Learn about in Oro Valley town history and founding its families often times told by local historians and family members of George Pusch and Jack Procter.
On October 18, 2025, OVHS marked its 20th anniversary as a champion of Greater Oro Valley history. Enjoy this short video featuring OVHS founding members, longtime supporters, and Town Council representatives. The celebration concluded with a ribbon‑cutting led by Mayor Joe Winfield. Filmed by Mark Headley, Producer, Production Manager, Director on October 18, 2025.
A big thank you to Kenny Darr of KGUN 9 News for highlighting the Oro Valley Historical Society, Steam Pump Ranch, and the Pusch House Museum. OVHS marks 20 years of Sharing the Past, Enriching the Present, Inspiring the Future! URL is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45-JdCzcWiA
Explore the origins and evolution of the Empire Ranch, located in Sonoita, AZ, through the story of Walter Vail and the families who followed. Empire Ranch Foundation board member Marti Conroy traces the ranch’s growth from a modest homestead in the 1870s into a vast and influential cattle operation. Through personal details and historical milestones, including mining ventures, family life, and changing ownership, the narrative brings Arizona’s ranching heritage to life. Discover how generations of families helped shape one of southern Arizona’s most iconic historic landscapes. Video Date: October 6, 2025. Find more details about Empire Ranch and how to visit them in Sonoita, Arizona!
In Part Two, Marti Conroy explains that Empire Ranch continues to thrive today through preservation, education, and community engagement. Her account highlights the efforts of the Empire Ranch Foundation and its partners to restore historic buildings, offer educational programs, and host public events that celebrate western heritage. From school programs to festivals and volunteer work, the ranch remains a living link between past and present. Video Date: October 6, 2025. Find more details about Empire Ranch and how to visit them in Sonoita, Arizona!
Mary Jo McMullen, Tohono Chul volunteer and Tucson Museum of Art docent, educated and introduced the Oro Valley Historical Society and other community members to an introduction of the people who lived in the Tucson Valley 1,500 years ago. Mary Jo discussed their culture through the artifacts they left behind — pottery, jewelry, petroglyphs, clothing, and acid-etched shells — and discover their remarkable craft traditions. Filmed by Mark Headley, Producer, Production Manager, Director on November 19, 2025.
Allen Denoyer, Preservation Archaeologist with Archaeology Southwest, explains how the Hohokam—ancestors of the Tohono O’odham—constructed their homes in Southern Arizona. The replica is modeled after structures uncovered during excavations at Honeybee Village in the Rancho Vistoso area. See the replica in the Heritage Garden at Steam Pump Ranch in Oro Valley, Arizona. Thank you to Pima Community College, Archaeology Southwest, and the Oro Valley Historical Society for the production of this video. This video can also be viewed at Pima CC website.
Watch excavations of AD 1000 Hohokam homes and learn how this agricultural society lived through the artifacts and structures they left behind. Narrated by Henry Wallace of Desert Archaeology.
Pat Spoerl, archaeologist and Oro Valley Historical Society co-founder, explores the construction of the George Pusch adobe house, restored to its 1870s–1920s appearance. She also highlights later additions by the Procter-Leiber family and the ranch’s 2007 acquisition and later restoration by the Town of Oro Valley. Thank you to Pima Community College, Pat Spoerl and OVHS for the production of this video. This video can also be viewed at Pima CC website.
In field studies of the Gold Basin area in Mohave County, Arizona, a team including Jim Kriegh, John Blennert and Twink Monrad recovered more than 2,000 meteorites, and they weighed, photographed, and labeled each one! Learn more about meteorites and the Gold Basin discovery.
Twink Monrad recalls meeting Jim Kriegh and his wife, his career as a Civil Engineering professor at the University of Arizona, his shift from metal detecting to meteorite hunting leading to the Gold Basin discovery, his use of engineering skills to help neighbors during floods, and his key role in completing the El Conquistador hotel in just 11 months.
This February 23, 2021, interview by Joel Woppert from the Town of Oro Valley captures John and Cheryl Leiber sharing firsthand memories of life at Steam Pump Ranch. John Leiber is a descendant of Hank Leiber, Major League Baseball player and husband of Betty Procter, daughter of ranch owner Jack Procter—underscoring the family's deep connection to the historic property.
Dick Eggerding builds a legacy of Art, Community, and Vision in Oro Valley. This is a rich and personal oral history recounting his journey that reflects a deep commitment to enriching lives through the arts and leaving a legacy of beauty, education, and civic pride.
In March 2022, the Town of Oro Valley recorded a video interview with Vivian Weede and her sons, Bob Jr., John, and Tom, highlighting the cultural legacy of Bob Sr. and Vivian Weede. As professional opera singers, the Weedes enriched Southern Arizona by bringing classical music and arts education to schools. In 1997, Bob Sr. co-founded the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council—now SAACA—helping establish a lasting foundation for arts advocacy and community engagement.
In January 2023, the Town of Oro Valley interviewed Donna Landon about the legacy of her late husband, Lou Landon. As the visionary behind Oro Valley Country Club Estates, Lou played a key role in shaping one of the town’s first and most iconic residential communities, known for its blend of natural beauty and thoughtful design.
An Interview with Henry “Hank” G. Zipf Grandson of George and Mathilda Pusch (son of Henry W. Zipf and Gertrude Pusch-Zipf) Join us as Hank reminisces about ranch life, Harold Bell Wright’s The Mine with the Iron Door (later filmed at Oracle’s Linda Vista Ranch), the Procter-Leiber families, and more—including a mention of film star Tom Mix! Enjoy this unique glimpse into local history, family stories, and the ties between literature, film, and life in our region.
In February 2022, the Town of Oro Valley recorded an interview with the daughter of Jim and Catherine Reidy, early homesteaders in the area. Her reflections offer a personal glimpse into pioneer life and the Reidy family's role in the early development of what is now Oro Valley, Arizona. Learn more about The Rattlesnake Queen of Arizona, Catherine Reidy.
Capture a vivid glimpse into 1930s Arizona, demonstrating the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience of a pioneering female homesteader. This rare archival reel, “1934 Arizona’s Rattlesnake Queen”, was filmed on Catherine Reidy's homestead north of Tucson, AZ. The footage shows Mrs. Reidy actively handling, processing, and showcasing rattlesnakes as part of her rattlesnake business. Catherine Reidy earned the nickname “The Rattlesnake Queen of Arizona” after a Movietone News reel spotlighted her enterprise, which gained worldwide attention at the time. Learn more about The Rattlesnake Queen of Arizona, Catherine Reidy.
Step into the world of early Oro Valley through vivid family stories of George Pusch—cattleman, businessman, and civic leader told by his great-granddaughter. From humorous ranch anecdotes to the founding of key local enterprises and his role in Arizona’s path to statehood, Barbara McIntyre’s account captures both the grit and spirit of the era. Personal memories of ranch life, community traditions, and multi-generational ties bring history off the page and into lived experience. Explore the enduring legacy of a pioneer family that helped shape Oro Valley
In this talk, George Pusch’s great-granddaughter shares more personal stories that bring his life as an early Tucson rancher and businessman to life. She reflects on his journey west, his work building a cattle empire, and the values of generosity and respect that shaped his relationships and family. Through memories of her relatives and childhood visits to the ranch, Barbara McIntyre connects past and present in a vivid, heartfelt way. The story ultimately celebrates the lasting legacy of the Pusch family in Oro Valley.
Historian and former OVHS President Jim Williams leads this panel session that brings together longtime residents and community leaders to reflect on how Oro Valley has evolved over the past several decades. Through personal stories, speakers Dave Perry, Kathi Cuvelier, and Spencer Elliott trace the town’s transformation from a small, rural community into a growing, well-planned town shaped by annexation, economic development, and strong civic involvement. They highlight key factors behind its growth, such as safety, quality of life, and thoughtful governance, while also discussing challenges like rapid expansion and changing political dynamics. Overall, the conversation offers a lively, firsthand look at the people and decisions that have shaped modern Oro Valley.
This presentation features historian Jim Williams, who traces the early development of Oro Valley from its Native American roots through initial settlement and homesteading to the rise of large ranches and early suburbia. He emphasizes the challenges of isolation, limited resources, and cultural interactions that shaped the area, while organizing its growth into distinct “waves” of settlement. Williams highlights how geography, transportation, and economic shifts, especially the arrival of railroads and later air conditioning, gradually transformed Oro Valley from a remote frontier into a developing community by the mid-20th century.
In this presentation, Oro Valley historian and former Historical Society president Jim Williams examines the town’s growth from the post–World War II era to today. He discusses the successful incorporation of Oro Valley in 1974, its early challenges, and how annexation helped shape its expansion. Williams also highlights key turning points, including the preservation of Catalina State Park and efforts to protect historic sites like Steam Pump Ranch, while addressing ongoing issues such as growth and water resources.
In this talk, historian Jim Williams traces the long and layered history of Steam Pump Ranch, from its early days under German immigrant George Pusch to its later ownership and eventual preservation. He explains how the ranch reflects two distinct eras of ranching in Southern Arizona and highlights how changing land policies, economic pressures, and the end of open-range practices shaped its evolution. The story includes periods of growth, financial collapse, and new ownership before the property was ultimately saved as a historic site. Overall, it offers a concise but engaging look at how one ranch mirrors the broader history of the region.
Allen Denoyer from Archaeology Southwest takes us back over 2,000 years to explore Tucson’s earliest agricultural communities. In this fascinating talk, Allen uncovers the lives of the people who cultivated corn long before the iconic Hohokam civilization, showing how careful excavation and keen observation reveal their homes, canals, and fields buried beneath the floodplains. From the discovery of ancient corn varieties to the intricate layout of early irrigation systems, he brings to life a world where ingenuity and survival went hand in hand. Perfect for anyone curious about the hidden stories beneath our modern city, this presentation connects the past to the present in a deeply human way.
Barbara McIntyre, a third-generation Tucsonan and descendant of George Pusch, grew up exploring the desert, riding horses, and enjoying family adventures from backyard barbecues to camping trips. A lifelong teacher and storyteller, she has preserved her family’s history and Tucson heritage as a docent with the Oro Valley Historical Society. Her life blends deep roots, community service, and a love for sharing the stories that shaped her hometown.
Step inside the story of modern leadership in Oro Valley with former mayor and council member Dick Johnson. Johnson’s personal account reflects on the pivotal decisions that helped shape the town—including the creation of Naranja Town Park, the establishment of the Oro Valley Public Library, and the development of key community assets like Oro Valley Marketplace. Drawing on decades of leadership, from the United States Air Force to local government, he shares how vision, collaboration, and community values helped guide Oro Valley’s growth. It’s an inspiring look at the people and decisions that built the vibrant community residents enjoy today.
Oro Valley Historical Society celebrates Oro Valley’s 50th anniversary with former and current mayors: Joe Winfield, Paul Loomis, and Satish Hiremath, to reflect on the town’s growth, leadership, and key decisions that shaped the community. The conversation explores how Oro Valley evolved from a small town into a thriving community while balancing development, infrastructure, and quality of life.
Interested in the behind-the-scenes story of how Oro Valley came to be? In this fascinating first-person account, founder Jim Kriegh recounts the determination, political battles, and community spirit that transformed a quiet desert neighborhood into one of Southern Arizona’s most beloved towns. From resisting annexation by Tucson to building momentum with volunteers and landmark developments like the Hilton El Conquistador Tucson, Jim’s story reveals the passion and perseverance that shaped modern Oro Valley.
Discover the story of Oro Valley, from ancient Hohokam communities along the Cañada del Oro to the vibrant town that exists today at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Narrator Lisa Ann Glomb highlights key moments in the area’s history, including early ranching at Steam Pump Ranch by George Pusch and the town’s incorporation in 1974, while exploring how community efforts helped shape modern Oro Valley’s growth and quality of life. Filmed by Randy Metcalf and Shawnmarie Stanton.
