Opened in 1960, the museum never attracted the numbers Anne had hoped for. But it was nonetheless an economic shot in the arm for the region at a time when the local mining industry had already gone bust and the railroad was about to do its disappearing act.
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Revisiting Patagonia After 75 Years
95-year-old Bill ‘Saguaro’ Russell recently returned to Patagonia as part of a nostalgic car trip. The last time he was here was as a young mining laborer in the summer of 1941. Here are his memories of mine work, sleeping outdoors, Saturday night dances at the Opera House and, of course, girls…
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The Anne Stradling Story, Part 1: The Making of a Cowgirl
Anne & Jack. As I walk into the lobby of the Stage Stop Inn to talk with owner Gerry Isaacs about the history of this place, I notice the pattern of cattle brands neatly and uniformly imprinted on the tile floor and I realize that this detail is a fitting start to the writing journey […]
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When Patagonia Was a Mecca for Wagon Restoration — Part 2: Craftsmen at Work (and Play)
In this chapter: Wagon restorationist Doug Thaemert strikes out on his own, building a skilled team of local talents to meet the growing national demand for their work. Plus: beer, pranks and ‘Dougerizing.’
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Community News and Arts – Feb. 2016
Way Off Course and Wintering In Patagonia A Yellow-throated Warbler is spending its second winter in Patagonia Park. The species’ native habitat is the Southeast, and they usually migrate to the southernmost tip of Florida, or Texas for the winter, but this little guy took a detour. The image above is from a painting by […]
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Sonoita & Elgin – Feb. 2016
Sister Rita at the baking machine The Sisters of Santa Rita Abbey It’s 3 o’clock in the morning in Sonoita. While everyone else is sleeping, the sisters at the Santa Rita Abbey in Fish Canyon are already up and starting their busy day, first with morning vigils of prayers and scripture reading. After a quick […]
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Yikes! Gophers!
ZZ Top on a gopher dig We have been invaded gophers…seemingly hundreds and hundreds, given the damage they are doing, but probably only three or four. Who knows really? While they may look cute, if you ever actually see one, don’t be fooled. The little monsters will eat the root balls of all the plants […]
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An Adventurous Couple Share Their Story
Pakistan and Patagonia are worlds apart and one might be led to believe that they have little in common, but Brad and Aisha Sander have observed that the two places share an exceptional friendliness and sense of community. Since arriving in Patagonia last November, the couple have had numerous locals ask them about Pakistan, so […]
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2015 Christmas Birdcount
The Patagonia Christmas Bird Count started in 1963. There is a designated 7.5 mile radius circle of territory that is covered by several teams of birders. The center of the circle is located very near the intersection of Harshaw Creek Road, Harshaw Road, and the San Rafael Valley Road. This location is picked to maximize […]
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Sonoita & Elgin – Jan. 2016
Pipe Dreams “Put that in your pipe and smoke it!” is a phrase we have all heard. But to Jon Rinaldi of Sonoita it has a special meaning. He makes the pipes. Jon came to Arizona after selling his successful wholesale beauty supply business in New Jersey. He lived in Rio Verde and Carefree, Arizona, […]