Tim Ehrhardt
Recent stories
- Ten occurrences that had an impact
- February 1, 2012
- With the Arizona Centennial less than a month away, there seem to be a lot of lists out there, some of which are extremely interesting. So, I thought I’d give it a shot, with 10 occurrences in the past 100 years that have had a major impact of this area.
- Early Hunter Creek history
- January 11, 2012
- Near Christopher Creek sits the Hunter Creek Ranch subdivision. This gated community has its own water and sewer system, and a certified 100-year water supply. But how did it get its name? Here’s a look at it, including a look at one of the forgotten early settlers of this region. A survey was done in 1905 of some of the Christopher Creek area. Isadore Christopher can be found where the heart of the Christopher Creek area is today, but when looking at where Hunter Creek Ranch is located one finds the Williamson name.
- The big snow of 1967
- December 29, 2011
- “White Yule Dream Nightmare” was one of the headlines that the Dec. 19, 1967 Arizona Republic carried. The state had been hit by multiple winter storms at that point, starting with one on Dec. 13. By Dec. 19 isolated areas were really struggling. The Arizona Republic had this to say about the Payson area that day. “PAYSON: Gila County sheriff’s officers fear for residents in resort area 20 miles north. May take weeks to open back roads where many elderly retirees are stranded. Groceries are being hauled into isolated sections. The area is low on butane fuel, but electricity, out in spots for up to three days, restored. Two of Payson’s three fire engines are pinned under a collapsed fire station roof and officials are concerned over the new high school gymnasium, where the ceiling has cracked under 3 feet of snow.”
- On my bookshelf
- December 7, 2011
- With Christmas coming, I thought it might be a nice time to go through some of the books that I keep readily at hand. Perhaps you have someone in the family who loves history and are looking for some ideas. Here’s a sampling of what’s on my shelf. The basic books There are some basic history books on this area that I think everyone should have on their shelf and that I certainly have on mine. They are: “Rim Country History,” published in 1984 by the Northern Gila County Historical Society — A great overview of the area with a lot of individual family histories. The committee of historians behind this book did a great job utilizing what they had and there is a lot of great information in here. A must-have if you love area history.
- Thanksgiving stories and more
- November 23, 2011
- Yet another Thanksgiving is upon us and I thought it might be a nice time for some Thanksgiving stories from the past, as well as a look at a few resources that I am thankful for as a historian, and which you might find useful. Let’s start by taking a look at a story from Pleasant Valley. Thanksgiving at Ellison Ellison, Ariz., Dec 2, 1899.
- Respecting Don Dedera
- November 9, 2011
- When researching history you tend to come across a lot of previous writings. There is a wide variety of quality in these writings. Along the way, certain writers stand out. One of the ones that I’ve really come to respect is Don Dedera. Let’s take a look at Don’s terrific career. “Payson: mountain town, supply base for half a county, a mixture of pioneers and dudes — a town with a gas station on one corner, a ranger station on another, a motel on another, and a sawmill in its middle. Payson never was very pretty, and may progress never move the horse pastures off Main Street.”
- Bear stories
- October 26, 2011
- Fall has arrived in Rim Country and the hunters are out in force. Exotic animals have been on the loose recently in Zane Grey’s hometown of Zanesville, which makes it seem like a fitting time to look back upon some stories of one of the bigger animals around — the bear.
- Center of town has moved east
- October 12, 2011
- History has taught us that town centers have a tendency to change, both from a geographical standpoint and from a political power point of view. Here’s a look at how the center of Payson and the surrounding area have evolved since early times. When the region was first being settled by white settlers, west of today’s Payson was the hub of activity. If you take Main Street west, past the sewage plant, you’ll ultimately top out on a hill. It feels like a different world, and indeed it was. Welcome to the first origins of the area.
- Zane Grey’s lasting impact
- September 21, 2011
- Zane Grey was an American author who wrote an extensive amount of fiction centered in the west, and who also traveled the world, telling stories of the exotic places that he visited. Amongst the places he spent a great deal of time in was the area around Payson, an area that did not have main line roadways during the time he spent here. Traditionally, fall was a time for Grey to come and hunt in this area, while also gathering material for his novels. Thus, it’s a good time of year to look at his lasting impact on the region.
- Why are we here?
- September 7, 2011
- When I was in college at Arizona State University, a professor that I had put it best: Why are you here? The thought worked then and it works now. Why are you here? What brought you to Payson and the surrounding area? Moreover, what in Payson’s past laid the groundwork for you to be here right now?
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Question of the week
Do you think the community should be involved with the selectioin of a new School Board Superintendent?
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