Front Page History
A look at the top stories from the archives of the Winslow Mail

20 years ago

In 1985, Western Savings Bank donated its building located at 212 Kinsley to the Navajo County Historical Society to use as the Winslow Western Museum (now, Old Trails Museum). The bank's chairman promised Western Savings would match public funds raised to restore the original façade.

55 years ago

Winslow moved from the 13th largest city in Arizona to number 10. The U.S. Census released this week in 1950 listed Winslow's population at 6,492 up from 4,577 in 1940.

Navajo County's population grew from 25,309 to 29,262 in the previous decade. Phoenix was still the largest Arizona city in 1950 with 105,003 people. Tucson was second (44,395), followed by Mesa (15,940), Douglas (9,270), Yuma (9,095), Glendale (8,187), Tempe (7,647), Flagstaff (7,615) and Prescott (6,734).

76 years ago

Full-time two-way passenger service began July 9, 1929 from Winslow on the Transcontinental Air Transport Air-Rail System. On July 8, two eastbound planes landed from Los Angeles. Col. Charles Lindbergh flew "The City of Los Angeles," which had been christened by silent movie star Mary Pickford, into Winslow. He then took controls of "The City of Washington," the first eastbound flight out of Winslow. The "Washington" carried Amelia Earhart, an executive with the TAT. There were a total of 14 passengers on the two Ford Tri-motor planes.

On July 9, the "Washington" landed in Winslow as the first westbound plane officially beginning two-way service. A total of 16 passengers, mostly businessmen and women and reporters, left on two planes bound for Los Angeles.

On July 10, the first eastbound passengers arrived at Penn Station in New York City at 9:46 a.m. (EST), four minutes ahead of schedule and about 48 hours after leaving Los Angeles.

83 years ago

It appears the first citywide Fourth of July celebration may have taken place in 1922. The American Legion took the initiative to create a huge celebration for Winslow.

Activities ran all day and included a parade, steer riding contest, a 25 mile auto race, 49 gun salute, baseball tournament, six round boxing match and fireworks. The story includes a statement that Winslow residents were tired of Flagstaff stealing their holiday thunder.

In 1921, a city proclamation declared July 4th was "Citizenship Day." But most Winslow residents were in Flagstaff for an annual baseball tournament.

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