By Al Bates

On the evening of March 13, 1997, widely scattered reports came in from across Arizona—including Prescott, Prescott Valley and Dewey-Humboldt—of mysterious lights crossing the sky.  This phenomenon, now popularly called “The Phoenix Lights,” is still a topic of controversy.

Jessie Ruth Gilpin illustrates the life of a genuine pioneer. She came to Arizona with her family in 1923 when she was nine years old.   Her parents, Orville and Essie Pownall, founded the town of Paulden, naming it in memory of their son Paul.  Paulden consisted of a U.S. Post Office, a grocery store, café, a gas station, garage and cabins.

For almost 60 years, Kay Hill Benedict has used her tireless energy effectively for the benefit of others.  Benedict is the daughter of Arizona pioneers, married to the son of Arizona pioneers, and has passed on her legacy of community service to three sons and their families.  Her inspired leadership in her community and statewide can best be appreciated by dividing her contributions into three interest areas.

Nancy Burgess’ love of Arizona history began at an early age.  A native of Phoenix, her passion for the state’s past began in elementary school.  I grew up with Arizona pioneers and was interested in their stories”, she said.

Heidi J. Osselaer received her undergraduate degree in history at the University of California, Berkeley, and earned both her master’s degree and doctorate in United States history at Arizona State University. In the years thereafter, she has firmly established her preeminence in historical scholarship respecting the pioneering women who contributed significantly to the political, economic and social development of the Arizona Territory and its transition to statehood and beyond.

Mary Jayne Peace Pyle is a native of Globe, Arizona.  Like our founder, Sharlot M. Hall, Mrs. Pyle grew up on a ranch.  And also much like Miss Hall, Mrs. Pyle heard stories as a young girl about the past (in particular from her grandmother) that captured her young imagination.  Although she became fond of these thrilling tales, she soon learned that careful research would be needed to capture the historical record accurately.

Reba Wells Grandrud moved from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Phoenix in 1982.  For the next 30-plus years she has been involved in historical research, writing and publishing, as well as serving on a variety of boards and historical societies all over Arizona.  She holds degrees from the University of New Mexico in education, Southwest history, and history of the American West.

By Ken Edwards

Before the “Great Fire” of 1900 in downtown Prescott, a three-story stone and brick hotel stood on the southwest corner of Montezuma and Goodwin streets.  Generally known as the Scopel Hotel, it was officially the Grand View House.

By Ray Carlson

Moving the Territorial capital back to Prescott in 1877 increased exposure for the Prescott Free Academy.  That school had been built a year earlier to replace the town’s one room schoolhouse. A good-sized two story multi-room brick building with a bell tower, it was the most impressive building in town. As a result, offices for the Governor, Territorial Secretary and Chief Justice were created on the Academy’s second floor.

Benson-based Winifred “Winn” Bundy, a historian, preservationist and archivist of Southwest literature, has been named the Sharlot Hall Award honoree for 2015, and will be presented it at the Western History Symposium, August 6, 2016.  As a small child, Winn was drawn to books – her first love! – and would follow grown-ups around with book-in-hand demanding it be read to her.