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March 10th, 2010
Sam Hughes Neighborhood Association
Tucson Arizona
How did Himmel Park (and the library) get its Name?
By Carolyn Classen
Himmel Park is named after a pioneer Tucsonan Alvina Himmel Edmondson and her family.
Alvina Himmel Edmondson and husband Charles S. Edmondson came from New Orleans, LA to Tucson in 1897 and homesteaded
on 160 acres bounded by E. Speedway and Tucson Blvd.
They had 4 daughters: Catherine, Grace, Alvina, and Frances. The couple divorced in 1927 (and Charles later
died in 1942 in Phoenix.) Alvina Himmel sold part of their
homestead to the City of Tucson in 1934 or 1935 with the
stipulation that the site be named after the Himmel family,
in memory of her parents Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Himmel.
Alvina Himmel Edmondson died at age 78 on Jan. 11, 1948
at her redwood home, 2625 E. 1st Street (no longer there)
on the land she had homesteaded for 51 years. She was
buried at the South Lawn Memorial Park according to her
obituary at the Arizona Historical Society, 949 E. 2nd St.
Tucson. Her daughter Catherine (died 5/18/73) lived
in that same homestead home in Sam Hughes till the early
70's.
By the way, Himmel is the German word for
"heaven."
Himmel Park time line: 1934/35 part of Himmel
Edmondson homestead land sold to City of Tucson, 1936 pool
built by WPA -Works Progress Administration, 1944 City
Council purchased more land (3 more blocks) to expand
Himmel Park, and start planning for a library, which was
finally built in 1961 under Mayor Don Hummel.
See "history" link from Himmel Park branch
library site: http://www.library.pima.gov/locations/himmel/about.php#history
Information obtained from research I did at Arizona
Historical Society, from Sam Hughes Neighborhood file at
Himmel Park branch library, and the Himmel library website.
I also checked the Tucson Citizen and Arizona Daily Star
archives, and found a copy of a 1942 Tucson Citizen photo
of this pioneer woman and her original home in the Sam
Hughes Neighborhood.
Quality of Life Survey
by Gabriela Head and Tania Capin.
Crime reduction, prevention efforts, and connecting with
neighbors are just some of the things that Sam Hughes
residents perceive as important in maintaining a good
quality of life in our neighborhood, according to data
reported in the Sam Hughes Neighborhood Quality of Life
Survey.
Click here  to read
the 46-page report compiled by two Sam Hughes residents
which outlines research findings, a situation analysis and
recommendations on how to foster more social connectedness
within the neighborhood. Click here for a summary
and survey facts.
(Editor's note: There was a
presentation of the survey on October 28, 2009 from 6:00 PM
to 7:30 PM at the Hardesty Midtown Conference Room. Click here for more information.)
Development of the Former Don Mackey
Site
Ground was broken in October 2009 for an elderly housing
complex at the city owned site of the old Don Mackey
dealership at Broadway and Plummer Completion is
anticipated in eight to fourteen months. Lizard Rock
Designs, project architects, have provided this updated project description along with a site plan .
Warning- Site Plan may load slowly!
NEW - Special Offers for SHNA
Members!
by Rick Bell
SHNA Membership Committee is actively
working with merchants and businesses to make available Money Saving Deals and Discounts for Association
Members. For a current list of participating
merchants/businesses and program information click here for "Deals &
Discounts".
You will need your Certificate of
Membership to take advantage of these special
offers.
Certificates of Membership: By now our
paid members should have received their Certificate of
Membership (blue postcards) recently mailed. If you would
like us to verify or update our records, please send
written notification to SHNA, c/o Membership, PO Box 42931,
Tucson, AZ, 85733.
Don't miss out on these special offers... Become
a SHNA Member by completing the membership form
(available in our newsletter or click here for a membership
form) and mail it with your payment to the PO Box
listed on the form. You will receive a Certificate of
Membership postcard and can start saving $$$$ by taking
advantage of these special offers.More special
offers are coming soon.
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