Gilbert, Arizona

Acknowledgments

W e wish to thank all those who have assisted in the gathering of pictures, maps, and historical material to create this pictorial history of Gilbert. This project has given us the opportunity to remember items of historical significance that we have forgotten over the years. A great thank you goes to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center for their sponsorship of this publication. Without their financial assistance, the material would have continued to lie quietly in the archives of the Gilbert Historical Museum or in files in town hall.We have often guessed or assumed we had reliable information, but because of the financial aid from Mercy Gilbert we have been motivated to research and record correct dates and times of historical events. The Gilbert Historical Society and the Gilbert Historical Museum have furnished most of the material presented in this book and have even more historical artifacts in their collections. Kayla Kolar, the Executive Director of the Gilbert Museum, has been more than an assistant in creating this book—she has been an editor, a source of encouragement, and a powerful force in the completion of the work. Ann Wilson, a museum volunteer, has spent the past several months scanning pictures and pulling negatives and original pictures to showcase the visual history of our town.Without her efforts, this work would not be available. Marji Scotten, president of the Historical Society, has thrown her support to this mission. Carol Knollmiller provided the chronological approach that has been used in this history.Thank you also to the Gilbert Historical Society Board of Directors. We acknowledge the Town of Gilbert for all their assistance and support. Sue Roberts of the Public Information Office for the Town of Gilbert has provided copies of ordinances,

maps, and additional material to substantiate our history.The town has also provided pictures for our use. Georganne Hallock and her ancestors (from their personal histories) have also contributed pictures. Suzanne Clevenger provided a number of the pictures of the new subdivisions in Gilbert. Jerry Hyman also gave photographic assistance. Thanks to Boyd Hughes, who furnished us with a painting of his father, Pat Hughes, one of the early cowboys of Arizona. Danette Turner provided our community with a great book on the history of the Gilbert Police Department. She helped us by providing pictures from her book, From Star to Shield, to use in this work. Other editorial assistance has been given by M. James Snarr and by another friend, Jack Joyce. Mr. Joyce has read every word of the text and made corrections and suggestions to simplify understanding throughout the book. There are so many others who have assisted with individual contributions to the history of Gilbert that we simply cannot name them all. Please accept our thanks and grateful appreciation. Finally, in the process of reviewing the incred ible resources we have on hand at the Gilbert Museum, it was clear that the founders of the Gilbert Historical Society are to be honored. People like John and Zelda Freestone, John and Ola Sawyer, John and Delia Allen, Morris and Trudy Cooper, Rose Divelbess, Ruth Gieszl,Ann Pace, Elizabeth Hagren, Ethel Mastin, Otto and Edna Neely, and so many others who created the Gilbert Historical Museum gathered and preserved the artifacts we have today. Thank you to everyone who has preserved the history of our town.