1920s
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McCahan Memorial Chapel at
Christmas.
Patients enjoying the healthful
Arizona air outside Osborne
Cottage Medical Clinic.
As seen in this later photograph,
Marguerite Colley began a Desert
Mission tradition when she gave
the first "Sunshine Box," a
Christmas-time gift box of food
for the holidays, to struggling
families in 1921. This tradition
continues today through the
Desert Mission Food Bank Adopt
A Family program.
1920s - By the 1920s, Sunnyslope had grown into a small community of prospectors, homesteaders, beekeepers, an occasional writer, musician, philosopher and various others. Some came to the desert because of their ill health, still others to pursue their dreams to build new lives and a future for their families.
1920 - First commercial radio broadcast.
1920 - The 19th Amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote.
1920 - Earle Dickson invented the Band-Aid® for his wife, an accomplished but accident-prone cook.
1920 - Elizabeth Beatty, a retired railroad stenographer who moved to Arizona with her sister, began working with Marguerite Colley. Elizabeth organized local women's groups and raised money to help Marguerite provide needed health care and social services to the indigent sick in Sunnyslope. Together, the two became known as the "Angels of the Desert."
1921 - Warren Harding was inaugurated as President of the United States.
1921 - Under the direction of Elizabeth Beatty, local women's groups furnished turkey dinners to a number of bed-ridden residents of the Sunnyslope health camps for Thanksgiving. At Christmas, shoe boxes covered with brightly colored paper and filled with home-made candies, cakes and popcorn balls were distributed in the health camp by Frank Hilgeman, a local rancher chosen to play Santa Claus. Desert Mission Food Bank's annual Turkey Drive and Adopt A Family programs continue the tradition of this early day charity.
1923 - Invention of the television by Vladimir Zworkin, U.S.
1925 - W. D. Himebaugh, a lay Presbyterian missionary, organized a Sunday School in the home of one of Sunnyslope's convalescents.
1927 - Charles Lindbergh flew solo from New York to Paris.
1927 - The Reverend Joseph N. Hillhouse began working to develop the mission at Sunnyslope, eventually becoming Desert Mission's first administrator.
1927 - In his travels throughout the state and across the country, Himebaugh spoke of the needs of the sick, drawing attention to Sunnyslope from as far away as Pennsylvania. Sarah McCahan, a wealthy laywoman from Philadelphia, sponsored the building of a permanent chapel. She donated $750, and Clarence and Nancy Gould, local Sunnyslope residents, contributed two lots at what is now the northwest corner of Eva and Fourth Streets. On October 3, 1927, dedication ceremonies were held for the McCahan Memorial Chapel. Henceforth, the mission would formally be known as Desert Mission.
1928 - Sir Alexander Fleming discovered the world's first antibiotic, penicillin.
1929 - Herbert Hoover was inaugurated as President of the United States.
1929 - The New York Stock Market crashed to an all- time low on Oct 29, 1929 (Black Tuesday). The Great Depression began.
1929 - The Arizona Biltmore opened, the first major resort hotel in Phoenix.
1929 - Reverend Hillhouse quickly realized that the needs of his parish went far beyond the spiritual. He outlined the physical needs of his parish in countless letters sent all over the country and in talks given to Phoenix residents. His efforts resulted in numerous donations that helped begin needed building projects at Desert Mission. As a result, Osborne Cottage was erected and used as the first medical clinic in Sunnyslope by volunteer physician Fred Holmes, MD, and his associates. One room was supplied with dental equipment, allowing visiting dentists to treat children.
1929 - Dedication ceremonies were held for the Phoenix Knights of the Round Table Library, the first public library in Sunnyslope. By the mid-1950s, when it was taken over by Maricopa County, the library housed 17,000 books.
1929 - Elizabeth Beatty and Mrs. Evert Williams, a convalescent living in Dreamy Draw, formed the Sunnyslope Aid Society, which later became the North Side Welfare Association.
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