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Ash Fork Historical Society welcomes Trimble at open house
Arizona State Historian will return Feb. 24

Ash Fork Historical Society Director Fayrene Hume (left) enjoys a moment with Arizona State Historian Marshall Trimble and his wife Vanessa Logas.

Ash Fork Historical Society Director Fayrene Hume (left) enjoys a moment with Arizona State Historian Marshall Trimble and his wife Vanessa Logas.

The Ash Fork Historical Society held an open house Dec. 14 featuring guest speaker Arizona Historian Marshall Trimble. Trimble entertained a crowd of about 50 people as they dined on a large Christmas brunch of homemade food.

Trimble attended Ash Fork High School and said he still keeps up on the sports news and how the Spartans are faring.

"I am really impressed with the new football field," he said. "When I looked at the smooth, green field I thought, 'my goodness - grass like that doesn't grow in Ash Fork.' Then I knelt down and touched it and realized it was artificial turf."

Trimble enjoys helping historical societies preserve their heritage. He talked with Chino Valley Historical Society President Kay Jones, and members Bobbi Wicks and Harvey Jones in reference to their concerns with preserving historical sites at the Del Rio Springs - the site where Arizona was declared a U.S. Territory in 1863.

"We need young people to carry the torch," Trimble said. "Some day the history of their hometown will be very important to them. I remember thinking Ash Fork was huge, when I was young, and it was only one block. When it burned in the '70s, the railroad made a deal to keep the water train going and bring water from Del Rio Springs, in Chino Valley. My dad was an engineer on the Peavine Railroad."

Trimble left school in Ash Fork before graduating in 1955. When he addressed the class of 2007 this past June, he said he was pleased when Superintendent Gary Spiker and the graduates presented him with an "honorary" high school diploma.

"It now hangs proudly on the wall in my office at Scottsdale Community College," Trimble said.

He is the director of southwest studies at SCC. Last September, the United States Marine and Arizona Air National Guard presented Trimble with an honorary commission in the guard. He now has the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Trimble is also a combination cowboy singer/storyteller who has has performed with Rex Allen, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Lee Lewis and the Oak Ridge Boys. Trimble has an impressive list of entertainment appearances and publications.

He is author of "In Old Arizona" and a CD just out, called "Old Songs They'll Never Plow Under," and a new book that will be ready for signing at the Ash Fork Historical Society on Feb. 24. The book signing begins at 2 p.m. at the museum, located at 901 W. Old 66 in Ash Fork.


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