b'Sponsored by The Buffalo Chip in Cave Creek REAL COUNTRY FOLKSkull ValleyCultural History and ValuesBy Wendy Fostiak-Amos, Designated BrokerThe small communities of the Weaver Mountains region are each unique in their own way. There are many diverse and individual experiences and opportunities for residents, businesses, and visitors. To learn more, stop by my office, Top of the Hill Realty, 22760 S SR 89, Yarnell, Wendy Fostiak-Amos, Designated Broker or call 928-671-1894. Proud member of Local First AZ.Bob Pearson, Vice President Skull Valley T he remarkable diversitydepartment, and the Skull Valley Historical Society.Historical Society with old Post Office of individual humanThe key though is in the people themselves and theirboxes now in the Section House collection.experiences gives uscultural value of commitment to volunteering theirBob came to Skull Valle when he was 5 many facets of human culture. Some facets are woventime, their energy and their resources.years old.His father, Kenneth L Pearson, more tightly together into the broader culturalgot a job as a telegrapher.fabric of towns and cities. The energy in the urbanWith a smart fire station next to the Post Office, experience is almost self-perpetuating as those bornthe Fire Team Four Volunteer Fire Association is aRetiring in 1989 having been a federal into one cultural island create newnon-profit organization supportedrefuge wildlife manager, Bob beganfacets themselves, interacting withby annual membership dues andhis volunteer service on the Board ofother islands and producing newfundraising. Imagine that, a non- the Society and became Vice Presidentgenerations and a new expansivegovernmental organization ofin 1990.urban social fabric which reflectvolunteers dedicated to providing cultural values. But all culture hasemergency medical services and fireBob and his bride, Patricia of 59 years still roots of which we should try toprotection to their community. A finereside on the family farm in Skull Valley understand and the roots can stillexample of cultural values in livingwhere he tends his orchard.be found if you look a little.action. Youll want to know more so visit skullvalleyfire.weebly.com.In small rural communities where peoples passion isPast the fire station cross over the preserving and teaching, bothrailroad tracks and turn left onto OldBut you dont have to wait till May to get your first by living example and withSkull Valley Road youll come to theglimpse of Skull Valley. Both the Fire Team Four intent, the history glorious andDepot Museum on the grounds of theVolunteer Fire Association and the Skull Valley ignominious, upon which theelementary school. Railroads played aHistorical Society have fundraising events on present is built can be found.major role in the West and especiallySaturday, April 13. One such place and community,in Skull Valley when the first rail lines located in rural Yavapai County,were built in 1894 and where historyThe Society is hosting a program by Monte Crooks, is Skull Valley, Arizona.is preserved and presented by thea first-person living history interpreter, titled "Who Skull Valley Historical Society.Are the Pioneers?" at 2:00pm in the Community Hall With the foothills of theon the school grounds and Fire Team Four Volunteer Bradshaws to the north andOrganized in 1968, theFire Association will host their 3rd Annual Car Show Weaver Peak and Rocky Boy of the WeaverSkull Valley Historicalthe same day!Mountains to the south, turn westerly fromSociety is supported by Arizona State Route 89 onto Kirkland Valleydonations and fundraisers.Yes, theres a lot of history here, some romanticized Road. Follow the road to the one and onlyWith an original missionand some we may even prefer to forget. But, history stop sign, then right on Iron Springs Roadof preserving the 1898is the foundation for the cultural values of the present heading toward Prescott. Cherry Creek Depot, theand the harbinger of our future.Take the time and Society also has purpose tofind your way to your Skull Valley. When you get to that stop sign, youll seeCollect, record, illustrate, the railroad crossing of the Burlingtonpreserve and tell the stories Northern and Santa Fe railroad. The railof the early and ongoing line and Skull Valley Wash will parallel the road tohistory of this area of Western Yavapai County. Such is Skull Valley along your left. Take in the breadth of thethe passion of dedicated volunteers! drive to Skull Valley and see cultural roots of lifestylegenerations of experience still in contemporaryIt\'s people and places like these that both provide existenceranches, homesteads, farming, smallthe history and roots of culture, as well as its values holdings, cottonwoodsyou can almost see theand they exist all over the Walker party in 1863 and 1864 riding through,countrysideyou justsearching for gold. Then look to the hills where firstneed to look for them. peoples are said to have had fortifications used during their struggles with each other leaving many deadThe Skull Valley Historical and giving a name to the area as Bakawaego, or SkullSociety Depot Museum Valley as we know it today.has a regular open schedule from Memorial Day to The 2000 census showed about 700 people livingLabor Day on Sundays here. Todays population is just around 500. So howfrom 2pm to 4pm and can does such a small rural community sustain itself?provide interpretive group Well, there are community and cultural buildingtours as well as live programThe rail line and Skull Valley Wash will parallel the road blocks that, over the years, people have establishedpresentations. Youll want toto Skull Valley along your left. Take in the breadth of the and sustained: A modern but small elementaryknow more about this too so school, a US Post Office, churches, small store, a firevisit skullvalley.org. drive to Skull Valley and see cultural roots of lifestyle.ArizonaRealCountry.com April 2019 41'