CGVHS Place Files Inventory

Review of the content of the Place Files for History of Civic Life in Casa Grande 1950-2004

Important CONTEXT notes:

Key personalities: Blodwen and Earl Thode, a world-champion cowboy and Arizona rancher, moved to Arizona and settled in Casa Grande in 1934 where she became active in local politics. The Lion’s Club of Casa Grande, spurred on by Blodie Thode among others, began a fund drive in 1947 that led to the opening of Hoemako Hospital in 1952.

Relevant businesses established prior to the 1950s:
Carr McNatt built The Wonder Bar in 1934 following the end of Prohibition. It was originally located in the old San Carlos Hotel. It moved to a larger location in March 1936. There it was renamed McNatt’s New Wonder Bar Corral and included a dining facility operated by John Donahue. Originally it was “the place cowboys and ranchers brought their families. There was dancing and a special camaraderie among the patrons.” In 1942 it was moved to its “present location.”

Dispatch, Sept. 31, 1968. “Paramount Packing Plant Expands as City Grows” by Mary Metzger. The I.J. Packing Plant was founded by Charles M. Harris in the late ‘20s. At that time, he and Don Prettyman had a grocery store on Front Street. Soon thereafter, Charlie went into the grocery business by himself on Sacaton Street near the San Carlos Hotel. He called it Harris Grocery. Charlie retired from the packing plant in 1934. In 1946, Olin “Woody” Woodruff bought the packing plant and changed the name to Paramount Packing Plant. He then enlarged it and installed lockers for cold storage. Roland Curry (who died in 1960) was Woody’s partner.

B & L Supply, a 25 year old automotive supply store, was bought by Chuck Schmidt in 1946. He held a Napa franchise and began with two employees. By 1976, the store had grown to nine or ten employees.

The Rock Shop and Trading Post, built in 1947 on Highway 87, was a “must see” on many tourist itineraries. The exterior of the building was covered with quartz crystal, azurite, petrified wood, turquoise, slate, onyx and other semiprecious stones. The Rock Shop closed in the late ‘60s.

Dispatch, May 20, 1999. “Golden Anniversary of Brutinel Plumbing, Electrical & Water Treatment.” Bob Brutinel came back from WW II as a Marine hero. He opened his own business, married his sweetheart, and became a local success.

Banking: Casa Grande Valley Bank was founded by S.P. Morgan in 1914. Walter Bimson, Valley Bank & Trust Co. established currency exchanges in Casa Grande, Coolidge and Kingman to serve as mail in banks when Valley Bank failed in 1932. New legislation allowed formation of new banks in 1934 and Casa Grande’s was the fourteenth Valley Bank and Trust Company location. The bank was renamed Valley National Bank in 1935.

Other: Serrano’s, Blinky Wilson, Flo’s, Cuckoo’s

Grocery: Prettyman’s, Pioneer Market, Don and Gin Lung

Agriculture/Farms: Singh, Gilbert, Peart, Trekell

Hospitals and Doctors: Hoemako, O’Neil, Ford, Schoen

Mayors and other government/civic leaders of note:

Education/Schools: The Dallis,’ Albrecht,

1950 Jim Gorraiz opened a photo shop on 2nd Street in the Mandell Building.

1952 Parking meters were installed on Florence Street. Violations dwindled after the first day when 65 tickets were issued. Blodwin “Blodie” Thode entered the legislature of Arizona, serving as both a Representative and Senator for Pinal County for 18 years. Desert Drive-In Theater opened for the first time. The ASU football squad completed spring drills with an intra-squad game at Cougar Field. APS introduced its new name. It was previously Calapco & AZ Edison. Casa Grande Land Company was promoting 5% loans on improved farms. O.S. Stapley store opened in Casa Grande.

1953 JC Penney Company opened its store in Casa Grande. U.S. Army Helicopter Detachment, 30th Engineer Topographical Battalion at Ft. Scott, CA stationed briefly at Casa Grande municipal airport to do experimental survey and charting of the mountains of this area.

1954 Dispatch, Sept. 2, 1954. “Ken Flowers Store for Men Finishes Remodeling.” The relocated business was at 106 W. 2nd Street. Dispatch, May 20, 1954. Dispatch, Aug. 12, 1954. A $120,000 building program, all in service stations, blossomed forth in Casa Grande with the re-routing of Highway 84 down the City’s main thoroughfare. Standard, Texas Company, Richfield and Union Oil all constructed new stations on the route.

1955 Gene Lehman and John Cress started laundry and warehouse businesses, among others. After Mr. Cress died, Mr. Lehman continued the businesses. Lissa Lehman followed in her father’s footsteps, until the businesses closed in 2006. Dispatch, Feb. 17, 1955. “Cattle Feeding Operations Manifesting Steady Increase in Casa Grande Valley.” Norm and Audrey Bingham began selling farm equipment in July of 1955 from a tiny building built for a meat market on the Gila Bend Highway. Casa Grande Dispatch, Jan. 16, 1985. “Casa Grande Started to Flex Muscle in ’55.” “The Chamber’s biggest concern in 1995 centered around president Eisenhower’s proposed highway expansion plan which would bypass Casa Grande by four miles.”

1956-1958 – from Wikipedia

Interstate 10 in Arizona was laid out by the Arizona Highway Department in 1956-58 roughly paralleling several historic routes across the state. Particularly east of Eloy, it follows the Butterfield Stage and Pony Express routes, and loops south to avoid the north-south Basin and Range mountains prevalent in the state. From 1958-1972, the interstate was unmarked south from Tempe and Mesa, and traffic used either State Route 87 (Arizona) through Coolidge or State Route 93 (Arizona) through Casa Grande, or U.S. 80/89 through Mesa and Florence. Interstate 10 signs reappeared at the town of Picacho, the 1962-1970 western terminus of the freeway from Tucson.

The road from Casa Grande to Tucson was originally Arizona routes 84 and 93, and when it was rebuilt as a freeway in 1961-62 it was cosigned as Interstate 10 and routes 84 and 93 through 1966, when 84 was truncated at Picacho. This section of interstate was completed in 1961, and forced the demolition of the town center at Marana, which has never really recovered. The freeway through Tucson (being rebuilt and widened from 2007 through 2009) was originally signed as State Route 84 from Miracle Mile to Sixth Avenue,

1956 Dispatch, Nov. 29, 1956. “Ground will be Broken at Formal Ceremonies. ” At 2 p.m. today, ground will be broken for an underwear manufacturing plant to be built by C.G. Mills.” Casa Grande Mills is the name given to the local division of Parsons & Baker Company out of Phoenixville, PA. The initial payroll of 60 was expected to expand to 200. Ultimately it would double. “Many factors induced President Robert T. Parsons to locate in C.G. including 1.) an excellent reservoir of female labor, 2.) immediate accessibility to an excellent supply of high-grade cotton, 3.) overnight delivery to the west coast and west Texas, 4.) advantageous freight rates to all 13 western states.” The Junior Cotton Queen of Arizona, the manager of the Cotton Kings (the seven year baseball champions of the state) helped Parsons break ground for the facility. Dewey Powell wrote a column for the Dispatch called “Pinal County Checkerboard News.” He was already running his own business, Powell Feed and Supply. In one article he highlighted the Farm Fresh Egg Farm west of Casa Grande that was owned by Tony and J.O. Burns. John Wayne purchased the old C & V Farms from Harold Arp and Y.D. Marson. He changed his mind about being a cotton farmer after “only three crops.”

1958 Ray Petersen was mayor. Population was 9,228. “More than 2/3 of the population came to the city since 1950. More than 500 homes a year were built between 1953-1958. Cotton fields have been plowed under and homes have sprung up. The Owl Café closed forever. The building was erected before the Southern Pacific Railroad came to Casa Grande. It was called The Gilt Edge Saloon in 1903. It burned down in 1914, but was rebuilt. However, it didn’t stay open long because Prohibition came in 1915. It was converted into an ice cream parlor and restaurant called The Owl Café. It went through many hands over the years. The last person to operate it was Leslie Yee who ran the café and, on the side, rented cots to tourists and transients.

1960 John Wayne hired Louis Johnson to manage the Red River Land & Cattle Company.
Copper deposits created a boom in CG that lasted through the end of the decade. In 1960, Snow’s Inn, at 421 W. 2nd Street, became the hub of the downtown area known as Five Points. It was the town’s largest and busiest eating establishment. Jay (who died Apr. 27, 1966) and Nettie Snow served American and Spanish food. Curious about the prices at Snows? Half a Southern fried chicken was $3.00, a top sirloin steak was $4.75, a stack of hot cakes with 2 eggs any style, a small orange juice and coffee cost $2. The #1 Spanish food combination plate included chili, a tamale, beans, salad and a flour tortilla for $1.50. Beer was .45 cents. No wine was served. Mom’s homemade coconut cream pie was .45 or .55 cents depending on the size of the slice.

1961 Dispatch, July 29, 1982. “Christine Burton Sought Perfection in 21 Years as Sofia’s Cook, Owner” by Janice Tarleton. In January 1961, Burton purchased Sofia’s restaurant from Sofia Espinosa. Sofia’s was located at 301 N. Picacho Street. The restaurant was first opened in 1960 by Mrs. Espinoza, a Casa Grande native who ran it for nine months, then returned to California.

The Casa Grande Hotel restaurant on Main Street served as the meeting place for many civic groups from the 1930s to 1961. Pinal County votes to organize a junior college district on Dec. 17, 1961.

1962 John Wayne and Louis Johnson became full partners in the Red River Feedlot and eventually bought adjoining farms. Ochoa’s restaurant, a familiar sight at 200 E. Main Street, opened January 2, 1963.

1963 The Casa Grande Valley Historical Society was founded. Barbara Schoen spearheaded the effort to raise funds to acquire the historic stone church on Florence Boulevard.

1964 Dispatch, Mar 4, 1964. The Larry-Allen Super Market, owned by Larry Jay and Allen Chin (who purchased the George Y. Wah store in 1960) opened on Florence Boulevard. Baker Office Supply changed hands but kept the name under the new ownership of Phyllis and Ervin Church. Mi Casa Construction Company was founded in 1964 by Harlyn Griffiths.

1965 Dispatch, Jan. 17, 1985. “1965 Was Banner Year for CG Business.” “Terrible flooding took place toward the end of the year. The city experienced its first Vietnam war casualty, PFC Orin Allred. On the business front, it was a banner year. A development board set a goal to sell $150,000 stock in the Valley Industrial Park.” Dispatch, Nov. 21, 2005. “Dell’s Pizza to Celebrate 40 Years of Service.” Ed and his wife, Dell, Sarnowski opened their restaurant in 1963 when they moved to Casa Grande from Chicago. Their first restaurant was a small one in Arizona City. They served pizza and sandwiches. In 1965 they moved to 1654 N. Pinal Avenue, originally the location of the CG Jaycees organization. It was “sort of out of town” but they thought it was the perfect location between the old drive-in theater on Cottonwood Lane and the bowling alley. Dispatch, Feb. 21, 1968. Originally a partner in Prettyman’s Market with Don Prettyman, Charlie Harris went into the grocery business on his own. He called his business Harris Market. Seeing a need, he opened a slaughter house to process his own meat and do some custom killing in 1934. Charlie retired from the business in 1943, at which time he sold out. The packing house, named The Paramount Packing Company, was operated under various names for years. The plant was expanded several times between 1943 and 1968 when it was purchased by J.B. Brown. It was the only meat packing plant in Pinal County at the time. Dispatch, Dec. 8, 1965. Don Sing & Company Grocers, located at the present site of the Don Market on First Street & Florence Street. Arizona Republic, July 6, 1998. “Restaurant Special: Cream of Cactus: Historic Garden Gives Eatery Flavor,” by Sam Lowe. “After more than a decade, the Valette family’s homestead was purchased by Lee and Annabell BeDillon. ”
Dispatch, Feb. 1, 1965. One of Casa Grande’s worst fires since 1936 destroyed the Pine Hotel and several other eating and drinking establishments on Main Street. Built in 1914 by J.A. Armenta, the hotel was gutted by the fire. The night clerk was killed. Reilly’s Tavern was also destroyed. Smoke damaged the Pine Café and there was some fire damage to the old Owl Café.

1966 A new 20,000 head feedlot was built west of Casa Grande. It utilized green chopped alfalfa and sorghum silage from accompanying farms.? Feedlot, March 1966. “Announcing National Beef Feeder Award Winners.” Commercial Feeder, Benedict Feeding Company, Casa Grande, Arizona. Pinal Ways, Fall 1966. The new Valley Industrial Park brought a significant swell to CG’s economy. Dispatch, Nov. 17, 1981. Hexcel, the world’s largest producer of honeycomb core materials for the aerospace and construction industries, located a plant in Casa Grande. Its main office is in San Francisco, CA. Pinal Ways, Fall 1966, p. 21 and 69. By 1966, APS’s 200,000 kilowatt Saguaro Power Plant at Red Rock was an integral part of the investor-owned utility’s power network serving the energy needs of more than 250,000 customers in an area covering 50,000 sq. miles of the state. Pinal Ways, Fall 1966. “Casa Grande Cotton Oil Mill: Serving Arizona Agriculture with Crop Financing, Ginning, and Quality Feed Products,” pp. 22, 23 and 63.

“Cattle have always been an interesting and even romantic part of the West. Cattle feeding has been a vital part of the economics of an agricultural society such as we live in here in CG Valley. Cottonseed oil mills have been involved in the cattle industry since ranchers first began to supplement their protein-deficient ranges with the protein of the cottonseed kernel after the oil was extracted. Many ranchers still follow this practice with much success, as tons upon tons of 41% protein expeller cottonseed pellets are shipped into such places as Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. These pellets are fed directly from the sacks on the range. During the extreme cold of these climes, cattle are physically warmed with this natural high protein feed. Cottonseed hulls have been used widely to mix with cottonseed meal to feed cattle in feed lots. Occasionally, grain was incorporated to increase gains. Progress in the technology of feeding cattle has brought many changes in this field.

“Joe Briscoe, VP of Chickasha Cotton Oil Company, was forward looking when he chose CG as the site to build a cottonseed oil mill.

“Cattle feeding has long since passed mixing a little meal with some hulls, and has become an exacting science. The top ration of the Univ. of AZ in 1954 placed 6/10ths of a pound gain per day LESS than the rations tested last year, with costs as they are today, even a half-pound of gain a day can be the difference between profit and loss. With the necessity of adding fat for additional energy, vitamins, minerals, antibiotics, hormones, and many trace elements and the constant demand for increased efficiency, the Casa Grande Cotton Oil Mill procured the services of Dr. M.E. Ensminger, the man who wrote most of the nutrition text books for high school and college), as consulting nutritionist.

“Consequently, besides furnishing Benedict Feeding Company, West Coast Land and Cattle Company, Arroyo Cattle Company, and many, many other feed lots with such basic commodities as protein and hulls as an ingredient for the feed they mix at their own plants, the Casa Grande Cotton Oil Mill is one of the largest buyers of grain and hay produced in the county. This volume buying capacity makes it possible for Casa Grande Cotton Oil Mill to sell complete feed lot rations to small feed lots at prices that enable them to compete with larger volume feeders.”

1967 Dispatch, June 28, 1967. City Transfer Company’s main office moved from Phoenix to Casa Grande in June 1967. The Valette family was the original owner and creator of the cactus garden at the corner of Park and 8th Streets. When Jean Valette hauled a load of mining equipment to the Jack Rabbit mine or to the mines in Prescott, he would load the truck with interesting bits of rock, artifacts and desert plants to be placed in the garden. Over more than a quarter of a century, the family built the business, the cactus garden and the small museum that is now part of BeDillon’s Restaurant. Central Arizona Bank, Casa Grande, First Security Bank, Mesa, and the Saguaro Bank, Tempe, merged to become United Bank of Arizona.

1968 Dispatch, Feb. 21, 1968. The business grew with the town. Woody Woodruff died in 1968 and the Paramount Packing Plant was purchased by J.B. Brown. The AZ Legislature passed a bill introduced by Representative Blodwin Thode of Casa Grande to form junior college districts. Dr. Donald Pence, President, announced the first classes held in a junior college in Pinal County

1970 Red River Feeding Company increased the size of its lot to 80,000 head of cattle and reported that it batch mixed 1,000 tons of feed per day. Ray Petersen arrived to manage the JC Penney store. He started his career in Eugene, OR, then transferred to Redwood City, CA, then to San Jose, and finally to Casa Grande. The first Casa Grande Town Hall leads to a Greater Casa Grande Development Committee and a Community Improvement Committee (led by Vera Baca andAmelia Contreras) as well as the Tierra Bonita Committee led by black business leader Sid Goodman. Kay Benedict served on the Town Hall Board of Governors.

1973 Pinal Ways, Autumn 2000. “Everybody Went to Snow’s” by Cindy Tracy, pp. 4-6. On April 24, 1973, Nettie Marie Schafer Snow, known everywhere as ‘Mom’, died. The San Carlos Hotel, a center of retail trade at Sacaton & First Streets and a Casa Grande landmark since 1918, discontinued operation. Gilbert F. Bradley became president of the local Valley National Bank.

1975 Between 1973-1975 there were five parachuting deaths at the Casa Grande municipal airport so the City Council called for an investigation that resulted in establishment of specified “drop zones.” Dispatch, Mar. 10, 1975. “Mi Casa Sprinting to Biggest Year on Record: CG Construction Firm’s Business Up 12 Times the Rate in 1969.” In 1975, Mi Casa saw the biggest dollar volume in its 15 year history. Harlyn Griffiths listed projects that included: Hacienda de Kakota, the largest apartment project in Casa Grande; the Presbyterian Church sanctuary; a new maintenance facility for the City; a commercial building for ASARCO at its mine; the new City library; and many custom and semi-custom homes. Other projects in recent years included the vocational building for Maricopa High School, a classroom addition for Coolidge Unified School District, two community centers on the Gila River reservation, four additions or remodeling for Casa Grande Union High School, a warehouse for Southwest Gas Company, the Trans- America Title Company building, and Trinity Baptist Church on Trekell Road. Mi Casa employed 35-40 persons, supporting a payroll for 1975 of approximately $350-$400,000. Dispatch, Feb. 7, 1975. “Ramada Inn of Casa Grande Opened.” It was located on Sunland Gin Road near the intersection of Interstate 8 and 10. Dispatch, Jan. 18, 1985. “Chamber’s Growth Paralleled City.” It was a time of city-wide growth. The new library was officially opened in September and the Pence Center was dedicated at Central Arizona College.

1976 Dispatch, Oct. 11, 1976. “Vern Walton Motors Destroyed by Fire.” The building was at 826 E. Main Street. JC Penney added a catalog center to its store. Dispatch, May 5, 1976. “O.S. Stapley Reopens.” The O.S. Stapley Store, 931 W. Gila Bend Highway, which sold and serviced farm equipment, was enlarged and improved due to the phenomenal growth of the farming industry in the CG area. “It is a giant facility of over 20,000 sq. ft. and $250,000 worth of farm equipment.” Twenty-six people were employed full time and the occupied approximately five acres. The complex featured large bathrooms with showers, gas heat where the mechanics work, large special tool storage, skylight and commercial lighting, large overhead crane to move large farm equipment. Stapleys was “the most sophisticated farm equipment dealer in all Arizona.” Also, there was a special feature called a “space-age computer” with a program called Pro-Ag that was sponsored by International Harvester. “It tells the farmer everything he would ever want to know about his business for future planning.” said manager Gary Talbot. “The need for an enlarged and improved structure was occasioned by the phenomenal growth of the farming industry in the Casa Grande area.” A second office of Valley National Bank opened on Florence Blvd. “The population expansion of some 50% in the past five years is one of the most rapid in this fast-growing state.” The Feeders’ Choice, Jan. 7, 1997. “Benedicts, Pinal County’s Largest and Oldest Custom Cattle Feeders,” pp. 28-29 and 74.

1977 Casa Grande Town Hall recommends activation of an economic diversification task force composed of community leaders. The recommendations were: to seek a broader mixture of local industrial activity to avoid overdependence on just one; to increase tourism; and to actively pursue a higher quality of life. The 1977 Casa Grande Town Hall recommendations resulted in the City attracting 10 new industries, expanding facilities that provided 2,500 recreational vehicle spaces, added 3 outdoor sculptures, building of a new C of C building in 1982, construction of a new clubhouse at the municipal golf course, and realization of the dream of a new regional hospital in 1984. The Noranda Copper Mine closed. Approximately 2,000 jobs were lost. Dispatch, Jan. 28, 2002. “Snider Joins CG Hall of Fame: Chamber Honors Beye for Service.” David Snider was named Casa Grande’s Director of Library Services. Tri-Valley Dispatch, Apr. 27-28, 1977. “Norm Bingham Tractor and Equipment Formally Dedicates New 20,000 sq. ft. Sales and Service Facility.” The new complex was located across the Gila Bend highway from where the Bingham’s first operated their store. The Binghams expected to be in Casa Grande only a few years but opened the new facility twenty-two years later. Norm Bingham said, “I anticipate agriculture will slide into a secondary position to industry and mining during the next 15-20 years if water levels continue to fall. “The long range future of farming in the Casa Grande Valley is truly not bright, but commercial, residential, mining, and industrial economy will supplant our agricultural economy, which will continue to be strong.” Water conservation is the key factor. He predicts the pendulum will swing back against the environmentalists and a network of canals like highways will bring water from areas where water is a surplus.” Casa Grande Shopper, Dec. 28, 1977. “Off the Cuff” by Guy Acuff, p. 4.

“I was talking to J.B. Brown the other day and he said, ‘come here, I want to show you something.’ He took me around to his holding pens and continued, ‘You see that wall there? Its 8 feet high. I had a Santa Gertrudis steer in here a while back from Benedict’s Feeding Company. That danged steer, weighing 1,100 pounds, from a standing start cleared that 8 ft. wall and ran out through the neighborhood. I had to get Ronnie Parks over here to rope him.” “J.B.,” I said, “No critter could jump an 8 ft. wall from a standin’ still position. Didn’t he even scrape the top?” “Nope,” said J.B. ‘He plumb cleared that wall. I got witnesses.” I tell you, folks, if you don’t want to buy meat from J.B. at Paramount, go out and have him show you that wall as he did me. Either Jim Benedict puts some powerful protein in his cattle feed, or the atmosphere around Paramount is so clean and pleasant that it could do something mighty good for your morale.”

1978 Dispatch, May 5, 1978. A new building for Arizona’s oldest domestic title insurer, Arizona Title, was completed at Trekell Road & McMurray Avenue. Arizona Cattle Growers’ Outlook, August 1978, Special Feeders’ Issue, v. 34, No. 8. At this time, Sam Benedict was president of the Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association. Ray Petersen celebrated his silver anniversary with JC Penney this year. Casa Grande’s Centennial was celebrated.

1980 Casa Grande Dispatch, Dec. 3, 1980 “Partners Hoped to Refurbish Historic Hotel” by Ernie Feliz. “Flames destroyed the San Carlos Hotel, a picture of history that spanned more than 60 years…The only remaining member of the Day family, whose predecessors constructed the hotel in 1918, is Rosalie Ludwig Pickerel Chamberlain who lives with her husband Clifford in a home next to the hotel.” Dispatch, Dec. 3, 1980. “San Carlos Hotel Destroyed in a Fire.” Downtown Casa Grande, Where It All Began, University of Arizona College of Agriculture, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Landscape Architecture Program, Spring 1980. An overview of efforts to revitalize the downtown area. The goal is to preserve the area as an important asset to the community and an attraction to local visitors and tourists. Population was 14,971. The Red River Feedlot was purchased by Loel Ranches, Inc., a subsidiary of Red River Resources, Inc., a diversified company owned by entrepreneur Karl Eller, CEO and Chair of the Board

1981 Dispatch, Dec. 2, 1981. Industrial Development Authority president Donovan Kramer worked with Frito-Lay for over a year to bring the $30 million facility encompassing 283 acres to Casa Grande. Industrial bonds were used for equipment to treat air pollution, a wastewater treatment plant, and 100 acres of land for secondary wastewater treatment.

1982 Tucson Citizen, 3 Nov. 1982. “Casa Grande Moves to Boost Its Downtown.” “Industry may be moving to Casa Grande, but a shoppers’ exodus from the city’s downtown area is considered serious enough that city officials have launched a downtown revitalization campaign…events are planned to try to attract shoppers back to the area from local malls.” Dispatch, Apr. 29, 1982. “Ochoa’s Restaurant Moves to Spacious Facility: Ochoa’s New Site Doubles Capacity” by Kim Bergheim. On Feb. 19, 1982, after six weeks of remodeling, the business reopened in the former Coop’s Steak House & Lounge. Arnulfo Garcio, co-owner of Ochoa’s with his wife Lucy Ochoa Garcia (whose parents were the original owners), said “90% of our regular customers are thrilled.” The new restaurant was and is now located at 510 E. Cottonwood Lane. Dispatch, Apr. 21, 1982. “Sale of Cruz Trading Post Ends Family Ownership Since 1900s” by Janice Tarleton. After more than 77 years, the family business closed. In 1956, their large sign marking a newly constructed building at 300 E. Second Street, was installed. Mollie Cruz said her husband Albert, who died in May 1981, “Wouldn’t have looked” as the sign was dismantled. It was Cruz’s death that prompted the sale of the business begun by Albert’s father, Ramon, Sr., in the early 1900s. Christine Burton continued to serve the best at Sofia’s until she sold the business to Joe and Karen Revak in May 1982. “The biggest years for the restaurant were the 70s. Business began to slow when activity in the downtown slowed and the freeway opened, taking travelers off Second Street.”

1983 Mickey Carlton was elected president of the CAC Governing Board 1983-1984. Attorney Tom Cole re-created a Victorian-style historical building as the office of Cole & O’Neil, Attorneys at Law, on Pinal Avenue. Dispatch, June 28, 1983. The groundbreaking of Ross Laboratories manufacturing facility at Cottonwood Lane and Burris Road was held. The Bank of Casa Grande Valley, an independent, full-service bank, opened. Jere Cook was president. Nap Lawrence, Bank of Casa Grande Valley, poured the champagne. Dispatch, Feb. 25, 1983. The banquet room of the Casa Grande Hotel on Main Avenue, which initially served railroad passengers, was remodeled to become a mission. The hotel, built prior to 1898, was the city’s earliest remaining hotel.

1984 1984 The Greater Casa Grande Valley Economic Development Foundation was incorporated and became a legal entity in April 1984 with Donovan Kramer as first president of the Board. Industries attracted to Casa Grande by the Foundation included Hexcel, Skyline Corp. (mobile homes), Kocide Chemicals, American Rockwool, Inc., Mayville Metals (main frames for computers), Sheller-Globe (custom plastic molding), Frito-Lay, Ross Laboratories, and Meredith/Burda (the nation’s fourth largest commercial printing firm). The Casa Grande Regional Medical Center opens. The City of Casa Grande received a nomination for an All-America City Award. [No name of publication], January 1984. “City Bond Election: Heavy Library Usage Creates Cramped Quarters” by Peter Bronson. The bond election on Feb. 14 called for $5,435,000. “Library use jumped about 400% between 1976 and 1984,” according to Director David Snider. The Wonder Bar was sold to Cotton Graham. Tri-Valley Dispatch, Nov. 28-29, 1984. “Benedict Feeding Co. Marks 30 Years” by James Lizius. Cattle Services Corporation of Longmont, CO, became a partner in Red River Feeding, expanding services to include custom feeding, cattle feeding advisory services, commodities and hedging management, cattle breeding management, and agricultural consulting. Arizona Farmer-Ranchman, November 1984, v. 63, no. 11. “Benedict Feedlot Oldest in State at Same Site.” Benedict celebration of 30 years in business announced, Nov. 9, 1984, 2-5 p.m. in the Grain Barn 1. Dancing and informal BBQ were to be featured.

1985 Casa Grande Dispatch, Jan. 16, 1985. “Casa Grande Started to Flex Muscle in ’55.” The Casa Grande Chamber celebrated its 50th anniversary. “The Chamber’s biggest concern in 1995 centered around president Eisenhower’s proposed highway expansion plan which would bypass Casa Grande by four miles.” General Plan Update, Bernard Deutsch Associates, March 1985. Community planning in land use, housing, transportation, parks and open space. The primary issue became “What price is the community willing to pay to accomplish a substantial revitalization of the downtown area. Arizona Republic, July 6, 1998.

“Restaurant Special: Cream of Cactus: Historic Garden Gives Eatery Flavor,” by Sam Lowe. The BeDillons spent twenty years restoring, rebuilding and remodeling the home they purchased from the Vallettes. “They worked on the cactus garden which featured plants from Africa, South America and Central America. More than 100 varieties are growing on the property.” Dispatch, Jan. 18, 1985. “Chamber’s Growth Paralleled City.” First time the budget topped $100,000. Pinal Ways, Aug, 1985, “17,000 Residents in 1985.”

“King cotton reigned—and still does. The 137,000-acre, 327,000-bale cotton crop in 1984 is estimated at about $108 million by the Arizona Livestock & Crop Reporting Service. But the economic load cotton once carried is not nearly as great as in the period 1940-1970. Mechanization reduced greatly the number of people required to plant and harvest cotton; the thousands of pickers have disappeared and the cotton industry has suffered serious economic fluctuations battling against synthetics and the devastating import market. Ever-increasing costs of water and power have added to the problems.

“Thus, when copper ore test rigs popped up in the late 1960s, there were high hopes that a strong diversification of the economic base was about to happen. The euphoria was relatively short-lived. Lakeshore Mine, 32 miles south of Casa Grande on the reservation started in 1969 and, three years later, ASARCO’s Sacaton Unit began operations northwest of Casa Grande. For nearly a decade the ventures were highly successful and each contributed mightily to the area’s economy. But it all came to an end when the cost of producing copper became greater than the selling price. Within a three year period, about 2,400 well-paying jobs disappeared. By early 1984, copper was no longer a vital economic force. Today, only a handful of employees (mostly maintenance) remain.

“With encouragement from some success at the Valley Industrial Park and the Hexcel Corporation plant, the serious efforts to entice industry began to pay off. Donovan Kramer, Sr., editor and publisher of Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, is given primary responsibility for having created 1,200 jobs with the arrival of seven new industries since 1982. ‘It is the hub of a rapidly advancing “clean industry” movement that has added hundreds of new jobs and promises to change the face of western Pinal county,’ said Kramer. Kramer is a member of the governor’s office of Economic Planning & Development board, and has been chair of the group since 1977.” Rita Nader is elected Pinal County’s representative to the State Board of Directors for Community Colleges. Frito-Lay and Ross-Abbott Labs open for business with 500 local jobs

1986 Dispatch, Apr 19, 1986. “Family Mortuary Celebrates 50 Years in Casa Grande Valley Area” by Andy Howell. Three generations of the family ran the business. Oliver H. Maud and Dalton Cole, brothers-in-law, married twin sisters. They purchased the A.G. Porter Funeral Home in Casa Grande and another in Florence in 1936. In 1937 they built a mortuary in Coolidge. Cole & Maud remained active in all three cities. In 1946 they purchased the Casa Grande Cemetery at the base of CG mountain. They renamed it Mountain View Cemetery and began landscaping it. They imported a sculpture of the Good Shepherd from Italy. Jack Foster, son-in-law of Maud, joined the firm that year. In 1957, the three mortuaries separated. Jack took over the Casa Grande mortuary after Maud retired. Cole sold the Coolidge and Florence mortuaries in 1963. William G. Kozar wrote the nomination of Casa Grande Union High School on Florence Boulevard and the original gymnasium which were added to the National Register of Historic Places on Feb. 3, 1986.

1987 Henry and Horne, CPA firm, named Mel Anderson managing director. He will be in charge of the Casa Grande, Eloy and Coolidge offices. Dispatch, May 5, 1986. Ground was broken for the Holiday Inn which was scheduled to open in April 1987. Partners were Ray Pacioni, Jack Halland and local Virgil Koenig along with Bill, Virgil’s son who now lives in Dallas, TX. “Virgil had the vision” and was financed through an industrial bond issue approved by the Casa Grande Industrial Development Authority and City Council. Previous motels in Casa Grande are La Siesta Court, operated by the W.T. Garretts on Highways 84 and 187, and the Sacaton Hotel which opened in 1951.

1987 Arizona Republic, July 6, 1998. “Restaurant Special: Cream of Cactus: Historic Garden Gives Eatery Flavor,” by Sam Lowe. “Michael and Nancy Jackson were asked to cater a political fundraiser at the site. They had lived in Casa Grande for several years, but had never been inside. “I took one look and told Michael we had to buy it.” Nancy said. After two years of hard work, the home was opened as a restaurant called BeDillons. See also “BeDillons Rezoning Remains on the Menu” by Andy Howell. Dispatch, May 8, 1987, “Proposed Eatery Gets CG Variances” by James Lizius. Dispatch, May 31, 1987. “Request for Cactus Gardens Eatery Gets CG Council OK: Shopping Center for Florence Boulevard Also Gets City Approval” by Andy Howell. Dispatch, Oct. 2, 1987. “Expansion of City Hall Complex” located at 300 E. 4th Street.

1988 Master Thoroughfare Plan and Transportation Study by Bernard Deutsch Associates, November 1988. “The plan recommends pedestrian development allowing mixed land use on the same site with carefully designed parking and traffic flow to minimize pedestrian conflicts. Sidewalks should be 6 feet wide or more. A bicycle route on Florence and 4th Street should be designated. Second Street, and Florence Street from Second Street South, should become 4-lane divided roadways. A truck route for the Greater Casa Grande region should eliminate local truck traffic in the downtown area.

1989 John J. Klein was promoted from Vice President to President of Central Arizona College for 1989-1990. Rita Nader was named Chair of the State Board of Education.

1990 Apr. 10, 1990. Casa Grande Downtown Revitalization Plan, Joseph E. McClure. “Downtown Casa Grande has certain limitations and opportunities by virtue of its location, physical conditions, business composition, and similar characteristics. None are unique…nor can they dictate the destiny of the area. Casa Grande has developed a strong base of manufacturing activity. These new employment sources, along with growth in trade, service, and construction employment, have offset losses in mining employment in Pinal County. The City is pursuing annexation aggressively in response to strong demand from developers and landowners. Seasonal housing is strong. 11,000 winter visitors were counted within a 22-mile radius of Casa Grande during the last winter season. Permanent retirement housing appears very viable. In the past two decades, older age group population in Casa Grande has steadily increased from 7.3% in 1970 (older than 65 years old) and in 1980 it was 8.5%. By 1985 it had grown to 9.9%. The proximity to Phoenix has contributed to the influx of industry into Casa Grande and workers can commute to Phoenix. The primary drawback is school quality. Scores for students at both the elementary and high school level are below the state average.
1990 Arizona Republic/Phoenix Gazette, Mar. 8, 1990. “Bingham’s Outlets Have Grown to 10.” The Bingham’s headquarters were moved to Mesa, AZ. Valley National Bank becomes Bank One of Arizona. Dispatch, Oct. 16, 1990. “Ochoa’s Celebrates Its 40th Year of Business.” Chamber Hall of Fame award to Jimmie Kerr, Mayor of Casa Grande, Donovan Kramer, Sr., Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, Inc., Dorothy Powell, Jere Cook and Dr. James O’Neil.
Casa Grande Dispatch, Jan 25, 1990, “Chamber Recognizes Year’s Achievements: Legislators Preview Current Session” by Donovan Kramer, Sr. “Annual meeting of the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce featured commentary on the current session of the Arizona Legislature by the three District 6 legislators, Senator Alan Stephens and Representatives Jim Hartdegen and Henry Evans.

1991 Pinal Ways, Spring 1991. “Casa Grande Pursuing Revitalization of Downtown, Seeking Local Support,” by Karen Wallenga. “Spurring revitalization is the decade old downtown association. Among its projects has been successful promotion of a downtown improvement district in the mid-1980s. As a result, business owners in the downtown district were taxed for parking and landscaping improvements, contributing about 90% of the $842,000 price tag, according to Kirk McCarville, a local realty executive and president of the downtown association…The city is considering the Arizona Main Street program, which would be geared to downtown revitalization…decorative concrete pavement, landscaping and signage would mark the entry way from Florence Boulevard and welcome visitors and residents to downtown Casa Grande.” Arizona Republic/Phoenix Gazette, June 28, 1991. “Tortilla Factory Pans Out” by Edythe Jensen. “Ochoa’s Tortilla Factory, 40 years old, turns out more than 36,000 flour and corn tortilla every weekday morning. These are sold to restaurants and grocery stores. A shop with a small front counter at the factory also sells warm tortillas to walk in customers. The best seller is the medium size at $1.45 per dozen.” Pinal Ways, Winter 1991. “Casa Grande New Outlet Centers.” First phase of Casa Grande Factory Stores equal 142,000 sq. feet and 25 stores. When completed in Fall 1992 the shopping center will have approximately forty stores. Tanger Factory Outlet Center is at Exit 198 off Interstate 10 at Arizona highway 84. It is set to open in November with twenty-five shops. The Center promises more to come in early 1992 and plans to double in size to 200,000 sq. ft. Stanley Tanger has fourteen outlets around the country. Lin Laursen is named National Junior College Athletic Association (NCJAA) Coach of the Year. George Young named NCJAA Coach of the Year. Kurt Van Hazel named NJCAA Coach of the Year. Kay Benedict, John McEvoy, The Mahoney Group, and Virginia Carter-Padgett, First American Title Agency were inducted into the Greater Casa Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame.

1992 Dispatch, June 18, 2005. “Historic Paramount Wins State Heritage Preservation Award” by Susan Randall. Long Theater Enterprises closed the Paramount, declaring bankruptcy. Dispatch, June 17-18, 1992. “CG Oil Mill Crushes Peanuts for Extra Income” by Susan Wooton Edmond. “Chickasha’s CG Oil Mill has a new project this summer, crushing peanuts into oil and meal. The mill usually lays off its work force when it’s finished crushing cotton seed in the early summer. This year, the company has kept 75% of its employees working. The hulls are baled into burlap-wrapped, 600 lb. blocks of horse bedding or stock-yard filler. “The cotton industry is struggling,” according to Fred Straps, mill superintendent. “Everyone related to it is looking for alternative income. “As an experiment, the mill contracted to crush 11,500 tons of peanut meats.” Each ton of meats yields about 870 lbs. of oil. 3 inch long pellets of heated, flaked and compressed peanut meats are created. After once again being heated with steam to remove any remaining hexane (a clear, flammable petroleum product) they are then dried in a giant toaster. The ground pellets become a fine white powder that is 44% protein. Most are purchased by California dairy farmers to feed their milk cows. “If the experiment proves successful, the mill will have experience necessary to handle a larger contract.”

1993 Dispatch, June 18, 2005. “Historic Paramount Wins State Heritage Preservation Award” by Susan Randall. Debbie Martin Barber purchased the Paramount for $32,000 at a county tax sale to have a place for her daughter’s ballet class and other youth activities.

1994 Tri-Valley Dispatch, Apr. 27-28, 1994. “Theater Brought ‘Talkies’: Source of Fun, Pride” by Shannon L. Pantelis. The Paramount was opened on Dec. 23, 1929. It was front page news…it was closed during the Depression. Henry Bowers managed the Paramount for 36 years after it reopened in 1942.” Dispatch, June 29, 1994. “Abbott Addition Announced for Early 1996.” A $52 million expansion will add an additional 100 jobs. Currently approx. 300 people are employed in the manufacture of liquid infant formula and special nutritional products for adults. A celebration of their 40th year in business was held at (Sam & Kay’s) Benedict’s place for a BBQ, Nov. 20, 1994 at 3:30 p.m.

1995 Dispatch, Jan. 27, 1997. “Focus of Family Business Remains in Pinal County” by Chrystal Peterson. Jerry and Janet Warren own and operate Cole & Maud Mortuary at 215 S. Washington Street. Jerry was born in Casa Grande and raised in Eloy. His family farmed near Arizona City for many years. Janet is from Tucson, was raised in Eloy, and her family built Valley Funeral Home there in 1953. The couple married in 1970. Jerry worked for Janet’s parents at first. They bought the mortuary from Janet’s parents in 1974. In April 1995, the Warren’s purchased Cole & Maud from Jack Foster. They own a number of other mortuaries but they live in Casa Grande and manage Cole & Maud. Bank of Casa Grande opens its third branch, this one on Florence Boulevard. Bob Gallo was the construction contractor. “The hometown bank” president is John Hemmings. Dispatch, July 22, 1995. “Albertson’s Store Opens.” It is located at Florence Boulevard and Trekell Road. Albertson’s will be Casa Grande’s fifth supermarket. Safeway’s newest, is a quarter of a million dollar business at Olive and Picacho Street facing Florence Boulevard. Calf News Cattle Feeder, Jan. 1995. “Benedicts Mark 40 Years.” Dispatch, Feb. 20, 1995. “Memories, Old Photos Mark 10th Anniversary” by Steve Bolton. In 1985, three couples, Joanne and John Snavely, Ken and Marie Kieft, Joe and Penny O’Neal, pooled their resources and began construction, opening a few lots in the 1983-84 winter tourist season as construction continued. Many vendors that the park needed wouldn’t service them because they believed CG was “too far away.” Val Vista Winter Village was the first to add a full-time activities director to the staff. It was the first large-scale park. It is surrounded by scenic desert plants. “The park is usually 95% booked for the following season by April every year.” said Joanne.

1996 Sharon Streicher, president of the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce, handed the gavel to new president for 1997, Cindy Sutton. Rita Nader was named to the Arizona Association of District Governing Boards 1996-1997. Tri-Valley Dispatch, Aug. 7-8, 1996. “McCarville, Cooper & Vasquez Remodel Former Bank One Branch in Downtown Casa Grande.” The bank building, built in 1950, was originally located at 221 N. Florence Street. The Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce honored Gene Lehman and Barbara Schoen, initiating both into the Hall of Fame. Carlton’s Art, Craft, and Hobby Supplies. Art and Kim Carlton opened the store at 424 N. Florence St. on August 1, 1996. It was a family operation with Barbara Kunz, Kim’s mom, managing the store and Art’s mother, Peggy Hill, running the crafts classes. City of Casa Grande, City Beat, vol. VI, no. 2, July 1996. “First Steps Taken to Make Old Main New City Hall.” The Casa Grande City Council took initial steps to move City operations to what will be a renovated in Casa Grande High School’s “Old Main” building. “After relocation of City offices, the municipal library will be converted for use as an adult center,” Mayor Bob Mitchell announced. Dispatch, Apr. 10, 1996. “Longtime Business Closes Its Doors: Kerr’s Public Life Forces Decision” by Kristen Pownall . Jimmie Kerr and his father Clarence (who also went by “Jimmie” or C.E.”) came to CG from Tucson. Sixty-five years later, Kerr’s Cleaner’s shut its doors. Kerr said the decision came because he had decided once again to run for the Pinal County Board of Supervisors. Donna, his wife, and her business partner Linda Holmes, will move their antique business into the empty cleaners’ space in a building the Kerr’s built in 1975 on Florence Boulevard. Dispatch, Sept. 23, 1996 “Sweet/’wiches—A Smorgasbord of Hone-Cooked Foods, Treats“ by Blake Herzog. Gail Kilgore opened Sweet/’wiches in a double-wide trailer at 201 W. Cottonwood Lane in June. She stayed away from Mexican foods, “letting the Mexican restaurants handle that,” she said. Dispatch, May 6, 1996. “Manuel’s Reopens.” Manuel A. Perez opened his new establishment at 1300 N. Pinal Avenue after having closed it at its previous location, 519 E. Florence Boulevard.

1997 City of Casa Grande, City Beat, 1997. “Airport Master Plan Update Nearing Completion,” Draft of the report to guide development should be completed by the end of September. A new terminal building is being designed and construction will begin prior to end of the 1996-1997 fiscal year,” according to A.J. Blaha. Casa Grande Union High School District’s new facility, opening in 1997, will accommodate 2,800 students, cost $30 million, and encompass 272,592 sq. feet. The Candy Connection at 701 N. Park Avenue opened. Renee Deimling owner/operater had been an RN but was looking for something different.

1998 Dispatch, Apr. 14, 1998. “Big Kmart Reopens.” The Kmart store was enlarged in September at a cost of $3 million. The building has been totally revamped. Kmart originally opened in Casa Grande on Aug. 5, 1976. It now employs 125 people. Western Cowman, September 1998. “Benedict Feeding Company” by Laura Flood, pp. 40, 68, 73.

1999 Tri-Valley Dispatch, Feb. 2-4, 1999. “Tradition Carries On in Company after 45 Years” by Trista Pelc. History of the Benedict Feeding Company. “Brutinel Golden Anniversary.” Bob Brutinel, founder, has been in business since 1949. Bob Mitchell, Mayor, was photographed at the dedication of Casa Grande’s City Hall, Saturday, March 27, 1999. The Paramount Theater was placed on the National Register for Historic Places.

2000 CAC Desert Winds, January 2000, Special Issue. “30th Anniversary of Central Arizona College. 61.51.1

2001 Arizona highway 87, the main highway between Tucson and Phoenix to San Diego prior to the construction of the interstate highways, was renamed Jimmie Kerr Boulevard upon Jimmie’s retirement as Pinal County District 3 supervisor.

2002 Tri-Valley Dispatch, Oct. 16-17, 2002. “Longtime Cotton Growers Recall Changes: Cousins Tommy Caywood, Jerry Storey have seen five decades of highs, lows, technological changes in Pinal farming” by Susan Randall.

2003 Tucson Daily Citizen, Sept. 5, 2003. Edna Blodwen Thode (Cole), 94, passed away September 3, 2003 in Tucson, Arizona where she had resided for the past seven years.

2004 Tri-Valley Dispatch, Aug. 25-26, 2004. “Twentieth Year – CG Regional Medical Center: Longtime Employees Remember Overcrowding …and a Big Move,” by Alan Levine. Tony and Sandi Salcido purchase The Rock Shop and Trading Company property and open Nature’s Nook Florist. Dispatch, July 27, 2004. “Fire Destroys CG Restaurant” by Joe Meahl. Jillian’s Steak House and Pub, 321 N. Florence St. burned to the ground. The building earlier had housed Serrano’s Clothing Store for many years and, later, Cynthia’s Café y Cantina.

2005 Dispatch, July 20, 2005. “Ochoa’s Tortilla Factory Closes Its Doors” by Jill Zarend-Kubatko. The 50 year old tortilla factory closed its doors at 112 N. Marshall Street. The restaurant of the same name on Cottonwood Lane, run by another part of the family, continued unaffected. Dispatch, Nov. 21, 2005. “Dell’s Pizza to Celebrate 40 Years of Service.” Ed and his wife, Dell, Sarnowski opened their restaurant in 1965 when they moved to Casa Grande from Chicago. It’s no longer “sort of out of town.” They purchased the building in 1968, expanded it, and brought in the sports crowd after they installed big screen TVs and satellite dishes in 1986.
Dispatch, June 18, 2005. “Historic Paramount Wins State Heritage Preservation Award” by Susan Randall. Owner Debbie Martin Barber, who has been restoring the theater for more than a decade were honored Monday night by the Casa Grande City Council.

[From The City of Casa Grande website.]

The economy of Casa Grande was historically based on rural, agricultural industries such as cotton and dairy farms. Over time, the city has become home to many Phoenix or Tucson urbanites who own homes in Casa Grande. Most residents either commute north to work in the Phoenix metropolitan area, or to the south, to work in Tucson. This trend has contributed to growth in the service industry of Casa Grande. Many new businesses such as restaurants, gas stations, and retail outlets are opening throughout the city in order to keep up with demand from the growing population.

Phase one of The Promenade at Casa Grande opened on November 16, 2007. Built by Westcor and the Pederson Group, it is similar to Desert Ridge Marketplace (an outdoor shopping center in northeast Phoenix). The Promenade at Casa Grande is an open-air outdoor mall, built on a 100-acre patch of desert, and contains nearly a million square feet. An additional $11 million dollars was spent by the city to fund the reconstruction of the Florence Blvd./I-10 freeway overpass.

List of Modlin Sketches 2004 013.001

Police – See Archives.

Dec. 9, 1964 CG Dispatch. “Post Office Packed with Packages and People.” Photo.

Aug. 27, 1975 CG Dispatch. “CG Post Office Strives to Reduce Mail Delays” by Doug Melvold. Postmaster Charles McFadden defends mail difficulties.

Nov. 8, 1961 CG Dispatch. “Nine Postmasters Served CG During Territorial Days.” Those named are John C. Loss, John T. Woods, William C. Smith, Minnie Marshall, Kate Forbach, Emma A. Cleveland, Charles F. Bennett, Charles H. French.

Feb. 28, 1962 CG Dispatch. “New Post Office Is Dedicated Here Saturday” Morris K. Udall, AZ Dist. 2 Representative spoke. Dr. R.F. Schoen presented a history of the CG Post Office and introduced former postmasters.

Sept. 11, 1980 CG Dispatch. “Present Location is Latest of Many: CG Post Office Marks 100 Years of Operation” by Dave Carl. Photo of Mac Lytle and Jerry Wilson. Photo of little girl and cake by Dave Carl. 1880 site unknown but possibly Fryer House; 1900, moved to Main & Sacaton Streets; 1910, to 211 W. Main Ave.; 1912 to building next to the old theater building on W. Main St.; 1922 to San Carlos Hotel; 1929 to 4th & Marshall Streets; 1951 to 200 W. 2nd Street; 1962 to 115 E. First St..

Aug. 22, 1975 CG Dispatch. “But Sometimes the Gears Don’t Mesh: Today’s Post Office: The System Usually Works” by Howard Angione. Photo of Ed Thraen and Pearl Wallace by Jim Thomson.

Feb. 23, 1963 Program Honoring Dedication of the CG Post Office.

1938 National Air Mail Week. Envelope to Jean A.M. Vallette, CG on first plane to carry air mail Tucson-Florence-CG and return.

Feb. 23, 1963 History of CG post offices. Includes list of postmasters with dates of appointments 1880-1961.

Feb. 1, 1963 Letter from Dorman Bryce, Postmaster, inviting Laura Pace to attend dedication Feb. 23, 1963.

Note indicating 1892 P.O. location was the back of Maldonado’s Store on Main Street.

Note says P.O. was at 4th & Marshall when Laura Pace was Postmistress 1929-1931. Blinky Wilson an employee. Kilcrease was next postmaster followed by Bess Prather.

May 3, 2003 CG Dispatch. “Longime Residents Have Seen CG Change” by Larry Lockhart. Two photos: Virginia Hooper Robertson by Steven King; Keith Carlton.

Feb. 7, 1975 CG Dispatch. “May Be Biggest January Ever: Housing Starts in Casa Grande Climbing After Two-Month Lull.” January Permits for 21 houses = $367,199. “The near half-million dollar total is the highest for any January in the last 10 years” said Building Inspector Rick Underwood.

Dec. 16, 1957 Tucson Daily Citizen. Facsimile of double spread. p. 14 and 23. All five articles a series by Jim Hart, city editor. “Casa Grande Adds Six New Industries: Third Largest City, Is Aim.” 2 photos. “Casa Grande Offers Industry 3 Features.” Photo of Dick Walker. CofC Pro Sparks Industrial Campaign At Casa Grande.” Photo of Wayne Baskin. “Casa Grande Unites on Industrialization.” “Unique Organization Helps Indusstrialize Casa Grande.” Photo of Dr. James T. O’Neil, president of CG Developers. Best quote: “CG is selling three principal assets: location, climate, smallness…with the community spirit to go along with those assets.” Citizen editorial.

Promotion—See Archives.

Flyer from Radio Station KSAA-FM “Casa 105” seeking information to use on its new station in Casa Grande. No date.

Three copies of Real Estate Today, April 17, 1978.

Dec. 20, 1978 Notes from interview of Pete Peters by Alta Norville on golf courses in CG.

Casa Grande Senior Citizens Calendar of Events and Roadrunner Tours 1978-1979.

1967-1968 Casa Grande Roadrunner Tours
1966-1967 Casa Grande Roadrunner Tours

Apr. 6, 1977 List of possible goals and objectives, no name attached, for consideration by board doing recreational planning for the city.

1912 Photo of first organized baseball team with all men identified.

Dec. 25, 1915 Invitation to The Jolly Time Club in Armenta Hall. Committee: F.A. Humphries, I.E. Neiser, A.L. Pierce.

n.d. CG Dispatch. “Bow & Swing Graduating Class Have Party Saturday Night [at The Woman’s Club.” Photo of “one of the largest classes to be graduated since the club was organized in July 1948.”

Jul 26, 1967 Handwritten by Russell C. Erikson – letter and article titled “The Circus Comes to Town 1908.” Published in the CGVHS column, The CG Dispatch, Aug. 16, 1967.

Aug. 14, 1993 CG Dispatch. “Otter Slide Property For Sale.” Three photos. Built by Leonard Dickey in 1981 on burgess Peak. Run by family four months each year until 1990 when it closed.

May 15-16, 1991 Tri-Valley Dispatch. “The Cottonwoods’: A Private Utopia” by Tom W. Phillips. Photos from the CGVHS collection. Map by Tom W. Phillips. Location was 747 W. Cottonwood Lane. Description of the pleasant recreational opportunity provided by F.C. Templeton and family who came from King County, WA, in 1920. A reservoir created by Benjamin Templeton as a 4 H project became the hub of the complex . Renamed Mountain View Park prior to 1928. In 1934, Frank Marshall and Paul Ripple renovated the part, renamed it Cottonwood Grove—later The Cottonwoods. The Depression and WW II saw the end of the amusement park.

May 25, 1991 Copy of letter to Mr. Phillips from Maxine Keeling Barnes re: The Cottonwoods.

Apr. 4, 1991 Transcription of taped conversation with Wanda Jahns and Mickey Carlton re: The Cottonwoods.

Apr. 29, 1991 Original typed copy of Tom Phillips article “The Cottonwoods.” Copies of articles from newspapers on which the article was based.

May 6, 1954 CG Dispatch. “Over 200 Children Turn Out for Opening Day at Swimming Pool.” Photo.

July 19-20, 2000 Tri-Valley Dispatch. Photos by Oscar Perez. Two photos of facility, three of residents (Fanny Dobson, Ken Dobson and Gideon Krein), one shows Vada Hill, one of chef Jillian Farley, and one of ladies playing cards. “Garnet Celebrates 1st Year with Active Happy Residents.” Owned by Netwest-McClelland, new retirement complex behind the renovated City Hall (CGUHS Building) opened July 22, 1999.

May 12, 1998 CG Dispatch. “Garnet Breaks Ground Wednesday.” Approx. 5 acres between Morrison and Cameron Avenues, incorporates retirement and assisted living. 96-units, $8.5 million.

Apr. 1, 1998 CG Dispatch “New Kind of Retirement Community Begins Construction.” Architects drawing. The Garnet will be the first assisted living community in CG. The opening is planned for 1998.

CG Schools – See Archives.

July 13-14, 1977 Tri-Valley Dispatch. “CG School Teacher Had to Find Diplomas: Search for Paper, Ink Was Important to Graduates of 1918” by Daniel Woods. Two photos, one of Daniel Woods, other of Central School 1918. Reworked article by Merrill C. Windsor written for the CG Dispatch June 10, 1970.

June 10, 1992 The Arizona Republic/Phoenix Gazette. One photo ca. 1940 from CGVHS collection. “Casa Grande Looks Back At Segregation” by John Yantis. Describes the one-room schoolhouse where Rebecca Dallis taught, attitudes in the early part of the 20th century, interview of Mary Melcher based on her presentation at CGVHS.

June 1, 1992 CG Dispatch. “Schoolhouse Teaches ABCs of History” by Judy Brnas-Elam. One photo (The Dallis’ and students at Southside Colored Grammar School) from CGVHS collection. Opening of the new exhibit at CGVHS with lecture by Mary Melcher.

June 5, 1992 CG Dispatch. “Learning from the Past” by Judy Bernas-Elam. Two photos by Jerry Welch (one of former students at restored school building and one of Gladys Albrecht and A.F. Peters with exhibit). Mary Melcher--Blacks were excluded from schools beginning in 1920, were integrated 1931-1934 until more African-American families arrived, went to school in one-room schoolhouse built 1934. Rebecca Dallis hired 1939. By 1948, 74 scholars in that one-room school. Second teacher hired 1949 and high school was integrated. East School opened in 1952 as segregated school. In 1955 started grade by grade integration plan. Discontinued from 1957-1062.

May 30, 1992 CG Disptach. “Casa Grande’s Education History on Exhibit in One-Room Schoolhouse” by Maurine West. Photo of the Dallis’ and students from CGVHS collection. Describes moving school to CGVHS and plans for renovation as Rebecca Dallis Schoolhouse.

Oct. 17, 1992 CG Dispatch. “Schoolhouse Teaches History: Reunion, Dedication Set for Dallis Schoolhouse” by Judy Bernas-Elam. Photo (former students as in June 5, 1992 article).

July 20, 1990 CG Dispatch. “Memory Class” by Eric Offenbacher. Three photos of Victoria Helms lecture with children. Seven-year restoration effort culminates with architecture camp at CGVHS. Kay Benedict quoted as calling $14,000 restoration “fairly cheap” and credited work of about 25 volunteers.

Jan. 6, 1983 CG Dispatch. “Moved to Museum Grounds: Old Schoolhouse to House Historical Display.” Photo by H.S. Norville shows Gene Lehman in truck moving the house.

Oct. 30, 1992 Program – Rebecca H. Dallis Schoolhouse Dedication.

Dec. 1, 1978 Photocopy of article titled “The First Negro Pupil in Casa Grande” by Merrill C. Windsor.

n.d. Photocopy of transcription titled “A Deduction for a Blank Worksheet” A.E. “Pete” Peters from interview by Mary Melcher.

n.d. Photocopy of transcription titled “Missed Buses and Oleander Switches” by Robert Carroll Carter from

interview by Mary Melcher.

n.d. Photocopy of transcription titled “Career Choices: Taxi Cab Driver or Teacher” by William Eddings, Sr. from interview by Mary Melcher.

May 20, 1992 Copy of article “W. Curtis and Rebecca Dallis: Pioneer Educators” by Tom W. Phillips, CGVHS. Oct. 30, 1992 Booklet “From MiseDucaTion to Education” Reunion Events 1935-1971.

Notes on lined yellow paper with dates re: to the Dallis Schoolhouse. 1935, 1952, 1972 and 1983.

Photocopy of floor plan of Schoolhouse.

1987 94.7.1. Folder of Lonnie “Mrs. G.O.” O’Brien’s research which contains: Names of all individuals contacted re: history of Dallis Schoolhouse; questions asked all those interviewed; letter from Gladys Albrecht, Feb. 26, 1987; letter from Winona G. “Mrs. H.W.) Hartley, Apr. 20, 1987; letter from Yolanda O’Brien, Apr. 5, 1987 and her notes on history of uses, locations of building; results of interviews with Mrs. Isabel Hankins Gibson,Mrs. Garlaine who taught after R. Dallis, with educator and City Council member Bill Eddings, Sr. with Mr. Moffett, with Mrs. Louise Henness, with A.E. “Pete” Peters who provided a sketch of the floorplan of the Dallis Schoolhouse. Extensive notes of research at ASU library.

Aug. 26, 1975 CG Dispatch. “Bugs Still Baffle Computer Systems: Post Office Struggling to Improve Efficiency” by Howard Angione.

Melcher, Mary “The Quality of Education in Casa Grande: A Question of Race” Copy of lecture presented June 1, 1992.

Aug. 15, 1978 Letters from Alta Norville to/from Dept. of Library, Archives & Public Records on population of CG 1880-1976.

Mar. 19, 1969 CG Dispatch. “Barbeque: It’s An Institution” by H.O. “Polly” Pace. CGVHS column. 1957, Masonic Lodge began to plan move from inadequate building on Park Avenue. Describes how funds were raised to build the new facility.

1938 certificate of authority for Mason William Willard Coons of CG to represent AZ at Indianapolis convention.

1949 CG Dispatch. Photo of Mothersingers at high school. Annual Spring Concert. Director of the group was Louise Henness.

Feb. 24, 1949 CG Dispatch. Photo of officers of the Matinee Musicale Club’s annual Silver Tea at The Woman’s Club.

July 6, 1966 CG Dispatch. “Music Goes Round and Round.” Three photos: Bob Hope on the Road? humorous photo; Matinee Music Club; The Mothersingers. CGVHS column. Describes the old Matinee Musical Club’s history (1923- ). Each year sponsored the Music Week presented in town; at Christmas a Vesper Service.

Apr. 1949 Typewritten history of the Matinee Musical Club by Margaret Zimmerman.

Nov. 1, 1961 CG Dispatch. “Here She Is!...Miss Allison, R.N.” photo of Mrs. John Bendixen, Dist. 17 Nurses Association raffle at County Fair.

Dec. 1, 1960 CG Dispatch. “Volunteers Mail Fund Drive Letters.” Photo of volunteers stuffing envelopes at The Woman’s Club for fund drive of Arizona Children’s Home.

1915 Typewritten list of organizations in CG.

1928 Handwritten list of Clubs and Lodges

1977 Typewritten history of The Woman’s Auxiliary to the American Institute of Mining, Metalurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. Casa Grande Section founded in 1973, Hecla Mine tours and scholarships for students in Mining and Metalurgy.

Apr. 14, 1954 CG Dispatch. “152 Witness Burning of Mortgage by [Sunshine] Rebekah Lodge [No. 29].” One photo shows Hazel Bonebreak, Mabel Ludwig, Rose Ludwig and others.

Typewritten agenda for the Draping of the Charter for Sister Ollie Wood. Signed by Hattie H. Petty, Secretary. Envelope has date stamp Nov. 23, 1962.

Jan. 31, 1942 CG Dispatch. “Productivity of Red Cross Developing: Casa Grande Branch Reports on Work Already Finished.” No photo. Completed a substantial amount of useful war clothing sent to headquarters. 1000 hours of work by women from CG and Maricopa. CG Branch Chair, J.P. Sexton.

Rotary—in Archives

n.d. “Casa Grande’s First Mardi Gras Is Howling Success.” Halloween event sponsored by Round Table Club.

June 16, 1983 Program for United Way of Pinal County Second Annual Awards Banquet at The Arches Restaurant. President Wayne Gerkin.

The Woman’s Club—in Archives

Mar. 19, 1975 CG Dispatch. “20 Year Veteran of Y Work: Desert Valley UMCA Board Selects Executive Director.” Photo of Rob I. Moore.

Summer 1975 Brochure of activities of the Desert Valley YMCA, Esperanza Center.

Zonta – In Archives

Apr. 24, 1981 CG Dispatch. “CG Park Dedications Honor Albert Cuz, Earline Mosley” by James Lizius. Two photos of Albert Cruz Park by J. Lizius. Mosley Park, Amarillo and 2nd St. Cruz Park, Crane St. and Melrose. Dedication by City Councilman William Eddings did dedication at Mosley Park (honor of Mrs. Mosely who died 1979). Mayor Pro Tem Willard Russ did dedication at Cruz Park with 75 yr. old Cruz in attendance.

May 6, 1982 CG Dispatch. “Formerly Southside: History of Ocotillo Grade School Spans 52 Years” by Janice Tarleton. Photos—school 1933, faculty 1931, 1948-49 interior, 1949 faculty, 1932 students.

n.d. CG Dispatch. “Looking for Ocotillo Memories.” Photo courtesy of CGVHS ca. 1945.

Jan. 17, 2004 CG Dispatch. “A Leap for Reading: Palo Verde Principal Makes Big Jump—4 teachers join in student reward” by Susan Randall. Delores Underwood at Sky-dive AZ. Photos by Stephen King.

Aug. 7-8, 1996 CG Dispatch. Photo by Aaron J. Latham, entrance to renovated Palo Verde Elementary.

“Out with the Old, In with the New” by Chrystal Peterson. Don Dermody, CGESD Superintendent “a complete transformation that will surprise those who remember the old school.” A new wing was added and connect to the east side of three existing buildings. Five portables removed, ne moved to Saguaro. Existing buildings got a face life with new carpets, paint and cabinets. Students were at Mesquite while renovation was done.

Aug. 7-8, 1996 CG Dispatch. “Former Teacher Remembers School Before, After Integration” by Chrystal Peterson. Photo, 1970 of Palo Verde Elementary. Bill Eddings interview.

Sept. 2, 1954 CG Dispatch. Opening of Kiddies Korral, 315 N. Brown.

1974 CG Dispatch. “At Alumni Picnic: Class of 1924 Marks 50th Anniversary Sunday.” Mrs. Marie Wells, CG Alumni Assoc. quoted.

Apr. 1, 1982 CG Dispatch. “CGUHS Alumni Reunion: Class of 1932 to Celebrate 50th Anniversary with Fun Events.” Senior Class President 1931-Pat Prettyman quoted. Coordinators were Virginia Hooper Robertson, Frances Stein, Cecil Robson and Dolores Hopkins.

Mar. 29, 1982 CG Dispatch. “CGUHS Alumni Plan Weekend Events.” Dance at Knights of Pythias Hall. All students of the high school invited. Mr. & Mrs. Art Elliott host a buffet in their home for the Class of 1932.

Apr. 2, 1969 CG Dispatch. “H.S. Grads Attend Reunion” by H.O. “Polly” Pace with photo. CGVHS column.

July 2, 1969 CG Dispatch. “CG High School Alumni To Honor John Bendixen At 50 Year Reunion.” July 25-27. Dolores Hopkins general chairman. Bendixen currently principal of a school in Sells, AZ. Photo.

July 28, 1969 CG Dispatch. “50-Year Reunion Honors Bendixen Here.” Five Dispatch photos include Johnny Don, Coolidge dentist, Paul Mason; Bendixen, his wife and Gladys Albrecht; Jimmie Kerr with Vernon Hancock; Cecil England, former principal at CGHS; Cecil Robson dancing with his daughter Lynn Reid.

June 25, 1969 CG Dispatch. “CGUHS Alumni Plan Gala Three-Day Reunion: Bendixen to be Honored.” Photo of A.T. Kilcrease, principal of CGUHS 1919. First High School, 1916, at Sacaton and 2nd St.

Apr. 10, 1968 CG Dispatch. “CGUHS Alums Hold Reunion Sunday.” Peart Park pot luck supper. Chet Ethington; B.D. “Pop” Reazin, former CGUHS principal with Mrs. Sam Montgomery.

Jan. 16, 1976 CG Dispatch. “Reception at St. Anthony’s: Special Observance Highlights Parochial School’s 25th Year.” Two photos. In 1955 there were 8 students in the first graduating class. Fran Benvenuti, JoAnn McCarville are co-chairs.

Jan. 23, 1976 CG Dispatch. “Classes Held in Duplex: Four Dominican Sisters Formed Nucleus of St. Anthony School. “ Photo of Principal Sister Marian Edward; duplex on E. 4th St. where kindergarten classes were held in 1944; Silver Tea; ground breaking in Jan. 1953; faculty. School opened in Sept. 1950 with approx. 135 students in 4 grades. From that time on, a grade was added each year. By 1954 all grades had been added and cafeteria was in full operation. Due to shortage of teachers and financial problems, the 7th and 8th grades were dropped in 1968. In 1976 there were 154 students enrolled.

Sept. 1950 CG Dispatch. “Saint Anthony’s School Will Open for First Time September 11th: Registration September 4 to 8; Open House Will Be Held Sept 10.”

May 26, 1955 CG Dispatch. “First Graduating Class of St. Anthony Has Exercises Sunday.” Photo by Victor Studios.

Nov. 29, 1953 Dedication of St. Anthony’s School and Convent.

n.d.(probably 1964) CG Dispatch. “Villa-Oasis—The Dream Is Now Reality.”

Apr. 1986 Pinal Ways. “Villa Oasis School: Experiment in 22nd Year Appears to be Working Well” by Jim Garner, editor. Originally opened as a boarding school for underachieving students 7-12 in 1964. Today, nearly 90 students from 22 states and 9 foreign countries are enrolled at $10,800 per year for room and board

Aug. 24-25, 1994 Tri-Valley Dispatch. “A Fountain for Youth: Villa Oasis to Reopen for Second Session as Alternative School” by Steve Wallace. Two photos. CAC Alternative School closed in 1992. Now-defunct, Toltec’s Villa Oasis School opened in Jan. 1993 and is now called Villa Oasis Interscholastic Center for Education (VOICE). Pinal County Superintendent Jack Harmon, Board of Supervisors, juvenile probation, courts and others revived it as a countywide alternative school.

Oct. 4, 1979 The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson. “A Grande Old Time in a New Casa: Senior Citizens Find a New Home” by Anne Holliday-Abbott. Two photos by Anne Holliday-Abbott, one of Margaret Cruz, the other of seniors at lunch. New Senior Citizen’s lunch program moved into new building on Avenue A. Originally started last year at the First Baptist Church. Meals and transportation are supplied by the Pinal-Gila Council for Senior Citizens with help from federal funds.

Apr. 29, 1983 Dedication of the Peart Adult Center, 605 N. Drylake.

May 3, 2000 CG Dispatch. “Dorothy Powell Center Dedicated: Large Building Honors Longtime Seniors Leader” by Susan Randall. Photo of Dorothy and another of seniors at lunchtime by Steven King. “One of the biggest in the state” said Henry Blanco, Program Administrator for the Aging and Adult Administration of the AZ Dept. of Economic Security at the opening Tuesday (May 2).” Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging Executive Director Anne Lindeman introduced speakers. Former city library, now remodeled.

Feb. 26, 1975 CG Dispatch. “Festive Weekend Celebration Planned to Honor Sister City.” Two day visit by 24 couples from Sonora scheduled for Mar. 7-8. Many festivities held at Elaine Farms Mobile Resort, 2100 N. Trekell Rd. Ross Sotelo, chairs the sister city committee. VP is Ruben Games, and treasurer is Jim Hartdegan. Housing was being sought in private homes in the area.

Mar. 10, 1975 CG Dispatch. “250 Attend Ceremony: CG Welcomes Sahuaripa As Sistser City in Mexico.” Two photos. CG Mayor Jimmie Kerr and Mayor Luis Aguayo Lopez led a celebration that included singing, dancing, a beef barbecue, a Mexican rodeo and good times. A special Mass was said on Sunday at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. A charriada (Mexican rodeo) was held ata Los Charros arena northwest of the city. Others attending were Vice Mayor Amos Hawkins, councilmen Eddie Contreras, City Manager David Kincanon, Pinal County Supervisor James Kortsen, Jr., Sheriff Coy K. DeArman and the sister city committee.

n.d. CG Dispatch. “Sahuaripa, Sonora: Nestled in the Mountains, CG’s New Sister City is 125 Rugged-and-Scenic-Miles from Hermosillo” by Doug Melvold. No photo. Report of a visit to Sahuaripa by Bill Kinnison, Director of Landscaping & Grounds at CAC in summer 1973.

Southern Pacific RR – In Archives.

Sept. 2, 1954 CG Dispatch. “Cotton Kings to Play on Mutual’s ‘Game of the Day’ Friday Afternoon: Assure 7th Place with 509 Victory Over Columbus, Ohio Tuesday.”

Mar. 14, 1957 CG Dispatch. “Local Nine Gets National Award for Achievement” Cotton Kings baseball nine awarded the 1956 Team Achievement Award by National Baseball Congress. (AZ State semi-pro baseball).

Jan. 23, 1963 CG Dispatch. “Giant’s Dugout: A Pair of Champs” by R.F. Schoen. 1962 – CG Little League All Stars Champions of Area I, District IV, State and Division, and 3rd place, Western Regional. San Francisco Giants, 1962, National League Champions.

July 15, 1954 CG Dispatch. “Indians and Cubs Little League Teams” photos. One shows coach David White.

Jan. 5, 1962 CG Dispatch. “Pages from Pinal” by R.F. Schoen. 1920 CG High School Girls Basketball Team and 1921 Boys Basketball Team.

Feb. 16, 1966 CG Dispatch, Dr. R.F. Schoen, “ Details on Casa Grande in 1947” Two photos, one made about Oct. 1947 shows Skipper’s Dry Goods next to Safeway. The Safeway Store closed in 1951. Second photo shows Carl Petry’s Bakery.

Aug. 2, 1961 CG Dispatch, Dr. R.F. Schoen, Woman’s Club Tour of “Old Casa Grande 1892” on May 7, 1957 by bus supplied by the schools. Tour conducted by Mabel Ludwig.

Pinal Ways, n.d. “Signs of the Times: Street Name History, Casa Grande” by Jerilyn Martin, editor. Of note, the arrival in town of the McMurrays (1895), Kortsens (1941), Pottebaums (n.d.), Elliotts (1883), Kerrs (1939)

Jan. 2, 2008 CG Dispatch, “Navigating a Circuitous Path” by Susan Randall. Downtown Pavement & Drainage Reconstruction Project, Phase I. “Discussions about moving the highway off Man Street started in July 1951 when the Chamber of Commerce recommended that Second Street be made an alternate route for Arizona 84.” Casa Grande Second Street bypass and the first traffic circle at Jimmie Kerr Blvd. are described. “The city obtained rights of way on Casa Grande Avenue in 1953 and the S curve was built so the highway, which had run parallel to the railroad tracks on Main Street, was diverted north to Second Street.”

Dec. 8, 1999 Groundbreaking for Reliant Energy’s Desert Basin Generation Facility.

Jan. 18, 2008 CG Dispatch. “Water Facts, Issues.” Water area plan underway.

1983 No name of publication. “Crop Losses to Flooding Run High” by T.J. Burnham, assoc. editor. Pinal County suffers multi-million dollar losses. Major bridges down, homes inundated, thousands of acres of crops flooded.

Oct. 10, 1983 CG Dispatch. “Maricopa Begins Huge Mop Up” by Ron Dungan. Photos by Bill Warren.

n.d. Arizona Republic. “Damage Tally Begins.” President Reagan designated Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz counties in southeastern and south-central Arizona as disaster areas. Cochise, Gila, Yavapai also named.

n.d. No name of publication. “Tri-Valley Area Farmers Assess Flood as ‘Devastating’”by Mark Flatten. “Deb Flowers, spokesman for the Arizona Farm Bureau, said that when the farmers start figuring in the cost of replacing damaged ditches, land and equipment, that figure will likely surpass $35 million.”

Oct. 5, 1983 CG Dispatch. “Flood Recedes in Western Pinal: Trucks Get through to Stranded” by James Lizius. Photo. “Flood waters from the Gila and Santa Cruz rivers dropped enough Monday evening to allow relief trucks to begin shuttling food and supplies to residents stranded west of Casa Grande…At the Coolidge Dam, officials said releases continue…at approx. 1,990 cubic feet per second. At 8 a.m. today, the water level was 1.5 feet above the top of the dam, an increase of 2 feet from 5 a.m.”

Oct. 5, 1983 CG Dispatch, “Interstate 10 Could Be Open Within 3 to 5 Days” by Kim Bergheim. AZ Dept. of Transportation. “The road…between Phoenix and Tucson has been closed since Monday afternoon at the Gila River…the alternate route between the two cities is State Route 89 north of Florence across the Gila River. “Also in Stanfield, flooding caused the operations at Benedict Feeding Co. to be down to 50% Monday, but returned to 90% Tuesday, said Tim Cook, cowboy-foreman. About 1,000 of the 15,000 head of cattle were moved about 500 yeards to a higher area of land Monday, he said. “The water rose between2 and 3 feet in the low pens. Residents in 16 staff houses on the yard were evacuated to shelters in Stanfield and Casa Grande.”

Oct. 5-6, 1983 TriValley Dispatch. “Army National Guard Helicopter Hovers Over Papago Dwelling Seeking Flood Evacuees.” Photo by Bill Warren.

Oct. 5-6, 1983 TriValley Dispatch. “Flood Wreaks Havoc in Valley.” Photo by Bill Warren. Shows breach in dike south of Highway 84 toward Interstate 8.

Oct. 6, 1983 CG Dispatch. “Stranded: No Way Yet to Get Lacy Family Home” by Jim Lizius. Maricopa family air evacuated to Stanfield school, a Red Cross shelter, from homes south of the SP RR tracks about 3 a.m. Monday when a dike broke on the Santa Cruz wash.

Oct. 6, 1983 CG Dispatch. “Casa Grande Stays High and Dry.” Arial photo.

n.d. CG Dispatch. “I-10 Detour Opens Travel; Maricopa Water Recedes” by Kim Bergheim.

Oct. 6, 1983 CG Dispatch. “Flood Victims Head Home” by James Lizius. Hubert Sellers, Maricopa Mercantile, stands behind sand bags in photo.

Oct. 11, 1983 CG Dispatch. “They’ll Never Forget that Night” by Ron Dungan. C.P. Honeycutt, Janie Salinas, Bill Johnston, Mike Bernard all talk about the experience of Monday night when the water swept through town. Photo “Special--Mud Pies” by Bill Warren.

Oct. 11, 1983 CG Dispatch. “Maricopa: From Fear to Rebuild: Church, School Damage Approaches Nearly Total” by Mark Flatten.

Oct. 12, 1983 CG Dispatch. “I-10 Re-Opens on Limited Basis: Statewide Damage Set at $416 million.” “Opening of westbound lane of I-10 over the Gila River…around 10 p.m. Tuesday meant traffic—except for wide loads—was permitted in both directions.”

Oct. 12, 1983 CG Dispatch. “Pinal Flood Victims Seek Assistance.” Photo by Bill Warren. Hildegarde Greenaway assists area residents at the National Guard Armory in Casa Grande. “The largest number of applications for assistance received in Pinal County was for housing assistance.”

Oct. 12-13, 1983 Tri-Valley Dispatch. “Tri-Valley Area Farmers Assess Flood Damage” by Mark Flatten. Photo of submerged cotton on Farm SW of CG by Bill Warren, Field near Eloy by Mark Flatten.

Oct. 13, 1983 CG Dispatch. “County’s Flood Damage Will Exceed $50 Million: Final Figures Won’t Be Ready for Another Week” by Kim Bergheim. Jay Bateman, Pinal County Administrator quoted. “Pinal county eligible for relief that will be paid 75% of federal government and 25% by state and local governments. Nine counties now eligible for federal aid. “Day Care Service for Kids” Photo by Bill Warren.

Oct. 13, 1983 CG Dispatch. “Eloy Students Remain Stranded” by Jim Lizius.

Oct. 14, 1983 CG Dispatch. “Farm Damage Hits $130 Million: Huge Livestock Loss Not Yet Accounted” by Mark Flatten. Rick Gibson, Pinal County Extension Service quoted. “About half of the county’s cotton crop was either damaged or destroyed at a cost of about $30 million in recent flooding. In addition, another $100 million in damage was done to farm equipment, ditches, dikes and fields…Even with low-interest loans the farmers are in for tough times ahead, particularly those without major financial backing who lost everything.”

Oct. 22, 1983 CG Dispatch. “Everybody Pitches In” Bill Johnson, Maricopa Elementary School. “Sun Aiding Maricopa Cleanup” and “Getting Ready for Monday” Photos by Bill Warren.

Nov. 29, 1983 CG Dispatch. “County Will Receive $578,534 for Flood Damage” by Kim Bergheim. Total determined by Federal Emergency Management Agency after making inspection tours of the county.

Nov. 30, 1983 CG Dispatch. “Floods Take Toll On Pinal’s Cotton: Harvest Shows Fewer Pounds Per Acre” by Jim Lizius. Lower grades and fewer pounds per acre due to heavy rains and flooding in the fall harvest. Pinal County Extension Agent Sam Steadman.

Mar. 4, 1976 CG Dispatch. “Snow Pays Rare Visit to Casa Grande Valley” by C.T. Reinebold III. Three photos by Joe Meahl.

Feb. 24, 1975 CG Dispatch. “Dust Storm Sandblasts Valley: Winds Whip Power Lines, Tangle Traffic, Cause Accidents.” Three photos by Jim Thomson.

Aug. 16, 1971 CG Dispatch. “It Took A Whole Day for Casa Grande to Drain Off. Photos by Ellis Finch, Donovan Kramer Jr., Ed Taylor and Will Weber. 15 feet of water in underpass, Gila Bend Highway.