April 6, 2016
Grand Canyon Chapter DAR Announces Completion of Stoneman Trail Historical Marker Project
From l., Jean Howell, chapter publicity chairman; Carmen Wendt, chapter recording secretary; Kandy Wagenbach, chapter special projects grants chairman; Jill Hanon, chapter DAR project patriot chairman; Norma Patterson, chapter member; Leonard Marcisz, Historian, McDowell Mountain Regional Park; Marian Hulka, chapter women’s issues chairman; Katie Paulsen, chapter honorary regent.
Scottsdale-chartered Grand Canyon Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) commemorated the finished restoration of the Stoneman Trail Military Route Marker Saturday, March 19 at McDowell Mountain Regional Park . The original marker was placed by the Arizona State Society DAR October 25, 1997 during the administration of state regent Patricia Godber. Mrs. Godber also served as Grand Canyon DAR chapter regent.
The Stoneman Road was an important conduit between 1870 and 1890 for shipping supplies from Fort Whipple in Prescott to Fort McDowell near present-day Fountain Hills. The route, of which only minimal traces remain, was named after General George Stoneman. On April 10, 1890, Fort McDowell was vacated by the U.S. military and became Fort McDowell Indian Reservation.
From l., Marian Hulka, invocations; Kathy Shields, chapter regent; Patti Godber, Honorary AZ DAR state regent and honorary chapter regent; and Kandy Wagenbach, honorary chapter regent and chapter special projects grants chairman.
Leonard Marcisz, historian for McDowell Mountain Regional Park who spoke at the rededication, said, “The importance of the Daughters of the American Revolution lies in preserving the human experience behind American history and honoring the values that make our country great.”
Grand Canyon Chapter was awarded a grant by the National Society DAR in the amount of $1,550 for the marker restoration. Funding for the project was made possible through the sponsorship of the chapter.
Work on the project entailed replacing the original wood marker with marble, retaining the original bronze plaque. Kandy Wagenbach, chairman of Grand Canyon Chapter DAR’s Special Grants Committee, said, “I want to thank the National Society DAR officers and chairmen who made the Special Projects grant available to our chapter, the Arizona State DAR officers for their support, and chapter members for their role in the project’s rededication.”
Front row, from l., troop leader and scout, Boy Scout troop 118—Salt River district; Kandy Wagenbach, chapter special projects grants chairman; Patti Godber, honorary AZ State DAR regent and honorary chapter regent; Susan von Hellens, chapter vice regent. Back row, from l., Leonard Marcisz, Historian, McDowell Mountain Regional Park; Marian Hulka, ceremony invocations; Jill Hanon, chapter DAR project patriot chairman, Terri Mott, AZ State DAR vice regent and honorary chapter regent; and Georgia Hier, AZ State DAR Historian.
The DAR grants program was started in 2010 to support projects in local communities which promote the society’s mission of historic preservation, education and patriotism.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890. Any woman over the age of 18 who can prove lineal descent from a Revolutionary War patriot is eligible to join.
To learn more about today’s DAR, visit www.DAR.org. To apply for a DAR Special Projects grant, visit www.DAR.org/grants.
For information on Grand Canyon Chapter DAR visit http://grandcanyon.arizonadar.org.
