Early in the 20th century, the abduction of 40 Irish orphans from their Mexican foster families in Clifton created a legal battle heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Douglas Towne, Author at PHOENIX magazine
HistoryHistory: Into the Wild
Douglas TowneSeptember 21, 2021
Ruess wandered Depression-era Arizona, capturing its beauty, until he mysteriously vanished in southeastern Utah.
Historical landmarks are scant in Phoenix and recent demos raise a troubling question: What’s the impact if an owner neglected the property intentionally?
An enormous salt deposit sitting beneath Luke Airforce Base helped spice up the West Valley’s postwar economy and still serves several vital purposes today.
Valley NewsLand Zo: Luke Air Force Base Distributes Bottled Water in the Wake of Groundwater Contamination
Douglas TowneMay 4, 2021
Luke Air Force Base is distributing bottled water to nearby residents due to groundwater contamination – but the problem can’t be washed away.
HistoryHattie Mosher’s Riches to Rags Story
Douglas TowneMarch 25, 2021
Hattie Mosher was a progressive force in early Phoenix until construction debacles and frivolous tax protests over road improvements left her destitute.
HistoryPhoenix’s Commercial Fishing Industry
Douglas TowneJanuary 15, 2021
A Great Depression-era government program launched a commercial fishing industry in the Salt River lakes that thrived for three decades.
HistoryGridiron Politics: The History of the Fiesta Bowl
Douglas TowneNovember 28, 2020
The University of Arizona Wildcats’ unsporting demand before the 1968 Territorial Cup led to the inaugural Fiesta Bowl.
Valley NewsLand Zo: Kenect’s Live-Work-Play-Learn Hybrid Creates a Niche in Downtown Phoenix
Douglas TowneOctober 26, 2020
Kenect combines a social club with stylish apartments.
Four major highways coalesced in a neon spectacle to create Phoenix’s most exciting street. Then Van Buren went dark.
FeaturesHistoryCopper State, Red Lines: The Long Battle Against Racial Injustice in Phoenix
Douglas TowneAugust 19, 2020
The African American experience in Phoenix has been a long battle against racial injustice involving school, housing and business segregation.
A disc jockey lived in a car atop a flagpole in Phoenix for seven months, seeking fame and fortune.
FeaturesHistoryDeja Virus: The 1918 Spanish Flu’s striking parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic
Douglas TowneJune 24, 2020
The 1918 Spanish influenza hit Arizona in four waves, shut down Phoenix twice and had striking parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Valley NewsLand Zo: Chandler’s Bad Buzz
Douglas TowneApril 25, 2020
A peculiar hum emanating from a data center torments Chandler residents.
Valley NewsForeign Intrigue
Douglas TowneMarch 26, 2020
Sky Harbor is rolling out the red carpet for more international flights.