Contributed Photo Sandy Wolf and her husband Loren Krebs of Sonoita met Marge Kelly at Holy Cross Hospital on Friday, April 3rd to deliver the first installment of about 80 face masks made by Crossroads Quilters. The Sonoita Elgin Fire Station also received some of the masks, as will the Patagonia Fire Dept. The group […]
Alison Bunting
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Glimpses Into Our Past: The Fruitland Cemetery
Grave markers for Henry (left), Mary and Bertha (right) Barton. Mary and Bertha share a headstone, with separate inscriptions on each side of the headstone. Photo by Wade Bunting Fruitland Cemetery was established on April 30, 1915 when Daniel and Adriene Saur deeded a 246 ft. square of land in the NW corner of the SW […]
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Book Review: “Westward Bound With the Bloxtons”
“Westward Bound with the Bloxtons. Settling the Arizona Territory: One family’s Amazing Journey West,” by Pat Garber provides a fascinating look into the lives of an Arizona pioneer family: Don Alonzo Sanford, his wife Louisa Jane Bloxton Sanford, and several family members who lived with the Sanfords, or worked on the family ranches and businesses. It is […]
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Glimpses Into Our Past: Fruitland
Starting in 1914, news articles mention Fruitland Hall as a popular venue for community gatherings. “The big masked ball on Thanksgiving night at the new hall at Fruitland was attended by a large crowd from far and near. On Friday evening December 4 there will be a benefit dance given at the new hall for […]
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Glimpses Into Our Past: Dixie Collie, Chopeta and Fern Bartlett
From left: Almond Walker, Dixie Collie Walker, Leslie Collie (Bill & Chopeta Collie’s daughter), Stone Collie, and Fern Bartlett Collie on their double wedding day, August 28, 1919. Photo courtesy of the Moss family Six of the nine one-room schools built in Eastern Santa Cruz County in the early 1900s were close to Elgin, where the population […]
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Glimpses Into Our Past: Eastern Santa Cruz County Schools and Teachers
Harshaw School students and teacher, Verner Vanderhoof, circa 1884 . Photo courtesy of Katie Goodwin Sixteen public schools existed in Eastern Santa Cruz County by 1920. Most, if not all, were one-room schoolhouses. One group of schools was established in the late 1880s and 1890s; a second group was established in the early 1900s. The impetus for […]
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Book Review: “Cowboy Is a Verb: Notes From a Modern Day Rancher” by Richard Collins
As a relative newcomer to Sonoita I welcome any opportunity to learn about the area’s history and culture. Filled with stories and personal experiences about the challenges of establishing and operating a cattle ranch, and dealing with environmentalists, government agencies, and cranky neighbors, Richard Collins’ “Cowboy is a Verb” is a must read. Collins and […]
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Glimpses Into Our Past: Carr and Montoya Families
The Blain Lewis article in the October 2019 issue of the PRT mentions the arrest of Manuel Montoya and his son Manuel Jr. for the 1943 death of E. Neil Carr. This article provides information about the Carr and Montoya families, the criminal investigation, and subsequent trial. In addition to the newspaper sources cited below, […]
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Glimpses Into Our Past: Ned Hilliard
The larger ranches in the Mountain Empire employed cowboys and other staff to help with all manner of ranching activities. This month’s article focuses on Edward “Ned” Hilliard, an African-American cowboy who worked for the Vail family on the Empire Ranch starting about 1894. The information for this article derives from genealogy and newspaper records, […]
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New Events Planned for Cowboy Festival
The 19th annual Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival (formerly Roundup and Open House) will be held on Saturday, November 2 from 10a.m. to 4p.m. It’s a family event featuring Western music & entertainment; history & culture demonstrations; ranch life exhibits; kid’s activities and much more. This year exciting new attractions include an opportunity to meet members […]