Please consider attending this event that will benefit the old post office

PROGRESS ON POST OFFICE RESTORATION

Save the Date!!

The dedication of the old post office is scheduled for Saturday, June 24, 2017, at 10:00 am at Windmill Gardens. 

The exterior still needs some scraping, sanding & painting. If you would like to volunteer a few hours to help us get this done, contact Muffy Vallely at 639-9558 or vallely@q.com.

The memorial brick pathway is planned for this spring. All bricks have been sold and ordered.

Next up, the Society received a grant from the Thumb Butte and Yavapai Questers to work on the interior. The U.S.P.S. donated the Double Eagle post office boxes they had in the lobby of the Cornville Post Office. These will be used for display in the interior. The grant requires us to complete the work specified in the grant within one year, so watch for our progress.

THANKS AGAIN to all for your support and hard work!

Annual Meeting March 15

The 12^th Annual Meeting of the Cornville Historical Society was held on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., at the First Southern Baptist Church, 11340 Circle Dr., in Cornville.

Muffy Vallely provided a summary of the CHS activities during 2016; Janet Cassagio presented the CY 2016 financial report, and the CY 2017 budget was approved.  Cheryl Chamberlain, Veronica Moody and Cindy Snyder were elected to the Board for two-year terms. The program featured a reenactment of the life of Martha Dunham Summerhayes, performed by Chris Nelson as Martha, and Don Godard as her husband, Lieutenant Jack Summerhayes. Chris and Don reenacted the Summerhayes’ adventure based on the autobiographical book, Vanished Arizona, first published in 1908, along with additional research Chris and Don did into the personal history of the family and the history of the areas through which they traveled. More than 75 people showed up to see this wonderful, humorous performance.

Thank you to all who attended!

Holiday Event December 11

A Success!

The Annual Holiday Fundraiser was held at Iris Spring Ranch on December 11, 2016. The event featured a short presentation on the history of the 160 acres owned by Abraham Kiewe, Cornville’s first land patent holder, a portion of which is now Iris Spring Ranch. The presentation was followed by a musical program featuring Cornville native, Alvie Self. Participants were invited to tour the ranch property on their own and enjoy refreshments in the bunk house. More than 20 gift baskets filled with wine, merchandise and gift certificates were raffled off. Although the event was held outside, the weather was beautiful and the guests spent an enjoyable Sunday afternoon with picturesque scenery, music, food, and each other. Surprisingly, no one took up the offer to go swimming in the natural spring-fed pool or to try out the zip line across the creek!

The event netted just under $1,000 to support historical society activities. Sincere appreciation is extended to Ryne and Wendi Reed, the owners of Iris Spring Ranch and Bill Alfsen, ranch manager for their hospitality. Another, big thank you goes to Alvie Self, for providing us with such good music! Local businesses and individuals who donated items for the gift baskets included Up the Creek Grill, Blazin’ M Ranch, Verde Canyon Railway, Canyon Mesa Country Club, Coyote Trails Golf Course, Cornville Mercantile, Harry’s Hideaway, Javelina Leap Vineyards & Winery, Page Springs Cellars & Vineyards, Oak Creek Winery, Salon West, Windmill Gardens, and Society board members – past and present.

THANK YOU all!

CORNVILLE POSTCARD AVAILABLE

The Cornville Historical Society now has a postcard of the only existing photograph of the “original” Cornville Post Office & Store. The photo was taken sometime between 1909 and 1914 and shows the structure as it looked at its original site on property now occupied by Windmill Gardens.   The historic landmark has now been moved back to the same site and will be restored to its original appearance. Packages of 25 postcards are available for $6.25 to local businesses for resale. To order, send payment to the Cornville Historical Society, P.O. Box 1200, Cornville, AZ 86325.