“Those Early Days” - Book Review
One of the most valuable sources of detailed information on Sedona’s local history was complied through the efforts of a dedicated book committee comprised of members of the Sedona Westerners hiking club (www.sedonawesterners.org.) in conjunction with the Sedona Public Library (www.sedonalibrary.org). First published in soft-cover in 1968, “Those Early Days” became a hardback edition later that same year with an enlarged hardback edition following in 1974. All editions were printed by the Verde Independent newspaper in Cottonwood. This invaluable book has been out-of-print since 1974 and remains an extremely collectible volume. I am fortunate to own all three editions. My prized first edition in soft-cover is signed by Earl Van Deren, early pioneer cowboy, and includes a lengthy hand-written letter to a friend.
The book committee consisted of Allen L. Bristow, Lewis H. Goddard, Ellsworth M. Schnebly, and Albert E. Thompson, long-time Sedona residents and pioneers. Rollie Houck, owner of the oldest, continuously-operating camera shop in Sedona which is still located in Uptown Sedona, was also instrumental in the book’s creation. Rollie was fascinated with early Sedona history and took it upon himself to record (via single-track audio tape) many of the old-timers’ stories. His recordings included Albert E. Thompson, Laura Purtymun McBride, Howard Wingfield, Don Bell, Fletcher Fairchild, and Gail Gardner. Well-versed in photography and printing, Rollie also reproduced the historic photos used throughout the book.
“Those Early Days” is a compilation of pioneer tales, local facts, and first-person narratives. If you’ve ever wondered how certain red rock formations were actually named, when and where the first public telephone was located, how Sedona cowboys got their hands on whiskey during Prohibition, and How Henry Scheurman discovered a new vocation by growing tons of grapes along lower Oak Creek and selling them to ethnic families in Jerome for use in the production of traditional wines, search for a copy of this rare book. The book has dozens of historic photos that truly set the atmosphere for the stories. The Sedona Public library has reference copies available for reading at the library and if you want your own a personal copy, do a search on the internet and you might find a copy surfacing for sale every now and then. It’s definitely the most comprehensive and interesting book on Sedona history.
If you’re the entrepreneurial type and have the time and financial resources available to sponsor a significant project that would enhance Sedona’s historical record, give me a call or write me an email (928.300.7777 or sedonainformation@gmail.com). I’ll connect you with the appropriate folks who can initiate the project of reprinting “Those Early Days”. It has been suggested for many years that a new version could include updated historical commentary, many more photos obtained with permission from the Sedona Heritage Museum (www.sedonamuseum.org ), and perhaps additional “old-timer” interviews to make it the supreme Sedona history resource. It could make a huge difference.