By J.J. Lamb
Home is a mosaic of comfort, safety, familiarity, understanding, and belonging. Defining the pieces, tangible and intangible, of that mosaic is an important part of building a strong community. Our stories, local history, lore and special places help us connect to each other, find our way in a changing world, and understand the place we live and the people whose lives and intentions shaped it.
With the support of Arizona Humanities, and building on the 2018 Voices of Vail documentary film, the Vail Preservation Society is working with 70 wonderful students, and the staff at Old Vail Middle School, to create stories and art that explores the meaning of home in Vail. Through this project, these middle school students will become placemakers: the storytellers and artists who share our past and inspire our future. Over the next few months, Mr. Newton’s 8th grade Literacy Class and Ms. McMorrow’s Advanced Art Class will be sharing stories in word and art that connect them to “home.”
“Those Christmas Gifts” and the Vail School’s Special Party by: Carissa Cox and Olivia Janton
It’s the holiday season in the small town of Vail, Arizona in 1932. People all around the town are getting ready for this special Christmas party. Every year there is an annual Christmas celebration at the Vail School, but this year the Putnams are helping out too! The Putnams are a wealthy family who moved to Vail not too long ago. They purchased the old Monthan Ranch, renamed it, and now are the proud owners of Rancho Del Lago.
The Putnams are bringing over a large Christmas tree for the Vail school children! A real pine tree! It is most likely from Mt. Lemmon. Many others have already brought gifts, decorations, wreaths, and candies. These donations are from Mr. and Mrs. Putnam, Mr. and Mrs. R. Jelks, and others from the community. Most of these people own ranches and are wealthy compared to most community members. All of the parents of the children are thankful for the Putnams and all of the others who are helping bring special treats, presents and supplies for the party.
The party is going to be at 8:00 PM at the Vail school. The students will sing Christmas carols and act in plays like “Those Christmas Gifts,” and “Aunt Sabriny’s Christmas.” There is also a man by the name of Frank Stock who has dressed as Santa Claus. All the children were very excited to open the gifts that were given to them from the kind community members. For many this will be their only gift.
As Santa Claus is handing out gifts Margaret Putnam walks into the room and sees that some children don’t have any gifts yet and asks them where they put them. They say that Santa Claus didn’t give them any. So, she goes and asks Miss Lottie Trotter, one of the Vail teachers, where the gifts are? “Well, they never got any because we ran out of gifts,” Lottie says.
Vail Christmas program c1970.
So, Margaret hurries to get some gifts for the children. She comes back with beautiful dolls and toy trains, plus a piece of candy for every boy and girl. All of the children and their parents are so thankful to her for bringing such sweet things for them all to enjoy. The children scatter around the school to play. The girls dance their dolls around as the boys suck on their candies and play with their toy trains, sometimes even crashing into each other’s trains.
A half hour later, the children get ready to put on a show for everyone at the party. Children gather on the school’s small stage, carols are sung, poems recited and plays enjoyed by all of the proud parents and community members who are gathered together. The Vail Christmas party was successful, everyone was happy, and filled with joy throughout the event. This party brought the whole town together. It also helped local community members get to know and meet new people, including the Putnams, and welcome them to Vail.
Authors’ note: We chose this topic because we wanted to know more about how Vail people interacted with each other and what they would do to bring everyone together.
Placemakers Through Story is possible through the support of Arizona Humanities, The Vail Voice, Vail Unified School District, Old Vail Middle School, Vail Preservation Society and project volunteers.
