Catching Up – April 2019

Hey everyone,

Gosh it has been forever since I have blogged and I have really missed it, and now I am just that much farther behind in catching up on everything. Well after spending a year and three and a half months in Phoenix, AZ I finally left. After I got back from my six-week road trip at the end of September 2018 it was just a really rough time for me. While I was on the trip I had some car issues that I was able to temporarily fix so I could get back to Phoenix. Once I got back I had the shop I was working for do some major fixes and repairs to my car which took three weeks and $2,800.00….I have had mixed emotions about this job as time has gone on…..I’ll try and share the frustrations as well as the blessings as I do some catching up in my blogging. So for starters with my car things could have been a lot worse…..I had access to the company truck if I needed to run to the grocery store, not having the money upfront to put into my car I was able to make payments on the repairs and have my car back on the road to use. The reason it took three weeks to fix is that it took over a week to just get the right bracket I needed that helps hold your transmission to the frame, along with the motor mounts which I had to have replaced, the arms and an oil leak. Having to drop the transmission while the car is sitting on the ground on jacks and putting it back in is a pain in the butt for the mechanic and time-consuming……so frustration number one is our shop not having a lift…..even though one was purchased at the Richie Brothers auction but was never put in so, therefore, more labor went into the job which cost me more money even though I also got a 10% employee discount.

By this time the holidays were approaching and the holidays are always hard for me. I was invited by a couple of friends to spend Christmas with them, but I just did not want to. Christmas is for families and I just felt I would be the third wheel and feel out of place. I did have a Thanksgiving dinner with my friend Susanna and Endel which was nice. For Christmas, the shop was going to be closed for a few days so I made plans and reservations to go to Las Vegas, but at the last minute I caught a terrible cold and my head was hurting so badly I just could not even make the 4-hour drive, so I stayed home and nursed my cold through Christmas and New Years and then I was all well. The weird thing was I had not been sick in the last couple of years and out of the blue I catch this crud which took two weeks to get over and now here I am 5 months later and have not been sick again. There was a reason, I will never know that I was not to make that trip.

So I got through the holidays and the new year 2019 started…..I was feeling really down and depressed. I just was not happy working at the shop, things were going downhill and very frustrating. I no longer knew really what my job was any more or even what I would be doing each day. There were weeks I was working 25-30 hours a week. I needed to be working 40 hours a week, I was barely making my bills and my debt to the shop was getting paid very, very slowly. I was on an active search for a new job…..nothing was really popping out at me that seemed like a good match. I went on one job interview that I thought would be good, but that was a joke. I had to take some random, abstract test and if I passed it then I got an interview….well I did not pass it. So as February rolled around things were gearing up in Phoenix for the Spring Training games that would start the end of February. I got on the Delaware North job website and was looking at jobs (this is the same company I worked for at the Grand Canyon), well lo and behold there was a cash room position at the Maryvale Sports Complex for the Milwaukee Brewers just 10 minutes down the road. I applied for it and in just a couple of days, I was called in for an interview and hired on the spot. I was so excited because I would be making a few dollars more an hour than I was at the shop, it was part-time so it would fill in the empty holes that had sprung up working at the shop and it would get me away from the heavy depression and unhappiness that was going on at the shop. Those 5 weeks working at the ballpark was just what I needed and I had an awesome time. I will write more about my time and experience there on a separate blog post. In the meantime, I  was still looking for something long term after the spring training season ended and with only one week left I was on the Delaware North job website again and ran across a position for a Cash Auditor at Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park. I right away applied and within two weeks I received a phone call and had a phone interview with the HR department and then the General Manager. I was hired on the spot and was asked to get to Kings Canyon as soon as I could. So within 5 days, I had my motor home ready to go, new tires on my car dolly, my car loaded up and left Phoenix behind. I took three days to travel, stopping the last night at the KOA in Visalia to see and visit my friend Chris who had been living in her travel trailer for several months helping out family in the area and it happened that she was pulling out the next morning to head for Southern California, then Arizona and on to South Dakota. I was really glad I got to see her. The next morning I made the last leg of my journey up to Kings Canyon on April 10th.

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Phoenix Zoo (April 6, 2019)

Visting the Phoenix Zoo was my last outing before leaving for Kings Canyon National Park to work for the season. I went with my friend, Mayshla who I know originally from Washington, but has been living here in Phoenix for the last few years.  We found the Phoenix Zoo to be very enjoyable and had great animals.

The Phoenix Zoo opened in 1962 and is the largest privately owned, non-profit zoo in the United States.  Founded by Robert Maytag, a member of the Maytag family, operates on 125 acres of land in the Papago Park area of Phoenix caring for over 3,000 animals, with nearly 400 species, including many threatened/endangered species.

Admission for adults is $24.95, but you can save $1.00 if you buy online.

 

 

 

 

Road Trip 2019 – Fort Verde Historic Park, Campe Verde, AZ (March 28th – April 1st)

I had not been back to the Grand Canyon to see friends since I had left January 1, 2018, so I decided to take a few days and make a little road trip before leaving Phoenix for Kings Canyon National Park to work for the season.

On the way to the Grand Canyon, I stopped off in Cordes Junction for lunch to see my friend Peggy that I worked with at the Grand Canyon, Desert View in 2017.

My next stop was Camp Verde to check out Camp Verde Historic Park – The fort consists of the original administration building,  which is the main “museum” part and small gift shop. There are also three complete houses in “officers row” down one side of the parade ground…….the houses are accessible and decorated in the style of the period including the kitchen, living quarters and children’s room. There is also the army doctor’s quarters, which includes his “surgery” in the front room. The museum is well done giving you a good idea of life on the frontier and one of the only remaining Indian War time forts left in the West.    

Settlers began migrating into the Verde Valley because of the mining industry in the early 1860s. The settlers grew corn and other crops with the hope of getting good prices from Prescott, which was the territorial capital, and from the miners. The rapid increase in the mining population disrupted the hunting and gathering environments of the local Tonto-Apache and Yavapai tribes so they started raiding the settlers for their crops and livestock. As the settlers fought back hostilities escalated and military protection was requested from the U.S. Army. The first military establishment was a temporary post overlooking the farms at West Clear Creek. In 1865, the next post, Camp Lincoln was established. In 1868 the name was changed to Camp Verde. The post was moved to its present-day site in 1871 due to the onset of malaria. In 1873 when construction was completed there were 22 buildings arranged around a parade ground which housed one company of cavalry and infantry (which only 4 survived until 1956).  In 1878 the name was changed to Fort Verde and in April of 1890, the post was officially closed and sold at public auction in 1899.  Over the following years, the community recognized the value of protecting and preserving this historic site and was established as a Historic State Park in 1970.

Commanding Officers Quarters

This one and a half story building consists of 10 rooms and is of the Second Empire architectural style with a mansard roof. Its outer walls are pise adobe construction covered with board and batten. Pise adobe is a technique of casting massive adobe in a temporary wooden form, similar to rammed earth. This was simpler and faster than making adobe bricks, and the resulting structure was less susceptible to water damage. The upper story is wood framed with dormer windows and a shingle roof.

Fort Verde’s commanding officer was typically the senior company captain. His monthly salary of $166.00 was enough for his wife to have gradually assembled the respectful household furnishings necessary to assume their roles in the center of military society.

Surgeon’s Quarters

Each permanent military command was required to have a physician. The post surgeon was allowed these rather spacious accommodations because patients were treated and surgery was performed here. The post-hospital was located at the northwest corner of the parade grounds and was operated by the hospital matron. It was used strictly for quarantine and convalescence. Many of the surgeons serving at Fort Verde achieved recognition as natural scientists. Doctors Mearns, Coues, and Palmer were but a few surgeons who made outstanding contributions to ornithology, botany, and archaeology during their service.

Administrative Building – Now houses the museum and small gift shop

Indian Scouts, Weapons, Uniforms

In 1871, General George Cook who had established himself as an Indian fighter was named commander of the Department of Arizona. He soon realized that his soldiers were no match for the fierce Apache that he was sent to subdue. He recruited from the reservation at Fort Apache about 50 men to serve as Apache Scouts, who played a key role over the next 15 years in the success of the army in the Apache Wars.

Eleven Arizona Indian Scouts were awarded Medals of Honor for their service between 1870 and 1892. The Medal of Honor is the highest award of bravery and gallantry given by the U.S. military. Between 1863 and 1904 it also was the only medal awarded for bravery.

 

 

 

Road Trip – Grand Canyon to St. George Utah (March 28-April 1, 2019)

After visiting Fort Verde I made my way to the Grand Canyon – Desert View to meet up with my friend Kathy. Kathy was still at work so I said hello to a few old co-workers who are still there and took some reminiscing photos.

I stayed overnight with Kathy and had a lot of fun catching up with her. The next morning we were up early and heading out on a three-day road trip. We headed out the west end entrance of the Grand Canyon towards the Vermillion Cliffs, past the North Rim towards St. George Utah.

As we headed toward St. George Utah on highway 89A we came across Pipe Springs National Monument out in the middle of nowhere so, of course, we had to stop and check it out.

The Kaibab Paiute Indians Visitor Center and Museum sits at the entrance of the monument. A collaboration between the National Parks Service and the Kaibab Paiute Tribe, the museum houses artifacts of both Native Americans and pioneers. There are educational displays and a short 10-minute video. During the summer months, folks in period costume demonstrate various activities to show what life was like in the late 1800s for both ranchers and Paiute. Guests may take a self-guided tour of the grounds, or accompany a park ranger for an educational talk. Tours of the fort are available at half-hour intervals throughout the day during both summer and winter months. Visitors will see artifacts and furnishings from the 1800s and learn more about the history of the fort. This time of year (March) there were not very many tourists and we pretty much had the place to ourselves and we had a great tour from our tour guide.

Pipe Springs National Monument is a historic pioneer fort located 20 minutes west of Kanab, Utah. The fort was created in the 1870s for security from the Native Americans but rarely was used for its original purpose.

Pipe Spring was named in 1858 by Latter-day Saint missionary, Jacob Hamblin on an expedition to the Hopi mesas.  Jacob saw the spring’s great potential as an oasis in the middle of the desert and took his knowledge of the area back home with him. Mormon pioneers living in St. George, Utah, brought cattle to the spring sometime during the 1860s. They established a large cattle ranch and began interacting with the local Kaibab Paiute Tribe. Although the relationship between the ranchers and the Paiute was friendly, there were some problems with other tribes in the area. During the winter of 1866, members of a local Navajo tribe stole the cattle at the ranch.  The rancher, and his herder, began tracking the cattle and were attacked and killed. Following the attacks, the ranch was abandoned for four years until a peace treaty was signed in 1870. Brigham Young, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, had a fort built for protection.

Although it was equipped with guns and high walls, the fort was never needed for safety, as both the Paiutes and Mormons were able to live peacefully. The fort was built right on top of the spring. The LDS Bishop of nearby Grafton, Utah was hired to operate the ranch and maintain the fort. With this outpost being so isolated it served as a way station for people traveling across this part of Arizona which separated them from the rest of the state by the Grand Canyon. It also served as a refuge for polygamist wives during the 1880s and 1890s. There were many changes for the Paiute tribe when the Mormons settled and built the fort.  The biggest impact was the water source, now located inside the fort. Although this created some dependency, the relationship had mutual benefits. The Mormons benefited from the knowledge and friendship of the Paiute, and the Paiute gained some security as the tribe had been victim to slave raids from other tribes. With the presence of the fort, these attacks ceased and everyone was safe and secure. The Kaibab Paiute Tribe continues to live at Pipe Spring. In 1907 the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation was founded. The property surrounds the monument, and the Paiute operate a campground and picnic area nearby.

 

Our next stop was St. George Utah. We stopped to take a tour of the Latter Day Saint winter home of Brigham Young. From 1870 to 1877, President Brigham Young lived in St. George, Utah, during the winter months. Beginning in 1872, he and members of his family lived in the place that is now called the Brigham Young Winter Home. From this home, he directed the affairs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The historic home is open to the public year-round. The home and adjacent office have been restored and furnished to reflect their 1870s appearance. Tours tell about Brigham Young’s family life in St. George and about his role in directing the settlement of southern Utah, including the construction of the St. George Utah Temple.

An interesting story about the green and red trim on the Brigham Young home: In the early 1870s the builders of the St. George LDS temple ordered white paint with which to paint the temple. When the paint arrived, half the wagon delivery was white and half green. Brigham Young and the settlers did not alter their concept and painted the temple white. The green paint did not go to waste and many fences, houses, and mercantile establishments were painted green. Some of that green paint was used on Brigham Youngs Winter Home. During restoration work, layers of paint were scraped away and revealed the original colors……the eaves, porches, banisters, and pillars painted a jade green with accented strips of cranberry red.

Next, we stopped to take a tour of the St. George Tabernacle. In 1862 Brigham Young suggested a meetinghouse be built, one large enough to comfortably seat at least 2,000 people that would not only be useful but also an ornament to the city. The ground-breaking and dedication of the site took place on June 1, 1863, which was also the 62nd birthday of Brigham Young. Over the next few years, the work to build the meeting house progressed slowly…..there was an outbreak of malaria, the rivers were unpredictable and dams and ditches needed frequent repairs and rebuilding. The Utah settlers were also busy with helping to transport other settlers from Missouri to Utah, and all settlers were also building homes, setting up mills and shops. In February of 1866 George A. Smith, the apostle-frontiersman after whom St. George was named visited the area and the limestone foundation that was six feet thick had only reached six feet high. Nine months later a stepped-up program of construction was put into place and within a little, over a year the basement had been completed and the main floor timbers were about to be laid. On March 20, 1869, the first public gathering met in the basement. Worked continued on the main structure for the next two and one-half years. On December 29, 1871, the last stone to the tabernacle was laid and a community celebration was held.

After the walls were up and the roof was on, meetings were held in the upper part, but finishing work remained. The community clock and bell were installed in the tower in 1872. The interior was finished in 1875, a beautiful silver sacra­ment set and organ were provided in 1877. Brass chandeliers were added in 1883. The Tabernacle has stood for close to 150 years until its recent remodeling. After almost two years of remodeling the St. George Tabernacle reopened its doors on July 23, 2018.

Our last stop was to view the St. George Temple. Brigham Young observing the effectiveness and beauty of the work that had gone into the St. George Tabernacle, the time had come for the Saints to build a Temple in St. George. The ground was broken on November 9, 1871, and excavation for the basement and foundation began immediately.

The cornerstone was laid on April 1, 1874, and completed January 1, 1877, it was the church’s third temple to be completed, but the first in Utah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MIM -Music Instrument Museum- Phoenix, AZ (March 17, 2019)

MIM was a great museum and more than exceeded my expectations. I ended up spending about 4 hours here and could have easily spent a whole day. MIM opened in April 2010 and is the largest museum of its type in the world with a collection of over 15,000 musical instruments, costumes and various objects from nearly 200 countries and territories represented from every inhabited continent. MIM is a 200,000 square foot modern building with two floors of galleries. The exhibits are arranged by regions so it’s easy to follow. Each exhibit for each county features a video on a flat-screen showing local musician performing on native instruments. Visitors are able to listen to the performances through a wireless device with headphones that are activated automatically when an exhibit is being observed.

MIM has changing exhibits for a set period of time, at the time I visited the museum was highlighting The Electric Guitar: Inventing an American Icon. This exhibit shared the story of the invention of the electric guitar, an instrument that revolutionized music and popular culture forever. The exhibit showcased more than 80 of the rarest electric guitars and amplifiers in the world, as well as the personal instruments of groundbreaking artists who were among the first to play and popularize the electric guitar.

Standard Electric Spanish Guitar 1948-1949…….Paul Bigsby’s third standard electric guitar was built for Tommy “Butterball” Paige, lead guitarist for country star Ernest Tubb.

Telecast Electric Guitar 1962-1963 ……..One of the most recorded instruments in history, this was Tommy Tedesco’s primary electric guitar for years. A core member of the Los Angeles based studio musicians called the “Wrecking Crew.” Tedesco is heard on countless hit tracks (Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Beach Boys), television themes (Bonanza, The Twilight Zone), and movie soundtracks (The Godfather, Jaws).

“The Bad Dude” custom electric guitar 1998 – carefully constructed according to Bo Diddley’s own detailed sketches & notes, ” The Bad Dude” was presented as a gift from close friend Charlie Tona to Diddley. The signature rectangular body shape features onboard equalization, special effects, and a synthesizer pickup. Extensively used for years at the end of his life & career as a true originator of rock and roll claimed this was the best guitar he ever owned.

Quad Stringmaster electric steel guitar – 1950’s………Noel Boggs was a first-rate steel guitarist who played in the bands of Hank Penny, Bob Wills, and Spade Cooley, aside from his extensive studio work. Leo Fender tested ideas with his close friend Boggs and personally provided him with prototypes of new instruments, including Fender’s first double-and triple-neck steel guitars, and later this Quad Stringmaster.

Alvino Rey’s Electro A-25 (1932) – This instrument was likely the first electric guitar ever played on a national radio broadcast. It’s new sound shocked the world, igniting a music revolution. Considered the “Father of the Electric Guitar.” Alvino Rey was not only a talented performer but also a direct contributor to the research and development of amplified instruments for brands such as Rickenbacker, Gibson, and Fender.

Custom Electric Hawaiian Guitar – 1936 ……Alvino Rey was the most popular and visible electric guitarist in the world, Gibson built this custom steel guitar to his peculiar specifications in order to secure a partnership.

Electro A-25 Electric Hawaiian Guitar – 1938……This well-used guitar features a rarely seen textured, ivory-painted finish from the factory.

Gebroeders Decap Organ – Measuring over 25 feet long and weighing over two tons, this dance organ was originally manufactured in 1926 by the preeminent Antwerp firm of Theofiel Mortier, S.A. It was remanufactured into its present configuration by another famous Antwerp Company, Gebroeders Decap, in 1950. The largest organs made by the Decap brothers were often given unique names; “Apollonia” is the female form of “Apollo,” the Greek god of the sun and music. During its working life, this organ was owned by the firm Gebroeders M.&G. Teugels, which provided organs for the popular circuit of dance halls and traveling shows. It remained in Teugels’s collection until the mid-1980s when it was imported into the United States by an American Collector.

Swiss watchmakers were already skilled builders of delicate mechanisms when they began to create musical boxes in the 18th century. By 1825, a standard music box size had developed with more elaborate and imaginative decoration available two decades later.

#1 – Swiss Chalet Music Box 1900……Handcrafted in Black Forest style, three original tunes play when the roof is lifted.

#2 – Child’s Musical Chair 1890s made in Black Forest style play’s ” Rose-Marie” and “Show Me the Way to Go Home.”

#3 – Musical Picture Frame 20th century……..When the music plays, the figures move across the inside scene.

Geographic Galleries

The museum has these global geographic galleries that flow from one to another. The instruments are fascinating artifacts along with photographs, original costumes, related art, and cultural performance videos.

Asia Gallery: Gakuso (plucked zither late 19th century); The Philippines, ?, Kakko (double-headed barrel drum) Tenri, Nara 2007-2008, Dadabuan (goblet drum) 1920-1930, Sovann Marcha & Hanuman Costumes, San-no-tsuzum (double-headed hourglass drum) Tenri, Nara 2007-2008; Philippines, Shava Mongol People 2003; ?, Chinese Lion Dance costume; Pat-Waing (double-headed barrel drums) Burmese Mandalay; Ves (dance costume) Sinhala People 1998-2008.

India Dance Costumes

Guitars:  Moscow Russia 1900, Black Sun  CA 2005, Smooth Talker South Africa 2007, Maccaterr G40 NY 1953-1964, Harp-Guitar Germany 1994, Chaturangui West Bengal India 2007

Moscow, Russia 1900

Black Sun, CA 2005

Smooth Talker, South Africa 2007

Maccaferr G40, NY 1953-1964

Harp Guitar, Germany 1994

Chaturangui, West Bengaj India 2007

Misc Instruments: Fou (Kettle Drum) China 2008 – Played in the opening ceremony of 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Nagado Odarko (double-headed Barrell Drum), Haiti, Marimba Dole (Wood Xylophone), Dragon2002 Electric Guitar, Igbin  Single-headed cylindrical drum Nigeria.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring Training Baseball Games (March 2019)

I had been living in Phoenix for a year and two months when I decided to take some part-time work at the Maryvale Sports Stadium as a cash room attendant for 5 weeks. I worked with Andrew, a GCU student along with Kara, the controller from the corporate office in Buffalo, NY. It was a great season and a lot of fun working with some great people. Since I and Andrew had never worked in this capacity we spent a full weekend working with the folks at Camelback Ranch Sports Complex for training. The first week of games was a learning curve for Andrew and me as we got up to speed and found a routine that worked for us. It was a lot of fun to be part of the games, a chance to watch some of the games and be a part of the excitement that is felt at the games.

American Family Fields of Phoenix, formerly known as Maryvale Baseball Park and briefly as Brewers Fields of Phoenix. It is the spring training home of the Milwaukee Brewers replacing Compadre Stadium in Chandler. In February 2018, the Brewers started a major renovation of the facility which was completed for the Spring Training season in March of 2019. The new renovation included a new clubhouse, agility field, practice field, batting tunnels, covered practice mounds, a new entry plaza and parking lots.

 

 

Arabian Horse Show – Scottsdale, AZ (February 16, 2019)

I thoroughly enjoyed the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show! I had never been to one of these shows and was not entirely sure what to expect. I arrived around 10 AM and parked in a big open gravel parking lot that was at this point was just starting to fill up. Golf Cart drivers were making their rounds from the parking lot to the main entry building for those who did not want to walk. I hopped on and took advantage of the ride. Admission for my age group….59 was only $10.00 which gave me access to the all-day events.

The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is an annual event sponsored by the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona and hosted by WestWorld of Scottsdale, the most prestigious Arabian horse show in the United States.  This show had its beginnings in 1955 when it held its first show on the grounds of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. After the show’s beginnings, Ann McCormick bought 150 acres in Scottsdale and made it into the horse facility know as Paradise Park where the show was held for many years. Since then the show has been held at WestWorld. It has grown from 50 horses to over 2,400 horses bringing top owners and breeders from around the world competing for a chance at winning. A win at Scottsdale means big money in the breeding barns.

One of the first things I did was take the Golf Cart tour of the grounds. I found the dressing up of the stalls pretty amazing and homey.

I got to take one of the group tours to the stables where the retired Arabian Horses were so that visitors could learn more and get up close to them. 

There were many different styles, categories and age groups for showing the horses and judgings.

There were many, many vendors selling all kinds of things related to horses, here are some photos of a few things I liked.

 

 

 

 

Scottsdale Western Days – Scottsdale, AZ (February 9, 2019)

Scottsdale Western Days was another fun event that took you back to the early days of the West. I arrived early with my folding chair and had a seat up front on the parade route. Old town down Scottsdale is a perfect setting for the annual Parada del Sol Parade with its western history, stores, and restaurants celebrating the city’s past, present and future. The parade was full of colorful costumes, mounted horse-riders, horse-drawn carriage, marching bands, wagons and stagecoaches representing many cultures from Mexican to Native American, Arabian and Western.

Parade

After the parade, I wandered over to where the festival was being held to celebrate the Arizona Indian culture to raise awareness of Arizona’s indigenous communities through traditional food, storytelling, dancing, and singing.

 

 

 

Rosson House Museum – Phoenix AZ (January 5, 2019)

I find touring and learning the history of these old historical houses always interesting. The Rosson House is a beautifully restored 1895 Queen Anne Victorian house located in Phoenix’s Heritage Square. The only way to see the Rosson house is by taking a guided tour. Tours are available Wednesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 12 PM to 4 PM. The last tour starts at 4 PM.

Dr. Roland Rosson came to Phoenix in 1879 where he established himself as a general physician and surgeon and practiced medicine on and off from1879 until 1897. Dr. Rosson was also involved in politics in various capacities through 1896. Roland Rosson married Flora Murray in Phoenix on August 11, 1880. They had a total of 7 children, but only 5 lived to adulthood.

In May 1882, the Rossons purchased Block 14, which is now Heritage Square from Flora’s half-sister and her husband for $1,000. The Rosson House was built with modern accommodations such as electric lights, hot and cold running water, an indoor upstairs bathroom and a telephone.

In June of 1897, the Rossons sold their house and the north half of Block 14. The exact reasons for the move are unknown, but a few speculations have been that they may have been having financial difficulties. According to tax records, they were delinquent and owed back taxes, they also rented their newly constructed house to Whitelaw Reid so they may have needed additional income. On May 12, 1898, after an illness of several weeks, Dr. Rosson died of “gastroenteritis”. Not much is known about his wife, Flora, she died of “tubercular laryngitis” at age 52 on September 9, 1911.

Several owners occupied the Rosson House…..On June 3, 1897. Aaron Goldberg and his wife, Carrie, purchased the house and the north half of Block 14 from the Rossons for $10,000. The Goldbergs were a prominent Jewish couple in Phoenix. Aaron co-owned Goldberg’s clothing store and was also involved in political and civic activities. Goldberg wrote the bill that permanently located the capitol to Phoenix.

The next owners were Steven Higley who bought the home on September 7, 1904. Higley started out as a railroad builder, became a landowner and later was a partner in the Arizona Republican newspaper. Higley lived in the Rosson House with his wife, Jessie Freemont Howe, sons Thomas and James, as well as his daughter Jessie Jean. Thomas and James later served in World War I. James died on the battlefield and Thomas returned home and later opened Tom’s Tavern in Phoenix.

On August 22, 1914, the Gammel Family bought the Rosson House and portions of the larger lot. The Gammel family lived in the Rosson House longer than any other family. William Gammel had been a gambler in Jerome, AZ. In 1904, he married Francis Christopher, a Hispanic woman from Tucson and had 3 daughters. The Rosson House was run as a rooming/boarding house until 1948 and went through some drastic changes such as walling in porches, subdividing floors and adding multiple kitchens and bathrooms. After 1948, the Rosson House changed hands several times and continued to operate as a rooming house and eventually becoming a “flop house” and falling into disrepair.

In 1974 the City of Phoenix purchased the Rosson House and the remainder of Block 14. The Rosson House was restored through a community effort involving the City of Phoenix as well as dozens of local institutions and hundreds of volunteers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where Am I?

Wow! here is July 1, 2018………Time is just flying by. It’s funny I seem to say that phrase a lot, but it really seems like it is all the time. There are all these moments and milestones that happen in life…..you start looking at your family, friends and especially kids and how quickly things seem to be going by.

Well as the title of this blog says…..Where I am? I have a friend who has referred to me a time or two as that character “Waldo”, you know the one where you have to find where Waldo is in this book of crazy pictures…”Where’s Waldo”. As I stated in my last blog titled “I’m Back”, it has been two and a half years since I have done any blogging. I post quite a bit on my personal Facebook page so a lot of you know where I am and what I am doing. But I thought for those who maybe are not on Facebook or are not on that often some of you may not know where I am, or maybe you are new to my blog page. I am hoping to reach other readers who do not know me that I would like to share my life, my travels, and experiences. I have found over the last couple years as I have been living this RV lifestyle, that many others are also and we are all doing this traveling, RV life all a little bit different. We each have different experiences that we can share with each other and learn from as well as sharing the gorgeous, beautiful places we have been, giving references and recommendations, as well as sharing the experience and the feeling we have visiting these places.

So currently I am living and working in Phoenix Arizona. I arrived here on January 1, 2018……6 months ago, half a year…..Wow! It originally was to just be a temporary job, but turned into a long-term permanent job…..how long term? Not sure yet……taking it a day at a time! I am working for a Heavy Equipment, Truck, and RV Repair shop where I do a variety of things but mostly office work. I met the owner here two years ago when I was in Phoenix and needed to have the oil changed in my RV along with some other work they found. I ended up at that time spending about 4 days here with repairs. We got a chance to know each other and hit it off well. I found them to be honest, down to earth and compassionate. Over the last two years, I have stayed in touch and our friendship and connection continued to grow.  I had been working and living at the Grand Canyon since March of 2017. In December 2017 I made a decision that it was time to move on, but was needing some temporary work before starting a new National Park job at the Badlands in South Dakota. I was offered temporary work here in Phoenix at the repair shop……things were going well and I was offered to stay long term. I took up the offer feeling that this is where I needed to be for now to get more financially on my feet as well as get some more RV work done. South Dakota would be there for another time. So here I am in Phoneix, AZ. I am enjoying the area and all the things there are to see and do here. I have a few friends who live in the area as well as a couple friends who live 2-3 hours away.

Winters here in Phoenix are great as the temperatures are around 70-75 degrees during the day. Summer I am finding so far to be pretty hot and I am not enjoying this heat too much. So I find myself indoors most days as it is just too hot to be outside doing anything unless you can find a water activity. So with all this indoor time, I am getting caught up on other projects I have been wanting to get done…..scrapbooking and my blogging. I hope you will come along for the ride and join me in this chapter of my life…….where I have been, where I am now and who knows where I will be next!