contiguous county islands inside the "planning area."<br />
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Whether you are studying the lives of those who made </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Higley</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> home in the past or those trying to keep it as that in the present, we ask you to delve further and think about what home in your town means to you. Historical topics for research specific to </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" style="font-size: 130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Higley</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> and Gilbert can include annexation, incorporation, property rights, sustainable growth and impact of public involvement in local decision making. If you seek information about what home means to other county island residents throughout the state, and nation for that matter, a library card, access to newspaper archives, or </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" style="font-size: 130%;">internet</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> search will hopefully answer your questions. Spend an afternoon researching everything you can and report your findings here as One of Many Friendly Historians.<br />
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<a href="http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_5f907b47-2965-5a61-aa82-56b162b7f3c5.html"><b>Homeowner, Gilbert in dispute over road proposal</b></a> <b>Beth Lucas - 11/3/2007 </b></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_585b4d35-46ff-5628-965c-a224c01d6d64.html"><b>Court rejects Gilbert's eminent domain claim</b></a><b> Beth Lucas- 1/24/2008</b></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_863811a8-d339-56f7-a837-d4ebed2ef8e2.html"><b>Gilbert votes to continue fight for land</b></a><b> Blake Herzog - 6/5/2009</b></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Opinion - </b><a href="http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_d38f0408-ec1b-539e-80c8-c0d48972d689.html"><b>Gilbert shouldn't throw away money on losing case</b></a><b> Le Templar - 6/6/2009</b></span></div>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-85576581958867739082009-05-16T13:30:00.018-07:002010-01-16T20:33:05.590-07:00Higley's Teachers of the Year<span style="font-size:130%;">On May 13</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">th</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, 2009, Your Friendly </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Historians were honored to be in attendance of a very special "first" in </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> schools. The evening launched </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Unified School District's "Teacher of the Year" award ceremony, giving accolades to one exemplary teacher from each of the nine schools.<br /><br />For a small </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" style="font-size:130%;">back story</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> School District was founded in 1909 with one K-8 school. The </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Rittenhouse</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> School in Queen Creek (current home to the <a href="http://www.santanhistoricalsociety.org/">San Tan Historical Society</a>) was originally in the school district when it opened its doors in 1922 and remained until Queen Creek started their own district in 1947. The little </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> School braved many years by itself until 2000 to 2009 when the district added nine new schools, including the opening of Centennial Elementary this fall.<br /><br />During the past 100 years, the faculty, staff and volunteers, many one in the same, have been integral to the district's survival and more importantly, to the students' success. Now we may all have our opinions and know our facts as to what makes a good teacher and a bad one, but it is undisputed that the teachers who make learning fun and memorable (*sometimes this isn't always fun), are worth their weight in gold. In </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, there have been many who have risen to the occasion and remained tirelessly committed in finding ways to engage their students in education.<br /><br />Carol Johnson, science teacher between 1974 and 2004, thrilled her students arranging a "magic show" of the year's science lessons which were demonstrated to the extremely impressed younger students. Ann Udall, librarian, orchestrated the "Book Brigade" in 1989 when the new library was built. She lined the students from the new building to the old and, in a lesson of teamwork, they passed the books along to each other until the new shelves were filled. As noted in </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">MHH</span><span style="font-size:130%;">!'s post "</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Elementary Cornerstone Contents Revealed," Sue </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Sossaman</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> instructed and made her students marvel in the way of being fearless, especially when it came to snakes!<br /><br />Wednesday evening's ceremony was 100 years in the making. It would have been impossible to name all of the teachers from Higley whose commitment to education has left a lasting impression; but let it be known, on the evening of May 20</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">th</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, 2009, before the eyes of students, colleagues and the business community that depends on our best and brightest, we clapped for each and every one of them and the difference they made in the life of a child.<br /><br />Thank you kindly </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Teachers of the Year, </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Yesteryears</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, and Future - YOU make US proud. We are eternally grateful for your support in the past and excited to see your efforts in the years to come.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2009/05/15/20090515gr-topteachers0516.html"><strong>Higley Unified honors nine teachers of the year</strong></a><strong>, Emily Gersema, azcentral.com -</strong><strong> 5/15/09</strong></span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-50097299213571137342009-05-01T13:48:00.012-07:002010-02-22T11:16:17.659-07:00The Cartography of Higley<p><span style="font-size:130%;">As with all cities, the publication of maps is a defining attribute in recording it's actual existence. However, "elusive" is not an understatement for </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and those who seek a map of the place have endured a different experience. The visual aid of </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley's</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> boundaries has depended entirely on who you ask. If you were to do an Internet search today for a </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> map, the marker would probably be on the spot where the post office stands, since that is technically the only place you can be from </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> now. Some utility maps today still have </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> marked with a southern boundary of Hunt Highway on the </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pinal</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> County line.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">When founded, </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> served as a postal district, school district and commercial center for the entire <a href="http://www.santanhistoricalsociety.org/">San Tan farming community</a>, what we now know as Queen Creek, Combs, Chandler Heights, south Mesa and Gilbert. Additionally, census records ran through </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> until the respective communities carved their own way. As small of a place that it started out<span style="font-size:130%;"> to be, </span></span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> truly was a "gateway" between the cities of the southeast valley and </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pinal</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> County's capital in Florence. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Your Friendly </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Historians ask anyone who has a map of </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> to let us know, we would greatly appreciate a copy for posterity. Please email <a href="mailto:makehigleyhistoric@cox.net">makehigleyhistoric@cox.net</a> with any research leads, we can look on your behalf as well. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">In the meantime, <em>Make <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span> Historic!</em> is pleased to announce </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley's</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> revival on a very special map. With the help of Andrew Phelps' internationally acclaimed work, </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> has made it on to the Future Arts Research at </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">ASU's</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> "101 Things We Love About Arizona" interactive map. FAR @ </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">ASU</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> is an initiative of the university president's office to expand the role of arts in Phoenix and greater Arizona through action research, public programs and new commissions. To see all of their "hot spots" and find out more about their sponsored events, go to <a href="http://futureartsresearch.asu.edu/hot-spots">http://futureartsresearch.asu.edu/hot-spots</a> .</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Your Friendly </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Historians all concur that it's a breath of fresh air to be put on a map - we had grown quite accustomed to the opposite! Thank you kindly FAR @ </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">ASU</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> for your hard work and making both </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley's</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> historic value <em>and</em> continued presence known.</span><br /></p>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-50886425277552493732009-04-17T14:11:00.022-07:002010-01-16T20:32:35.626-07:00Higley by Andrew Phelps<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8iR_gtmn1OlLjMP6sSXUr5Xaz5xFgaVWTAQ2Sv4i0TOEio4quktcYzHoyNY7LPB-A8NPFJsfhQgdM8CHLK9OHGSdJ7QP6qs4qGTsPl9HiY12gVdo3HqWKSCS_Ygj0cyeLjfICl1UqkCc/s1600-h/Hamburg+Higley.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 248px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326604594165790450" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8iR_gtmn1OlLjMP6sSXUr5Xaz5xFgaVWTAQ2Sv4i0TOEio4quktcYzHoyNY7LPB-A8NPFJsfhQgdM8CHLK9OHGSdJ7QP6qs4qGTsPl9HiY12gVdo3HqWKSCS_Ygj0cyeLjfICl1UqkCc/s320/Hamburg+Higley.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> gone international!<br /><br />While your Friendly </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Historians were digging into the past in </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">ASU's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> library catalog, we were were pleasantly surprised in coming upon a relic of the present, <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> (</em></span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Kehrer</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Verlag Heidelberg</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, 2007<em>)</em>, a photographic documentary on, you guessed it, </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, AZ.<br /><br />Raised in Mesa and Austrian resident since the early 90's, photographer Andrew Phelps returned to the </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> of his past and spent the years 2005-2007 documenting </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> as it stood. Contributor Tamarra </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Kaida</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> writes "</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" style="font-size:130%;">Photography</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> may be the most important medium to express the loss that time and change foist upon us." Now, we try at </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">MHH</span><span style="font-size:130%;">! to refrain from opinions, but we agree whole-</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">heartedly</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> with her sentiments on this one.<br /><br />And...... have </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, will travel! Andrew Phelps' <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></em> has been seen in gallery showings in Austria, Germany, and New York - the photo above is </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> in Hamburg! <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span></em> was also shortlisted in 2008 for both the German Photo Book award and </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Arles</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> book list.<br /><br />Art is truly a personal experience and in light of such a fact, below is the description of the project in his own words. A copy of the book, inclusive of the essay, <em>Losing Ground</em>, scribed by Tamarra </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Kaida</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> will be available at the <a href="http://www.santanhistoricalsociety.org/">San Tan Historical Society</a> by 4/24. Selected photos, along with additional work, can be seen at Phelps' website -<a href="http://www.andrew-phelps.com/">http://www.andrew-phelps.com/</a> and copies are available for purchase through the distributor - <a href="http://www.photoeye.com/">http://www.photoeye.com/</a>.<br /><br />Thank you very kindly, Andrew, for making </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> present historic value known, and more importantly, speaking with your voice loud enough for the world to hear. We are very pleased that it carried far enough to make it back home.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.andrew-phelps.com/projects/higley/index.html">http://www.andrew-phelps.com/projects/higley/index.html</a><br /><br /><br /><em>Andrew Phelps<br />ALWAYS EAST<br /></em></span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> of my childhood was a farming expanse of cotton, alfalfa, citrus, and otherwise empty desert pierced by two-lane, rough-paved roads with names like Pecos and Ray. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> was always east. We drove west to go to parties, to the university, to the city, and, if you drove long enough, to the Pacific Ocean. West was where the action was.<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> always seemed east of everything.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> was a farming town, but there are few farmers in my blood. My grandfather was a dairy man, but he left Phoenix early in search of a spiritual higher ground. My other grandfather came to service airplanes during WW2 and, drawn by the legend of the “Lost Dutchman Goldmine,” stayed after the war to become the local postman, conveniently leaving his afternoons free to plan assaults on the supposedly gold-ridden flanks of the Superstition Mountains.</em></span></p></div><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>I moved to Europe in the early 1990’s. At that time, my last visit to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> had most likely been in 1987 to try my luck on a skateboard half-pipe called the “Hillbilly” ramp. When my sister called me a few years ago to tell me that she bought a house in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span>, I had visions of her tending alfalfa fields; romantic, in a sense, but not exciting. I simply had no memories and no recollections of a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> that could possibly appease my sister’ suburban standards.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>What I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-error">didn</span>’t know is that the turn of the century had changed <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> from a community of farms to a community of bedrooms. The sudden need for affordable housing in an ever expanding Phoenix had basically arisen from two factors: first, there was the eastward wandering of tech companies that preferred the low-cost of Phoenix to the high cost density of “Silicon Valley,” and second, there was the financially stable, sun-seeking consumer group known as the “senior citizen.” Uninteresting to the true Yuppie who preferred to buy in the north, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> supplied what progress demanded: great expanses of flatland and no historical infrastructure to stand in the way of the giant strip malls, fast food chains, and freeway turnpikes that would become the brightly-lit circulatory system of this new, affordable <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span>.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>What has happened to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> is nothing new. Driven by the fleeting historical anomaly of readily available fossil fuels, cheap transport, and the commercial opportunism of affordable real estate, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> is happening at the fringe of almost every urban space on the planet. “Globalization” is the catchphrase, but globalization is just too monumental to take on in a photographic series. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_34" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> is thus my microcosm; I can get my hands around it, and when I want, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_35" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> remains the kind of place I can walk across in an afternoon.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>Neither the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> of twenty years ago, nor the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_37" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> of the future, are of interest to me. It’s this moment, where one place, with a definitive history, is rapidly losing ground to an undifferentiated sense of progress. These images from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_38" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span> and the surrounding townships of Queen Creek and Gilbert will hopefully bear witness to this brief three year period, a period when the American dream either collapses or blooms; it’s not my place to judge.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>More than once, in the last three years, have I found myself at five a.m. in a borrowed car, missing my family, with a box of unexposed film haunting me from the passenger seat, unsure that anything in this now foreign place would ever open itself to me again. Though it is thinning, I still have family in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_39" class="blsp-spelling-error">Higley</span>, and when I lose my way and don’t know where to set up the camera, I can always go back and find pieces of myself in this landscape, these fields, this light.</em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>Andrew Phelps, Summer 2007</em></span></p>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-81054003028152305532009-03-03T09:12:00.011-07:002010-01-22T22:01:40.112-07:00Higley Elementary Cornerstone Contents Revealed!<span style="font-size:130%;">During a recent interview with our Friendly </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Historians at </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Elementary, Vicki </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Simer</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and Michelle Young, the contents of a cornerstone placed in 1954 were uncovered! The building that held the </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" style="font-size:130%;">cornerstone</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> was constructed in 1954 and removed nearly 50 years later when </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Elementary underwent major reconstruction. Below illustrates the </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" style="font-size:130%;">occurrences</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> on dedication day along with a poem read aloud. A list of the parents and patrons attending and all of the students in their respective classes will be available at the <a href="http://www.santanhistoricalsociety.org/">San Tan Historical Society</a> for viewing. Come take a look and see if any of your relatives or friends were there. If you have memories of this day, building, or events surrounding the time, please share! All items of </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> historical significance are greatly </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" style="font-size:130%;">appreciated</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> at Make </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Historic!<br /><br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Program</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Dedication of New Building</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">May 7, 1954</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />1. Flag Salute led by Clyde </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Fincher</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />2. The </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">American's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Creed - 5</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">th</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and 6</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">th</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Grade Pupils led by Larry Power<br />3. Invocation - Reverend Alford<br />4. Address - Mr. </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Germann</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />5. Placing of Cornerstone - Mr. Claude </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Connell</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />6. Dedication of Building - Mr. Wilbur Power<br />7. </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" style="font-size:130%;">Presentation</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> of Building - Mr. Tom Harris<br />8. Acceptance of Building - Margaret Burrows<br /><br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">To The Future Inhabitants Of </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">by Claude </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Connell</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />This is a year we won't forget, the year of fifty-four,<br />So many things have happened, we hardly know the score,<br />We've built brand new building, as all of us can see;<br />But </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" style="font-size:130%;">probably</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> when you read this note, it will all be debris.<br /><br />We have a crew of teachers that is very hard to beat,<br />We don't know where we'd find some of them to fill their seat.<br />Their teaching methods are good, their moral standards are high.<br />The </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" style="font-size:130%;">goals</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> they set to reach are almost to the sky.<br /><br />The children of the school are as happy as can be,<br />And at recess, they laugh and play and are so full of glee.<br />Most are well adjusted, and like to go to school,<br />They learn their lessons well; not one we'd call a fool.<br /><br />There are five first class </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" style="font-size:130%;">teachers in</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> this little five room school,<br />Away out in the country where they use the horse and mule.<br />They try to teach the children the way they should act,<br />But at times they get together and form a pact.<br /><br />At times it is discouraging trying to figure what to do,<br />When Mary comes complaining that her hair is full of glue.<br />If we are going by the rules, put blame where blame is due;<br />But how's a teacher going to prove just who poured the glue.<br /><br />We have got a wonderful teacher, that can even charm a snake;<br />Her name is Mrs. Sue </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Sossaman</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, Oh gee, she takes the cake.<br />She </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">reachers</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> down behind the head and holds it by the neck,<br />Lifts it up over the fence, and sets it down, by heck.<br /><br />There are so many other things that happen around here too,<br />We won't mention them, don't want to start a stew.<br />Most of us have been here for many, many years,<br />So we're all so very careful of what we say, my dears.<br /><br />We hope that this new building will prove its weight in gold.<br />That it will help the teacher, the little children mold.<br />So they have happy memories, of the time that we all gave,<br />To help them on their journey, and help their road to pave.<br /><br />This will all have happened, so many years ago,<br />I doubt if you will believe, if any of it is so.<br />You have torn down the building, that we so proudly gave;<br />But we will not worry, because we'll be in our grave.</span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-35169989599054737722009-02-19T12:24:00.010-07:002010-02-22T11:21:59.830-07:00The Higley Post Office<span style="font-size:130%;">For those skeptics who argue that </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> never was, here is a reminder that </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> is and always will be 85236 - our famous and beloved zip code. As an unincorporated town, annexation into neighboring communities has removed Higley street addresses, but its existence carries on through the </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Post Office.<br /><br /></span><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Records show that in 1910, </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> post office was established with Laurence Holland </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Sorey</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (also seen with other spelling variations) as the postmaster. The post office was situated in the the building shown at the top of the Make </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Historic website. This building is currently the </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Stop & Shop/Taco Loco on the southwest corner of </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and Williams Field. L.H. </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Sorey</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> established a general store and the post office (not Stephen </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">), </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" style="font-size:130%;">accommodating</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> homesteaders, rail workers, and farm hands in the area . According to a written history by Elsie Owens Germann, he and his family lived on the second level up a flight of very steep stairs. His children were Jim and Matilda. Matilda delivered the mail via horseback to the rural patrons in the area commencing in 1915. The grandson of </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">LH</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, Jack, says that it wouldn't matter if she would fall asleep on the route because the horse knew where to stop. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Considering lack of government in </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, postmasters served as an </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" style="font-size:130%;">unofficial</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> mayors, if you will, openly </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" style="font-size:130%;">facilitating</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> commerce, community and communication. In Mr. </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Sorey's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> case, as a member of the Higley Chamber of Commerce, he was instrumental in lobbying for a road connecting Florence to Chandler (see 11/26/08 </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">MHH!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">blogspot</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> post). Some other early </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> postmasters include </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">AJ</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Walker, Mary Owens and Mrs. English.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Post offices were eventually established in Chandler Heights (1938) and Queen Creek (1947) , but </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> continued to serve its own community along with Williams Air Force Base and neighboring towns of Mesa and Gilbert. After almost 80 years of operation in the same building, </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> post office was built anew in 1989, 1/4 mile from the northeast corner of </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and Ray. Unofficial records have shown </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> serving anywhere from 1000 patrons up to 4000 at its peak before Gilbert absorbed the last of the street delivery in 2007. The PO Box patrons at the </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Post Office are the only remaining addressees of the historic community </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, AZ 85236.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Despite the lack of street delivery, the </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Post Office continues to be an institution most revered by the locals. Predating phone, fax, email, and annexation, the </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Post Office remains as the original "gateway" to communication for the residents in the southeast Valley and coming up on 100 years of public service to boot! Many pine for the days when waiting lines were non-existent, but remain endlessly grateful of the role it has played in the area's progress and that it continues to stand as a testament to </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley's</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> heritage. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">If you have memories and/or inquiries regarding the history of the </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Post Office we'd love to hear them, investigate on your behalf or point you in the right direction for more research. As with all posts on the Make </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Historic! </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">blogspot</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, please feel free to concur with or out-right question any of the information above. We want to hear from you!<br /><br /></span><br /></p>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-71721722349044276952009-01-22T09:31:00.008-07:002010-01-13T21:45:04.007-07:00Higley Elementary 8th Grade Class 1956<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdHecwsSAGNGp3lPf15tF5NXhB2VzOu_tvmvD-3-0C0hGLNCHQv043nWQ_zJaEdYO7ev7Kn1PjILMXWD9MaRSZp6yQbqCVYW_GA3bvDMEqMeYF8IMbLvUcDfaSSW1K5fwO8vYMkmLjESZ/s1600-h/eighth+grade+1956.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294158794248979570" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 253px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdHecwsSAGNGp3lPf15tF5NXhB2VzOu_tvmvD-3-0C0hGLNCHQv043nWQ_zJaEdYO7ev7Kn1PjILMXWD9MaRSZp6yQbqCVYW_GA3bvDMEqMeYF8IMbLvUcDfaSSW1K5fwO8vYMkmLjESZ/s320/eighth+grade+1956.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Thank you Larry Power for this great photo of Higley's 8th grade graduating class from Higley Elementary in 1956. All but one person is accounted for but maybe another friendly historian can help fill in the blank...........<br /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Have a great day and thanks again for your interest in making Higley historic!</span></p></div></div>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-61061375766917730892009-01-14T11:32:00.007-07:002010-01-13T21:44:38.297-07:00What's Your Higley Story?<span style="font-size:130%;">As mentioned in Gilbert's 1/10/09 East Valley Tribune - without government, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> has moved along for the last 100 years as a "people's place." Commerce, education, communication and most importantly community has made </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> what it is and </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> wants your story! Your Friendly </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Historians invite anyone who wants to share a glimmer of the past, present and future of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> to comment to this post. Since we're chugging along with the past, here are some historical topics of interest that we're digging up, and feel free to add to the list. And don't be shy, we invite all to help us out with the present and future!<br /><br />Prehistoric </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Homesteaders in </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> School District<br />Civic Duties in </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (clubs and business associations)<br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Gets Electrified (in 1917!)<br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> in </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" style="font-size:130%;">Wartime</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" style="font-size:130%;">Agricultural</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Life<br />Aviation in </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> - Williams Air Force Base/Gateway<br />Religion in </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Higley's</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> African-American Community<br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Recreation<br />Military Life in </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Mid-Westerners Attack!<br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">’s Hispanic Community<br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Higley</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Commerce<br /><br />Share as little or as much information as you like; dates, sources and just random memories are all appreciated too. And remember, EVERYONE will be reading this so we ask authors to be mindful/respectful of the wide audience the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" style="font-size:130%;">Internet</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> affords us. We thank you all again kindly for your interest in making </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Higley's</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> historic value known and look forward to some great stories!</span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-54662578674800041822009-01-10T11:51:00.009-07:002011-04-16T11:40:27.768-07:00Higley Strives to Hold on to Heritage<span style="font-size: 130%;">Check out Blake </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-size: 130%;">Herzog's</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_45f89a44-4eb6-5078-bf20-bb78dc8a1fd3.html?mode=story"> article in today's Gilbert East Valley Tribune</a>. You may have caught the paper version with the big lovely pictures but be sure to read the online version for the full text. Have a lovely day and thanks again for your help in making Higley historic!<br />
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<a href="http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/133877"><br />
</a></span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-73733157876570084912009-01-01T12:19:00.007-07:002011-06-22T17:28:58.954-07:00Driving Chandler's Streets<span style="font-size: large;">Happy New Year!!!<br />
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Attached is a link to a website offering histories on the roads that run through the southeast valley as assembled by the staff and students of Chandler Gilbert Community College. This collection was sponsored by the City of Chandler who has partnered with </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-size: large;">CGCC</span><span style="font-size: large;"> in Community History Projects, which focuses on oral histories and community based research in an effort to preserve the past.<br />
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</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" style="font-size: large;">Higley</span><span style="font-size: large;"> isn't a featured road on the page, but ours is a history that is shared with </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" style="font-size: large;">southerly</span><span style="font-size: large;"> horizontal streets, so this site was definitely worth sharing with you all!</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<a href="http://webport.cgc.maricopa.edu/published/h/is/history/document/2/chandler_home.html">Driving Chandler's Streets: The History of Chandler's Streets as told by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">CGCC</span> Students </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=626">Chandler History Community History Projects</a></span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-20400738496465794642008-12-24T13:15:00.008-07:002010-01-13T21:43:23.072-07:00Merry Christmas!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBD7spOnCZwWqyIzYkqZZgWTNTO0rFQRnQsq3dkHGITyCwJH_1Ec1wUN5XzvndgOosfUTBIAb2OQ4V7nn-ZIQOVStcSENnMzZ-kZD3EQm2OMJ-WpTs8-TB8NBTu7_CaPOru96pKhXoBTV/s1600-h/higley.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283460254227849346" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 345px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBD7spOnCZwWqyIzYkqZZgWTNTO0rFQRnQsq3dkHGITyCwJH_1Ec1wUN5XzvndgOosfUTBIAb2OQ4V7nn-ZIQOVStcSENnMzZ-kZD3EQm2OMJ-WpTs8-TB8NBTu7_CaPOru96pKhXoBTV/s400/higley.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;">Hello Friends- </span><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Your Friendly Higley Historians would like to wish you all the happiest of holiday seasons and thank you kindly for your interest and support in making Higley's historic value known. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;">This year has been quite eventful, and not just for Higley. Your Friendly Higley Historians are on break to gear up for the next year's Higley Histories. We encourage anyone to share any photos, stories and input on the following topics:</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Prehistoric Higley</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Homesteaders in Higley<br />Higley School District<br />Civic Duties in Higley (clubs and business associations)<br />Higley Gets Electrified (in 1917!)<br />Higley in Wartime<br />Agricultural Life<br />Aviation in Higley - Williams Air Force Base/Gateway<br />Religion in Higley </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Higley's African-American Community<br />Higley Recreation<br />Military Life in Higley<br />Mid-Westerners Attack!<br />Higley’s Hispanic Community<br />Higley Commerce</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;">We hope that everyone enjoys the next week with their friends and family. No matter what we celebrate at the end of the year, being grateful for our loved ones, near and far, here and gone, is truly what it's all about. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Be safe and kind and Merry Merry Christmas!!!!!</span></div></div>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-90234016472668640132008-12-17T10:02:00.005-07:002011-06-22T17:31:50.489-07:00San Tan Indian Arts<span style="font-size: 130%;">The East Valley Tribune recently published this story about </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-size: 130%;">Higley's</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> San Tan Arts Store and the changes the they will be undergoing due to the road widening.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_375069698"><br />
</a><a href="http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_41db8cf2-9c57-521c-a505-e200ace63c4c.html">http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_41db8cf2-9c57-521c-a505-e200ace63c4c.html</a></span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-71613318715635485082008-12-12T15:16:00.002-07:002010-01-13T21:42:52.011-07:00Someone Blogged About Our Blog - Awesome!<span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/CindyHernandez/40486">http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/CindyHernandez/40486</a></span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421231113547716851.post-47449724647137348702008-12-10T22:56:00.010-07:002010-01-13T21:42:31.096-07:00RWCD<span style="font-size:130%;">The acronym above is one that may not be familiar to most who see it, but the townsfolk of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> are quite aware – Roosevelt Water Conservation District, one of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;">’s oldest enterprises. </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" style="font-size:130%;">RWCD</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> occupies the northwest corner of the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and Williams Field intersection and they have remained there, mostly unchanged, since 1924.<br /><br />Many newcomers may not be familiar to the history of the area yet, but there is consensus that desert living – past present, and future - would be next to impossible with out the advent of air conditioning and water supply. Although many had to do without the air conditioning for quite some time (very unfortunate!), water had been a managed resource long before any Western civilization had come into play. The prehistoric Hohokam culture is to be credited with the creation of many of the water ways used by the Salt River Project today, but here in the east valley, we can thank the folks at Roosevelt Water Conservation District for making this our viable economic and residential center.<br /><br />One of Your Friendly </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Historians landed an exclusive meeting with fourth generation employee, Shane Leonard, and he provided an extensively researched historical report that was commissioned by </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" style="font-size:130%;">SRP</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> and written by Scott W. </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" style="font-size:130%;">Solliday</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, Historian, and Shelley C. Dudley, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" style="font-size:130%;">SRP</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Research Archives, to better help in sharing how </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" style="font-size:130%;">RWCD</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> came to be.<br /><br />In 1920, Howard S. Reed and Frank H. Parker made a proposition to the Chandler and Mesa Chambers of Commerce to create an irrigation district that would be sustained by the excess water shed of the Salt and Verde Rivers in addition to water extracted from the water table below by means of electric wells. The area east of the Salt River Project had been deemed not profitable by the Salt River Valley Water Users Association. The citizens in the eastern area (now Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek) already profiting greatly from the irrigation produced by gasoline powered wells, took it upon themselves to form the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" style="font-size:130%;">Auxilary</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Eastern Canal Land Owner’s Association, which would be in charge of the infrastructure needed to sustain a viable water source for the farmers in the Auxiliary Eastern Canal District.<br /><br />Their Association and District was approved at the federal, state and local level, but an early reliance on groundwater with no determination of water levels and a poor economy shied away investors and temporarily slowed the organization’s efforts. In 1923, the District saw the potential of using concrete to line the waterways, which increased profitability by allowing easier cleaning and prevented losses by evaporation and seepage. In a move of ingenuity to secure more surface water, the District made a proposal to the members of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" style="font-size:130%;">SRP</span><span style="font-size:130%;">’s Association that would have the District pay for the concrete lining of portions of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" style="font-size:130%;">SRP</span><span style="font-size:130%;">’s South Canal, Consolidated Canal and all of the Eastern Canal and its </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" style="font-size:130%;">extension</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, in exchange for an allocation of the amount of water conserved (this was later clarified as 5.6% of the total diversion of water at Granite Reef Dam). With a new agreement in place outlining the District’s water delivery, energy investment, and allocated water, they reorganized in 1924 under the new name Roosevelt Water Conservation District, named after the President who set the pace for Salt River Valley with the construction of the Roosevelt Dam. (fun fact – maps indicate that Apache Trail also went by Roosevelt Road at the time – Teddy was quite a guy!)<br /><br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" style="font-size:130%;">RWCD</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> began construction of their infrastructure in 1925 and completed in 1928. During that time, they built their Main Pumping Plant (this moves the allocated water from </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" style="font-size:130%;">SRP</span><span style="font-size:130%;">’s canals to </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" style="font-size:130%;">RWCD</span><span style="font-size:130%;">) located in north Mesa, the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" style="font-size:130%;">RWCD</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Main Canal, groundwater wells, and a network of electricity to power the operation. With an additional amount invested into </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" style="font-size:130%;">SRP</span><span style="font-size:130%;">’s Association, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" style="font-size:130%;">RWCD</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> secured electricity at reduced rates, allowing more income to be generated by selling the excess electricity to the farms. At the end of construction, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" style="font-size:130%;">RWCD</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> was irrigating 38,500 acres of the original 41,500 placed in the district which spanned about 22 miles from north Mesa to the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" style="font-size:130%;">Pinal</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> County line and ranged from 2-5 miles wide. When you take into account the 16 bridges over the Main Canal, 106 miles of laterals connecting the fields to the supply, and 2.8 million square feet of concrete to make it all happen.... well, it's quite safe to say that it was a "Modern Marvel" of its time.<br /><br />Over the years, the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" style="font-size:130%;">RWCD</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> has changed and adapted along with the community it serves. </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" style="font-size:130%;">RWCD</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> continued to grow it’s water portfolio and currently uses a mix of Salt and Verde River water, Colorado River water (CAP), groundwater and a limited amount of effluent. They no longer deliver power to the residents and (if you can </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" style="font-size:130%;">believe</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> it) they have a lot fewer fields to tend to. But they are still very much hard at work delivering the water needed to sustain life in the desert. Anyone who has had to partake in the 2 am valve turning for your irrigated lot knows that water management is quite an </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" style="font-size:130%;">orchestrated</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> event!<br /><br />So if you ever get a chance to meet someone who works at the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" style="font-size:130%;">RWCD</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, make sure to give them a big </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> handshake and/or hug. We thank them kindly for their hard work, foresight in the community and most importantly, for making their palm tree-lined presence </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" style="font-size:130%;">Higley</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> history.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://rwcd.net/library/facilitiesmap.pdf">http://rwcd.net/library/facilitiesmap.pdf</a></span>Your Friendly Higley Historianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312022350330602884noreply@blogger.com1