Wanted!

Wanted.....your recipies! We are putting together a Vail Preservation Society Cookbook. Elizabeth Spiker and Charlotte Kimbel are the committee chairs for this project. Recipes can be emailed to Vailpreservation@gmail.com or mailed to Vail Preservation Society, P.O. 982, Vail, AZ.
We look forward to your entries!

Autumn Run 4 Miler

Tagg Running Events is presenting the inaugural "Autumn Run 4 Miler". It will be held on Sunday October 28th. The purpose of the run is to raise funds for the Vail Preservation Society.
In addition to the four mile fun run for the adults, there will also be a one mile kids run. If you want to come on out and run for Vail, then head on over to the sign up sheet right over here.
Hope to See ya all there!

The Old Spanish Trail

The Old Spanish Trail and The Old Spanish Trail

A Tail of Two Trails with Vail Connections

Our ‘OST’ winds through the desert, called by a patchwork of names until the 1950’s, it begins at a quiet corner along Broadway Rd., and ends at the entrance to Colossal Cave Mountain Park. Called alternately, Old Spanish Trail, Freeman, MacDonald, and Pistol Hill Road, it is not very old and not Spanish. It was often a topic of conversation at Vail poker games held by local ranchers and businessmen. They were joined by a young entrepreneur, Joe Maierhauser, who was eager to improve the road to Colossal Cave. Mr. Jackson, also one of the card-playing group said that it should all be called ‘Old Spanish Trail’, and it stuck.

Joe encouraged the locals to work together to pave the road. In the mid 1950’s it was $2,000.00 to pave a mile. The County would match $1,000.00, and pave one mile. The catch was that the ‘miles’ could not be contiguous! Joe would also visit the grader operator, encouraging him to put a slight crown in the long, winding ribbon of road so that it would be ‘pavement ready’. Even Jack Daniels got involved. Given now and again as a gift to the operator, it helped ‘pave’ the way! The first section paved on OST was from Saguaro National Monument east one mile. By about 1958, the scenic byway was paved, one ‘non-contiguous’ section at a time; although, towards the end of the process the County was convinced to pave adjoining sections.

The other Old Spanish Trail passed through Vail, via Highway 80. It was actually the name given by a tourism association formed in 1915 to promote business along the all-weather, southern route traversing the country from Saint Augustine to San Diego. The project was put on hold during WWI, but was finished in 1929. The organization was quite successful until the completion of I10 in the 1960’s. When you visit the Vail School District Office along the frontage road, you are driving The Old Spanish Trail.

In the late ‘50’s, Joe Maierhauser was in the local chapter, they met at the Pioneer Hotel. His proposed signage was adopted for the entire route. Attractions purchased two of the distinctive porcelain on metal conquistador signs; one for eastbound traffic, the other for westbound. Only two are known to be in existence, one is on display at Colossal Cave Mountain Park.

J.J. Lamb, The Vail Preservation Society, vailpreservationsociety@gmail.com

Joe Maierhauser, Oral History, 12-’00, CCMP

OST Website

OST Pamphlet, 19?

Help Save Vail's Heritage

The Vail Preservation Society (formerly the Vail Preservation Committee) has a new name and new challenge for the community!

-EASY WAY TO HELP SAVE VAIL ARIZONA'S HERITAGE!-

County Officials are compiling a list of items to be funded by a proposed 2008 County Bond Election. Officials must pare down a wish list of projects that totals about $3.2 billion to around $1 billion. The exciting part is that we made the list under Cultural and Historical Resources!


The Vail Preservation Society is asking that you read the following information and consider supporting the following to be funded through the County’s 2008 Bond Election:

A Preservation Easement for the Old Vail Post Office between the tracks to assure that Vail Arizona’s Heritage will be preserved in perpetuity for all future generations. (HP 23 /District 4)

Letter of Support for Vail Area Historic Sites

[Date]

Dear Conservation Acquisition Commission,

1. My name is [first and last name], and I am writing to ask your support for HP 109, Vail Area Historic Sites: Old Vail Post Office and Santa Rita Shrine in District 4. (Formerly HP 23 Old Vail Post Office Preservation Easement).

Include the following:

2. Your profession, community interest, volunteer stuff etc.

3. The area of the Vail, Rincon Valley, Rita Ranch, Corona de Tucson, Tucson, etc where you live. (Please include the your contact info at the top of the letter)

4. Why Historic Preservation is important to you.

5. Old story/memory of the Old Vail Post Office/Shrine of Santa Rita if you have one.

6. What regional benefit you see from having the Old Vail Post Office/Shrine restored:

Examples-please include what you think is important as well as your original thoughts: Available to everyone in the state of Arizona. Easy drive for all residents of Pima County. Increased Tourism, Increased Economic benefit to Vail and all of Pima County, Educational Opportunities for all of Pima County’s Schools, Gateway to Colossal Cave Mtn. Park, Saguaro National Park East, and Trailheads in the Rincons etc. Gateway to Tucson for visitors from South-Eastern Arizona and Eastern USA.

7. How you would like to see the Old Vail Post Office used once it is restored (Welcome, Information Center, Educational Etc.).

8. What you are willing to contribute to the process. (If you can do anything)

9. Please include a recent picture of yourself or your family

10. One page letters are most effective!

11. Please send your information via email to rinconvalleyis@hotmail.com or snail mail to The Vail Connection at 13105-2 E. Colossal Cave Rd. Vail, AZ 85641 or you can drop the information off at The Vail Connection (between the Tracks in Historic Vail Arizona Tues-Sun. 9am-5pm).

We need bodies for support! Please try to commit yourself to attending the meeting on August 23rd 2007 2:00pm-4:30pm-Downtown at the Manning House - 450 W Paseo Redondo

We can carpool!

Directions with 1-10 construction:

Take 1-10 West to 29^th Street Exit/ Exit at 29^th St/ Continue on the Frontage road to Congress St- Turn Right and take Congress East into downtown Tucson. At the first stoplight after the frontage road, take a left turn onto Granada heading North. Go two blocks. The first street, Alameda has a stoplight. The next street is Paseo Redondo. Make a left turn on Paseo Redondo heading West.

The Manning House is located at the end of Paseo Redondo behind the circle of palms. Follow the entrance drive on the left of the building to the complimentary parking located on the West side of the Mansion.

From Town

Heading West into Downtown Tucson on Broadway

Head West on Broadway into downtown ending up on Congress, a one-way street heading West up to Interstate 10. At the last stoplight before reaching the Interstate, take a right turn onto Granada and head North. Go two blocks. The first street, Alameda has a stoplight. The next street is Paseo Redondo. Make a left turn on Paseo Redondo heading West.

The Manning House is located at the end of Paseo Redondo behind the circle of palms. Follow the entrance drive on the left of the building to the complimentary parking located on the West side of the Mansion.

PLEASE RSVP IF YOU INTEND TO ATTEND THE BOND MEETING AT THE MANNING HOUSE

For more information about this future bond election planning process, please visit the website at www.bonds.pima.gov or call (520)740-8450