San Tan Historical Society

The San Tan Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation, restoration and education related to Chandler Heights, Combs, Higley and Queen Creek history.

San Tan Historical Society
20425 S. Ellsworth Road
Queen Creek, AZ 85142
480-987-9380
Hours: Free to the public on Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
santanhistoricalmuseum@gmail.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

PictureThe History of Sossaman Family Farm With Steve Sossaman Steve Sossaman is a well known farmer and the son and grandson of Queen Creek, Arizona farmers. The Sossaman family farm began as a homestead in 1919 and is now one of, if not the oldest, working farms in the Queen Creek area. Steve manages approximately 400 acres, which includes heritage grains and alfalfa. He has been farming full-time for 40 years on the family farm. Steve attended the Air Force Academy and went on to Arizona State University and received his B.S. in Agri-Business. He has been married for 40 years to his childhood sweetheart, Chris Sossaman, and they have three daughters. Steves’ Family is the fifth generation to live on the farm and has over 25 years of land planning experience and enjoys doing land development in the East Valley. In 1989, Steve, along with friends Mark Schnepf and Paul Gardner, realized the community they grew up in would eventually be lost to strip annexation to surrounding communities. They worked to incorporate the community, and as a result of their efforts, the Town of Queen Creek was born. He is a past Mayor and Council Member and served on the Queen Creek School board. Steve is currently on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Steve has served as President and Vice-President of several agricultural associations. He has been President of the Queen Creek irrigation district, served on the Board of Cotton Incorporated and participated in multiple leadership programs. In 1994, Steve was the recipient of the Cotton Achievement Award given by Cotton Grower Magazine and has received the High Cotton Award, a national award to recognize the contributions farmers make in protecting the environment and the use of cutting-edge technology. Join us at the San Tan Historical Society Museum to hear Steve Sossaman talk about growing up in QC and how his family farm was started and has grown over time. San Tan Historical Society Museum 20425 S. Old Ellsworth Road On the corners of Ellsworth and Queen Creek Roads. Parking in back Contact Marie Britton at mbrit@cox.com for more information. Please check us out at https://www.santanhistorical.org/ and on Facebook

Picture3rd Fridays at the Museum Fall Speaker Series Hosted by the San Tan Historical Society If you would like to know more about Queen Creek and its people, come join us for an interesting evening with an AZ Humanities speaker at the San Tan Historical Society Museum Friday November 17th, at 6 pm Attendance is FREE and the public is welcome. Rivers of Dreams: Songs and Stories of Arizona’s Waterways Along with Arizona Humanities and the San Tan Historical Museum Pleased Welcome Jay Cravath Arizona’s rivers were lush green ribbons of life flowing through a desert landscape. They became sustaining paths for indigenous traders and immigrants leaving wagon tracks and settlements. The Hohokam built vast canals from the Salt to direct irrigation water for crops. European farmers used these same trenches. The Mohave spread line villages along the Colorado--our great western Nile that is now in peril. The Gila provided sustenance for the Pima and passage for People heading west. Dr. Cravath weaves narrative, history, music, and images to share the stories of these vital resources. Jay Craváth is a composer, writer, and scholar in the field of music and Indigenous studies. He enjoys crafting programs from these fields into interactive discussions that include stories, musical performance, and illustrations. Cravath holds a Ph.D. from ASU in Humanities Education. He has written incidental music for documentaries and live commissions and served as an Arizona Humanities scholar and speaker for two decades. San Tan Historical Society Museum 20425 S. Old Ellsworth Road On the corners of Ellsworth and Queen Creek Roads. Parking in back Join us for an interesting talk and refreshments after Contact Marie Britton at mbrit@cox.com for more information

Faith Sossaman’s 2nd grade class at Rittenhouse Elementary School circa 1932.

Ever wondered how Power, Sossaman, Hawes and Ellsworth roads got their names? Who was Rittenhouse? Where was the first school? What was Frank Lloyd Wright's connection to the San Tan area? How did the community benefit from the German POWs? Who was the man on the mountain? Or Who started the Queen Creek Potato Company in 1932?

Find the answers to these questions and more at the San Tan Historical Society Museum. San Tan Historical Society Museum is located on the southeast corner of Queen Creek and Ellsworth Roads in Queen Creek. The museum is open to the public free of charge every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to take a few minutes to see the new displays, visit with the volunteers and browse the gift shop. Eagle Scout projects are also available. For questions or more information, please call 480-987-9380. Tours available upon request.

For information, please send an e-mail to santanhistoricalmuseum@gmail.com.