Skull Valley Depot Museum
The Skull Valley Depot Museum is located next to the local two-room school. It is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and displaying artifacts and documents that focus on people and activities in the town and the area surrounding Skull Valley. The photo collection spotlights local people as well as railroad activities in the area.
The museum displays artifacts and documents on the grounds, in the depot, and in an old section house. The depot and section house were moved to the site from other nearby locations.
Volunteers insure that it is open to the public from 2-4PM every Sunday from early June until late in the fall.
Newspapers and Magazines
Yavapai Magazine "Skull Valley Number" Oct. 1914; photocopy of cover and pages on Skull Valley
File on the Skull Valley Museum Annual Newsletter: probably begun in the 1970s. It contains information on those who operate the museum, lists artifacts donated, activities, etc.
Documents
On display, the original of the Skull Valley School Census, 1896-1928
Vertical Files
- Scrapbook on the Ehle family and descendants: donated by Peter and Karen Plante of Mesa, Arizona
There are approximately sixty pages of this photocopied family history. There is a narrative and genealogical charts.
- Skull Valley school diploma, Elizabeth Curry, 1931, Skull Valley School
- Files with letters from old timers: Most of these were written in the1990s. There are about 15 letters, varying in length.
- Mona Ruby Arnold, , small file
- Ducher file: history of the general store, 10 pages by Ethel Metzger, no date. There are several pages on the Post Office as well.
- Fort McPherson: various primary and secondary documents
- Maps: copies, local, county and two USGS
- Edna Ballew 2 pp, 1987 recollections
- History Santa Fe RR, approximately 5 articles from secondary sources
- USDPS: info on RR, copy of 1971 letter and other miscellaneous information
- School (several folders)
Mimeographed cookbook done by the school, no year, grades, 3,4,5,6 Mrs. Lee Palmer, teacher
Copy of information on what is in the school, clippings on the school
Former student information, including old report cards, papers, letters, etc., approximately 30-50 pieces
School Board, District 15, 1958-80, various information, not complete
Miscellaneous information, records, minutes of meetings, 1930s, two books
Miscellaneous newsletters
"Yavapai County Consolidation Feasibility Survey of Four School Districts, October 16, 1970
Kirkland, Peeples Valley, Skull Valley, Hillside"-also has notes on consolidation
- Ghost Railroads of Central Arizona, John W. Sayre, 1985, book, some information on Skull Valley
- Miscellaneous Post Office information, clippings, etc., 15 pieces, later 1900s
- Skull Valley Depot: clippings, most are copies of primary information
- Talks by Ken Kimsey, F. B. Yount
- Skull Valley Historical Society
AZ Corp Comm., Constitution of Skull Valley Historical Society, 1971
Skull Valley Historical Society, miscellaneous letters, notes
Skull Valley Museum meeting minutes 1970-73 and other miscellaneous information
- Newspaper clippings, 1980s, on this area
- Skull Valley Store clippings, 1970s, miscellaneous
- Fire Dept., small with miscellaneous information
- Cocopai RC&D area, southern Yavapai County, 1970s, small pieces of information, report
- File on organ in Museum, copy of Polaroids, a two page typed sheet: the organ was made in 1867
- Pioneers: 1992, miscellaneous information on older locals
- Miscellaneous clippings on Ritters, Rigdens
- Miscellaneous file on Annual Pioneers Day
- Skull Valley Churches, clippings, secondary information, funeral cards
- Information on fly-ins to church
- Miscellaneous brochures on the Dons of Arizona
- Chamber of Commerce, information from 1990
Photos
Stored
Many photos are well identified with regard to subject names, locations and dates.
- Train wrecks, approximately 20, from 1914, 1918, 1920, the 1950s and 1963
- Railroads, approximately 15-1887 from the time of the first train to steam into Prescott, Jan 1, 1887-photos to the end of the twentieth century-most are well identified
- Skull Valley Depot Museum, approximately 10: Photos of the Depot at its original location as well as photos of the move to the present site (early 1970s). There are several photos from the 1990s.
- Section House: It was moved to its present location in June 1991. 5 photos from move to present
- Russell Garage: several photos from the 1930s
- General Store, approximately 15 taken between 1916 and the 1990s
- Cafe: Three photos: 1965, 1970
- Gas station, 5 photos, 1960s to 1990s
- Quilt Show, 1993, 8 photos
- Yavapai County Fair Skull Valley exhibit, 1993, 7 photos
- Ranches Van Dickson ranch in the 1930s-8 photos
Bolden, Laura Helena and Ralph, around 1909-approximately 15 photos
Stepp: 6 photos
Duncan, Roscoe and Edith, 1 photo
- Churches, 6 photos, second half of the twentieth century
- Barney and Margaret Edward, 4 photos from 1923
- Raber, Walter (garage?), 2 photos, 1961
- A.J. Laswell, 2 photos, 1930s
- Shupp family, approximately 35photos, turn of last century, 1915, 1940
- Verner and Norma Frances Anderson Holly family (depot agent and telegrapher) , approximately 7 photos, 1910s
- Groups of people, approximately 25photos, throughout twentieth century
- Coughran and Curry family, 2 photos
- Phippen's art gallery in Skull Valley. 4 photos: 1960s, 1970s
- Skull Valley School, approximately 20: 1900 through 1960s
- Gibson family, 4 photos, turn of the century
- Floods in Skull Valley: 2 photos: 1914, 1915
- Mines, 3 photos: 1914
- Rodeo: 4 photos, 1914
Photos displayed in the museum
- Skunks (local baseball team), 1955-68 years of great success for the team
- Satellite views of Kirkland and Skull Valley
- Fashion Show
- School picture, 1925-26
- Depot picture from Sharlot Hall Museum
- Large display (12 photos) done by Edith Poulso, copies of black and white and color photos of
- Museum
They also display some of George Phippen's work.
