The Coconino sun., 1927-04-01
Los ANGELES BUILDING TO STEAL COLORADO r.
ARIZONA PIONEERS WILL HOLD
ANNUAL REUNION AT PHOENIX

Days of the long ago will be lived
over again when the pioneer men and
woman gather for their seventh an
nual reunion, April IL and 13.
Pages of history will be turned
back to frontier days as the hardy
old timers, joined in a great two-day
jollification, recount the hardships
and privations endured in the struggle
to found a new empire.
The annual reunion of Arizona
pioneers is more than just a gathering
of men and women-it is the re-
creation of pioneer stage by the hun
dreds of players who figured so pro-
mineptly in developing the story Of
the "baby commonwealth"
It is life again for the trail blazers,
as they lived it half a century ago.
Present day surroundings and con-
veniences are lost in the picture of
yesteryear that rises so vividly at
the celebration.
The spirit of the early eighties
dominates these pioneer gatherings as
the men and women join in great
family reunion. Homecoming, they
are in sense, for it seems that the
empire builders have been scattered
to all corners of the state in the
march Of progress.
The reunion is the friendly vehicle
that opens the way for renewal Of
friendships formed in the struggle
for peace and plenty, such as con-
fronted most of the pioneers upon
their advent into Arizona.
Again, the reunion more firmly
cements the ties that we're founded
upon the frontier-ties that will ever
be firm and fast. Today, as always,
the pioneer men and women stand
united and even the march of Old
Father Time cannot dim the past.
Two days of entertainment and
fun are provided for the pioneers in
the great annual reunion that at
atrcts men and women from the four
corners of Arizona land not in
frequently from other states, whence
they have drifted in recent years.
1t is, primarily, a celebration for
and by the pioneers and, in conse-
quence, little time is devoted to other
purposes or persons. Brief well
coming ceremonies are observed,
merely as a matter of courtesy, and
thereafter the sessions are given com
pletely into the keeping Of the
pioneers.
Three outstanding features are ar
ranged for the meeting, The first
of these is the storytelling period,
generally consuming from three to
five hours. Stories of the old ARR
zona, as the pioneers found it when
they arrived, 35, 40, SO and even 60
years ago, are recounted by the men
and women who actually lived
through the days of hardship.
Next is the barbecue, monster
affair, arranged just as the old
timers arranged their barbecues in
the old days.
Third in the list of special fea-
lures is the annual "old-timers dance
featuring such popular old numbers
as the Schottische, the Virginia Reel
and the barn dance. Music for the
dance is provided from among the
pioneers themselves, old-time fiddlers
playing the numbers that had such
tremendous appeal 40 years ago.
The program this year, as tena-
lively arranged by the special COM
mittee, will include several innova-
tions. Pioneers themselves are now
being consulted with the idea in mind
of including events that will have
an appeal to the greatest number.
Phoenix, because of its central To-
cation, will be host to the pioneers at
the 1927 reunion. The Arizona Re-
publican is the sponsoring organ
ization this year, as previously.