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Recent Articles from Mike Miller
Al Sieber
When the great scout, Al Sieber, was killed in a construction accident near Roosevelt Dam, a headline read: "Famous scout who escaped a thousand deliberately aimed shafts of death, a victim of a mere accident." The irony of Al Sieber escaping decades of hard Arizona living was evident.
Guarding the castle
Montezuma Castle near Camp Verde is an enigma. The great Aztec chief Montezuma would never have seen the structure on the cliff walls. It certainly is not a castle, but merely secure living quarters for a long-gone people.
The Bankhead Highway
In 1922, there were 14,000 cars in Maricopa County with more than 8,000 cars being owned by Phoenix residents.
The prowl of the ‘Velvet Tigress’
Leading up to Halloween in 1939, Phoenix was enthralled with the first of several escapes by a female prisoner newspapers delighted in describing as the "Trunk Murderess," "Tiger Woman," "Blond Tigress," "Velvet Tigress" and "Mad Killer."
City-county building
At the end of October of 1929, a $1.5 million (approximately $18.7 million today) structure, described as "...an inspiration for better government and a symbol of progress and prosperity," was dedicated at Central Avenue and Washington Street in downtown Phoenix.
Arizona life circa 1907
In 1907, the territory of Arizona had fewer than 200,000 residents. However, there seemed to be a number of interesting characters that kept the local newspapers busy. In Tucson, "...a jury of 12 good citizens" decided that cowboys and miners coming into town had two hours to remove their weapons.
Phoenix baseball hit crossroads in 1950s
In the mid-1950s, the future of baseball in Phoenix seemed to be on the line as the city was trying to purchase Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Allerton Cushman and his wife owned approximately 10 acres around what was then called Phoenix Municipal Stadium at Third and Mohave streets south of downtown Phoenix. The 100 Club owned the Phoenix Senators that played at the stadium.
The short-lived Papago Saguaro National Monument
Shortly after statehood in 1912, the Phoenix and Maricopa County Board of Trade began an effort to have what is now Papago Park declared either a national park or a national monument. Originally, the committee recommended the creation of a "National Cactus Park" just like Yellowstone National Park, the Yosemite National Park and the Mount Rainer National Park."
Admission Day
Admission Day is a nearly forgotten day in the history of Arizona. Sept. 26, 1864, was the date "men, by organizing and beginning work, brought American government to the newest unit of America."
Water: Feast and famine in early Phoenix
Irrigation helped make Phoenix an attractive place to live for many of the pioneers who were heading west to California in the 1800s. Mrs. Columbus Gray started toward California with her husband in 1868 in a wagon train from Arkansas.
John C. Frémont
People have always come to Arizona for a new beginning or to reinvent themselves. John C. Frémont, "The Great Pathfinder," was no exception.
The curious death of the ‘Father of Arizona’
Charles D. Poston was born in Hardin County Kentucky on April 20, 1825. At age 12, he was apprenticed to the County Clerk's Office for seven years, after which he studied law and was admitted to the Bar.
