The R.I.P. Report P i o n e e r s C e m e t e r y A s s o c i a t i o n December 2017 H a p p y H o l i d a y s f r o m P C A! "Tell sweet old tales, sing songs as we sit bending o'er the hearth, till the lamp flickers and the memory fails." Frederick Tennyson. We at the PCA will continue to preserve the memory of loved ones, family and historical documents, monument and landmarks, and Arizona history into the new year Won t you please join us as an honored member in our mission? Or, remember to renew!
P a g e 2 F r o m t h e P C A P r e s i d e n t... Just a Note to let everyone know about PCA s accomplishments in 2017: Training sessions for Board members to encourage professional development. Many group events, tours, & programs were held at our facilities. Monthly open house, with some featured events, for the public free to members! Member field trip to Florence, AZ. Member Appreciation Ice Cream Social in July and a Holiday Party planned in December. Visit from Jeffery Richardson author of Dogged Pursuit: Tracking the Life of Enrique Garfias. Professional Gravestone Conservator hired for 2 weeks of training 24 participants worked to repair 42 grave markers. Grave Marker Preservation team has created a training manual, policies & procedures, and trained additional volunteers in training/work sessions this fall. More to come in 2018. Eagle Scout projects have continued with beautification of our grounds. Continuing support and donations from First Families of Arizona, The Phoenix Antiques, Bottles & Collectibles Club, Firebird Questers, Desert Sage Questers, Daughter s of The American Revolution; Major Winfield Scott, Piestewa Peak, Maricopa, Apache Trail, Anasazi and Four Peaks (to name a few DAR contributors) plus generous contributions from PCA members. Stop by and see our beautiful new Kitchen and Bathroom tile. It is a replica of the original Smurthwaite House tile. New collaboration with ASU students to research stories of those interred in our cemeteries. Memorial Day Remembrance Celebration continues to grow with record attendance in 2017 - planning now for 2018. 2 nd Annual Dia de Los Muertos fundraiser was held. Over $800 raised for Grave Marker preservation work. Updated website and communications system. Check out our website at www.azhistcemeteries.org. Under the Tombstones a new book being written by PCA members. Coming in 2018! Membership in the Pioneers Cemetery Association is due for renewal at this time. The bylaws were amended a few years ago changing the membership year to January 1 through December 31. Membership allows free admission to PCA events. Dues were increased by $5 for both Individual and Family memberships to enable PCA to continue its strong growth. All memberships being renewed and postmarked prior to December 31, 2017 will be entered into a drawing for a $25 prize! All of us at PCA look forward to hearing from you soon! Happy Holidays! Vivia Strang, President Happy holidays 2017
P a g e 3 Happy holidays 2017 Old Fashioned Taffy 1910 Veldazio Melendrez Old Fashioned Taffy 1 cup sorghum molasses 3/4 cup sugar 1 1/2 tablespoons butter On low heat, melt sugar. Increase heat and cook to form hard ball in cold water (275ºF). Pour in buttered pan and cool until firm and cool enough to handle. Pull taffy. Let cool, and cover with powdered sugar.
P a g e 4 Happy holidays 2017 G r a v e S t o n e P r e s e r v a t i o n D e b e B r a n n i n g The Grave Marker Preservation Project resumed work at the PMMP Cemeteries on Saturday and Sunday of October 14th and 15th and Saturday and Sunday of October 28th and 29th, 2017. After everyone completed a review on safety and techniques, the team of volunteers began their work in Porter Cemetery. This hard working team preserved a dozen gravestones so future generations can enjoy them in the years to come! If you love cemeteries, are a team player, and want to be a part of keeping the history in the old cemetery alive, you may want to join the PCA preservation volunteer work crew!! Our next classroom study and review, with hands on practice, will be coming up in January 2018. Please sign up! Photos by Debe Branning
P a g e 5 Happy holidays 2017 T h e r e s a N e w K i t c h e n F l o o r a t S m u r t h w a i t e! - V a l W i l s o n It was decided this summer to install a new kitchen floor at Smurthwaite. The old linoleum had been there for years, and the House Maintenance committee decided to have it replaced, as it was becoming difficult to clean. A pattern resembling the original kitchen floor, as depicted in some of the framed remnants of the house s bygone patterns which hang in the parlor, was selected to bring back the kitchen s yesteryear appearance. Kim Kasper and Mark Lamm assisted Carlson Tile in the layout and the cutting of the tiles, and the result is a beautiful black and white mosaic tile floor. Come down and see the new floor at Smurthwaite!
P a g e 6 Happy holidays 2017 J e f f r e y R. R i c h a r d s o n V i s i t s t h e C e m e t e r y D e b e B r a n n i n g Great turn out for the book signing of "Dogged Pursuit: Tracking the Life of Enrique Garfias, the First Marshal of Phoenix Arizona" down at the old cemetery. Enrique Garfias is one of our 'cemetery residents!. Everyone was excited to meet author Jeffrey R Richardson and purchase his exciting book! Come down to the PCA and purchase this exciting and rich story of one of Phoenix s civil pioneers. Photo by Debe Branning P C A H o l i d a y P a r t y V a l W i l s o n Our holiday party this year was a big success thanks to the team work of PCA members. Several teams decorated Smurthwaite, and set up a wonderful spread of food and desserts that made your mouth water just walking in the door. Members shared funny moments, and the things they were thankful for, and fellowship was experienced by all. PCA has accomplished many projects, and goals this year. Thanks to you, our members, and all of our partnerships, we continue to preserve our cherished pioneer cemeteries. The historical significance of Arizona and its pioneers lives through your support and assistance in our ongoing projects We will continue to preserve the memory of loved ones, family and historical documents, monument and landmarks, and Arizona history into the new year
P a g e 7 Happy holidays 2017 D i a d e L o s M u e r t o s D o l l s D e b e B r a n n i n g The annual Dia de Los Muertos Porcelain Doll event was held on September 16, 2017 in the dining room of the Smurthwaite House. Guests selected a charming 14 inch porcelain doll and turned her into a beautiful Dia de los Muertos table decoration. The artists took their seat promptly at ten and began transforming the doll of their choice into a masterpiece. In between, there were refreshments and a raffle drawing. The highlight of the day was when the dolls were displayed for the photo shoot on the Smurthwaite grand staircase. A special thank you goes out to everyone who supported this delightful event. A grand total of $860 was raised for Grave Stone Preservation. P C A U p c o m i n g E v e n t s Photos by Debe Branning Up and Coming PCA Events! Thursday, December 14th Monthly City of Phoenix meeting at 9:30 AM. Open house from 10 AM to 2 PM; tour the cemeteries and visit historic Smurthwaite House. Donations gratefully accepted. Where: Smurthwaite House at 1317 W. Jefferson in Phoenix Thursday, December 21st Thursday, December 28th Open house from 10 AM to 2 PM; tour the cemeteries and visit historic Smurthwaite House. Donations gratefully accepted. Where: Smurthwaite House at 1317 W. Jefferson in Phoenix Open house from 10 AM to 2 PM; tour the cemeteries and visit historic Smurthwaite House. Donations gratefully accepted. Where: Smurthwaite House at 1317 W. Jefferson in Phoenix
P a g e 8 Happy holidays 2017 W e S a y F a r e w e l l... Some of our executive board will be leaving us this year. However, they will still be around PCA. We would like to thank them for all that they have done, and look foreword to seeing them around Smurthwaite. Denise Foster Denise served as our secretary, and will be doing work in research. She is currently working on the burial book, and is head of the Memorial Marker Program. Her educational background in fashion and floral design also makes her a perfect party planner, and leader in hospitality. Sterling Foster Sterling served as one of our vice presidents. After serving in Viet Nam, his passions went to history and the pioneers of Arizona. Sterling works on our outside maintenance crew, and uses his military education and experience to nurture our Eagle Scout troops who help us at PCA. Kim Kasper Kim served as our historian this year. She has extensive education and knowledge in historic preservation, and dedicates herself to saving historic structures and advocating for historical buildings in the city of Phoenix. She was elected as a board member to a large historic preservation committee in the city of Phoenix, and brings her talents to PCA as head of the house facilities committee. Val Wilson Val served as our treasurer for PCA. She has been an educator for 25 years, and holds an M.Ed with endorsements in mathematics, theater, leadership, and computer technology. For six years, she has been president of her city s Commission for the Arts, and uses this background to encourage creativity in others.
P a g e 9 Happy holidays 2017 Hello, friends! It s also time to renew memberships. Our dues year is January 1 through December 31. Dues are $25 for an individual membership and $30 for a family membership. We re holding a prize drawing of $25 value at the January Board meeting to include all who renew prior to December 31 what a great opportunity! You may have noticed that we re BACK to the usual website address azhistcemeteries.org! The content is regularly updated so be sure to check in often. If you re on Facebook, you ll find our MOST current information there just look for Pioneers Cemetery Association to like us! Lezlee Alexander Membership Committee Chair - MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION: NEW RENEWAL DATE NAME(S) PHONE ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP EMAIL Membership Categories: Individual $25 Family $30 Organization or Sustaining $50 Donations appreciated $ Membership Application Make Check payable to: Pioneers Cemetery Assoc., Inc. PO Box 33192 Phoenix, AZ 85067 A small convenience fee will be added for credit card purchases. I AM INTERESTED IN BEING A VOLUNTEER! Cemetery Tour Guide Smurthwaite House Docent Gift Shop Volunteer Coordinator Researcher Reenactor Record Keeping Assistance Grounds Beautification Fundraising Special Event Volunteer Grave Marker Preservation Publicity & Marketing Graphic Artist & Designer Grant Writing Newsletter Contributor Other
WE RE ON THE WEB AZHISTCEMETERIES.ORG PCA Officers President: Vivia Strang Vice President: Sterling Foster and Mark Lamm Treasurer: Val Wilson Secretary: Denise Foster Historian Kim Kasper Membership Benefits Free access to research and materials of Pioneer & Military Memorial Park (Cemetery) May attend monthly Board and Membership meetings Free attendance at monthly open house events Free walking map of the Pioneer & Military Memorial Park (Cemetery) Quarterly electronic newsletter Your opportunity to support Arizona history 602-534-1262 pioneercem@yahoo.com Some See a Headstone. We see:.. A person A life History Family Member Pioneer Contribution to Phoenix History Donate today to PCA to save our history! Smurthwaite House: 1317 W Jefferson St. Phoenix, Arizona 85007 PCA Mailing Address: P. O. Box 33192 Phoenix, Arizona 85067