The distinctive "Black Widow" design on the new 1953 passenger locomotive

A sleek new engine is pulling the Copper Spike this week. The new streamlined passenger engine was put into service this week. Built in 1953, the Arizona Eastern had the engine overhauled and painted with the “black widow” design which is the distinctive black,orange,red striping you see here.

The Copper Spike will continue to run Thursday – Sundays through May 2nd when the season ends (for the summer).

Local Gila County residents may take advantage of a program which allows those living in Gila county to ride the train for 1/2 off. This subsidy is good until the funds run out of this program….so grab the family and head on over to the Old Train Depot and ride the rails this spring!

Arizona Eastern owns and operates the Copper Spike Excursion Train.

Plans are underway to offer Sunset excursions in April, complete with a full bar and snacks. The CS recently obtained a liquor license and will launch the sunset rides which will go out into the San Carlos Apache Reservation which offers beautiful vistas and gives train riders a completely different experience from the trains normal runs which go as far as the Casino.

The full schedule of Sunset excursions will be posted on our events calendar and the Copper Spike website, so don’t miss your chance to ride the rails and watch a sunset and gaze at the stars from the comfort of the Dome car or Calumet car!

By: Linda Gross

The streetscaping project taking place on the north end of Broad Street had a “Paver Party” this weekend. Over thirty volunteers showed up in the early, frosty hours of the morning to lay thousands of concrete pavers which will create a broad expanse of pedestrian-friendly space which the City will beable to use for community events and will help pull walking traffic from one end of Broad to the other. Volunteers included Globe’s Mayor, the City Manager, the Fire chief, Building Inspector, Public Works department and many local business people and residents showed up in jeans and knee pads to lay pavers over a 1/4 mile stretch of North Broad. Those who couldn’t ‘schelp’ pavers or help out, stopped by to bring tangerines, donuts, water and offer a “thumbs up” to those who were working.

Darin Lowery, who is a MOB member, and community volunteer, with pavers in-hand.

A recent article in the CopperCountryNews by writer Ed Kuhneman last week, lead off with the headline, “Nice, but can we afford it.”  This shows clearly that neither the writer or some local residents are aware of the fact that this project has been paid for by a $98,000 grant which was awarded to the City and Main Street specifically for Street scaping. Although this fact has been reported several times since it’s award last June, there appears to be some mis-information about the costs.  At a time when the economy is putting big strains on both local and state governments, and the City has announced cost cutting measures such as a hiring freeze, and going to a 4-day work week it is understandable to question City expenses.

However, the streetscaping project represents a real bonus to the City in these tough economic times. It came at a time when communities everywhere are struggling to make ends meet and do anymore than tread water. The grant made it possible to actually implement the many action items on a list developed by a small group of citizen-volunteers and City leaders who looked at what kinds of things could be done downtown to enhance both local and tourist experience. It included better signage to identify the historic district as people zoomed by on Hwy 60, and gateway enhancements to both the North end of Globe and the Hill street entrance. The opportunity to keep moving forward, as this Mayor and Council and our Main Street Director have done with grant monies and volunteer labor is a huge feather in their cap and one which will pay dividends to the community in the future. It says that our leadership cares about our community.  And about taking care of business. And about putting our best foot forward.

So,does any of that translate into $$$. You betcha!

When you talk about economic development, or the health of your tourism industry, or the business climate in your area, you come back to the issue of investment. Are there signs of investment to the area? Or does it look like people are treading water and facilities are decaying. One sends a message which encourages others to invest both time, energy and money into the area which supports our tax rolls, allows for future planning  and sustains our own small town ways and that of our neighbors. The other sends a different message; to move on and look for more fertile ground to buy a home, start a business or linger for a weekend. In this economy it is more important, not less, to address this

Ed Gardea, who owns Ortega Shoes downtown, and Fire Chief, Al Gameros work on one section of the North End streetscape

issue and do what we can to attract others to invest in this community.

Instead of questioning whether we have enough money to water a few more trees on Broad, we might be thankful that the community even got a $98K grant to invest in streetscaping (thanks to the foresight of those who applied for this grant 3 years ago). Or, that we have a growing cadre of dedicated city employees and local residents who are willing to volunteer their time and talents to make whatever monies are available stretch as far as possible. Or that we have the kind of  leadership which looks to the future and isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves to make things happen.

The current crop of trees on Broad street were planted in the last ten years and have to be hand-watered. The new trees will be on a drip irrigation system which will conserve both water and man-power.

MOB, has invested approximately $70,000 of the grant in (1) signage identifying the historic district (a key point which was identified in a ’95′-96 study on tourism)  (2) Replacing street lighting which originally existed on North Broad, with APS historical light posts (using energy efficient lighting), (3) creating a paved, tree-line section of Broad which can be used for community events, as well as a public-space for pedestrian traffic; including electrical and water  (4) and a brick-like crosswalk between Yuma Street and El Ranchito which ties the East and West side of Broad Street together and makes crossing pedestrian-friendly.

Darin Lowery talks with reporter Ed Kuehneman who showed up Saturday to get more information on the project after being called by several local residents who felt he had not gotten all his facts straight in the last article.

Other improvements, including bollards, which are small scale street lighting to define curbs and public spaces, are being done through volunteers and sponsorships. The MOB committee found the cost on  commercial bollards to be prohibitively expensive with costs ranging from $1500 and up. Luckily, MOB member and local contractor, Jim Ohl, came up with a design which he could fabricate for the City for half the cost. These are now being offered to those who would like to “sponsor” a bollard in downtown Globe.

Scott Stennerson discusses the fit of curb-cuts with Fernando.

So, we’d like to hear from you.  Please let us know if you have questions or comments on the new street scape improvements.

Please post a comment here. We want to hear from YOU! Thanks, L

Spreading gravel to complete streetscaping on Broadstreet

The Historic Downtown District of Globe and the City will be completing the final stages of a major streetscaping project on the north end of Broad street this month. The monies came through a $98,000 grant tagged specifically for this type of improvement which took 2 years to move through the approval process. It was awarded last Fall. The project has involved enhancements to a pedestrian walkway and the entrance off Hwy 60 to the Historic Downtown District.  The City has enlarged the pedestrian walk-way on the north end of Broad to include trees, lighting and benches. This time, plans were made to run underground electrical and water lines to the area which, among other benefits,  will allow for automatic watering for the trees (something which was not done years ago when trees were planted in central downtown and which now requires hand watering).

Still to come is signage to enhance the trestle entry-way and installing a walkway which will tie the east and west side of Broad street together and make it pedestrian-friendly.  The walk-way project will be happening this month, on the 20th.

New Street lighting at the North end of Broad will help to pull traffic into the Downtown area and light the pedestrian walkway which now extends the entire length of Broad street.

…. On Saturday, March 20th, the MOB (My Own Backyard), a group of business and civic leaders- we will be hosting a “Paver

Party” to lay the concrete pavers on the north end which will tie in the walk way between El Ranchito and Yuma street. They are asking for volunteers and encouraging anyone who would like to help out, or simply lend support to the workers to show up at 8am. For more information you can contact Pat Dodd at the Center for the Arts.  928-425-0884.

It took men and machinery to plant several mature trees reaching 10-15ft each in the planters on N Broad Street . Photo By : Johnny Kay

Last week a variety of deciduous and non-deciduous trees were planted along the newly developed pedestrian-way on North Broad Street. The on going street enhancements are part of a collaborative project involving the City of Globe, Historic Globe Main Street Program, Cobre Valley Center for the Arts, the Globe Tree Committe and the group which calls themselves the MOB. The majority of funding for the improvements stem from a $98,000 grant which was awarded to the Downtown District this summer.

The trees were carefully selected for their low water usage and ability to provide shade. The variation in deciduous and non-deciduous insures the area will have leafy shade all year round. In addition the North end of Broad has been undergoing additional improvements according to Project Manager, Chris Collopy including guttering, new curbs, a watering system for the trees, and lighting. Bricks, pavers and benches will follow in January and when completed will invite pedestrians to walk the entire length of Broad Street and enjoy the Downtown District.

New curbs, gutters and watering system for trees are also part of the overall plan to develop pedestrian friendly walk-ways in downtown Globe . Photo by Johnny Kay

Volunteers are needed to lay the pavers in mid-January. Please call the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts at 928-425-0884 for more information on volunteering on this downtown project

A lighted bollard

Also- Check out the new bollards designed just for this project, and how you can sponsor your own!

Note: The 2009-2010 historic downtown street enhancements have been entirely funded from HUD Streetscape Grans and from generous sponsorships through the Bollard Sponsorship Program.

Story by: Darin Lowery

Note: The local committee, MOB (My Own Back Yard) was formed last February as one of many committees tasked with looking into ways to improve Globe’s Downtown district. Headed up by Mayor Fernando Shipley, it includes City Building Inspector Chris Collopy, City Manager Kane Graves, Local Downtown Merchants Ed Gardea of Ortega’s Shoes, Molly Cornwell of the White Porch and Tracy Quick of The Huddle, Builder Jim Ohl, Artists Nora & Frank Balaam, Chris Brusca with the Chamber , Darin Lowery with The Pickle Barrel and Kip Culver, Main Street Director.

While Globe's downtown has been noted for its friendly, walkable spaces, many drivers never make it into the Downtown area to discover the charms of "Main Street." Signage is key in letting visitors know where to go, and one element of MOB's plans for the area.

The group looked into ways they could effect positive design changes downtown and while they kept an eye on what could realistically be accomplished with the meager resources they had, they none-the-less identified several projects all along the 8-block area of the Historic District which would help direct traffic into the downtown area and other landmark locations such as Besh Ba Gowah, as well as improve the pedestrian walkways and visual amenities of the downtown area

Thanks to a huge stroke of “planned luck,” a large grant for $98,000 pegged for streetscaping the Historic District actually came through earlier this year. Begun over two years ago, the grant was applied for by Main Street Director, Kip Culver with the support of then Congressman Rick Renzi. It entered its final approval stages after the economy had already started it’s melt down and long after the Congressman had stepped down, so it is easy to see why Culver hardly thought the grant had a chance of materializing. Yet materialize it did and the group found themselves in the fortunate position of having much of the planning well underway when the funds for the improvements fell into their laps.

The  grant money is the funding source for all the improvements you are beginning to see Downtown and I asked Darin to outline the progress so far.

MOB Targets Globe

by Darin Lowery

There’s a new gang in town and it’s called the M.O.B. (‘My Own Backyard’). Made up of roughly twelve members (and open to more!), the group is led by Mayor Shipley. MOB meets roughly every two weeks- we started out as an offshoot of a community meeting at City Hall in February, which looked at ways to improve the look and feel of our Historic Downtown.

To date, several projects are under way. The most visible is the Streetscape/Promenade along the east side of North Broad Street, currently under construction. Previously a bland stretch of concrete, the road is being transformed into a widened pedestrian walkway with decorative cement pavers, steel and wood benches (with a Globe logo), and leafy trees and shrubs. The area will be well-lit, with new vintage style lamp posts and custom up-lighting. By next winter, holiday bulbs will be strung through the branches. The foliage will be maintained by underground watering lines, to ensure consistent hydration. Newly designed waste bins will assist in keeping it all tidy.

Construction along North Broad will include a pedestrian friendly area including a tree-lined walkway with benches & lighting. This is the first impression visitors have of Main Street when pulling into the Historic District at the trestle where Hwy 60 feeds into Broad. The MOB group also wanted to pull walkers from one end of Broad to the other by making all sections "walker-friendly"

Very soon, you’ll be seeing a huge addition at the entrance to North Broad Street as you turn into Downtown. Four foot high letters, in two-tone, powder-coated metal, will hang from the railway trestle. These will spell out GLOBE, with the ‘O’ being a 3-D planet Earth. What better way to capitalize on a great name for a City, and what better way to do it? Just think of it- no more visitors missing the turn looking for downtown, and even old Uncle Bill will be able to see the sign. Especially at night, when it’s lit from below.

Artist Jim Ohl created a custom bollard for streetscape lighting AND did it for nearly $900 less than standard bollards can be purchased through a national manufacturer.

In addition, the copper globe which currently sits directly below the trestle will be placed on a new, much higher base, and will feature much better illumination.

Other improvements are fancy street sign toppers, some of which are now up. These are in gold and brown, and denote the Historic Downtown path. Cloth banners will be hung along US60, Ash and Willow Streets, announcing all that Globe has to offer. The artwork for this project has been created by local artist Frank Balaam and again continues the ‘globe’ theme.

Also to come are custom bollards- three foot high steel posts, lighted, with a baseball-sized globe on top of each. Most of these will be lit internally, and some will be used with chain swags to define special areas. Several will surround the Historic 1916 Railway Depot very soon. These are all available for sponsorship- just call the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts at (928) 425-0884 and, after writing your (tax deductible) check, let us know how you want your name (or that of a loved one) spelled.

Projects penciled in for next year are gateway improvements at Oak Street/US60, and the US60/Hill Street School intersection. Additional plans are for polymer paver paths at prime Downtown intersections- these look like the real thing, last a long time, and will help in defining crosswalks. More vintage style lamp posts, ‘bulb-outs’ at intersections, additional benches, and possible directory kiosks have been discussed. Sadly, one idea everyone loved- and nobody voted for- was a huge waterfall/fountain in the middle of Broad and Yuma Streets..

What began as a way to stave off the negative effects of absentee landlords and ahas blossomed into a very real, hands-on volunteer community effort.

And best of all, it’s not costing the City anything. Most of the improvements are being funded through the HUD Streetscape Grant Program, and the bollard sponsorships will enable us to keep planning and building.

If you’re interested in joining MOB, lending your expertise in city design, or have a strong back and want to help out manually, please contact the City or the Main Street Program. We welcome your participation! (A special thanks to Lois Monarrez for doing the original GLOBE trestle sign rendering!)

The much anticipated re-opening of the Globe Theater has arrived!  Since the theater was destroyed in the Pioneer Fire (July 2005) the community has sorely missed their local theater. The Hollis family vowed to come back and re-build an even bigger and better theater and they have delivered on that promise.

Construction on the new complex began in January of this year and progress was noted through their blog each month. The project remained on schedule and last night the finishing touches were completed as the marquee was re-installed.

The new Globe Theater Marquee blends elements of the original marque, along with modern digital technology and signals a return to hometown entertainment at its best.  The night sky was illuminated with the neon lights just past 6pm to a small audience who cheered as the lights came on. Tonight the crowds are expected to be in the hundreds as the theater opens for business again in downtown Globe,Az. See: HOLLIS CINEMAS.

,

This last weekend was the Grand Opening of Season 2 for the Copper Spike Excursion Railroad and Main Street Director, Kip Culver invited the Mohave Muleskinners to kick off the season in style. The Muleskinners, who were here last year for Home Tour, are a big hit in Globe. Their members dress in period clothing from the 1800′s and carry  authentic reproduction firearms. They use real gun power and crowds love talking to members, getting photo ops with the various characters and watching the Old West skits.

The one shown below involved the kidnapping of Mayor Fernando Shipley. The local contingent of the Copper Bells arrived on the scene shouting “Save our Mayor” and offered to exchange a muleskinner – toting an iron ball for the safety of the Mayor. The exchange was made, but just when the “bad” guys thought they were getting away – the women Muleskinners arrived with loaded shotguns (with gun powder of course!) and stopped them in their tracks.

By: Linda Gross

Cities outgrew them long ago and towns have over looked them in a rush to attract box stores and strip malls. Yet memories of a time when the main streets of our childhood literally held the lifeblood in the community is one reason why nearly 30 years ago the National Trust for Historic Preservation developed a program to put the emphasis back on Main Street. The Program was designed to retain that elusive quality lost in Suburbia; community character, and to bring back an economic framework which would reinstate Main Street as a valuable player in a community’s future.

Globe’s own Main Street program began in 1986 when it’s eight-block commercial district was designated a Historic District. Today, it is one of just 15 Main Street communities in the State and 12,000 in the country. The success of these programs can be seen in the numbers; Since 1980 there have been 199,519 buildings rehabilitated, 82,909 businesses added to aging downtown districts, and over 40 Billion dollars invested in physical improvements through private and public sources.

Caring for Main Street

In the last four years, Globe’s Main Street Program has begun to rack up so many small successes that even to the uninitiated the Big Picture is taking shape and making itself felt by locals and visitors. The force behind many of these improvements is Main Street Director, Kip Culver who took over the position in 2005, and today heads up both Main Street and the Center for the Arts.

Culver was born and raised in the area, attending both Globe and Miami schools. His grandfather was an engineer for the Southern Pacific and although college and work took him out of the area, he “was never at odds with his home town. “I never was one of those kids who just wanted to “get out.” In fact he kept trying to return. After getting a degree in Broadcast journalism management, he landed a job in LA where he worked for Entertainment Tonight and a film company producing short films. However, finding it hard to eek out a living in LA, he returned to Phoenix where he eventually became a property manager and personal assistant for a family who had properties here and in Washington DC. He actually traveled back and forth with them. It was his travels around the country in which he would run across a small community and say “Oh that’s like Globe… Or you’d see the potential in what could be for a community like Globe.” He was always thinking back to his hometown, but the need for work kept him from living here. Culver later oversaw spec home developments in Pine, and for a time he was also helping out an aging parent in Globe and shuttling between Pine, Globe and Phoenix in managing properties and papa.

It was that kind of super-charged multi-tasking that prepared him for what lay ahead.

First he was asked to be Co-Director of the Arts Center which evolved into a full time job when co-director, Frank Balaam, left to start a gallery. Even at full-time, the $6/hr salary was hardly live-able and if it hadn’t been for attorney,Tommy Thompson who hired Kip to do some  work for his law firm, Culver may have had to leave town to find a real job.

Luckily for the health of our downtown district and the Arts Center itself, Culver found a way to make it all work and remained with the Center. It was a short time time later that the position opened up with Main Street. Sort of. Connie Teague, the current Director was leaving. At the time the program had struggled along for years and while they managed to sponsor events like the Light Parade and Halloween, and steer some local merchants through the matching-grant process, there was little support in terms of resources, money or interest in the program by the time Teague left. In fact, there was talk of closing Main Street in June of 2005.

It was the steady influence of Culver and his ability to enlist friends and volunteers to help paint over graffiti, renovate the Old Freight Office, sponsor fund raisers and go after grants that the program began to perk up. Which is why, by 2007 during Globe’s Centennial Year, that local historian, Donna Anderson and others went into action when they heard that Miami was going to offer Kip $30,000 to come run a program. At the time, Kip was making approximately a third of that amount in running the Main Street program for Globe. Donna says she went to the City and discussed the need to find $35,000 in the budget for Main Street so Kip could continue doing what he has always done best; work on behalf of the downtown district of Globe. She emphasized “This Year.” And the City agreed and found monies for the program.

Under Culvers’ direction the hopes of many for a vibrant historical downtown district have been revived. He has earned his stripes many times over as a volunteer and in the process garnered the support of a dedicated cadre of local volunteers who have almost single-handedly given a new face to Downtown. When asked to jump on board another undertaking… they do. Again and again. They have rented lifts and put on work gloves and volunteered their time to re-paint store fronts, strip windows and floors, repair cornices, cover over graffiti and muck out old buildings all in the interest of making downtown a better place. And it shows.

Just look at the buildings which Culver has taken under his care. After 25 years, the Arts Center has a fresh coat of paint on the cornices which ring the building (except for the south side where rain and lack of equipment ran them off), and fresh paint job on the interior complete with a trompe le oile sky in the entryway, graphite ceilings and copper detailing to enhance the artwork of local artists which line the walls of the Center. There is new electrical service to the building thanks to a grant from the Heritage fund and many fund raising events put on by Kip and his volunteer army to raise the $14,000 matching grant money. This new electrical upgrade will allow the Center to add central heating and cooling to the third floor which houses the theater, and creates opportunities to put the upper floors into better use. Even an elevator is now a realistic goal for the Center. An important element when you consider how many senior citizens we have and how many community events take place on the third floor of the Courthouse.

St. John’s Episcopal Church has a new roof thanks to a grant Kip secured through the Heritage fund. A church which is well over 100 years old with it’s original stained glass windows.  A church, whose coffers from a small, but loyal congregation was no match for the money it would take to repair a roof and save an icon of the community.

The Freight Office, and Depot, once aging buildings on their way to obsolescence have become anchors to Broad Street and a vibrant hub of activity for both tourist events and community gatherings. (See the TRAIN story for the full story on how these buildings were saved from obscurity on a wing and a prayer and lots of volunteer hours!)

The Globe Cafe, once on the verge of demolition was not only saved but restored to a multi-use building for the 21st century while retaining his historical charm. It is back on the tax roles, and is now an anchor for other development on the block, instead of being a liability.

The work done in the Old Jail, which now houses the Main Street office includes researching and showcasing famous local stories and memorabilia which continue to fascinate both locals and travelers when they stop. In fact, the jail has been converted from a hulking old building to one rich with history, ghosts and local lore which make it a favorite stop for visitors of all ages!

IN THE BEGINNING

Kip Culver remembers taking a walk-about in June of 2005, when it was decided that yes, the Main Street program would remain. At the time there were some new faces in the group, including the Rooneys,who are busy restoring the 12-bedroom boarding house on Sycamore. “We did a walking tour of downtown to assess the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities. And from that, it was a very home grown grassroots effort.  Since resources were still virtually non-existent the question we asked ourselves is what CAN be done.” he said.

Remember this was before the Pioneer Fire (July 2005) and so the group identified The Globe Cafe as an “opportunity,”  The Depot as “worth asking about” since up to that time it had been in a logger-jam circumstances involving an unmotivated user and long distance owner.

There was the center block of Main Street on the East side in which building fronts had been sheared off in the 50’s when ADOT widened the road. These buildings , unfortunately would forever more be considered by SHIPO  to be too compromised for any matching grant monies for restoration. Even though each contain punched tin ceilings and interior wood work reminiscent of the early 1900’s when they were all constructed.

“Other buildings were crossed off the CAN DO list because of unmotivated property owners. These were areas where nothing could be done – so the group continued to ask themselves where CAN we put our energy and resources,” Culver said. “The Globe Cafe was one area we felt with the right elements, could be saved.”

It was at that time hanging on a prayer, with a crack running through the entire back wall and threatening total destruction, Culver went to his friend and former employer, Tommy Thompson, and with the City considering demolition the out of town owner dropped the price dramatically and Thompson stepped in to rescue it from becoming another parking lot where-once-a-historic-building-stood, and repaired the back wall. Next, an investor was found who was interested in completely renovating it for a multi-use purpose. James Dowly and Jim Ohl recently completed this project and the building is now home to traveling medical personnel working in the area, and a future cafe.

As Kip admits, it was a combination of the right timing, a bit of serendipity, and of course a motivated seller and buyer. But it helped that Culver was stirring the pot and making the connections, assisting the progress.

Was the Globe Cafe a master plan for that block. No. But within a year the block had two other motivated new owners working on their own improvement project. Tracy Quick, purchased the old neighborhood bar, The Huddle. She stripped off the old smoke stained paneling, put in big flat screen tvs, added a patio out back, and new signage out front, and the place is now a hopping place to catch year round Sports sports, and share a beer with your friends. Just a few blocks down, Sarah Berstein opened her signature “women’s spoils store,”  Simply Sarah’s, in the old Cubitto building and brought light and elegance into the building almost over night. This summer the store will be  featured in an Arizona Highways special on the area.

The challenge of Culver and his fellow Main Street directors is to foster the kind of synergy involving motivated property owners, political leadership, funding sources and volunteer efforts which are required to make both immediate and long-lasting improvements to the Main Streets’ of their community. When even one of these elements is missing, you can see the writing on the wall. Just look at the positive statement a newly renovated Globe Cafe now makes as an anchor for the 300 block of Downtown Globe. And then compare it to the other building at the opposite end of the same block which has boarded up windows, broken glass and cracked walls. It stands empty, even though there is a “for rent” sign out front. What kind of tenant do you attract to these kinds of buildings? The statement both buildings make about the “community,” “contribution” and “local investment” speaks volumes.

As Culver says of his approach in cultivating projects which enhance downtown, “It’s not so much about  ‘let’s attract more tourists.’ It is I want to live here! What do I need to do to make it a place that you and I want to live.”

Main Street Directors are like a bit like gardeners. Without them, weeds tend to grow unchecked in our own back yard. With them; flowers. Just look around and see what’s happening in Downtown Globe and you’ll find a place you want to live.

In the Nov 4th edition of the local  SilverBelt, there was an article on Main Street Director Kip Culver and what he has meant to the downtown district. It included nearly 20 testimonials from community leaders, residents and visitors who acknowledge Culver’s contribution to the on-going development/revitalization of our Historic Downtown District. This article is a re-print of one done last year in GlobeMiamiTimes and is posted here in order to include it in an archive with all posts on the revitalization of our Downtown District.

I