Living History Talk at Sedona Heritage Museum:  “Bringing Water to Sedona – Past & Present.”    The Sedona Historical Society is hosting the next in their 2010 series of Living History presentations on Wednesday April 7 at 9:00 a.m. at the Sedona Heritage Museum.    
    

The featured speakers will discuss how water was brought to Sedona by early settlers through the use of ditches and how some of those same ditches continue to be important today.  Paul Thompson, a third generation Arizona native and the grandson of John James Thompson, Sedona’s first permanent Anglo settler, will speak on the historic water and  irrigation systems in Oak Creek Canyon.  Thompson was born and raised on the family’s ranch home beside Oak Creek.  He went on to work as a surveyor during the building of the Interstate highway system and later was a ranger with the National Park Service.  He has an abiding interest in local history because of his family’s long history here.

Paul Kaiser, a Sedona resident, will speak about managing a historic ditch today and participating in a modern ditch association.  Kaiser lives on the Owenby Ditch and has experience as the ditch manager.  He is owner of a local business, Kick-n-Cast Foundry, and also has a long-time interest in local history.

After the program, Mr. Thompson and Mr. Kaiser will be available for questions and refreshments will be served.  This is a free public event.

Every year, the Sedona Historical Society presents a series of Living History talks.  Speakers will include descendants of pioneers, long-time residents with historical stories to share or other story-tellers about history.  The Sedona Historical Society also operates the Sedona Heritage Museum.  The Museum is located at 735 Jordan Road in Jordan Historical Park in Uptown Sedona and is open daily 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-7038.