RRHS September/October Newsletter r/september_october_2023.docx
RRHS Newsletter May 2023
The Rio Rico Voice
www.rioricohistoricalsociety.org
Rio Rico Historical Society, PO Box 4201, Rio Rico, Arizona 85648, Veronica Sainz, Editor
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT:Dear fellow RRHS Members,
I am sorry I am not present today at the May General Meeting, as I am on a long trip to Maryland and North Carolina, partly for visiting family and mostly for business.
I would like to give a huge thanks to all Board Members, Museum Committee Members and volunteers that have put an enormous effort to get our new museum set up.
Please give a hand in any way you can to get this project going. It is vital for our future existence. If I don’t see you at the museum, I wish all of you a good summer, enjoying family, friends, travel, and your beloved activities.
I will see all of you at the September General Meeting, if not sooner for a Museum Grand Opening.
All my best,
Helen Serras-Herman Your President
MUSEUM NEWS: Projected OpeningWe are excited to announce the museum will be open to the public late this summer and a “soft Opening” is planned for Historical Society members prior to the public Grand Opening. You will receive specific dates and times as exhibit completion dates are confirmed.
New Exhibit: The Arizona Coronado ProjectThe Museum Committee is thrilled to announce the addition of a new exhibit that is shifting history in unimaginable ways. Renowned independent archeologist, Dr. Deni Seymour has located in our Rio Rico area evidence of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado’s presence here as early as 1539. This electrifying discovery is being verified daily as dedicated volunteers, many from our own historical society, are unearthing artifacts proving this historical presence virtually in our own “back yard”. Our added Az Coronado Project Exhibit will provide fascinating details and photos. We are delighted to be an integral part of this history-altering research and discovery. Major history changing discoveries rarely happen and we are excited to have it happening in our Rio Rico area and lifetime.
THANKS, AND APPRECIATION: The following members continue to volunteer countless hours moving, cleaning, painting and setting up displays and exhibits. Chris Novak and Bill Myers, Museum Committee Co-Chairs
Manny Trujillo, Dan Koskuba, Bob Pattison, Larry Brown, Steve Gastellum, Gerardo Bostick
Special Thanks To:Renee Tossell who has driven to our museum from her home in far west Tucson several times to work on developing and compiling the Docent Training Manual. Thank you, Renee and congratulations, on completing your academic and field requirements for your archeological equivalency degree in April 2023!
Janice Ranck who reliably makes sure we email you all important museum announcements and this newsletter in a timely manner. She finds time from her busy career in Real Estate to provide steadfast assistance when needed. Thank You very much Janice, your assistance is invaluable!
Museum Co-Chairs Bill Myers and Chris Novak thank the following dedicated members who responded to the “All Hands-on-Deck” call for help:
Dean Davis, Steve Gastellum, Dan Judkins, Dan Koskuba, Charles La Rue, Sharon White, Rob White, Carol Novak, Veronica SainzYour response on Monday May 8, has made a huge difference in accelerating our museum opening time-line. Muchas Gracias!
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:
Renee Tossell graduated from Northern Az University with a B.S. Degree in Medical Radiography in 1980 and worked in a number of outpatient Radiology offices and hospitals throughout AZ. She received her Master's Degree in 1987 and achieved twoadvanced level registry examinations in Mammography and Cardiovascular/Interventional Procedures. In 1991, she began working at Pima Community College as a full-time faculty member in the
Radiologic Technology Program. In 2000, she received her Doctoral Degree from the University of AZ. From that time, she worked as a clinical coordinator and a didactic and clinical faculty member. In 2018, she retired as the Director of the Radiologic Technology Program. In April 2023, Renee completed coursework and field work for an equivalency Archaeology degree. She is looking forward to her new endeavors as an avocational Archaeologist in the field and volunteering her time at various historical institutions including the Rio Rico Historical Museum.
Enrique Armando Valenzuela was Born in 1953 in Nogales AZ. He attended the U of A Eller College of Business and received a B.S. and M.A in Management. In 1984 he started his own building construction business and continues to work and manage his business and commercial real estate properties. He worked as a Custom and Border Patrol officer and retired 16 years ago. He and his wife, Martha enjoy traveling to visit their son, daughter and their families in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Adan Leonardo Rodriguez is a lifelong resident of the Tubac -Tumacacori area and attended Rio Rico High School. He is an avid history buff especially as it relates to his Spanish and Yaqui heritage of which he is extremely proud. His research of local family history has uncovered an astonishing possibility. He is conducting research to verify the name of an ancient ancestor possibly buried at the Tumacacori Mission Cemetery. He is excited about this research and has expressed a desire to share his findings with the RRHS when he has completed his research. He is also willing to share information with our RRHS about the rich cultural traditions of his Yaqui ancestors.
Laura De La Rosa is a lifelong local resident and worked in produce accounting her entire career. Her retirement one year and a half ago has allowed her to spend time cultivating her extensive native plant gardens and to care for her treasured animals: one horse, 2 border collies and one cat. Laura enjoys living in the beautiful Tubac area with her husband and many pets and looks forward to participating in RR Historical Society and local community events.
CALL FOR DOCENT VOLUNTEERS:
LECTURE – SPEAKER SERIES:
May 16, 2023 6:00 p.m. We are very excited to about our guest speaker Erick Berg who will speak on “Vintage Arizona, The Growth, Death, ad Rebirth of a Local Wine Industry.”Erik is an award-winning historian and writer with a special interest in the role of science and industry in the early twentieth century Southwest. In addition to contributing to several books on southwestern history, his work has appeared in the Journal of Arizona History, Arizona Highways, and Sedona Magazine. His initial work on the history of wine in Arizona won the Barry Goldwater Award for best overall paper at the 2016 Arizona History Convention
His lively presentation will trace the history of Arizona wine from its earliest origins to the present. Starting from almost nothing in the 1970s, there are now over eighty wineries and vineyards across the state with more starting every year. Despite the youth of the current
industry, there is a long and largely forgotten history of wine-making in Arizona dating back some two hundred years. Topics will include fact and fiction regarding Spanish Colonial winemaking, wine on the western frontier, 19th century Mesa’s infamous ‘homicidal wine,’ the illegal raisin wineries of the Great Depression, and the unlikely band of aspiring winemakers that spurred the modern rebirth of Arizona wine in the 1980s. Some of the wines discussed may be dry, but this interesting and often amusing presentation certainly won’t be.
November 21, 2023 2:00 p.m. retired anthropologist, Becky Orozco, will provide a stimulating talk about the history and future status of Camp Naco, a tent camp of 9th & 10th Buffalo Soldier Cavalry from Ft. Huachuca established in 1911. Their mission was to keep Mexican Revolution hostilities from spilling across the border and in 1919 the US War Dept. made this a permanent installation. It was part of a 1,200-mile chain of permanent military camps along the Texas to AZ border.
Camp Naco was one of only two installations constructed of adobe and the only one still standing. The camp was decommissioned in 1924 but repurposed for a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in the 1930’s. It returned to private ownership in 1950 and is now owned by the City of Bisbee. Come learn about the camps rich history and the recent receipt of an 8+ million-dollar grant to restore this significant historical Buffalo Soldier Camp.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING SCHEDULE:
May 16, 2023- 6:00 p.m.
July 2023 – NO Meeting-Summer Break
September 19, 2023 – 6:00 p.m.
November 21, 2023 - 2:00 p.m. (our only afternoon meeting)
Holiday Potluck: Date and Details TBD
Note: All General meetings are held at the Rio Rico Community Center 391 Avenida Coatimundi unless otherwise noted.
Reminder: Board meetings are held monthly on the 2nd Tuesday of every month except July for summer break. Members are always welcome to attend. Time and meeting locations vary and are announced prior to each meeting.
UPCOMING FALL EVENTS:
Our huge Yard Sale is scheduled for early November. Specific date will be announced. We will be asking for your donations and assistance with the yard sale as plans develop.
Pitch Us a StoryDo you have a story idea about our Rio Rico Santa Cruz County region? It could be about a person or organization who’s doing something interesting, a concern about preserving our community history that might need help. Send your ideas to me, Veronica Sainz, Editor @vfsainz1gmail.com
The Rio Rico Voice
www.rioricohistoricalsociety.org
Rio Rico Historical Society, PO Box 4201, Rio Rico, Arizona 85648, Veronica Sainz, Editor
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT:Dear fellow RRHS Members,
I am sorry I am not present today at the May General Meeting, as I am on a long trip to Maryland and North Carolina, partly for visiting family and mostly for business.
I would like to give a huge thanks to all Board Members, Museum Committee Members and volunteers that have put an enormous effort to get our new museum set up.
Please give a hand in any way you can to get this project going. It is vital for our future existence. If I don’t see you at the museum, I wish all of you a good summer, enjoying family, friends, travel, and your beloved activities.
I will see all of you at the September General Meeting, if not sooner for a Museum Grand Opening.
All my best,
Helen Serras-Herman Your President
MUSEUM NEWS: Projected OpeningWe are excited to announce the museum will be open to the public late this summer and a “soft Opening” is planned for Historical Society members prior to the public Grand Opening. You will receive specific dates and times as exhibit completion dates are confirmed.
New Exhibit: The Arizona Coronado ProjectThe Museum Committee is thrilled to announce the addition of a new exhibit that is shifting history in unimaginable ways. Renowned independent archeologist, Dr. Deni Seymour has located in our Rio Rico area evidence of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado’s presence here as early as 1539. This electrifying discovery is being verified daily as dedicated volunteers, many from our own historical society, are unearthing artifacts proving this historical presence virtually in our own “back yard”. Our added Az Coronado Project Exhibit will provide fascinating details and photos. We are delighted to be an integral part of this history-altering research and discovery. Major history changing discoveries rarely happen and we are excited to have it happening in our Rio Rico area and lifetime.
THANKS, AND APPRECIATION: The following members continue to volunteer countless hours moving, cleaning, painting and setting up displays and exhibits. Chris Novak and Bill Myers, Museum Committee Co-Chairs
Manny Trujillo, Dan Koskuba, Bob Pattison, Larry Brown, Steve Gastellum, Gerardo Bostick
Special Thanks To:Renee Tossell who has driven to our museum from her home in far west Tucson several times to work on developing and compiling the Docent Training Manual. Thank you, Renee and congratulations, on completing your academic and field requirements for your archeological equivalency degree in April 2023!
Janice Ranck who reliably makes sure we email you all important museum announcements and this newsletter in a timely manner. She finds time from her busy career in Real Estate to provide steadfast assistance when needed. Thank You very much Janice, your assistance is invaluable!
Museum Co-Chairs Bill Myers and Chris Novak thank the following dedicated members who responded to the “All Hands-on-Deck” call for help:
Dean Davis, Steve Gastellum, Dan Judkins, Dan Koskuba, Charles La Rue, Sharon White, Rob White, Carol Novak, Veronica SainzYour response on Monday May 8, has made a huge difference in accelerating our museum opening time-line. Muchas Gracias!
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:
Renee Tossell graduated from Northern Az University with a B.S. Degree in Medical Radiography in 1980 and worked in a number of outpatient Radiology offices and hospitals throughout AZ. She received her Master's Degree in 1987 and achieved twoadvanced level registry examinations in Mammography and Cardiovascular/Interventional Procedures. In 1991, she began working at Pima Community College as a full-time faculty member in the
Radiologic Technology Program. In 2000, she received her Doctoral Degree from the University of AZ. From that time, she worked as a clinical coordinator and a didactic and clinical faculty member. In 2018, she retired as the Director of the Radiologic Technology Program. In April 2023, Renee completed coursework and field work for an equivalency Archaeology degree. She is looking forward to her new endeavors as an avocational Archaeologist in the field and volunteering her time at various historical institutions including the Rio Rico Historical Museum.
Enrique Armando Valenzuela was Born in 1953 in Nogales AZ. He attended the U of A Eller College of Business and received a B.S. and M.A in Management. In 1984 he started his own building construction business and continues to work and manage his business and commercial real estate properties. He worked as a Custom and Border Patrol officer and retired 16 years ago. He and his wife, Martha enjoy traveling to visit their son, daughter and their families in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Adan Leonardo Rodriguez is a lifelong resident of the Tubac -Tumacacori area and attended Rio Rico High School. He is an avid history buff especially as it relates to his Spanish and Yaqui heritage of which he is extremely proud. His research of local family history has uncovered an astonishing possibility. He is conducting research to verify the name of an ancient ancestor possibly buried at the Tumacacori Mission Cemetery. He is excited about this research and has expressed a desire to share his findings with the RRHS when he has completed his research. He is also willing to share information with our RRHS about the rich cultural traditions of his Yaqui ancestors.
Laura De La Rosa is a lifelong local resident and worked in produce accounting her entire career. Her retirement one year and a half ago has allowed her to spend time cultivating her extensive native plant gardens and to care for her treasured animals: one horse, 2 border collies and one cat. Laura enjoys living in the beautiful Tubac area with her husband and many pets and looks forward to participating in RR Historical Society and local community events.
CALL FOR DOCENT VOLUNTEERS:
- Interested in the Native, Mexican and Spanish cultures of the Southwest?
- Want to learn more about the Rio Rico area and share your knowledge with others?
- Want to meet new people and give back to the community?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the Rio Rico Museum Docent Program may be for you!
Rio Rico Museums docents lead tours of the museum’s permanent and special exhibits and provide structured and casual experiences for diverse visitors. Docents also greet museum visitors, assist at public programs, and lead activities at family programs. Help share the rich Rio Rico history with local, out-of-town and out-of-state visitors. This is interesting volunteer work in a fun setting for only a few hours a week or month; whatever hours you can volunteer. Please contact Vice- President, Chris Novak, our Welcome New Members Chair and Docent Training Chair at 208-946-1128 to schedule a brief training, which will take place mid-June.
LECTURE – SPEAKER SERIES:
May 16, 2023 6:00 p.m. We are very excited to about our guest speaker Erick Berg who will speak on “Vintage Arizona, The Growth, Death, ad Rebirth of a Local Wine Industry.”Erik is an award-winning historian and writer with a special interest in the role of science and industry in the early twentieth century Southwest. In addition to contributing to several books on southwestern history, his work has appeared in the Journal of Arizona History, Arizona Highways, and Sedona Magazine. His initial work on the history of wine in Arizona won the Barry Goldwater Award for best overall paper at the 2016 Arizona History Convention
His lively presentation will trace the history of Arizona wine from its earliest origins to the present. Starting from almost nothing in the 1970s, there are now over eighty wineries and vineyards across the state with more starting every year. Despite the youth of the current
industry, there is a long and largely forgotten history of wine-making in Arizona dating back some two hundred years. Topics will include fact and fiction regarding Spanish Colonial winemaking, wine on the western frontier, 19th century Mesa’s infamous ‘homicidal wine,’ the illegal raisin wineries of the Great Depression, and the unlikely band of aspiring winemakers that spurred the modern rebirth of Arizona wine in the 1980s. Some of the wines discussed may be dry, but this interesting and often amusing presentation certainly won’t be.
November 21, 2023 2:00 p.m. retired anthropologist, Becky Orozco, will provide a stimulating talk about the history and future status of Camp Naco, a tent camp of 9th & 10th Buffalo Soldier Cavalry from Ft. Huachuca established in 1911. Their mission was to keep Mexican Revolution hostilities from spilling across the border and in 1919 the US War Dept. made this a permanent installation. It was part of a 1,200-mile chain of permanent military camps along the Texas to AZ border.
Camp Naco was one of only two installations constructed of adobe and the only one still standing. The camp was decommissioned in 1924 but repurposed for a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in the 1930’s. It returned to private ownership in 1950 and is now owned by the City of Bisbee. Come learn about the camps rich history and the recent receipt of an 8+ million-dollar grant to restore this significant historical Buffalo Soldier Camp.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING SCHEDULE:
May 16, 2023- 6:00 p.m.
July 2023 – NO Meeting-Summer Break
September 19, 2023 – 6:00 p.m.
November 21, 2023 - 2:00 p.m. (our only afternoon meeting)
Holiday Potluck: Date and Details TBD
Note: All General meetings are held at the Rio Rico Community Center 391 Avenida Coatimundi unless otherwise noted.
Reminder: Board meetings are held monthly on the 2nd Tuesday of every month except July for summer break. Members are always welcome to attend. Time and meeting locations vary and are announced prior to each meeting.
UPCOMING FALL EVENTS:
- We are planning another behind-the-scenes tour of the Amerind Museum to view bynvitation only artifacts from the Palo Parado architectural dig.
- Our next bus tour will be held in October 2023.
Our huge Yard Sale is scheduled for early November. Specific date will be announced. We will be asking for your donations and assistance with the yard sale as plans develop.
Pitch Us a StoryDo you have a story idea about our Rio Rico Santa Cruz County region? It could be about a person or organization who’s doing something interesting, a concern about preserving our community history that might need help. Send your ideas to me, Veronica Sainz, Editor @vfsainz1gmail.com