Pima Heritage Days 2025 showed off the new with the old

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

PIMA — Pima Heritage Days 2025 showcased the W.M. Carter Farm Museum’s new roof, which towered overhead as those gathered to reminisce and celebrate Pima’s heritage enjoyed their breakfast. 

Pima residents past and present, friends, and visitors gathered on Saturday, April 12, to sample the cowboy breakfast: endless pancakes and bacon, thanks to cooks such as Nick Bingham and Scott and Joyce Alder; heaping amounts of scrambled eggs; and homemade Dutch oven biscuits courtesy of Russell and Jonnett Woods, with assistance from Sheryl Goodman.

This year’s theme was “Preserving History,” and the event featured a flag-raising, a performance of the National Anthem, steam engine demonstrations, a quilt raffle, and multiple family displays.

Visitors enjoyed the breakfast covered by the museum’s new $120,000 metal roof, courtesy of a grant from the United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties. The original roof’s lumber was more than 100 years old and could no longer support the structure. The museum has gathered the wood remnants for anyone who would like to use them for woodworking projects. There is no cost to pick up some of the wood.

In addition to the new roof, the Risley Family Foundation donated new windows and doors. Hughes Custom Performance framed the windows and donated all the labor needed to put in the windows’ new 3X12 framing, and Boulevard Glass is donating all the labor to put in the new glass. Stan the Doorman produced a couple of doors for the new building and Nick Bingham is installing them for free.   

The 31st annual Pima Heritage Days, celebrating the 146th anniversary of the town’s founding in April 1879, kicked off Friday with a Quilt Show at the museum and a BBQ dinner at the Pima School Cafeteria from 5 to 7 p.m.

Raffle winners this year included Jonnet Woods, who won a necklace; Anna Jane Jarvis, who won a bracelet; and Chloe Orr, who won a ring. Artwork by Deanna Cluff was won by Joanna Weech, and the “Jewel Box” quilt made by Carmen Garcia and quilted by Natalie Baron was won by Newel Knight.

Eastern Arizona Museum board members thanked all who bought raffle tickets for the Heritage Days Raffle and those who donated quality items. 

The annual event commemorates the founding of Pima on April 8, 1879, and is a fundraiser for the Eastern Arizona Museum, which is housed in three historic buildings. The entrance to the museum is the former Bank of Pima, built in 1914. Adjacent to that is Cluff Hall. Built in 1882 out of tufa stone from the limestone quarry at Bear Springs Flat, the structure is the oldest building in Pima. Rounding out the facility is the former Rexall Drug Store, which was originally built around 1914 as a Dodge Brothers automobile dealership.

Click here to view a photo album of the event.