Centennial Celebration

Prescott is a sentimental little city, celebrating all kinds of anniversaries. For example, just yesterday as I went walking, I discovered that it was The Day for the big 100th year centennial of Lincoln School over on Park Avenue.

Attendees were arriving at every entrance, many well along in years. One lady I chatted with said she was a student at the school in the aught-30s (the same years that I attended several different elementary schools scattered across California, Arizona and Florida.) The oldest one-time student present was 98!

Preparations are made for the Maypole dance that at one time, before the modern culture wars, was a traditional school event. I'm happy to say that I haven't seen any complaints about pagan celebrations. Yet. Because I had an appointment, I was not present for the event; however, there are a couple of quick pictures at the video posted by The Courier.

A modern innovation for the dance -- an outdoor sound system.

The oldest building opened in 1909 when Washington School became overcrowded. Among the architectural features are the wonderful arches.

The south building was constructed in 1930, according to the Sharlot Hall archives, with more classrooms added between 1956 and 1959.

The multi-purpose building dates from 1990. There is yer another smaller building just recently added that sits behind the south building, next to the multi-purpose structure. Yes, I have a picture. No, I couldn't find it. BTW, take note of the great green grassy play area below; this was a project of the school's PTA.

The latest addition took away from playground space, which is now concentrated on the Park Avenue side. Big kids play basket ball and similar games in front of the original building, while little kids use equipment on the south end. Then there's my absolute favorite of the entire playground -- the original granites for climbing and scrambling about.

Those Pesky Rights-of-Way

All right, already. Call me picky, picky. However, today marked the second time that our daily newspaper has printed the same incorrect map. On page 1. Story about Lincoln School's property problem. How do I know? Well, I happen to walk the area frequently, as you may have noted. Examine the map above. Picture yourself in your car, heading straight up Beach street from the back side of the Sharlot Hall Museum to get to Lincoln school.

Oh oh! What have we here? Look what's ahead of you. Even in your SUV, you aren't going to get up this little cliff! Pretty, though. Quite walkable -- there's a well worn neighborhood path. Yes, this is on some maps as part of Beach Street.

Now here's the map with my corrections. See the little stub of Beach? See the "new" street going past the other side of the United Methodist Church over to Gurley? MapQuest online has corrected its map to this configuration. On the other hand, my 2003 edition of the Yavapai/Coconino Counties Street & Road Atlas still shows the map just as the Courier printed it.

By the way, that isn't the only Prescott street found on some maps that in the real world goes over a cliff. Likely, the problem is that city rights-of-way do exist and the map makers mistake them for actual thoroughfares. No way. They should get out on the land more often!

As for the Lincoln School property problem -- I'd say that the city should quietly deed its "strip of land" over to the school and be done with it. After all, it did pass the whited-out portion of Beach Street to the adjacent land-owner, I'm told. And, after all, city had apparently lost the piece of land which the school has used for all these years. Isn't there a term for land ownership that passes as a result of long-term use? Oh, yes -- squatters' rights.

Sycamores in Winter

Ariaona sycamores may well be the most beautiful trees in the state. Their press, though, doesn't compare to, say, cottonwood/willows or aspens or any evergreen. On the other hand, they were well appreciated by earlier Prescott residents and city fathers. Take a look around the Sharlot Hall Museum grounds or Mt. Vernon Street or Park Avenue to see some of the city's wonderful, huge old sycamores. Here's an example, along the street in front of Lincoln School (above.)

Did you notice that the trees still retain some of their rust-colored leaves? That's one distinguishing feature of sycamores in winter. I noticed another on a recent walk -- there were some very white splotches on the trunks, visible roots (above), and limbs (below.)

I suppose that there must have been a lot of peeling bark recently, to produce those white patches. (But I didn't see any bark on the ground -- wonder where it went and when...)

Another distinguishing feature of the winter sycamore: plenty of pom-pom seed balls that resemble Christmas tree ornaments.

Apparently the Lincoln School sycamores have a history. The plaque above is modest in size and easy to miss. However, it suggests a civic battle between the road builders, with visions of widening a major thoroughfare, and neighborhood preservationists, led by one Herschel Linsky. (No, The Google has never heard of Mr. Linsky. I enquired.)

The trees stretch from the south end of the school ground along Park Avenue...

...north to the Beach Street intersection, where the buses load and unload school kids.

This view, looking north, shows how one group of trees was rescued by creating a special lane for what my daughter calls the "Mommy brigade" of cars waiting for children every afternoon. Note the resulting jog in Park Avenue at this point. By the way, I believe that Coronado Street used to go through what is now the middle of the school yard. So: yes, changes are made -- but once in a while, a few handsome trees are saved from the planners' zeal.

Welcome, visitors from the Festival of the Trees. We have some wonderful trees here in the mountains of Arizona; I've written about several of the different kinds at one time and another. For a look, just click on the label "trees" below.

Update: The Fates Made Me Look Foolish

Nothing like finding out that you were wrong or wrong- headed or that the Fates had singled you out to make you look foolish. (I prefer the latter explanation.)

Take the playground at Lincoln School. One week I walked by everyday and the gates were locked. I reported this and whined. Some time later (about two weeks ago) I pass by -- lo and behold, folks are frolicking in what had been forbidden territory. Ditto this evening when I went out for my walk. Some of the gates were still locked -- but the main entrances were open to the public. Bravo!


The same Fates whispered in the ears of auto stylists in Detroit and Tokyo at about the time I complained about the dull plumage of modern cars. "Do something to make GrannyJ look dumb and unobservant," they said.

Guess what -- suddenly the streets are full of all shades of yellow plus an occasional bright orange vehicle for good measure. A few pastel blue and green cars are now showing up, too. Not only that, but I have seen a handful of assertively two-toned SUVs, just like in the good old days.

And imagine my real embarassment when I looked more closely at the daughter's Subaru -- it, too, is a two-toner.

There are times you can't win!


Later Update: I finally did what I should always do -- consult the Google. And found: 24.1% of cars sold in the past year were silver, 16.7% black, 12.7% blue. Gold was only 2.6%. As to what's ahead:

Others believe that greys -- deeper, darker metallics -- will eclipse the lighter silvery shades. "Grey offers more dimensions, from warm to cool," says Leighton. "It's a fresh look and an alternative to silver."

And blue is gaining fast. "There is a whole trend in blue and purple," says Webb. Of the 21 new shades his company is currently developing, "at least half are blue or have some evidence of blue in them."

Imprisoned Playground

Grump. Note picture above. It's a lock. It's to keep kids on one side (the outside) and playground equipment on the other (the inside). For as long as my grandchildren have visited me, they've used the playground at Lincoln School.

Not this year.

For some reason, officialdom has determined that not only is this to be a "drug-free" campus, but also a child-free one as well. At least in the summer, when a nearby playground is most needed. Need I suggest the L-word?

Neighborly Theme Copy?

When it was first built, that office building at the corner of Grove and Gurley didn't particularly impress me as an outstanding edifice. It still doesn't.


However, an eagle-eyed neighbor spotted one feature that is a saving grace: look at that funny little blip of a peak in the roof line. Then take a look at the top of a Lincoln School building, which is just a block away. If you let your imagination work a little, even the windows bear a certain near resemblance.