The Early Years of the Patagonia Public Library: 1957-1976
by Lisa Waite Bunker
Timline
| 1853 | Gadsden Purchase adds southern Arizona to the Arizona Territory |
| 1856-61 | Fort Buchanan active |
| 1857 |
350 mining claims within 15 mile radius of current site of Patagonia Copper Queen Library in Bisbee founded |
| 1867-73 | Fort Crittenden active |
| 1880s | High point of cattle industry |
| 1882 | NM&A RR line from Benson to Nogales to be built; will stop in town |
| 1891-93 | Severe drought; many ranchers leave |
| 1896 | Town founded as “Rollin” by Rollin Rice Richardson, a cattleman and land speculator |
| 1899 |
Residents of Rollin petition the Postmaster General for a Post Office; Santa Cruz County created by Territorial Legislature; Rollin/Patagonia |
| 1900 |
Census: population 133; 67% Hispanic, 32% Anglo, 1% Chinese Permission for Post Office granted (March 31) RR starts work on depot building (April) John Cady’s Patagonia Hotel opens (June) |
| 1910 | Census: population 585 |
| 1912 |
Arizona statehood Schoolhouse destroyed by fire |
| 1913 | Bond election: $10,000 raised to rebuild schoolhouse |
| 1914 | Patagonia Elementary School reopens in mission-style building designed by Omstead of Nogales |
| 1920 |
Census: population 757; 58% Hispanic, 42% Anglo Telegraph service starts |
| 1922 | Postwar depression hits Patagonia |
| 1924 | Circle Z Ranch started by Zinsmeisters, the first dude ranch in the area |
| 1926 | Patagonia Union High School opens |
| 1929 | Heavy rains in June & July wash RR bridges out east of town |
| 1930 | Census: population 710; Santa Cruz Cty: 9,684 population |
| 1931 | RR tracks from Patagonia to Nogales abandoned |
| 1940 |
Santa Cruz County census: 9,482 population (population of District ASARCO reopens mines |
| 1943 | Nogales Public Library founded |
| 1947 | Women’s Club of Patagonia buys Cady Hall (formerly Patagonia Hotel) |
| 1948 | Town of Patagonia incorporated; “new era of stability” |
| 1950 | Census: population 700 (population of District 3: 1,569)
Santa Cruz County pop: 9,344 (73% Anglo, 22% “from Mexico,” 2% Negro, .2% |
| 1953 | Virginia Horrocks, former Post Librarian at Ft. Huachuca offers 6-700 books to start a Town Library; offer withdrawn 8 months later |
| 1956 | Library Services Act passed by Congress |
| 1957 | ASARCO closes the mines (Nov.) Patagonia Public Library founded; located one room of Cady Hall (Nov./Dec.) |
| 1960 | Census: population 540 Museum of the Horse opens |
| 1962 | RR abandons the Benson to Patagonia line
Library’s first financial support from Santa Cruz County ($200.00) |
| 1963 | Library gets first typewriter |
| 1964 |
Old RR depot moved 45 feet back from highway and renovated; now Town Library Services and Construction Act passed by Congress |
| 1966 | Richardson Park started along old RR right of way |
| 1968 | Patagonia Lake created 10 miles south of town New Librarian, Howard Taylor |
| 1969 | Nature Conservancy buys “The Grove” in Sonoita Creek at east end of town |
| 1970 | Census: population 630 Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Wildlife Refuge placed on Registry of National Landmarks Library gets new table, 8 folding chairs, heater, and new paint |
| 1971 | Library books put in “proper” author order |
| 1972 | Howard Taylor resigns; Jessie Abele is new Librarian |
| 1973 | Library receives first Library Extension Service grant ($1,000.00) |
| 1979 | Patagonia Women’s Club votes to restore “the clubhouse” |
| 1980 |
Census: population 980 (65% Hispanic, 34% Anglo, 1% other) Library open 15 hours a week: 2-5pm, Monday-Friday |
| 1985 | Museum of the Horse closed and moved to New Mexico |
| 1986 |
Library Board of Trustees creates By-Laws Carol Soth hired as Librarian |
| 1988 |
Library opens on Saturdays Maintenance work reveals serious failure of parts of the building’s |
| 1989 |
Cady Hall Restoration Committee forms; planning begins Carol Soth resigns (May) |
| 1989 | Women’s Club deeds Cady Hall to the Town of Patagonia (June) |
| 1990 |
Census: population 923 (51% Hispanic); Division 3 pop 2263 (27% Hispanic) Patti (Cassidy) Reynis, Librarian (a ”local writer”); library hours increase: M-F 10-6, Sat. 10-2 |
| 1991 | Patagonia Library 11th in Arizona per capita circulation |
| 1993 | Sales tax of 8.5% the highest in state of Arizona |
| 1994 |
Town Manager, Clerk and Treasurer, Terry Piper-Moreno sentenced for Abbie Zeltzer hired as first full-time Librarian, taking over from Patti |
| 1995 | Population estimated at 945 people; service area is 74.8 % Anglo, 24.7% Hispanic |
| 1996 | Library circulation: 20,332 items |
| 1997 |
Cady Hall renovations completed (April) Town checks bounce (Sept.) Mayor Shirley Treat suggests closing the Library |
| 1998 |
Librarian’s salary discontinued (Feb.); Library Friends start raising Public access computer terminals made possible by grant money (March) |
| 1999 | Abbie Zeltzer resigns; Amy Popadak new Librarian (Oct.) |