Saving Our Story
Pat Spoerl, Co-Founder, Oro Valley Historical Society
The idea for a historical society was born in 2003, when an ad hoc citizens committee formed to promote acquisition and preservation of open spaces and historical sites in Oro Valley.
This group of citizens helped convince the Town to include acquisition of the Honey Bee Village Archaeological site and Steam Pump Ranch in the Pima County bond package of 2004. The bond passed!
About the same time, Henry Zipf – grandson of George Pusch, the founder of Steam Pump Ranch in the 1870s – discovered a vast collection of Pusch family documents in an old trunk that his mother had saved. Zipf donated these unique artifacts of OV’s earliest days to Jim Kreigh, the Town Historian (a volunteer position).
Jim, Pat Spoerl, and Dick Eggerding were already members of the Land Conservation Committee, so Jim proposed that they establish a historical society. This was motivated in part because Steam Pump Ranch was about to become annexed by the Town, and the Ranch included historical materials – like those found in the trunk – that were an invaluable source of information about OV’s earliest settlers.
These three individuals developed a mission statement, bylaws, and articles of incorporation to found the OVHS in 2005. Without Jim Kriegh and Henry Zipf, Pat believes that the Oro Valley Historical Society might not exist today.
The Society’s primary focus for many years has been on Steam Pump Ranch, the “historic heart” of Oro Valley. It is the only historic site in Oro Valley listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the early years, the Society launched several activities to promote awareness of OV’s early story:
- a speaker program
- tours of Steam Pump Ranch
- heritage gardens at the Ranch
- regular exhibits at the Library
- fundraising events
These great volunteer-driven programs continue today!
The Society was established about the same time as the Town’s Historic Preservation Commission, on which Pat also served. (While the two are easily confused, they are in fact distinct entities which serve different aspects of historic preservation in OV.)
Pat has 27 years of experience in public service leading cultural and natural resources programs for the USDA Forest Service. She applied her training in anthropology/archaeology to effectively develop Cultural Resources and Tribal Relations programs, and lead Outdoor Recreation, Wilderness, Land Adjustment and Special Uses programs. Since retirement from the Forest Service in 2005, she has been active in community historic preservation programs.
“Overall, my interest in the Oro Valley community and willingness to make contributions in fields where I have expertise relate to planning and environmental issues, historic preservation and cultural resources, and interpreting our history for residents and visitors,” Pat explains.
“I believe that awareness of our history and our environment are important in making progress to a sustainable future – learning from the past. The more awareness and appreciation of these elements the better decisions a town, city, nation can make.”
Questions & Answers — Pat Spoerl
1. What is the difference between the Oro Valley Historical Society and the Town’s Historic Preservation Commission?
They are completely different entities serving different purposes in historic preservation.
The OV Historical Society is a citizen-based organization whose mission is “to promote research, preservation, education and dissemination of history related to the Greater Oro Valley area”.
The Society is a non-profit 501c(3) that relies solely on volunteer contributions and grant funding. It seeks to encourage and expand local involvement in historic preservation. Telling the stories of Steam Pump Ranch and giving tours is one of the Society’s priorities, however the Society also has a regular speaker program, changing exhibits at the Library and the Pusch House Museum, curation of collections, and educational programs for students.
The OV Historic Preservation Commission is appointed by the Town Council and advises Town staff and Council on matters affecting existing and planned preservation matters within the Town.
Oro Valley is a “Certified Local Government”, a program sponsored by the National Park Service to provide technical assistance and small grants to communities who want to preserve important places of their past. To qualify as a Certified Local Government, a local government must have a Historic Preservation Commission to advise on historic matters.
2. Any local sites that you’ve “got your eye on”?
Oro Valley has seven historic neighborhoods that were established before 1974. Increasing awareness of the first residential developments and changes over the past 50 years applies directly to our local history.
I would like to see an increased emphasis on the history at Steam Pump Ranch so visitors to the Ranch can easily learn about early ranching and the two families who made it their home for over 130 years.
3. What do you like most about being an archaeologist?
I am always learning. Whether it is prehistoric archaeology or early history, uncovering stories of the past is always fascinating.
I like preparing educational and interpretive materials for public venues — such as Steam Pump Ranch — to help create a greater awareness of our past and promote support in preserving significant places in the Oro Valley area.
I believe that awareness of our history and our environment are important in making progress to a sustainable future – learning from the past. The more awareness and appreciation of these elements the better decisions a town, city, or nation can make.
4. What is the hardest thing about being an archaeologist?
I don’t think there is anything particularly hard about it. Answering questions about Indiana Jones and where my next dig will be is the stereotype!
Most of my career was spent in public service. I knew that community involvement and public opinion are important in order to achieve successful outcomes — even though sometimes this involvement and opinions may become quite contentious.
5. How much of your work is/was at a desk, and how much in the field?
In my first years with the Forest Service, I spend quite a bit of time in the field conducting archaeological surveys and documenting historic cabins and other buildings. The intent was to avoid disturbing these places during agency resource management projects.
In more recent years, my responsibilities included recreation, wilderness, and environmental programs — in addition to cultural resources — so more of my time was spent in planning and budgeting responsibilities.
6. You split your time between Missoula, Montana and OV. What’s that like?
Beginning in 2011, my husband and I spent 5 months of each year in Montana (the summer months!). I love the forests and rivers and “big sky” country. Learning about northwest tribes and visiting special tribal places has been very special for me. In an attempt to simplify our lives, we sold our Montana house last Fall, so I will be spending more time in Oro Valley again.
7. You’ve done a lot of important work in “collaboration processes for public and tribal involvement in National Forest planning.” Are there many sensitive interfaces between USFS land and tribal land close to OV?
There are “sensitive interfaces” between federal lands and traditional tribal lands throughout Arizona. Traditional tribal lands extend far beyond the boundaries of Indian Reservations. Tribes continue to document oral histories, stories of their elders, and conduct research where their ancestors lived. Such places and traditions may conflict with land ownership (i.e. federal vs tribal land).
Communication and collaboration are critical to successful relationships and resolution of land use differences. Progress is being made by both agencies and tribal governments in working together to reach mutually acceptable resolutions.
Closer to Oro Valley a large copper mine proposal in the Santa Rita mountains southeast of Tucson has been opposed by numerous groups and individuals. These include the Tohono O’odham Nation, who consider the land and its plant and animal resources as part of their ancestral lands.
Rock art sites in the mountains surrounding Oro Valley have symbolic value to several Arizona tribes.
8. Did you work with Mayor Winfield at Coronado National Forest?
Mayor Winfield worked for Saguaro National Park while I worked for the Coronado National Forest. Our paths crossed occasionally regarding environmental and cultural matters.
At a committee meeting for the 2016 General Plan he sat down near me and said “I have your old job at the Forest Service”. He had transferred agencies.
9. What does the future hold for historical preservation in OV?
I am pleased to see the interest and excitement about the Town’s 50th anniversary. Oro Valley does not have a strong collective memory of its past. I felt that its memory as a community was nearly lost when Town founder Jim Kriegh died in 2007. However, I am confident that a “sense of place” is developing in the Canada del Oro Valley and will continue long after the 50th anniversary celebrations.
;>)