BREAKING NEWS
SBHS President's News
CHRISTMAS SALE !!!! REUNION II T-SHIRTS AND DVDs.
Celebrate the Silver Bell Christmas spirit with commemorative Reunion II T-Shirts and DVDs. Remember the old fire truck when Santa delivered presents to the Rec Hall. We looked forward to that event every year knowing we were indeed "Good Boys and Girls". We always laughed when we learned the Christmas Song "Silver Bells" sung by Dean Martin was not about our beloved town of Silver Bell. Please order by December 15th to make sure your gifts arrive by Christmas!
IN MEMORIAM FOR PEGGY YOUNG
We were all saddened to learn of the untimely passing of Peggy Young. Born Peggy Goodwin in 1947, we loved her kind demeanor and friendly spirit. Peggy was popular at Marana High School, being nominated as a Yearbook Queen Candidate and serving in the Chorus, Quill and Scroll, Marana High Times El Sahuaro and FBLA. After graduation, she went on to beauty school and later served as an aide at the school as well as working in a tax accounting office before becoming a full-time mom. Peggy grew up in Silver Bell and after dating Larry Young for two years, they were married. Larry was born in 1949 and Peggy in 1947. He joked that he married a cougar before the term became known as a cultural phenomenon. When Peggy’s parents were on vacation in Arkansas, they decided it would be a good time to elope and get married. After a short time, Peggy stated they should call the Goodwin parents to let them know. Larry agreed. She dialed the number and as soon as they answered, Peggy handed the phone to Larry and said “here.” She had a great sense of humor. Peggy and Larry were married for 54 years. They were very proud of their two children, daughter Shelia, born in 1969 and their son Robert, born in 1973. Shelia resides in Las Vegas and Robert lives near his father in Sahuarita. Peggy and Larry have five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
We will all miss Peggy. There will be a small private celebration on Saturday, October 22 of a life well lived. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, it would be best to honor Peggy by making a charitable donation by check to Silver Bell Historical Society, P.O. Box 13572, Tucson, AZ 85726 or via credit card on the Silverbellaz.com website. SEE DONATE BUTTON BELOW.
SILVER BELL GRAND REUNION II - VENUE UPDATE TO THE "OLD BALLFIELD"
Sometimes in life change can be a good thing, but in this case it’s awesome! The SBHS board had originally asked ASARCO for use of our old ballfield as the reunion venue to locate the large tent, tables, chairs, food truck, popcorn vendor, tour bus staging and music. Between the pool, rec hall, tennis court, post office, and barber shop, this location was the center of our lives while growing up. Who could forget the Labor Day celebrations, movie nights where we sat on the grass in the outfield with a large bowl of home popped popcorn, dances, cake walks, scouts, Christmas gatherings, baseball and softball games, or just going to hang out with friends? Now we will start our Grand Reunion II events at the "Old Ballfield". Please see the tab "Reunion 2022 for more details and to download the updated brochure.
PEGGY YOUNG DONATIONS will help support your society
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals:
- Scholarships for Silver Bell descendents
- Future Social Events and Reunions
- Our future Museum
The Silver Bell Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit, which means your donation today is tax-deductible.
Our Mission
The Silver Bell Historical Society offers unique resources to researchers, scholars, and the public. History records four communities: Pelton (1881 - 1900), the Atlas Camp -- also named BS&K (1880 - 1964), the first Silver Bell (1902 - 1935), and the second Silver Bell (1952 - 1984). All of these towns of the Silver Bell Mountains have been deserted, although many who lived here share fond memories of a unique and fraternal place -- in the middle of nowhere in Pima County, Arizona. Located near Marana and Tucson. The photo above is the plaque which adorns our Monument, located at the entrance to the Silver Bell Mine at the very end of Avra Valley Road.
You Can Help Preserve Our History.
A society can be defined as
the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community, and as an organization or club formed for a particular purpose or activity. You are invited to share in the development of the Silver Bell Historical Society. The photo above shows the Monument to the Silver Bell communities, dedicated on March 10, 2019.
.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:600,h:300,cg:true)
How You Can Help
We invite you to use the "Contact Us" form below to share your story of Silver Bell. Some of you lived in Silver Bell and have first-hand knowledge. Others of you have parents or grandparents who have shared their stories with you. We want to include those stories within this website. You may also help with generous contributions to defray the costs involved with operating the Silver Bell Historical Society, an Arizona non-profit corporation.
Our 2021-2022 Scholarship Winners
Joshua C Hendrickson
Josh was born in Tucson, Arizona, and has lived in Avra Valley all his life. He is the grandson of Lawrence and Jeanette Hendrickson, both former Silver Bell residents from 1977-1981. Lawrence went to work at the ASARCO mine where he was on various crews and later became the head groundskeeper for the town.
Although Josh never knew his grandfather, and his grandmother is no longer here, his father, Tim, who was also a Silver Bell resident, keeps his grandparents’ memories alive by constantly sharing stories about living there.
Josh recently graduated from Marana High School. He will be attending and playing football for Hastings College in Nebraska where he plans to earn a Wildlife Biology degree. After college, he would like to return to his home in Marana, Arizona and become an Arizona Game & Fish officer. He says it would be great to be assigned to the Silver Bell Mountain area.
Josh is grateful for the $1,000 scholarship awarded to him and becoming a member of the Silver Bell Historical Society.
Preston G. Anway
Preston, who lives in St. David, Arizona, will be his starting his second year at Cochise College in Sierra Vista, Arizona. He is planning to transfer to the University of Arizona campus at Sierra Vista after this school year to earn his bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in business administration.
Preston’s Silver Bell heritage includes his grandmother, Ella Anway. Her father was Norman Chadburn who is his great grandfather. His grandmother grew up in Silver Bell and eventually married David Anway.
Preston received a $1,000 scholarship from the Silver Bell Historical Society and is now a member of SBHS.
Maya S. Garcia
Maya is a graduate of Marana High School and lives in Tucson. She will be attending Pima Community College’s Northwest Campus and will study art. She would like one day to become a college art professor.
Maya enjoys a legacy of many generations of Silver Bell residents, including Delaine Tinsley (great grandmother), Dennis Tinsley (great grandfather), Patricia Tinsley (grandmother), Denise Tinsley (great aunt), Lee Tinsley (great-great uncle), Gordon Walker (great-great grandfather), and Robert Walker (great-great-great grandfather).
She is now a member of the Silver Bell Historical Society, which awarded her a $1,000 scholarship.
