Eastern Arizona Museum & Historical Society and the W.M. Carter Farm Museum continue improvements to secure history

Gila Herald Staff Reports

PIMA — Following years of extensive structural restorations, local fundraising, and new grant funding, the Eastern Arizona Museum & Historical Society and W. M. Carter Farm Museum continue to expand their historical collections and community outreach.

Located at 30 N. Main St., at the north end of Pima’s historic building row, the Farm Museum building was originally donated in the mid-1990s by the family of W. M. Carter, with local residents contributing historic farm equipment, Mt. Graham sawmill tools, buggies, and pioneer-era artifacts. Local artist Ray Kent Ferguson added murals depicting pioneer scenes during that decade. However, severe weather damage, decaying support beams, and a disintegrating roof forced the facility to close to the public for several years.

Structural Restoration and Recent Facility Upgrades: A multi-year restoration effort successfully saved the crumbling historic structure through community partnerships and grant support:

• Structural & Roof Repairs: Wright Brothers’ Welding installed new support beams, and the entire roof was replaced, funded through United Way grants and six years of proceeds from Clint Woods’ annual “Fright at the Museum” Halloween event. New Insulation Concepts contributed labor and applied spray-foam insulation.
• Electrical & Windows: Elevated Electrical Services completely rewired the building, and Boulevard Glass replaced broken window glass. The Rizley Family Foundation and the Arizona Community Foundation provided additional funding.
• Climate Control & Access: Building on these structural fixes, recent grant projects are further enhancing the space. A $50,000 grant from the United Way of Graham & Greenlee County is funding a $60,000 air conditioning project in the Farm Museum, set for completion by Sept. 1. Additionally, the Town of Pima contributed $3,000 toward a new $7,500 roll-up door on the north side, and $10,000 from the Arizona Community Foundation will go toward a $12,500 protective canopy for the museum’s historic fire engine.

Reopening & Pre-Holiday Bazaar: The newly restored Farm Museum officially reopened to the public Nov. 7–8, 2025, for the museum’s annual Pre-Holiday Bazaar. Staff arranged artifacts along the sides of the rooms to preserve central floor space for community events, interactive skills seminars, and vendor booths.

New Acquisitions & Reading Room: Alongside facility updates, the museum recently added new pioneer-era donations from Chuck and Vi Maxwell—including a wooden rocking butter churn and an antique wooden washing machine.

The museum has also established the Ryder Ridgway Reading Room, housing the extensive personal library of late Gila Valley historian William Ryder Ridgway (1909–1985). Hundreds of volumes on regional history, genealogy, and pioneer families are now available for on-site research.

Volunteer Opportunities: As an all-volunteer institution with no paid staff, the museum relies on community members to maintain operations and is planning an upcoming volunteer orientation. Urgent volunteer needs include:

• Operating and maintaining the museum website (Squarespace)
• Digitizing photos and archival documents
• Researching historical photo backgrounds
• Assembling Farm Museum displays
• Serving as volunteer docents

Visitor & Contact Information

• Location: 2 N. Main St. (Main Museum) / 30 N. Main St. (Farm Museum), Pima, AZ
• Hours: Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Phone: (928) 965-7000
• Email: eamuseum1879@gmail.com
• Website: Eastern Arizona Museum