REFERENCE TITLE: urging parks board; historic place

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-second Legislature First Regular Session 2015

HM 2001

Introduced by Representatives Saldate, Coleman, Gonzales, Rios: Ackerley, Alston, Fernandez, Wheeler

 

A MEMORIAL

 

urging the Arizona State Parks Board to designate the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in Tucson as a historic place.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

To the Arizona State Parks Board:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, in 1912, Arizona's first state legislature enacted legislation that created the Arizona Schools for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB); and

Whereas, the ASDB was established in 1912 as a department within the University of Arizona; and

Whereas, the ASDB opened its doors in October of 1912 with a total student body of 19 children who were deaf or hard of hearing; and

Whereas, the first ASDB classes were held in a converted residence that was located on the University of Arizona campus; and

Whereas, a growing population soon made the original facility inadequate, prompting the ASDB to seek out a larger campus; and

Whereas, in 1918, the City of Tucson donated fifty acres on West Speedway to ASDB, and in 1919 ASDB purchased eighteen additional acres; and

Whereas, classes began on the West Speedway campus in October of 1922; and

Whereas, two of the original West Speedway ASDB buildings are still in existence; and

Whereas, for over 100 years, ASDB has provided a well-rounded quality education to students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired or deaf and blind through a variety of classes, sports, extracurricular activities, events and other programs; and

Whereas, ASDB is a rich and significant part of the history of the State of Arizona.

Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, prays:

1.  That the Arizona State Parks Board designate the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in Tucson as a historic place.

2.  That the Secretary of State transmit copies of this Memorial to each Member of the Arizona State Parks Board, the Executive Director of the Arizona State Parks Board and the State Historic Preservation Officer.