MAR 27, 18 .. INTRODUCTION TO .. SUNNYSLOPE (PHOENIX, ARIZONA) HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Once upon a long-time-ago, it was from the Autumn of 1963 and into the Spring of 1964, my first wife, our two sons (ages 4 and 1-1/2 years) and I lived way out (what was then) the Black Canyon Highway in the Sunnyslope Neighborhood located in the northern part of Phoenix, Arizona, 

Not only during this February 12th, 2018 to date visit to Phoenix, but also during our visit here from November 28th, 2016 to February 5th, 2017, I 'longed' to find where it was that my family and I lived back in the 1963/1964 time period.

Enter the one, the only, Gullible. 

Back in Mongolia, in November of 2015, Gullible (quite by accident) acquainted me with the term Trip Advisor. 

Translation : 

"Cap let's go find and eat a meal at Millie's Cafe here in Ulaanbaatar." 

"What is Millie's Gullible? Where is Millie's? How do we find Millie's?"

"I found Millie's on Trip Advisor."

"What did you call it?"

"Gullible! We are leaving Ulaanbaatar and flying to Hong Kong in two days. We don't have time to find, let alone visit, Millie's Cafe."

Long story short, Millie's Cafe was put-to-rest! We did not even attempt to find Millie's.

However the word Trip Advisor was now, thanks to Gullible, firmly implanted into my mind. So five months later, in April of 2016, I went-online and I found and I then explored Trip Advisor. I found Millie's Cafe listed under Ulaanbaatar Restaurants. Then I actually went to Millie's Cafe and found it was excellent. So I joined Trip Advisor and, in early May 2016, I posted a review of Millie's Cafe just-for-Gullible.

And? I got 'hooked-on' Trip Advisor.

And now you have, the rest-of-the-story about Trip Advisor.

Moving right along here at the pace of Molasses-in-January, a week or two ago, while surfing Trip Advisor, under Things To Do in Phoenix Arizona, quite by accident, I stumbled upon an amazing attraction here in Phoenix.

THE SUNNYSLOPE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

I immediately went to this attraction on Trip Advisor. In  researching it, I found Sunnyslope. I then was able to discover that our 1963/1964 home was literally only a short distance, a stones-throw, from our Travelodge Motel off I-17 at Cactus Road. We were at 27th Avenue and Cactus Road and the 1963/1964 home was just 9 blocks South down from 23rd Avenue and Cactus Road!

So out and off Patti and I went to find my long ago home.

And? 

Find it we did. 

Fifty four (54) years ago.. 

Wait a minute, have I got this correct, can it really be 54-years from October 1963 to October 2017 and counting? At that long ago time, the entire Phoenix metropolitan area was still very young, and we lived in the modest, but quite adequate home, you see below.

Patti says : "Its pronounced Loopen. It's a flower Cap."

Cap says : "Its pronounced Lu - PINE. Hard on the word PINE."

Below are five photos of the street and the home on Lupine Avenue here in North Phoenix, Arizona.

The home is a modest home.

It served us well during our stay in Sunnyslope.

I will not bore you here with any more of my personal nostalgia. Suffice it to say that living here in Phoenix was an important step in both my personal and in my professional life. The world was my oyster and it stretched out ahead of me. 

One last aside, I gradutated from high school in Royal Oak, Michigan, in 1954, one year after the Sunnyslope High School was established in 1953. 

My high school in Royal Oak was established in the year 1913, forty years before Sunnyslope High School. Michigan was admitted to the Union in 1837 as the 26th state. Arizona was admitted to the Union in 1912 some 75-years later as the 48th state. Just an example of the fact that our nation progressed from East to the West.

In the following Post, we will look in detail at THE SUNNYSLOPE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Thanks for your interest in this slice-of-life.

Cap and Patti

The below link will take you to our review of the museum.

http://bobbacaps.blogspot.com/2018/03/mar-27-18-sunnyslope-phoenix-arizona.html

MAR 27, 18 .. SUNNYSLOPE (PHOENIX, ARIZONA) HISTORICAL SOCIETY

If you have not yet read my introduction to this Post, you may want to go back and read it.

http://bobbacaps.blogspot.com/2018/03/mar-27-18-sunnyslope-phoenix-arizona_27.html

THE SUNNYSLOPE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

EXTERIOR PHOTOS

We will begin with several photos showing the exterior of the building that houses the historical society.

As you may be able to see above, it fronts East Hatcher and it is easily seen as you come upon it.

On the east side of the museum, to the left of the above photo, stands a 1940's era restored home. I will come back to the '40s Home after reviewing the Museum.

Looking from the '40s home back out to the street.

The museum is on the extreme left edge of the above photo.

SUNNYSLOPE CENTENNIAL COURTYARD

In the back of the museum, is the Sunnyslope Centennial Courtyard. The courtyard was dedicated on April 16, 2011. 

Below is a close-up photo of the above plaque.

It is one very pleasant courtyard. 

Looking at the '40s home (left below) and the museum (right below), through the fence in the center (see the green umbrella) you can see the Centennial Courtyard located behind the Museum.

We now go into the Courtyard.

In the foreground of the above photo, you can see some of the memorial and fund raising bricks out on the patio. Below are two close-up photos of the bricks. Patti and I were proud to purchase a brick and join the society. Hopefully, before we leave the area, our brick will arrive for us to see.

Isn't this just so very pleasant.

During special events at the museum, potluck and buffet meals are enjoyed out here in the courtyard. 

Looking back out the fence. The '40s home is in the background on the right side of the below photo. You can also see the memorial bricks to the right.

SUNNYSLOPE HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The time has come to go inside of the museum.

A memorial to the lady who started it all, Connie Kreamer.

As you enter the door (on the left below) into the Museum, you find a very nice selection of gifts.

Looking back at the gift shop. On the left below are two of the historical displays.

Since we are here, we will just look back at the above display.

Continuing straight ahead, after the above brief detour, you find a very nice presentation of literature and a sign-in-book for guests and visitors.

SUNNYSLOPE GALLERY

When you walk into the museum, you enter the Sunnyslope Gallery.

In the lower left foreground, on the table in the next two photos, you can see the above literature. 

In the background to the left below, is the cream colored memorial I showed above to Connie Kreamer. To the right of her photo is the memorial of the founder of Sunnyslope, Mr. William R. Norton. His memorial is shown in more detal below.

To the extreme left in the above photo is a small meeting and administrative area that you can see in the next photos below.

The young lady needed to get-back-to-work, so I waved to her and back-to-work she proceeded to go!

Mr. William R. Norton founded the Sunnyslope Neighborhood here in North Central Phoenix, Arizona.

NORTH GALLERY

As you have seen above, and will refresh your memory below, the front part of the museum is called the SUNNYSLOPE GALLERY.

Connie Kreamer's memorial in the SUNNYSLOPE GALLERY is on the extreme left both above and below. 

To the rear in the below photo is the NORTH GALLERY.

As you look directly ahead, in the far right center in the above photo, you are seeing the Sunnyslope High School Varsity Letter Sweaters. Classes of 1959 (Ray) and 1961 (Gail).

Nice, really nice, when people donate personal items to a museum for others to enjoy.

The above photo will orient you to the below photos showing the West wall of the museum.

In the background you can see the name PEOPLE'S DRUG STORE. This building was once a Drug Store. It was purchased and moved from its original location here to 737 East Hatcher Road.

It was the very first drive-in drug store in the State of Arizona.

Below you see the East wall.

Today's Rhetorical Question : What happened to the church.

OK. By this point-in-time, I hope you have a good feeling for the two galleries in the museum, the SUNNYSLOPE and the NORTH GALLERIES.

Just in case you may have dozed-off during this Post, below are two photos to refresh your memories.

Let me tell you, The Sunnyslope Historical Society has one very energetic and active group of people behind the scenes.

Patti and I have attended two of their Saturday activities. Below are a few photos of one of the events.

Are you ready? The stage is set.

Lights. Camera. Action.

A very brief synopsis of the presentation.

Here is what it was all about.

Beautifying the above and below banks of the Arizona Canal.

"Now that Captain, beautifying the Arizona Canal, is some project."   
/s/ Crocodile Dundee

The time has come to take a look at the '40s House.

THE '40s HOUSE.

The following photos show exterior views of THE '40s HOUSE.

As you can see in the first photo below, the house thinks of itself as the 1945 HOUSE.

But the staff at the historical society think of it as the '40s HOUSE.

It is directly straight ahead in the first photo below.

The Sunnyslope Historical Society Museum building is on the right in the below photo.

The parking lot is full because I snapped these photos on the Saturday that the Arizona Canal beautification presentation and buffet lunch were underway in the main museum.

It is so very special to see the support by the Sunnyslope Community of the museum and the historical society.

"Dad?" .. "Yes '40s House?" .. "Even I think that you have shown enough photos of my exterior. Let's show some of the  inside of me."

We will begin with the living room.

Bobbie Kraver is currently the President of the Sunnyslope Historical Society.

Am I the only one who grew up in the 1930s / 1940s with a radio like this in our living room?

The Kitchen.

Amazing. People were somewhat smaller back-in-the-day.

Good Day and Good Night to you '40s HOUSE.

Cap and Patti .. Proud to be Alaskan members of the Sunnyslope Historical Society.

For more information you may click onto the below links.

http://sunnyslopehistoricalsociety.org/about-us/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g31310-d6539163-Reviews-Sunnyslope_Historical_Society-Phoenix_Arizona.html