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March 9, 2024

Women's History Month: Lottie Colton Devine

Charlotte "Lottie" Colton was born November 22, 1889, in Florence, Arizona. Her mother, Mary, was a teacher at the local school, and her father, Albert, worked as an engineer, superintendent for the Florence Canal Company and served as the deputy clerk of the U.S. Court in Florence. When she was 13, the family moved to Safford, Arizona. Lottie went away to school in Illinois and returned to work as a teacher near Safford. After a couple of years, she returned to Florence to teach. A few years later, she married Edwin Devine, who served as the Pinal County Justice of the Peace and the Florence Police Judge. The couple had two children. During this time, Lottie was the women's activities editor for the Blade Tribune and ran the school cafeteria.

Lottie Colton Devine

In 1944, Edwin died, and Lottie was appointed to finish his term as Justice of the Peace and Town Magistrate. She continued to serve as Justice of the Peace until 1963. Lottie was deeply involved in the community serving as president of the Florence Business and Professional Woman’s Club. During WWII, she chaired the County Red Cross. In 1964, Lottie wrote her autobiography entitled "Es Verdad", which is Spanish for "It is True". The book describes her life, including her childhood growing up in territorial Florence. You can pick up a copy of "Es Verdad" in our museum Gift Shop.

Yard Sale

Find your next treasure at our Yard Sale! Vintage items, books, and much more! All proceeds benefit the museum.  The Yard Sale takes place on our front lawn on March 16th from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.

President's Award

Our 2024 President's Award was given in recognition to the people behind PCHM’s hugely successful First Saturday "Family Day '' program that draws families throughout the year. With a goal of reaching young people, PCHM developed fun and educational activities to draw kids in, and we have the numbers to prove it! This years recognition goes to those instrumental in the development and execution of this program. Sabine Michael Shirley Baker Barb Kelly

Shirley Baker and Cathy Adam (President)

Sabine Michael and Cathy Adam

Barb Kelly and Cathy Adam In addition to being one of the Family Day team, Barb also exemplifies the “face of PCHM” both at the museum and in the community. She is the quintessential Visitor Experience Manager who welcomes all visitors, and is the consummate professional.

Historic Florence Walking Tours

Join us on March 20th at 10:00 am for the last Historic Florence Walking Tour of the season! Gain a greater appreciation for Florence's diverse architectural styles on the Historic Florence Walking Tour. Discover which movie star was married in Florence, how the town’s street grid differs from most other towns, and more! All tours are limited to 12 participants and tickets are $20 per adult/$15 members. Call 520-868-4382 or Click here to register for the Historic Florence Walking Tour.

Gift Shop Items of the Month

March is Women's History Month! We have a great selection of books about and written by women. We recently restocked our hand-made jewelry. Stop by and see what's new!  We welcome you to our Gift Shop Tuesday-Saturday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

March 1st, 1936: On this date, the six companies that built the Hoover Dam turned it over to the Federal Government. The dam was expected to take seven years to complete but was done two years ahead of schedule. Its name started out as the Hoover Dam, was changed to the Boulder Dam by the Roosevelt Administration, and was changed back to the Hoover Dam in 1947.

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Pinal County Historical Museum 715 South Main Street Florence, AZ 85132 520-868-4382 WEB: https://www.pchmuseum.org/ EMAIL: info@pchmuseum.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pchsmuseum1

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