Page 4   Own Arcadia ’ s Continued on page 6 T he Camelback Fruit Belt ran through Chicago Avenue (now 44th Street) to Scottsdale Road and beyond. It was the early 1900s and the agriculture was rich with undisturbed beauty. Development began to change the Arcadia neighborhood in the mid-1950s. Patches of land were sold off and landowners realized the worth of what they possessed. Neighborhoods were formed as builders cut up sections of the land, designed streets and lots around the abundance of fruit trees. Between 1950 and 1959, 2,259 homes were built in Arcadia proper. In 1957 Gail Lee’s parents bought a home in a newly formed community just off the canal. At that time, her yard had over a dozen citrus trees. Now, over 50 years later, Gail still lives in her childhood home, as she eventually purchased it from her parents. “We used to have horses and kept them at Camelback and 40th Street,” said Gail. “We would ride them along the canal all the way to Scottsdale Road, which was a dirt road and all farmland.” Gail continued, “I would ride to Lute's drugstore on Scottsdale Road, tie up the horse outside and go in for a Coke.” May Bruner moved to the area in 1964. As a registered nurse and teacher at ASU, May was looking to move from an apartment to a home. This neighborhood called out to her. Penny Willson was quite comfortable in her Maryland home. “We had no reason to move,” said Penny. But a chance visit to Phoenix, while her husband was doing business in 1969, had them looking at the area as more than just a business expedition. She and her husband Jim looked the city over and had great interest in the beauty of Arcadia. They even took time to look at a few homes. A beautiful tree, swing and swimming pool completely sold them on a home on a quiet street just off Osborn Road. “We looked at each other in surprise and said, ‘We’re moving.’” “We’ve never looked back, after all this time, and regretted it. Never,” said Penny. Their neighborhood, just over five streets in the Hacienda del Campo subdivision, would prove to be all they would ever need, and more. “Penny and May are the homesteaders,” said Eugenia Sutcliffe, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1994. “Oh yeah,” laughs Penny, “Homesteaders. We came over here in our covered wagons.” There is truth however in this statement. Penny, after moving from Maryland, realized they were living far from home as well as the friends and family they loved. She began working on ways to establish connections in the neighborhood. Back home the houses were closer together and were without separation. “The walls and gates between the houses took some time to get used to,” said Penny. “Back home the kids would run straight through each others’ yards.” Penny would have to find other ways to get to know the neighbors. A neighborhood list was developed with names and contact information of the people who lived on the streets. And an idea for a Christmas gathering was established to help fill the holiday hours once spent with close family on the east coast. Penny’s husband, Jim, would tape invites to the front doors. All these years later a neighborhood holiday gathering still occurs. It’s a tradition. There is also a monthly Bunco game, an Oktoberfest party, Halloween traditions and a block By Amanda Goossen Photo by NTK Photography D p t Dan Neighborhood The Bond 480-941-8954 9:30 – 5:30 Monday – Friday • 9:30 – 5:00 Saturday • 5625 East Indian School Road, Phoenix www.oneposhplace.com Visit our Retail Showroom Also offering Award Winning Interior Design by Paige Bailey & Associates, Inc.