James Stinson, First Settler of Snowflake
photo id: 780
The Snowflake Valley was discovered somewhat accidentally by settler James Stinson. Stinson was contracted to take a delivery of cattle from Mexico to Army posts in northern Arizona and New Mexico. He was a resident of Colorado and traveled from the Four Corners area through what is now the Navajo Nation to the Little Colorado River near present day Winslow.
While following the Little Colorado, he is believed to have mistakenly followed Silver Creek and camped in what is now the Snowflake valley. He had to backtrack to find the cattle rendezvous point and finish the delivery.
He was so impress with Snowflake Valley that he later established a ranch there in 1873 with his partners, Dan Ming and a man named Evans. He began raising cattle and selling them to the Army at Camp Apache, later known as Fort Apache.
photo id: 780
First Log Cabin in Snowflake
This log cabin was the first to be built in what would later become Snowflake. It was erected by Alma Z. Palmer (William Flake's brother-in-law) in 1878. It was on the corner of Miller and Freeman.
photo id: 782
This log cabin was the first to be built in what would later become Snowflake. It was erected by Alma Z. Palmer (William Flake's brother-in-law) in 1878. It was on the corner of Miller and Freeman.
photo id: 782
Snow and Flake
Erastus Snow (left), a Mormon apostle from Utah, after visiting the newly formed community in September of 1878, named the town Snow Flake after himself and William Flake. He gave instructions that the town should be laid out with 20 blocks consisting of four lots each. Each lot was to be 12 rods square (198 feet on each side). Streets were to be six rods wide running East and West, North and South.
photo id: 788
William J. Flake (right) was asked by Brigham Young, president of the Mormon church, to sell everything he owned and move his family south to help settle Arizona. He and his family first settled with other families in a place called Old Taylor in January of 1878.
By June of that same year, dissatisfied with the hard conditions, Flake rode with his brother-in-law, Alma Z. Palmer, to Savoia, New Mexico, and St. Johns, Camp Apache, then back through Show Low and Silver Creek. They found that all the good land was already taken. The only place that was appealing to them was Stinson Ranch on Silver Creek.
After negotiating on a price, Stinson agreed to sell his ranch to the Mormon settler. On July 19, 1878, Flake and his family began the trek to their new ranch and arrived two days later.
photo id: 788
Snowflake Early Settlers
In the spring of 1884, when Snowflake was only six years old, the only brick building in the community was the LDS church which can be seen just to the right of center in this picture and in the inset.
photo id: 785
In the spring of 1884, when Snowflake was only six years old, the only brick building in the community was the LDS church which can be seen just to the right of center in this picture and in the inset.
Some early settlers were, from top left, John H. Willis Jr., Fanny Jane Willis, David Savage, Mary Savage, William W. Willis, Gabrilla S. Willis, John W. Freeman, and Tybatha Freeman.
photo id: 785
Snowflake's Oldest Buildings
Top: This adobe home is the oldest building in Snowflake. It was built by James Stinton and was owned by William J. Flake when he purchased the ranch.It was also used as a meeting house and a courthouse. This house and the adjacent building are now part of the Stinson Museum on 1st East Street.
photo id: 789
Top: This adobe home is the oldest building in Snowflake. It was built by James Stinton and was owned by William J. Flake when he purchased the ranch.It was also used as a meeting house and a courthouse. This house and the adjacent building are now part of the Stinson Museum on 1st East Street.
Bottom: Fifty yards west of the Stinson residence was this adobe house. It served many functions. From the left, the rooms were used as the Stinson's first home, a room for hired hands, the granary, the tack room, and the last room was for machinery. The first room on the left also later served as the first school in the valley.
photo id: 789
Multi-pupose Log Cabin
In 1879 this log cabin was built and used for public meetings, dances, church, and school. It was located at Hunt and Main Streets. It was 22 x 33 feet and was covered with shakes and clapboards.
photo id: 790
In 1879 this log cabin was built and used for public meetings, dances, church, and school. It was located at Hunt and Main Streets. It was 22 x 33 feet and was covered with shakes and clapboards.
photo id: 790
Flake Brothers Store
photo id: 795
The Flake Brothers Store was started by Charles L. and James M. Flake in 1886 in Charles' log home. They had the contract to carry the U.S. Mail from Holbrook to Fort Apache.
This brick building was completed in 1893 with the Flake Brothers Store occupying the ground floor. The second floor was used for dances and theatrical events. Charles was killed in December of 1892 before the building was complete. His brother James continued running the store and shared profits with Charles' widow Belle.
When the Academy building burned in 1910, the upper floor was used for school classes. The Flake Brothers Store was destroyed by fire in January of 1912. Apparently the fire started during a woodworking class on the second floor.
photo id: 795
Willis Brothers Store
The Willis Brothers Store started in 1895 and was in business until 1921. This building stood on Main Street where the Circle K now stands. The Grill Cafe stood on the same site before the Circle K was built.
photo id: 806
The Willis Brothers Store started in 1895 and was in business until 1921. This building stood on Main Street where the Circle K now stands. The Grill Cafe stood on the same site before the Circle K was built.
photo id: 806
Stake Academy
The original Snowflake Stake Academy building pictured here was completed in 1901. The Stake Academy was a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints educational institution. It burned down in 1910. A new Stake Academy building was built in 1913 and still stands next to the current High School.
photo id: 792
The original Snowflake Stake Academy building pictured here was completed in 1901. The Stake Academy was a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints educational institution. It burned down in 1910. A new Stake Academy building was built in 1913 and still stands next to the current High School.
photo id: 792
Burned Academy
The Stake Academy building was completely destroyed by fire on the night of November 24, 1910. Classes were then held in the upper floor of the Flake Brothers Store until that too was destroyed by fire 14 months later.
photo id: 791
The Stake Academy building was completely destroyed by fire on the night of November 24, 1910. Classes were then held in the upper floor of the Flake Brothers Store until that too was destroyed by fire 14 months later.
photo id: 791
Academy Reconstruction
When the 1901 Stake Academy building burned after less than 10 years of use, a new Academy was constructed using red sandstone quarried between Snowflake and Taylor.
photo id: 796
When the 1901 Stake Academy building burned after less than 10 years of use, a new Academy was constructed using red sandstone quarried between Snowflake and Taylor.
This photo was taken during the construction of the new Stake Academy building which was completed in 1913. This view is of the north side of the structure. The building faces east.
photo id: 796
Stake Academy Building
This Snowflake Stake Academy building was built in 1913 after the original building was destroyed by fire in 1910. It was used for high school classes and the school library. As of 2012, the Academy building is undergoing renovations to eventually become the new home of the Snowflake-Taylor Public Library.
photo id: 797
This Snowflake Stake Academy building was built in 1913 after the original building was destroyed by fire in 1910. It was used for high school classes and the school library. As of 2012, the Academy building is undergoing renovations to eventually become the new home of the Snowflake-Taylor Public Library.
photo id: 797
Stake Academy
The north side of the 1913 Stake Academy.
photo id: 794
The north side of the 1913 Stake Academy.
photo id: 794
Assembly Room
The Assembly Room in the Stake Academy building.
photo id: 320
The Assembly Room in the Stake Academy building.
photo id: 320
Building the Social Hall
Construction of the Social Hall began in 1907 and the construction was completed in 1909.
photo id: 323
Construction of the Social Hall began in 1907 and the construction was completed in 1909.
photo id: 323
Social Hall
This Social Hall was built in 1909. It was used for dances and theatrical presentations.
photo id: 804
This Social Hall was built in 1909. It was used for dances and theatrical presentations.
photo id: 804
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Academy Street
This is a view looking north on Academy Street (now 2nd Street West) in 1909. The trees in the photo were cottonwoods and ditches ran along both sides of the street.
photo id: 802
This is a view looking north on Academy Street (now 2nd Street West) in 1909. The trees in the photo were cottonwoods and ditches ran along both sides of the street.
photo id: 802
District School
Built in 1891, the old District School is now used as the Snowflake Town Hall. This school photo was taken in 1908. The teacher in the picture is Leonora Smith Rogers. Ike Rogers is on the horse.
photo id: 800
Built in 1891, the old District School is now used as the Snowflake Town Hall. This school photo was taken in 1908. The teacher in the picture is Leonora Smith Rogers. Ike Rogers is on the horse.
photo id: 800
The Evolution of the Town Hall
In the late 1940s the town of Snowflake purchased the old District School and renovated it for use as the Town Hall. The upper photo was taken in 1964; the lower photo was taken in 1976 or 1977 after remodeling in anticipation of the community's upcoming centennial.
photo id: 801
In the late 1940s the town of Snowflake purchased the old District School and renovated it for use as the Town Hall. The upper photo was taken in 1964; the lower photo was taken in 1976 or 1977 after remodeling in anticipation of the community's upcoming centennial.
photo id: 801
Highland Park
This view of the Highland Park area shows 14 years of growth from 1963 (top) to 1977 (bottom). This area's construction began about the same time as the Paper Mill began construction.
photo id: 803
This view of the Highland Park area shows 14 years of growth from 1963 (top) to 1977 (bottom). This area's construction began about the same time as the Paper Mill began construction.
photo id: 803
1939 Stake House
The Stake House in downtown Snowflake was built in 1939. It was destroyed by fire just two short years later in 1941. The church building that currently stands on this site was constructed using some of the surviving walls.
photo id: 798
The Stake House in downtown Snowflake was built in 1939. It was destroyed by fire just two short years later in 1941. The church building that currently stands on this site was constructed using some of the surviving walls.
photo id: 798
Downtown LDS Church
This building, the downtown LDS church, was rebuilt over the remains of the 1939 Stake House that burned in 1941. This latest version was completed in 1943 and used sandstone from a quarry northwest of Snowflake.
photo id: 334
This building, the downtown LDS church, was rebuilt over the remains of the 1939 Stake House that burned in 1941. This latest version was completed in 1943 and used sandstone from a quarry northwest of Snowflake.
photo id: 334
Hauling Logs
Logging was one of Navajo County's biggest industries.
photo id: 328
Logging was one of Navajo County's biggest industries.
photo id: 328
Inter-Community Boxing Matches
Inter-community boxing matches were held in Taylor and surrounding towns. These drew quite a crowd and gave men something to talk about when they got together.
Originally E. W. Farrar, a 5 foot 2 inch 115 pound man started wrestling classes and instigating matches in 1914. No one in the community could beat him.
William W. Willis built a room for a social club and athletics. The Snowflake Amateur Athletic Club was started. In 1932 they reorganized to the Snowflake Athletic Club featuring boxing. The clubs manager was 'Doc' Gilbert M. Webb and they held the first exhibit in September.
Boxing continued to be one of the best attended sporting events for many years.
photo id: 209
Inter-community boxing matches were held in Taylor and surrounding towns. These drew quite a crowd and gave men something to talk about when they got together.
Originally E. W. Farrar, a 5 foot 2 inch 115 pound man started wrestling classes and instigating matches in 1914. No one in the community could beat him.
William W. Willis built a room for a social club and athletics. The Snowflake Amateur Athletic Club was started. In 1932 they reorganized to the Snowflake Athletic Club featuring boxing. The clubs manager was 'Doc' Gilbert M. Webb and they held the first exhibit in September.
Boxing continued to be one of the best attended sporting events for many years.
photo id: 209
Parade Float
photo id: 327
photo id: 327
Sarah Hall Freeman
Born in Utah in 1860, Sarah Hall Freeman and her husband John Albert Freeman later moved to Snowflake. They had nine children. She died in 1901.
photo id: 330
Born in Utah in 1860, Sarah Hall Freeman and her husband John Albert Freeman later moved to Snowflake. They had nine children. She died in 1901.
photo id: 330
Aaron Porter Adair
Aaron Porter Adair was born in Utah in 1850 and later moved to Snowflake. He died in 1900 and is buried in Show Low Cemetary. His wife, Fanny Crosby Adair, outlived him by 15 years. They had one son, Aport Adair.
photo id: 315
Aaron Porter Adair was born in Utah in 1850 and later moved to Snowflake. He died in 1900 and is buried in Show Low Cemetary. His wife, Fanny Crosby Adair, outlived him by 15 years. They had one son, Aport Adair.
photo id: 315
Lowell Barr and Grace Turley
Lowell Barr Turley was on born April 21, 1892. He married Grace Freeman. They raised several children, and several of their descendants still reside in Navajo County.
photo id: 321
Lowell Barr Turley was on born April 21, 1892. He married Grace Freeman. They raised several children, and several of their descendants still reside in Navajo County.
photo id: 321
Ben and Martha Hunt
photo id: 322
photo id: 322
Amanda Rogers Brewer
photo id: 317
Amanda Rogers was born in Snowflake in 1884. Her parents were Smith Doolittle Rogers (1852 - 1909) and Eliza Snow Smith Rogers (1859 - 1927). She married Jacob Edward Brewer. She died in 1965 and is buried in the Clay Springs Cemetary.
photo id: 317
Amy Elizabeth Hancock Baird
photo id: 319
Amy Elizabeth Hancock was born in Leeds, Utah in 1873 to Mosiah Lyman Hancock and Margaret McCleve. She was the 10th of 13 children. She married Samuel William Baird. She passed away in 1956 in Clay Springs.
Her father, Mosiah Lyman Hancock, was from Ohio and her mother from Ireland. They were early Mormon settlers, traveling through Nauvoo and later settling in Utah. Later they continued on to Arizona as part of a colonizing mission. At the time polygamy was a common practice for Mormons, and Mosiah may have had four wives.
photo id: 319
Basketball Team
The Snowflake co-ed basketball team in 1912.
photo id: 314
The Snowflake co-ed basketball team in 1912.
photo id: 314
Group of Friends
A group of friends gathered in Snowflake in 1911.
photo id: 316
A group of friends gathered in Snowflake in 1911.
photo id: 316
Class of 1910
The class of 1910 with their diplomas.
photo id: 324
The class of 1910 with their diplomas.
photo id: 324
Class of 1915
The class of 1915 poses with their diplomas.
photo id: 325
The class of 1915 poses with their diplomas.
photo id: 325
Snowflake Relief Society
Relief Society members joined voluntarily out of a desire to serve. Services they provided included sewing clothing and quilts, cooking classes, community beautification projects and making sure the needy were cared for.
photo id: 313
The Womens Relief Society was born from a need for healthcare
for women. The LDS Church designated women to serve as midwives assisting with
prenatal education and childbirth. Ward Relief Societies established
health programs in the late 1860s when Brigham Young had two of his wives start
healthcare education classes and train midwives, eventually opening a nursing
school for training. Snowflake had their own maternity hospital set up by the
Ward Relief Society.
Relief Society members joined voluntarily out of a desire to serve. Services they provided included sewing clothing and quilts, cooking classes, community beautification projects and making sure the needy were cared for.
photo id: 313
The Sinks
Just 10 miles northwest of Snowflake are many karst formations in the form of sinkholes. These are caused by underground erosion. Because of its great accoustic properties, one of these sinkholes was used by the senior high school classes for theatrical productions between 1933 and 1940. In this photo the class of 1938 is presenting "The Faerie Queene."
photo id: 799
Just 10 miles northwest of Snowflake are many karst formations in the form of sinkholes. These are caused by underground erosion. Because of its great accoustic properties, one of these sinkholes was used by the senior high school classes for theatrical productions between 1933 and 1940. In this photo the class of 1938 is presenting "The Faerie Queene."
photo id: 799
Ford Garage
Ford Garage was next to the Willis Brothers Store on the south side. It was known as the Southside Garage. Later it was called the Ballard Brothers Garage.
photo id: 807
Ford Garage was next to the Willis Brothers Store on the south side. It was known as the Southside Garage. Later it was called the Ballard Brothers Garage.
photo id: 807
McLaws Garage
By 1914 the use of automobiles in Snowflake had increased so greatly that ACMI installed a gas pump at their store. McLaws Garage, which opened in 1912, started offering gas soon after. Also pictured here is Updike's Ice Cream Parlor, which was located next to McLaw's.
photo id: 808
By 1914 the use of automobiles in Snowflake had increased so greatly that ACMI installed a gas pump at their store. McLaws Garage, which opened in 1912, started offering gas soon after. Also pictured here is Updike's Ice Cream Parlor, which was located next to McLaw's.
photo id: 808
Standifird and Pearce
Taylor’s first two settlers were James Pearce and John Henry Standifird in 1878. This painting by Peggy Rogers depicts the settlers traveling by wagon. Pearce started for Arizona on October 18, 1877, coming by way of Lee's Ferry to Moincopi, through Tucker's Flat into the settlements of Sunset and Brigham City. They arriving in Woodruff on December 13, 1877. He left his family there while he explored the country to the South. Then on January 21, 1878, he decided to retrieve his family. They left Woodruff on January 22, headed toward Silver Creek. Mary Jane, his wife, was lying in the back of the wagon suffering from a headache. Coming over the hill in view of Stinsen Ranch (now Snowflake) James said, "Now come and look at this, all this valley belongs to James Stinson." She replied, "Well this is too good a place for one man to have. It won't be more than two years before our people will have this place." Quoting James Pearce, "This was nearly six months before the Flake Party located at Snowflake". On January23, 1878 they arrived at the present site of the town of Taylor. "This land was not surveyed and I (James Pearce) simply had a squatters claim.
John Henry Standiford, with his thirteen year old daughter, Ann, came to Pearce's place March 7, 1878. They stayed with the Pearce family and the two men decided to join forces. If they were to survive the winter a crop had to be raised that year. They explored up the creek and found a place where irrigation water could be put on the land quickly and easily. For two milk cows they purchased the Squatter's Right to this place from Felix Scott. It is known today as the Bert Solomon Ranch. The remains of their old dam and ditch are still plainly visible. They raised a good crop in 1878, which sustained them and also helped sustain settlers in Snowflake valley.
In July 1878, John Henry Standifird returned to Utah for his families, leaving Ann with Mary Jane Pearce. This place was farmed during the summers of '78 and '79, but the winters were spent in Taylor helping with the survey and lay out of the town.
photo id: 151
Taylor’s first two settlers were James Pearce and John Henry Standifird in 1878. This painting by Peggy Rogers depicts the settlers traveling by wagon. Pearce started for Arizona on October 18, 1877, coming by way of Lee's Ferry to Moincopi, through Tucker's Flat into the settlements of Sunset and Brigham City. They arriving in Woodruff on December 13, 1877. He left his family there while he explored the country to the South. Then on January 21, 1878, he decided to retrieve his family. They left Woodruff on January 22, headed toward Silver Creek. Mary Jane, his wife, was lying in the back of the wagon suffering from a headache. Coming over the hill in view of Stinsen Ranch (now Snowflake) James said, "Now come and look at this, all this valley belongs to James Stinson." She replied, "Well this is too good a place for one man to have. It won't be more than two years before our people will have this place." Quoting James Pearce, "This was nearly six months before the Flake Party located at Snowflake". On January23, 1878 they arrived at the present site of the town of Taylor. "This land was not surveyed and I (James Pearce) simply had a squatters claim.
John Henry Standiford, with his thirteen year old daughter, Ann, came to Pearce's place March 7, 1878. They stayed with the Pearce family and the two men decided to join forces. If they were to survive the winter a crop had to be raised that year. They explored up the creek and found a place where irrigation water could be put on the land quickly and easily. For two milk cows they purchased the Squatter's Right to this place from Felix Scott. It is known today as the Bert Solomon Ranch. The remains of their old dam and ditch are still plainly visible. They raised a good crop in 1878, which sustained them and also helped sustain settlers in Snowflake valley.
In July 1878, John Henry Standifird returned to Utah for his families, leaving Ann with Mary Jane Pearce. This place was farmed during the summers of '78 and '79, but the winters were spent in Taylor helping with the survey and lay out of the town.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation, in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 151
Mary Jane Pearce and Child
This is a painting depicting Mary Jane Pearce and a child on top of the hill above their dugout. Living underground had its challenges. Once, Mary Jane was laying in bed and saw a snake coming through the ceiling. She called for a knife and chopped off its head. At one time 34 people used the dugout for their headquarters, living in wagons around it.
The painting is by Peggy Rogers.
photo id: 152
This is a painting depicting Mary Jane Pearce and a child on top of the hill above their dugout. Living underground had its challenges. Once, Mary Jane was laying in bed and saw a snake coming through the ceiling. She called for a knife and chopped off its head. At one time 34 people used the dugout for their headquarters, living in wagons around it.
The painting is by Peggy Rogers.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 152
Dugout home
Jesse Pearce found a good place to stop about three miles south of Stinton's ranch. This was on January 23, 1878. He constructed a crude dugout in the side of a hill for his wife and children to live in temporarily. Dugout shelters were always considered temporary, but they provided good shelter while a permanent home could be constructed. It was located on a rise above Silver Creek, approximately one hundred yards south of modem-day Pinedale Road. They had crude furniture and wood beams across the ceiling to sustain the weight of the hill above. Each night they would move the table against the door to protect against any invasion.
photo id: 144
Jesse Pearce found a good place to stop about three miles south of Stinton's ranch. This was on January 23, 1878. He constructed a crude dugout in the side of a hill for his wife and children to live in temporarily. Dugout shelters were always considered temporary, but they provided good shelter while a permanent home could be constructed. It was located on a rise above Silver Creek, approximately one hundred yards south of modem-day Pinedale Road. They had crude furniture and wood beams across the ceiling to sustain the weight of the hill above. Each night they would move the table against the door to protect against any invasion.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 144
Pioneers Building a Home
This is a painting by Peggy Rogers depicting early settlers building one of the first homes in Taylor. The lumber for building had to be hauled 20 miles by oxen or wagon.
photo id: 146
This is a painting by Peggy Rogers depicting early settlers building one of the first homes in Taylor. The lumber for building had to be hauled 20 miles by oxen or wagon.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 146
First Blacksmith House
The original settlers of Taylor were members of the Church of Latter Day Saints. The Zion Plan for establishing settlements used by Brigham Young, the Latter Day Saints leader and western colonizer, included sending ahead the tradesmen necessary to establish a community. One of the trades deemed essential was a blacksmith. This is a drawing of Joseph Smith Hancock's first Blacksmith shop in Taylor.
photo id: 149
The original settlers of Taylor were members of the Church of Latter Day Saints. The Zion Plan for establishing settlements used by Brigham Young, the Latter Day Saints leader and western colonizer, included sending ahead the tradesmen necessary to establish a community. One of the trades deemed essential was a blacksmith. This is a drawing of Joseph Smith Hancock's first Blacksmith shop in Taylor.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 149
Aerial View of Taylor
A birds-eye view of Taylor.
photo id: 968
A birds-eye view of Taylor.
photo id: 968
Ditch Digging
One of the first necessities for the pioneers settling in Taylor was to dig ditches to get water to the land for planting crops. It was hard back breaking work, but the settlers had no choice but to accept it as a necessary part of creating a new settlement.
photo id: 147
One of the first necessities for the pioneers settling in Taylor was to dig ditches to get water to the land for planting crops. It was hard back breaking work, but the settlers had no choice but to accept it as a necessary part of creating a new settlement.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 147
Horses
Colonization was hard work, and horses were essential both for hauling heavy loads and for farming the new land. Men took excellent care of their teams, and took great pride in them.
photo id: 154
Colonization was hard work, and horses were essential both for hauling heavy loads and for farming the new land. Men took excellent care of their teams, and took great pride in them.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 154
Plowing Fields
Plowing the fields was an exhausting job. Horses were used to pull the plow, but a person still had to add pressure to keep the blades in the soil and guide the horses. The soil in Taylor is very dry and clay-like.
photo id: 214
Plowing the fields was an exhausting job. Horses were used to pull the plow, but a person still had to add pressure to keep the blades in the soil and guide the horses. The soil in Taylor is very dry and clay-like.
Corn was one of the most popular crops for Taylor right from the beginning, and remains so to this day. On Labor Day weekend, Taylor sponsors the Corn Festival at the Rodeo Park where you can get delicious fresh roasted ears of corn on the cob and barbecue.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 214
Haying in Taylor
Haying in Taylor was essential for survival. When the weather is warm, farm animals can graze in pastures, but pioneers had to grow enough hay in the summer to feed the livestock during the winter season. Unlike the modern hay baling process which uses machinery to create and transport bales, Taylor pioneers did it all by hand.
photo id: 155
Haying in Taylor was essential for survival. When the weather is warm, farm animals can graze in pastures, but pioneers had to grow enough hay in the summer to feed the livestock during the winter season. Unlike the modern hay baling process which uses machinery to create and transport bales, Taylor pioneers did it all by hand.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 155
Roundup
photo id: 973
Roundup time involved checking the calf crop, bringing
in the strays, and getting ready to trade or sell the livestock. In most cases
the entire family helped with this process.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage
Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 973
Ditch Cleaners
Ditch cleaners and their horses or mules cleaned the trash and weeds out of the ditches before they let the water run. All the local citizens looked forward to witnessing their expertise.
photo id: 157
Ditch cleaners and their horses or mules cleaned the trash and weeds out of the ditches before they let the water run. All the local citizens looked forward to witnessing their expertise.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 157
Midwife Graduation
photo id: 161
Women crossing the plains in covered wagons during the nineteenth century didn't have access to doctors or standard medical treatments in the wild west. Midwives that either received training or learned through experience were used for to assist with child birthing. Often the midwives would stay with the new mothers up to two weeks after birth.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 161
Margaret McCleve Hancock - Midwife
Margaret McCleve, born in 1838, came from Belfast, Ireland after her family joined the LDS Church in 1941. They arrived in New York by ship, then traveled by train to Winter Quarters, Nebraska. From there they pulled a handcart to Salt Lake City, Utah as part of the second handcart company.
Margaret married Mosiah Lyman Hancock in 1859. Mosiah answered the call in 1879 to serve in Arizona, and the family went with him. Margaret worked as a midwife in the Taylor area, delivering over 1500 babies. She passed in 1908 and was buried in the Taylor Cemetery.
photo id: 164
Margaret McCleve, born in 1838, came from Belfast, Ireland after her family joined the LDS Church in 1941. They arrived in New York by ship, then traveled by train to Winter Quarters, Nebraska. From there they pulled a handcart to Salt Lake City, Utah as part of the second handcart company.
Margaret married Mosiah Lyman Hancock in 1859. Mosiah answered the call in 1879 to serve in Arizona, and the family went with him. Margaret worked as a midwife in the Taylor area, delivering over 1500 babies. She passed in 1908 and was buried in the Taylor Cemetery.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 164
Midwife trunk
Margaret Hancock McCleve's midwife trunk sits at the foot of the bed in their small cabin. Margaret and Mosiah raised 13 children here. This cabin has been preserved and restored by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation.
photo id: 163
Margaret Hancock McCleve's midwife trunk sits at the foot of the bed in their small cabin. Margaret and Mosiah raised 13 children here. This cabin has been preserved and restored by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 163
Midwife Permit
photo id: 337
Pioneering women crossing the plains in the nineteenth century had no access to doctors or medical treatment. To fill this void, midwives were trained and certified to aid in child birthing and women's health needs as they settled in the wild west. Midwives would sometimes stay with new mothers for 2 weeks to help in her recovery and care of the family.
This Midwife Permit for Harriett Allen certifies that she was a registered midwife and was to follow all the safety rules within the permit. It was issued out of Phoenix, Arizona by the Board of Health. The permit had to be shown when called for births and had to be registered in the district within 5 days.
Midwifes were a very important part of rural communities until doctors arrived in the area.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 337
Harriet Allen
photo id: 972
Harriet Allen was one of many women that had to learn
a profession when their husband's died in order to survive. She learned
midwifery to earn enough to support herself and her children. Life in the West
was difficult enough, but having to support your family without a husband in a
patriarchal society was even more challenging.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage
Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 972
Early Air Travel
This is a 1910 Jenny plane that landed in the early days of Taylor. Quill Standifird is the second man from the right.
photo id: 304
This is a 1910 Jenny plane that landed in the early days of Taylor. Quill Standifird is the second man from the right.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 304
Old School House
The Shumway Schoolhouse in Taylor is one of the only one-room brick schoolhouses in Arizona. It was created from locally fired soft red brick in 1900. There is a bell steeple in the front. Prior to its construction there was a log meetinghouse being used for the school. The chief carpenter for the building was a Mr. Reynolds The masonry was done by George Gardener and his son Charles, of Snowflake. Neil Hansen of Lakeside did the plastering. It was restored in the 1990s.
photo id: 335
The Shumway Schoolhouse in Taylor is one of the only one-room brick schoolhouses in Arizona. It was created from locally fired soft red brick in 1900. There is a bell steeple in the front. Prior to its construction there was a log meetinghouse being used for the school. The chief carpenter for the building was a Mr. Reynolds The masonry was done by George Gardener and his son Charles, of Snowflake. Neil Hansen of Lakeside did the plastering. It was restored in the 1990s.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 335
Early Taylor
Two early photos taken of Taylor from Solomon Hill. Taylor started out with a bowery and then built a log building to be used as the community center, church and school. In time they outgrew the old log school and a new addition was framed and sided with "clapboard" rather than made of logs.
photo id: 153
Two early photos taken of Taylor from Solomon Hill. Taylor started out with a bowery and then built a log building to be used as the community center, church and school. In time they outgrew the old log school and a new addition was framed and sided with "clapboard" rather than made of logs.
THe following is an excerpt from "A History of Taylor and Shumway in Arizona’s Silver Creek Valley�? by Arvin Palmer:
"As with all enterprises of this nature, the construction would have been a community effort. Frank Perkins is among those identified as being involved with the fashioning of the school benches for the students. Early pews and school benches would have been made from plank lumber that had been smoothed by wood tools and then fitted with legs of some sort. There would have been a plank floor as well. These pioneers were adept with tools so benches, tables and floors would have been pretty even and smooth even without modem sanders. The Willis sawmill would have provided rudimentary planks and boards but shaping and smoothing would have been a local responsibility. The logs may have had clay chinking where necessary originally to keep the wind from blowing through the cracks, but even here logs could be made pretty tight with adzes and planes-most logs were shaped on all four sides.�?
"As with all enterprises of this nature, the construction would have been a community effort. Frank Perkins is among those identified as being involved with the fashioning of the school benches for the students. Early pews and school benches would have been made from plank lumber that had been smoothed by wood tools and then fitted with legs of some sort. There would have been a plank floor as well. These pioneers were adept with tools so benches, tables and floors would have been pretty even and smooth even without modem sanders. The Willis sawmill would have provided rudimentary planks and boards but shaping and smoothing would have been a local responsibility. The logs may have had clay chinking where necessary originally to keep the wind from blowing through the cracks, but even here logs could be made pretty tight with adzes and planes-most logs were shaped on all four sides.�?
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 153
Ladies basketball
Ladies basketball was considered an acceptable sport in the early 1900's. The women pictured here are wearing homemade uniforms.
In the early to mid 1900's women were forced to limit the number of dribbles, play half court basketball and were kept from entering the lane on free throw attempts. Society felt that women could not hold up to the physical and emotional pressure of competition. They were also of the opinion that jumping would be harmful to the female reproductive system.
photo id: 207
Ladies basketball was considered an acceptable sport in the early 1900's. The women pictured here are wearing homemade uniforms.
In the early to mid 1900's women were forced to limit the number of dribbles, play half court basketball and were kept from entering the lane on free throw attempts. Society felt that women could not hold up to the physical and emotional pressure of competition. They were also of the opinion that jumping would be harmful to the female reproductive system.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 207
Boxing
Harvey Palmer, a boxer from Taylor.
photo id: 208
Harvey Palmer, a boxer from Taylor.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 208
Jess Pearce, Sprinter
Foot races were very popular in the early days. They were held during all the town celebrations, such as 4th of July or Pioneer Days. The races included all ages and both sexes with a variety of novelty races such as wheel barrow, potato and 3 legged race.
Jess Pearce and Allen K. Miller were two of the better-known sprinters. Jess Pearce was challenged by track men all over eastern Arizona.
One especially memorable 100-yard race was between Jess and Allie Mineer of Saint Johns held in Snowflake on March 14, 1914. The race was very close with less than a foot between them. Pearce was the winner with a time of 10 2/5 seconds.
According to S. Eugene Flake, Pearce would bet on the outcome and his strategy was to just barely keep ahead of his opponent and make the race so close that he would be challenged again.
photo id: 210
Foot races were very popular in the early days. They were held during all the town celebrations, such as 4th of July or Pioneer Days. The races included all ages and both sexes with a variety of novelty races such as wheel barrow, potato and 3 legged race.
Jess Pearce and Allen K. Miller were two of the better-known sprinters. Jess Pearce was challenged by track men all over eastern Arizona.
One especially memorable 100-yard race was between Jess and Allie Mineer of Saint Johns held in Snowflake on March 14, 1914. The race was very close with less than a foot between them. Pearce was the winner with a time of 10 2/5 seconds.
According to S. Eugene Flake, Pearce would bet on the outcome and his strategy was to just barely keep ahead of his opponent and make the race so close that he would be challenged again.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 210
Shoemaker
John Henry Solomon was Taylor's first shoemaker. He also made boot last patterns. Lasts are essentially a mold of your foot, and were used to create a custom shoe or boot.
photo id: 213
John Henry Solomon was Taylor's first shoemaker. He also made boot last patterns. Lasts are essentially a mold of your foot, and were used to create a custom shoe or boot.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 213
Chiropractor Dr. Gilbert Webb
Known as Doc Gilbert Webb, he was trained as a chiropractor. Students went to him for physicals. He was a tease, saying to one young man, "Oh my, I don’t think you have a heart."
photo id: 168
Known as Doc Gilbert Webb, he was trained as a chiropractor. Students went to him for physicals. He was a tease, saying to one young man, "Oh my, I don’t think you have a heart."
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 168
Dr. Neal Haywood
Dr. Neal Haywood was the principal of the grade school but became aware of the medical needs of the community. He took a leave of absence from teaching and went to school to become a doctor. When he graduated he had to return to teaching until the community could accept that he was a doctor and could treat them. He was responsible for contracting the Maternity Home in Snowflake.
photo id: 169
Dr. Neal Haywood was the principal of the grade school but became aware of the medical needs of the community. He took a leave of absence from teaching and went to school to become a doctor. When he graduated he had to return to teaching until the community could accept that he was a doctor and could treat them. He was responsible for contracting the Maternity Home in Snowflake.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 169
Making Adobes
Men take a rest from their hard work making adobes.
photo id: 288
Men take a rest from their hard work making adobes.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 288
Wakefield Farm
Lilly and Granddad Wakefield working outside on their property.
photo id: 290
Lilly and Granddad Wakefield working outside on their property.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 290
General Store
The AZ Palmer General Store.
photo id: 293
The AZ Palmer General Store.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 293
First Ambulance Crew
The first ambulance crew in Taylor.
photo id: 270
The first ambulance crew in Taylor.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 270
Steel Bridge
The steel bridge in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 276
The steel bridge in Taylor, Arizona.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 276
Log Schoolhouse
Children and their teachers in front of the old log schoolhouse.
photo id: 277
Children and their teachers in front of the old log schoolhouse.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 277
School on Hill
Children in the snow near the old schoolhouse.
photo id: 281
Children in the snow near the old schoolhouse.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 281
Band
The grade school band posts for a picture.
photo id: 282
The grade school band posts for a picture.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 282
Taylor Grade School
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 283
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 283
Taylor Elementary School
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 285
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 285
Webb House
photo id: 466
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 466
Old City Hall
The town hall.
photo id: 308
The town hall.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 308
Remodeled City Hall
Taylor's city hall after being remodeled.
photo id: 309
Taylor's city hall after being remodeled.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 309
Cemetery
The cemetery in Taylor.
photo id: 310
The cemetery in Taylor.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 310
Water Tank
The water tank in Taylor.
photo id: 311
The water tank in Taylor.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 311
Relief Society
The relief society building.
photo id: 301
The relief society building.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 301
Standifird Home
John Henry Standifird and his family were some of the first settlers of Taylor in 1878. Their home is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
photo id: 298
John Henry Standifird and his family were some of the first settlers of Taylor in 1878. Their home is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 298
Perkins Home
The home of Jesse Perkins, Senior. The north end is the original building, built in 1879 from hewn logs. Pictured here are Brigham Perkins, Rhoda Perkins Young, Alice Young, and Myrtle Hatch.
photo id: 969
The home of Jesse Perkins, Senior. The north end is the original building, built in 1879 from hewn logs. Pictured here are Brigham Perkins, Rhoda Perkins Young, Alice Young, and Myrtle Hatch.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 969
Race
Jess Pearce and Allie Mineer race. Newspaper records indicate that Jess Pearce won the race.
photo id: 970
Jess Pearce and Allie Mineer race. Newspaper records indicate that Jess Pearce won the race.
Some of the most exciting events during the July 4th or Pioneer Day
celebrations were foot races. They were held for all ages and both sexes.
A couple of the better known sprinters were Allen K. Miller and Jess Pearce. The latter is still talked about as one of the swiftest runners. He challenged or was challenged by track men all over eastern Arizona.
celebrations were foot races. They were held for all ages and both sexes.
A couple of the better known sprinters were Allen K. Miller and Jess Pearce. The latter is still talked about as one of the swiftest runners. He challenged or was challenged by track men all over eastern Arizona.
Especially remembered was a 100 yd. race between him and Allie Mineer of St. Johns held on the Snowflake Main Street March 14, 1914. The race was very close, the distance between the two being less than a foot, Pearce winning with the time taken of 10 2/5 seconds. Friends of both of the runners maintained that this wasn’t the fastest time of either of them.�? According to S. Eugene Flake, Pearce would bet on the outcome and his strategy was to just barely keep ahead of his opponent and make the race so close that he would be challenged again.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 970
Horse Racing
photo id: 971
Picture taken in 1890 of Keamey, a race horse with Louis Johnson as jockey and Osmer D. Flake standing at rear. On the porch is Charles L. Flake seated and Belle and Nancy Flake standing. This was the horse that raced against the Willis horse Courtney."
Horse racing was extremely popular. Many races were run for the pure enjoyment of finding out who had the fastest horse. At other times races were run during celebration days with the winner being awarded a
prize. There were kid pony races, ladies horse races, cow pony races, work horse races, pony express races, bed races, Indian horse races and so forth. Occasionally there were also races where the spectators or owners gambled on the outcome.
One such race took place between a horse named Courtney owned by the Willis brothers and a horse owned by Charles and James Flake
named Kearney. A wager was made between O. D. Flake and the Willis’ as to which was the fastest horse. The horses were trained for some time and on the day of the race quite a crowd had gathered. Ultimately the Flake horse, Kearney, won the race.
named Kearney. A wager was made between O. D. Flake and the Willis’ as to which was the fastest horse. The horses were trained for some time and on the day of the race quite a crowd had gathered. Ultimately the Flake horse, Kearney, won the race.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 971
Renz Jennings and Drum
Renz Jennings restored and played the drum for many years. He was a Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court but always took the time and made the effort to participate in his home town of Taylor's 4th of July Celebration.
photo id: 812
Renz Jennings restored and played the drum for many years. He was a Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court but always took the time and made the effort to participate in his home town of Taylor's 4th of July Celebration.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 812
Jennings Drum
The Jennings Drum was used in 1835 in Far West, Missouri, on to Nauvoo, Illinois then to Utah and Arizona. The original drummer was Major Edward P. Duzette and it was played during most community events in Nauvoo. It was often used in military encampments in Utah canyons with the military families accompaniment. It is thought that it was during this time the Beehive decoration was added to the side of the drum.
photo id: 255
The Jennings Drum was used in 1835 in Far West, Missouri, on to Nauvoo, Illinois then to Utah and Arizona. The original drummer was Major Edward P. Duzette and it was played during most community events in Nauvoo. It was often used in military encampments in Utah canyons with the military families accompaniment. It is thought that it was during this time the Beehive decoration was added to the side of the drum.
Traveling by wagon, it eventually ended up in Arizona in 1887. Since
that time it has been used for important town celebrations.
Major Duzette was a
dance and music instructor and taught Cyrus Morgan Jennings to play the drum. Cyrus
Jennings thrilled the crowds with his earnestness and dexterity playing the
drums. To delight and amaze the grownups as well as the children, when a lively
tune was struck up he would toss the drumsticks high in the air one at a time
and then both together. He could catch them and continue to play without
skipping a beat. No matter when he was playing he was cheered and aplauded
strirring up fires of patriotism in the hearts of all who heard. The drum is at
the Taylor Museum for all to see.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 255
Jennings Band
The modern day Jennings Band, with conductor Lenn Shumway at the firing of the anvil. You will hear this happening early every morning on holidays. Boyd Hatch is lighting the anvil, which flies high into the air and creates a boom heard throughout Taylor. Two anvils are used. Newspaper is placed over the bottom anvil and a cylinder with black powder is placed over the paper. The second anvil is placed up side down on top of the first anvil with the paper and powder in between. People gather to watch the top anvil launched into the air.
photo id: 256
The modern day Jennings Band, with conductor Lenn Shumway at the firing of the anvil. You will hear this happening early every morning on holidays. Boyd Hatch is lighting the anvil, which flies high into the air and creates a boom heard throughout Taylor. Two anvils are used. Newspaper is placed over the bottom anvil and a cylinder with black powder is placed over the paper. The second anvil is placed up side down on top of the first anvil with the paper and powder in between. People gather to watch the top anvil launched into the air.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 256
Hatch Home
The home of Kirk Hatch. Its former occupants include the Wakefield's and Ellsworth's. Pictured here (left to right): Aretha Wakefield, Ellen Bates, Myrtle Hughes, and Letha Bullard.
photo id: 294
The home of Kirk Hatch. Its former occupants include the Wakefield's and Ellsworth's. Pictured here (left to right): Aretha Wakefield, Ellen Bates, Myrtle Hughes, and Letha Bullard.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 294
Church
photo id: 974
The first addition to the church in Taylor.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage
Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 974
Old School and Church
The home where school and church services were held.
photo id: 299
The home where school and church services were held.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 299
Rock Home by Katys
photo id: 295
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 295
Cement Block Home
photo id: 296
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 296
Taylor Intermediate School
A photograph of Taylor Intermediate School.
photo id: 286
A photograph of Taylor Intermediate School.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 286
Taylor Jr. High School
The Junior High School building in 1968.
photo id: 287
The Junior High School building in 1968.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 287
Trapper Days
Trapper Days is held on Memorial Day weekend each year in Taylor. Here, the flag is being raised around the Veteran’s Memorial at the Taylor Museum. A patriotic speech, rousing patriotic music, and a retired flag given to a veteran make this day special. A Memorial Day celebration has been a tradition in Taylor since the first settlers choose to honor their dead with yellow roses that grew wild and were blooming at that time of year. Later they made crepe paper flowers to decorate the graves.
photo id: 263
Trapper Days is held on Memorial Day weekend each year in Taylor. Here, the flag is being raised around the Veteran’s Memorial at the Taylor Museum. A patriotic speech, rousing patriotic music, and a retired flag given to a veteran make this day special. A Memorial Day celebration has been a tradition in Taylor since the first settlers choose to honor their dead with yellow roses that grew wild and were blooming at that time of year. Later they made crepe paper flowers to decorate the graves.
In 2002 a Special
Events Committee was formed under the direction of Mitch Farr. Brad Click was on the committee. He had been helping Gary
and Tom Hatch build the Veteran’s Memorial by the Taylor Museum
and thinking about all the sacrifices of these men who had
served in the armed forces. After working there during the
day he went home as usual and one night had a dream about their sacrifices on our behalf and on waking it
was very vivid. The next day he told Gary about it and Gary
said, "You better watch out for dreams
like that.�? He tried to think of a man who was well known who could represent our
Veterans. Then he had another dream about Trapper Hatch.
After some preparation he arranged to meet with
the Town Council to present his plan for a town festival on Memorial Day
and call it "Trapper Days." He said he
thought it would be good for the Veterans to be able to "cry together." Trapper Days Celebration was initiated in 2002. At the 9 AM program the names of all those who
have served from Taylor
are read. Usually two patriotic songs are sung, the chosen speaker gives a tribute to veterans, and the flag that has flown over the Veterans Memorial is given to a Veteran.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 263
Sweet Corn Festival
The Sweet Corn Festival is held on Labor Day each year in Taylor. This picture features Phyllis Irvin as an ear of corn in the annual parade.
photo id: 264
The Sweet Corn Festival is held on Labor Day each year in Taylor. This picture features Phyllis Irvin as an ear of corn in the annual parade.
In 1948 Taylor celebrated the Cucumber Festival. Cucumbers were a much needed cash crop as people were still recovering from WWII. This was something the young people could help with. However, the community found other resources over the years and in 1962 the festival was stopped. People used labor day as a day for family picnics and events. In the early 1980s people decided to use the holiday as a way to celebrate the corn harvest. The Sweet Corn Festival brings tourists to town and helps the locals sell their corn crops. The parade starts the festival in the morning and then the town with all its visitors gets to enjoy the horseless rodeo, barbecue, the ranch rodeo, ball tournaments, and arts and craft vendors. The day is a pleasant community celebration to say goodbye to summer and hello to the fall season.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 264
Barn
Vern Hatch's barn.
photo id: 289
Vern Hatch's barn.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 289
Charles Shumway
photo id: 159
Charles Shumway was born in Massachusetts in 1806. In 1832, he married and followed his parents to Galena, Illinois. While there he was able to build a home, a sawmill and clear land for farming. In 1841, a missionary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared the LDS teachings with him and baptized him. He then traveled to Nauvoo and met the church's prophet, Joseph Smith.
When he returned home they packed all their belonging onto a raft and floated down the Mississippi River to Nauvoo to work with the settlement constructing the Temple, houses and various other buildings as needed. He also worked as a policeman protecting the latter-day saints from mob violence.
In 1846, Charles and the exiles traveled west to Nebraska and built a settlement of homes, a grist mill and a council house. He was selected to be a member of the Brigham Young Pioneer Company and took his son with him to Utah. They worked hard building settlements throughout Utah for Brigham Young Pioneer Company.
When he was 75 years old he was asked to go south to settle what is now Shumway, Arizona. There, his older sons helped him build the town that the people named after him.
While still married to his first wife, Julie Ann, he married his second wife in 1845, Louisa Minnerly. Polygamy was not an uncommon practice in the community at that time. Julie Ann died in 1846. In 1851 Henrietta Bird became his third wife. His forth wife, Adaliza Lauretta Truman married him in 1857, but divorced him after a very brief time. Elizabeth Jardine was his fifth and last wife. Charles Shumway died in Utah in 1898, but was buried in the Taylor Cemetery in Taylor, Arizona.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 159
Pipeline
photo id: 160
A pipeline to direct the water flow was part of site preparation of the Shumway Grist Mil. Charles Shumway's grown sons helped him build and run it when he was 75 years old.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 160
Grist Mill
photo id: 158
The Grist Mill, built by Charles Shumway, was a real boon to the area. Before it was built the closest place to have wheat ground into flour was Albuquerque, New Mexico. The machinery was brought by railroad to Holbrook and then by wagon to Shumway. Silver Creek had enough water flow to turn the water wheel for power.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 158
Carrie Wood
photo id: 421
Carrie Wood was a midwife in Shumway. She was able to use her knowledge of healing herbs that she learned while growing up in the south. She healed many people with the medicinal powers found in herbs.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 421
Daggs Reservoir- White Mountain Lake
photo id: 261
The Daggs Reservoir Dam, pictured here in 1914 at the time of the dedication. The construction was of rock and dirt, which was all hauled by team and wagon. Work on the dam began in 1906 and was completed in 1914 at a cost of $40,000.
Later, in 1932, the dam needed repairs so the Apache Railway sent out a crew of 20 men to help with the repairs.
Later, in 1932, the dam needed repairs so the Apache Railway sent out a crew of 20 men to help with the repairs.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 261
Silver Creek Bridge
photo id: 268
The Shumway Silver Creek bridge is part of a pastoral setting with green fields and a meandering stream winding its way through the middle of Shumway Valley. Most of the homes are built next to the hills on both sides of the valley. Looking down from the highway shows a peaceful scene with livestock grazing in the pastors.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 268
Shumway Schoolhouse
photo id: 278
The Shumway schoolhouse was built in 1900 from locally fired soft red brick. It is shaded by cottonwood trees. It was restored during the 1990s.
Photo provided by the Taylor/Shumway Heritage Foundation in Taylor, Arizona.
photo id: 278
The Butte viewed from Historic Main Street in Woodruff
photo id: 570
The Butte has always been loved by the people of Woodruff. It is their landmark and their pride. And, with or without the thrilling legends connected with it, they feel that nobody has really lived until he has climbed the Woodruff Butte to its summit and viewed the country around it.
On the east side of the Butte is a natural amphitheater. In this clearing, the Navajo Medicine men are said to have held their "Sing" the night before going up on the butte to gather Jimson Weed for their ceremonies. It is still considered a sacred place by the Navajo Indians.
Halfway up the butte are plain evidences of ancient dwellings. There are large circles of rocks, embedded in the ground. These circles are thought to be the remains of Indian dwellings (hogans) or possibly sheep corrals. Indians living today in Northern Arizona say the butte was the home of their ancestors. Many flint arrowheads, pieces of pottery and stone axes have been found, as well as corn grinders.
Halfway up the butte are plain evidences of ancient dwellings. There are large circles of rocks, embedded in the ground. These circles are thought to be the remains of Indian dwellings (hogans) or possibly sheep corrals. Indians living today in Northern Arizona say the butte was the home of their ancestors. Many flint arrowheads, pieces of pottery and stone axes have been found, as well as corn grinders.
photo id: 570
Woodruff Butte
photo id: 567
Perhaps the most outstanding and best loved geographical feature claimed by Woodruff is the "Butte", "Blue Butte", "Black Mountain", and "The Sentinel", as it is called at various times. The Butte stands on the north of the community and is of volcanic formation. The elevation is 5616 feet and its peak rises about 500 feet above the town.
The big W, on the south side of the Butte, was constructed in the 1930's as a project of the Mutual Improvement Association, under the leadership of Floyd Turley and Lois Gardner. Many young folks helped carry rocks to form the letter and then painted it afterwards.
photo id: 567
Two Little Buttes
photo id: 568
On the eastern edge of Woodruff stand the lake and two little buttes. Fishing and some boating (when the young folks could get a boat) were enjoyed in the summer, and the lake made a natural skating rink in the winter. The depth and size of the lake depended on how much water was allowed to run into it from the ditches after the thirsty land had been watered. Mostly, it was filled in the winter, after the gardens were matured.
This picture shows it after some heavy rains.
This photo was taken from halfway up the big butte.
photo id: 568
Blue Butte
ODE TO THE WOODRUFF BUTTE
photo id: 897
ODE TO THE WOODRUFF BUTTE
A poem by Missouri Brady Smithson
I love you in the summer, when your sides are green and bright,
I love
you in the winter, when you're blanketed in white.
You look so grand and stately silhouetted against the sky,
And in the
foggy weather, when clouds upon your bosom lie.
I would like to have you tell me of the ancient people here,
How they lived and fought their battles, how they hunted without fear.
You look so like a sentinel with your arms outstretched in might,
To
protect this little valley in the day or in the night.
And if ever I should leave you to dwell in another land,
I'm sure I'll always love you and my hometown where you stand.
photo id: 897
Main Street Woodruff
Main street about 1900. It shows clearly the old ACMI building, trees, and ditches.
photo id: 563
Main street about 1900. It shows clearly the old ACMI building, trees, and ditches.
photo id: 563
Main Street Woodruff, about 1930
Woodruff's Main Street, looking north toward the butte, about 1930.
photo id: 564
Woodruff's Main Street, looking north toward the butte, about 1930.
photo id: 564
The Old A.C.M.I. Building
photo id: 562
Outstanding in the memories of the old timers is the solid two-story brick building which was Woodruff's first store. The Arizona Cooperative Mercantile Institution (ACMI) was operated near Holbrook for a few months originally. Then they decided to move the location to Woodruff. On February 16, 1882 a wooden building was started. The people of the town turned out and in a few days the building was completed.
In three years the wooden building was replaced by the brick building pictured here, one of the finest of its size in the Territory at that time. It was a two-story building with a long flight of wooden stairs leading along the outside of the north wall, up to the second story. It had a basement and a hand-operated elevator with which they moved goods out of the basement to the main floor. This was the only place in a young country with bars on its windows, so the basement was used to incarcerate prisoners a few times.
photo id: 562
ACMI Building - Side
Leo Gardner and Ross Brinkerhoff in front of the old Arizona Cooperative Mercantile Institution (ACMI) building.
photo id: 903
Leo Gardner and Ross Brinkerhoff in front of the old Arizona Cooperative Mercantile Institution (ACMI) building.
The ACMI only stayed in Woodruff for about six years. In August of 1888, when the railroad came to Holbrook,
the store was moved back to Holbrook and the empty building was purchased by
the town of Woodruff.
photo id: 903
Approaching Woodruff from the South
Approaching Woodruff from the south, this picture shows the old dirt highway on the east side of the river. During the first years of its existence, Woodruff was right in the path of progress for the main highway in this part of Arizona went right through the town. This brought tourists, cattlemen, freighters and new colonizers, and many others who had an interest in the country. Everything seemed to point to prosperity for the town. Then, about 1940, the highway was rerouted about 5 miles west, and Woodruff was missed entirely.
photo id: 565
Approaching Woodruff from the south, this picture shows the old dirt highway on the east side of the river. During the first years of its existence, Woodruff was right in the path of progress for the main highway in this part of Arizona went right through the town. This brought tourists, cattlemen, freighters and new colonizers, and many others who had an interest in the country. Everything seemed to point to prosperity for the town. Then, about 1940, the highway was rerouted about 5 miles west, and Woodruff was missed entirely.
photo id: 565
Close to Town, South of Woodruff
As you approch the town from the south, the little village, with its many trees, begins to show up. The low rocky hills surrounding Woodruff are covered with a typical growth of low bushes such as Sage. Brush, Brigham Tea, Yucca and Prickly Pear. There are willows, tamarisk and cottonwood trees along the river. Wild flowers include delicate white Lilies, Buttercups, the tiny Lemon Plant, Indian Paint Brush, Cliff Rose, Coral, Daisies, Larkspur, Poppies, 4 O'Clocks, Jimson and Milk Weed.
photo id: 566
As you approch the town from the south, the little village, with its many trees, begins to show up. The low rocky hills surrounding Woodruff are covered with a typical growth of low bushes such as Sage. Brush, Brigham Tea, Yucca and Prickly Pear. There are willows, tamarisk and cottonwood trees along the river. Wild flowers include delicate white Lilies, Buttercups, the tiny Lemon Plant, Indian Paint Brush, Cliff Rose, Coral, Daisies, Larkspur, Poppies, 4 O'Clocks, Jimson and Milk Weed.
photo id: 566
On Woodruff's Lake
photo id: 569
A group of kids boating on the lake east of Woodruff: Ruth Ison, Edgar Turley, Josephine Brinkerhoff, Joe Ison, Phil Gardner, and Lorenzo Hatch.
In the wintertime kids enjoyed going skating, but very few could afford real ice skates. Shoes, in those days, had leather soles and they slid fairly well. Sometimes the boys would take kitchen chairs out there and push their girlfriends around in them. They would build a huge bonfire right out on the ice when it was really thick. Then they could thaw out their toes while they rested from their fun.
photo id: 569
BP Savage and Ruth Savage
B.P. Savage with his daughter, Ruth Savage. Ruth was miraculously healed from a serious illness when she was about 13 years of age. A doctor from Holbrook pronounced that she would only live for about an hour or so. Her mother sent for a Woodruff man who was known for having the gift of healing.
photo id: 898
B.P. Savage with his daughter, Ruth Savage. Ruth was miraculously healed from a serious illness when she was about 13 years of age. A doctor from Holbrook pronounced that she would only live for about an hour or so. Her mother sent for a Woodruff man who was known for having the gift of healing.
He placed his hands upon her head, closed his eyes, and " he rebuked the destroyer; he promised her that she would get well and
have health and strength; that she would study and receive an education and
become a teacher; that she would fulfill missions and would hold many responsible positions in the church; that she would be married to a righteous man; that she
would become the mother of a large family; and that she would become the mother of a Prophet." Ruth's life was spared, and she was healed and out of bed within days.
photo id: 898
River Crossing
A wagon crosses the river. This was prior to bridges being built in the area. Sometimes when there was a heavy rain, the washes and river would be swollen with flash floods. Folks would have to wait a few hours for the floods to go down before they could continue on across the river.
photo id: 899
A wagon crosses the river. This was prior to bridges being built in the area. Sometimes when there was a heavy rain, the washes and river would be swollen with flash floods. Folks would have to wait a few hours for the floods to go down before they could continue on across the river.
photo id: 899
Hans and Ingobor Guldbrandsen Home
The home of Hans and Ingobor Guldbrandsen. The Guldbransens willed their lot to the LDS Church. After their death, the home was rented out for many years. It stood where the present chapel now stands. Much later it was converted into a Relief Society meeting house and was used as such until the time it was torn down to make room to build the chapel.
photo id: 900
The home of Hans and Ingobor Guldbrandsen. The Guldbransens willed their lot to the LDS Church. After their death, the home was rented out for many years. It stood where the present chapel now stands. Much later it was converted into a Relief Society meeting house and was used as such until the time it was torn down to make room to build the chapel.
photo id: 900
James Smithson House
This log house belonged to James Smithson. Standing on the porch are Lon Savage and Effie Smithson. This is one of the few old pioneer homes still standing.
James David Smithson came to Woodruff with his wife Elizabeth in 1881. They had 13 children. After Elizabeth died in 1982 he married Julie Savage, a widow with four children. She bore James three additional children. James remained in Woodruff until his death and was affectionately known to the population as "Daddy Smithson."
photo id: 901
This log house belonged to James Smithson. Standing on the porch are Lon Savage and Effie Smithson. This is one of the few old pioneer homes still standing.
James David Smithson came to Woodruff with his wife Elizabeth in 1881. They had 13 children. After Elizabeth died in 1982 he married Julie Savage, a widow with four children. She bore James three additional children. James remained in Woodruff until his death and was affectionately known to the population as "Daddy Smithson."
photo id: 901
Oxen Carting Wool
photo id: 902
Times were different in Arizona in the 1880's. Most of
the men who had teams and wagons made their living at freighting, because
everything they couldn't raise in their gardens had to be bought at a Militarty
Post, either at Fort Apache or Whiteriver, Arizona. Sometimes they had to go
240 miles to Albuquerque, New Mexico in order to buy flour. What crops
they raised here were also used for trading. Cash was very scarce. Oxen teams were frequently used. They would be hooked up
to two heavily loaded wagons that made an outfit that would measure a hundred
yards long. These oxen were great for pulling, but they were very slow in
traveling, and it could take as many as two weeks to make a trip to Albuquerque.
At that time the grass in the country was plentiful, so there wasn't any need
to carry grain to feed the animals in the summertime. While grazing during the
night, the cattle would stray far away from camp and as morning came, it would
find the men spread out trying to round them up sothat they could be on their way. This was just one of those headaches that a pioneer had to put up with.
By the early 1900's times were changing. There were only
a few oxen teams doing a little freighting, for by that time, the railroad
brought in supplies. The sheep ranchers continued to ship their wool to
Holbrook.
Pictured here is Lehi Heward's oxen team and wagons. His
oxen were named Ruff, Red, Nig, Dandy, Tom and Jerry. They were unloading wool
at the railroad in Holbrook. He primarily hauled wool for a Mr. Candelaria.
photo id: 902
Ruben Home
The home of Alma Ruben and Delilah Turley. Later it belonged to Ed and Ann Gentsch.
photo id: 904
The home of Alma Ruben and Delilah Turley. Later it belonged to Ed and Ann Gentsch.
photo id: 904
Brinkerhoff Home
David and Lydia Brinkerhoff's home. Later it belonged to Joe and Phoebe Brinkerhoff, and after that, to Albert and Zine Hatch.
photo id: 905
David and Lydia Brinkerhoff's home. Later it belonged to Joe and Phoebe Brinkerhoff, and after that, to Albert and Zine Hatch.
photo id: 905
Lee Home
The home of James Y. and Anna Lee. Later it belonged to James and Sara Brinkerhoff.
photo id: 906
The home of James Y. and Anna Lee. Later it belonged to James and Sara Brinkerhoff.
photo id: 906
Owens House
The home of Horace B. and Sally Owens. Later it belonged to Dennis and Lorena Smithson.
photo id: 907
The home of Horace B. and Sally Owens. Later it belonged to Dennis and Lorena Smithson.
photo id: 907
James Clark's House
The home of James Clark and Lucretia Owens. Later it belonged to John Albert and Minnie Bowler.
photo id: 908
The home of James Clark and Lucretia Owens. Later it belonged to John Albert and Minnie Bowler.
photo id: 908
Fish House
The home of Joseph and Julia Fish. Later it belonged to Wesley and Zelia Turley.
photo id: 909
The home of Joseph and Julia Fish. Later it belonged to Wesley and Zelia Turley.
photo id: 909
Grandma Gibbon's House
The home of Grandma Ella Gibbon, a widow. Later it belonged to Maude Amos.
photo id: 910
The home of Grandma Ella Gibbon, a widow. Later it belonged to Maude Amos.
photo id: 910
Hatch House
The home of Elmer and Tressa Hatch. Later it belonged to Tony and Willa Johnson.
photo id: 911
The home of Elmer and Tressa Hatch. Later it belonged to Tony and Willa Johnson.
photo id: 911
Howard House
The home of Ed and Hazel Howard. Later it belonged to Nowlin and Leora Kartchner. It is made of native red sandstone.
photo id: 912
The home of Ed and Hazel Howard. Later it belonged to Nowlin and Leora Kartchner. It is made of native red sandstone.
photo id: 912
Turley Home
The home of Hyrum and Lottie Turley. Later it belonged to Earl and Lula Coplan. It is made of volcanic rocks from the butte.
photo id: 913
The home of Hyrum and Lottie Turley. Later it belonged to Earl and Lula Coplan. It is made of volcanic rocks from the butte.
photo id: 913
Chapel
The new LDS chapel in Woodruff, built in 1957.
photo id: 914
The new LDS chapel in Woodruff, built in 1957.
photo id: 914
School Bell
The old church and school bell.
photo id: 915
The old church and school bell.
photo id: 915
Sunday School Group
This Sunday school group photograph was taken about 1924.
photo id: 916
This Sunday school group photograph was taken about 1924.
photo id: 916
New School
photo id: 917
School in Woodruff was first held in a room in the old fort, and later in the ACMI building for many years. Construction on the first dedicated schoolhouse began in November 1935.
The old historic ACMI building was torn down to make room for a more modern schoolhouse. Most of the bricks from the old building were used to construct the new school. It was completed in February, 1938.
photo id: 917
Class Photograph
This class photo was taken in 1908 on the north side of the old ACMI building, under the stairs.
photo id: 918
This class photo was taken in 1908 on the north side of the old ACMI building, under the stairs.
photo id: 918
Class Picture
Here is a class picture from 1931. The teacher is James Byron Pace.
photo id: 919
Here is a class picture from 1931. The teacher is James Byron Pace.
photo id: 919
Nurse Larsen
No doctor has ever lived in Woodruff, but practical and trained nurses have been on hand most of the time to care for the sick. Pictured here is Lovina E. Gardner Larsen.
photo id: 920
No doctor has ever lived in Woodruff, but practical and trained nurses have been on hand most of the time to care for the sick. Pictured here is Lovina E. Gardner Larsen.
photo id: 920
Long Baby Dresses
In the early days mothers dressed their babies in long dresses similar to the one pictured. It wasn't until around 1910 that they began using shorter ones. Up until the 1940's or sometimes even later, all babies were dressed in white baby clothes until they were at least three months old.
photo id: 921
In the early days mothers dressed their babies in long dresses similar to the one pictured. It wasn't until around 1910 that they began using shorter ones. Up until the 1940's or sometimes even later, all babies were dressed in white baby clothes until they were at least three months old.
photo id: 921
Brinkerhoff Triplets
Rex, Ross, and Ralph were the sons of Joe and Phoebe Brinkerhoff. They were baptized on their eight birthday on May 5th, 1927. Ross died that following August. Everyone in town was very proud of their one set of triplets. They were not born in Woodruff but moved there while very young.
photo id: 922
Rex, Ross, and Ralph were the sons of Joe and Phoebe Brinkerhoff. They were baptized on their eight birthday on May 5th, 1927. Ross died that following August. Everyone in town was very proud of their one set of triplets. They were not born in Woodruff but moved there while very young.
photo id: 922
Threshing
A threshing crew, circa 1920.
photo id: 923
A threshing crew, circa 1920.
photo id: 923
Woodcutters
Woodruff has used wood for fuel for most of its hundred years. Each year the men of the town hauled wood for use in the school and church, for widows, and other families in need of aid. The picture shows a group of men resting from their exertions, about 1932.
photo id: 924
Woodruff has used wood for fuel for most of its hundred years. Each year the men of the town hauled wood for use in the school and church, for widows, and other families in need of aid. The picture shows a group of men resting from their exertions, about 1932.
photo id: 924
Building a New Dam
Teams of horses and scapers working to build a new dam.
photo id: 925
Teams of horses and scapers working to build a new dam.
photo id: 925
Cutting Ensilage
Farmers used ensilage to feed their livestock. It was made of green corn, stalks and ears together, chpped up fine and put into silos to cure. The cut-up corn would fall right into the solo. Every once in a while it would have to be trapped and leveled. Usually there was enough moisture in the corn to make it cure, but sometimes they had to add a little water to hurry the fermenting process, After it was cured, it would keep all winter and the cows loved it. It tasted something like a pickle. Pictured here are Hyrum Turley cutting and Elmer Gardner helping.
photo id: 926
Farmers used ensilage to feed their livestock. It was made of green corn, stalks and ears together, chpped up fine and put into silos to cure. The cut-up corn would fall right into the solo. Every once in a while it would have to be trapped and leveled. Usually there was enough moisture in the corn to make it cure, but sometimes they had to add a little water to hurry the fermenting process, After it was cured, it would keep all winter and the cows loved it. It tasted something like a pickle. Pictured here are Hyrum Turley cutting and Elmer Gardner helping.
photo id: 926
Nowlin Kartchner Chicken Coops
One industry that was fairly successful at different times in Woodruff
was the chicken business. All families had a few chickens, but the main ones to try it out, as a business venture, were James Brinkerhoff, Joe Brinkerhoff, Wallace Turley, John Gardner, Elmer Gardner, Melvin Gardner and Nowlin Kartchner. John Gardner and Nowlin Kartchner were the two biggest. At one time, Nowlin had about 8,000 hens, and he was in the business the longest time, about thirty years.
photo id: 927
One industry that was fairly successful at different times in Woodruff
was the chicken business. All families had a few chickens, but the main ones to try it out, as a business venture, were James Brinkerhoff, Joe Brinkerhoff, Wallace Turley, John Gardner, Elmer Gardner, Melvin Gardner and Nowlin Kartchner. John Gardner and Nowlin Kartchner were the two biggest. At one time, Nowlin had about 8,000 hens, and he was in the business the longest time, about thirty years.
Most of the men joined the Poultry Association in Joseph City. The government put a price support on corn and wheat but not on eggs and chickens, so the price of grain kept going up but egg prices stayed down. Smaller businesses were squeezed out because of it.
photo id: 927
One or Two Holers
photo id: 928
During the l93O's, the US Government tried to help people during the depression. The Works Project Administration (WPA) did various jobs in each state. In Navajo County they built the rock wall around the courthouse.
The poor farmers got what the government felt was an improved version of the outdoor "privy" or "outhouse". Most of the people in Woodruff got one. After the project was completed, those little shanties were promptly dubbed "Roosevelt Monuments", and were known as such from then on.
photo id: 928
Old Dam
The valley was beautiful, the climate mild and the river brought plenty of water to the very doorstep of their town. And yet the problem of getting that water onto the land has been a continual heartbreaking struggle throughout all of Woodruff's history. They built 14 dams. The first ones were made of rocks, brush, and dirt, and washed out almost annually. Q.R. Gardner supervised the building of the 13th dam, and it lasted for ten years.
photo id: 929
The valley was beautiful, the climate mild and the river brought plenty of water to the very doorstep of their town. And yet the problem of getting that water onto the land has been a continual heartbreaking struggle throughout all of Woodruff's history. They built 14 dams. The first ones were made of rocks, brush, and dirt, and washed out almost annually. Q.R. Gardner supervised the building of the 13th dam, and it lasted for ten years.
Then once again disaster struck. A phone call came that the Lyman Dam near St. Johns had gone out and a sea of water was rushing down the Little Colorado River. It was night, but people hurriedly packed their belongings into wagons and moved them up onto the hillside south of town. Then they waited and prayed, beseeching God to save their dam and their homes.
Early the following morning the great wall of water reached the dam. The first rush of the thick, muddy water overflowed the ditches and rushed into the streets and houses. Then it kept rising higher and higher, It reached the top of the dam and to the people standing there.
With a thunderous roar, the center of the dam gave way. Huge boulders were carried a quarter of a mile downstream. With heavy hearts the people watched the seething water rusk unhampered down the river where yesterday had stood their beloved dam.
photo id: 929
New Dam
The fourteenth and final dam at Woodruff was completed in 1919. This
dam was built three miles south of town, on the Silver Creek, just above
the place where it runs into the Little Colorado River. After the dam was
finished, a system of canals was painstakingly built to bring the precious
water down to the land in town.
photo id: 930
The fourteenth and final dam at Woodruff was completed in 1919. This
dam was built three miles south of town, on the Silver Creek, just above
the place where it runs into the Little Colorado River. After the dam was
finished, a system of canals was painstakingly built to bring the precious
water down to the land in town.
photo id: 930
Spillway
The construction of this dam was supervised by J. D. Smethers. The total cost was $85,000,000. Of this amount the LDS Church paid $25,000, the
State $10,000 and the people of Woodruff $50,000. This plunged the
Woodruff Irrigation District heavily into debt, as this was an extremely
large sum for such a small community to pay off. It was a happy day
when the last payment was made twenty years later.
photo id: 931
The construction of this dam was supervised by J. D. Smethers. The total cost was $85,000,000. Of this amount the LDS Church paid $25,000, the
State $10,000 and the people of Woodruff $50,000. This plunged the
Woodruff Irrigation District heavily into debt, as this was an extremely
large sum for such a small community to pay off. It was a happy day
when the last payment was made twenty years later.
photo id: 931
West Dam
The west side of the New Dam.
photo id: 932
The west side of the New Dam.
photo id: 932
Holes
Holes were dug in preparation of the new dam. These two deep holes were below the new dam.
photo id: 933
Holes were dug in preparation of the new dam. These two deep holes were below the new dam.
photo id: 933
West Spillway
The spillway on the west side of the new dam.
photo id: 934
The spillway on the west side of the new dam.
photo id: 934
Ison Flume
Much of this canal was built through solid rock and without the methods available to us today. The water had to cross the river several times to find the best route down the river, so several flumes and one syphon were used.
photo id: 935
Much of this canal was built through solid rock and without the methods available to us today. The water had to cross the river several times to find the best route down the river, so several flumes and one syphon were used.
This picture shows two flumes: the old lson flume and the new flume
that replaced it. The new flume was constructed by the Turley brothers.
It was near the area called "Arthur's Meadow." The under-the-river
syphon is nearest to town, just above the old dam. One of the flumes
does not go across the river but hangs along the cliff on one side.
It was near the area called "Arthur's Meadow." The under-the-river
syphon is nearest to town, just above the old dam. One of the flumes
does not go across the river but hangs along the cliff on one side.
photo id: 935
First Flume
photo id: 936
The older flume was commonly called "The Ison Flume," because Robert L. Ison was a good carpenter and he had moved into Woodruff just in time to spend a great deal of time working on this flume, which was closest to the new dam.
photo id: 936
Flume Aerial View
An aerial view of the first flume.
photo id: 937
An aerial view of the first flume.
photo id: 937
Bridge Dedication
A new bridge was dedicated on January 21st, 1972. This was taken at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
photo id: 938
A new bridge was dedicated on January 21st, 1972. This was taken at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
photo id: 938
Mr. Fuller
Lonnie Fuller and his dog, Tex, near the new bridge.
photo id: 939
Lonnie Fuller and his dog, Tex, near the new bridge.
photo id: 939
Blue Butte 4-H Canning Club
Through the years, 4-H Club Work has been quite a big thing in Woodruff.
Many types of clubs were tried out. The boys went for animal raising, gardens, "Future Farmers of America"; and the girls had sewing, canning, flowers, and so on. There were some great leaders in town.This photo was taken in 1938.
photo id: 940
Through the years, 4-H Club Work has been quite a big thing in Woodruff.
Many types of clubs were tried out. The boys went for animal raising, gardens, "Future Farmers of America"; and the girls had sewing, canning, flowers, and so on. There were some great leaders in town.This photo was taken in 1938.
photo id: 940
4-H
The 4-H garment club in 1932.
photo id: 941
The 4-H garment club in 1932.
photo id: 941
Woodruff Cannery on the River Bank
photo id: 942
In 1932, the foundation of the small Cannery, which was from native rock, was laid.
A cannery is a factory where foods such as fruits and vegetables are canned.
The 4-H club had an active canning group, and funds for this new cannery and equipment were raised during a banquet the previous year. Mrs. Lois H. Gardner, leader of the canning club, wanted to develop a home cannery so that the young people could find employment at home through the growing and canning of foods.
photo id: 942
Boy Scout Troop, 1930
photo id: 943
A local group of the Boy Scouts first started in Woodruff around 1925.
One of the first Scout Masters was a schoolteacher, Leonard Elledge. He was able to arouse enthusiasm in the boys and was a well-liked leader.
Around 1928 the Scout Troop hauled wood in a little buggy and sold it in Holbrook to get money to pay their dues and to go on camping trips. Each year the boys would look forward to their pinewood derby and spring camporee.
photo id: 943
Hauling Wood
photo id: 944
Scouts hauling wood to sell in Holbrook, about 1931. Pictured are Wendell DeWitt, Joe Ison, and an unknown boy.
When Gilmore Jackson was Scoutmaster in 1930, he was able to get 100% of the boys of Scout age active in Scout work. When interviewed, he said, "Being a Scoutmaster in Woodruff was one of the great joys of my life. The people of the town really had the spirit of Scouting--doing good turns; anxious to help when something was being done in the Community, like one big family. There is no other place in the world where you get more cooperation than you do in Woodruff!"
photo id: 944
Boy Scouts Camporee
At the Spring Camporee, an annual Boy Scouts outing, in 1973. Woodruff won the trophy for Best Troop. Pictured are Monte Kartchner, Stan Hatch, and Greg Gentsch.
photo id: 945
At the Spring Camporee, an annual Boy Scouts outing, in 1973. Woodruff won the trophy for Best Troop. Pictured are Monte Kartchner, Stan Hatch, and Greg Gentsch.
photo id: 945
Town Water Tank
In 1926, there were just six wells in Woodruff. In 1930 the people's dream came true when a town well was drilled at the south end of town. A water tank was put in and a windmill was purchased to supply the power. Soon water was piped into all of the homes. It was a time of great rejoicing: the people of Woodruff now had running water in their homes!
photo id: 946
In 1926, there were just six wells in Woodruff. In 1930 the people's dream came true when a town well was drilled at the south end of town. A water tank was put in and a windmill was purchased to supply the power. Soon water was piped into all of the homes. It was a time of great rejoicing: the people of Woodruff now had running water in their homes!
photo id: 946