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Save
the Yuma Territorial Prison!
Groups have opportunity to join Yuma Territorial
Prison’s Chain Gang
Between 1876 and 1909, this penitentiary housed many
of Arizona's most dangerous and notorious criminals.
Famed in movies, literature and television, the
remains of the Yuma Territorial State Prison is now
Arizona's most visited State Historic Park. The
cells, main gate and guard tower have endured as
grim reminders of frontier justice. Museum exhibits
document the story of the prison.
It’s an all too familiar story. A worthy cause
mobilizes community members to right a wrong, take
back their streets or save a treasured landmark.
Sometimes “it takes a village.” In Yuma, Arizona,
home of the famed Yuma Territorial Prison, it takes
a “chain gang.”
The
Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area is announcing a
campaign to save the Yuma Territorial Prison. The
prison is on the list of 13 state parks Arizona
officials are closing in response to budget cuts
enacted late last year.
Charles Flynn, Executive Director of the Heritage
Area, announced last week that the agency would step
forward to operate the prison with the hope that the
Yuma community would step forward in the next 60
days to match the $50,000 his agency has pledged.
“Many individuals have stepped forward asking how
they can help,” stated Flynn. We are asking them to
mail contributions (made payable to “YCNHA” and mark
“Save the Prison Fund” in the memo field) to YCNHA
c/o The Foothills Bank, 2285 S. 4th
Avenue, Yuma, Arizona, Yuma, AZ 85364. Groups
wanting to help raise money are asked to become part
of the Territorial Prison Chain Gang
described as follows:
A group determines they would like to help save
the prison in their own way. They might want to
sell handmade art with depictions of the prison;
hold a bake sale, create a fundraising event, or
a door-to-door campaign.
The group registers in the program, and receives
an official endorsement and marketing materials
to assist them in their efforts.
The
group is asked to invite another group to “link”
to their program. This group then creates their
own way of raising funds. After this new group
links to their chain, they are asked to
introduce another group to their chain, and so
on.
A “lifer” is selected by the Heritage Area to
head each chain. “Lifers” will keep the groups
in their chain encouraged and provide support
when needed. Each chain may have twenty links as
a result of the care of this one “lifer.”
There may be more than 40 chains with 20 links, all
holding a variety of fundraisers throughout the Yuma
area. The Chain and the group that raises the most
money by March 10, 2010 (the 3:10 to Yuma
fundraising event at the prison) will receive a
variety of prizes including overnight camping stays
at the prison, annual passes and entrance fees to
planned special events. The Chain Gang will be
immortalized in a mural on the wall of the
Territorial Prison. Each group that helped will have
their place on the wall.
CHAIN
GANG FUNDRAISING EVENTS The Yuma Territorial Prison Chain Gang
members should be proud of themselves. They,
along with business and individual donors, have
provided funding for the save the prison
fundraising program to a tune of $33,000 in less
than 30 days!
Through Mar. 29 - K.I.D.S. Cuddlekit Closet
This local non-profit group is selling 6
different commemorative prints of the prison and
100% of the proceeds will be donated to the
prison. Photographer Julie Evans is donating the
photographs for this project. K.I.D.S. recently
authored and published a book that includes a
page about the prison. For photos of the prints
and place an order, visit
www.cuddlekit.org or call 928-373-8152.
Through Feb. 27 - Burritos and Champagne
Brunch at Phantom Wash The Yuma County Historical Society is
raffling a brunch at Phantom Wash for you and 19
of your closest friends. You will be caravanned
up to the wash where a brunch awaits and
champagne will be served in a commemorative
flute. Drawing will be held Feb. 27th. $5 per
ticket or 5 tickets for $20. Purchase tickets at
the Yuma County Historical Society located at
the Sanguinetti house, 240 S. Madison Avenue,
Yuma, AZ 85364 or call 928-782-1841.
Through Mar. 1 - Raffle tickets, $5 per ticket
Hundreds of vendors at the Yuma River Daze
Festival, as well as other local businesses,
have donated prizes for the $5 raffle tickets.
The tickets may be purchased at 180 W. 1st
Street, Suite C in Yuma. They are also available
at the free Sunday Concert Series at the
Quartermaster Depot each Sunday until March 1st.
Call 928-782-5712 for more information. Winners
will be called and also posted on
www.savetheprison.com after 3/1/2010.
Through Mar. 29 - Yuma’s Next Generation
Leadership Council
Yuma’s Next Generation Leadership is accepting
donations on their website to help Save the
Prison!
www.nexgenyuma.com
Feb. 26 - Cell Block Party on Main Street
All day block party with food, live
entertainment, Guitar Hero contest, and
vendors. Classic cars and motorcycles on
display. Restaurants will be serving special
cell block and drink specials. Live
entertainment includes ‘Tommy & the Drifters’, ‘Mellobean’,
‘Continental Trio’, and the ‘Cell Tones’. A
guitar hero contest will take place with all
proceeds benefitting the prison.
Feb. 28 - Free Sunday Concert Series at
Quartermaster Depot
Featuring the Two Balloons, this free concert
offers an opportunity visit the new visitors
center and enjoy local entertainment. Donations
accepted for the prison.
Feb. 28 - The Cindy Klein Memorial Handbell
Choir & Chancel Choir
4:00 pm at the Trinity United Methodist Church,
3030 E. 8th Avenue. No charge for admission and
a freewill offering will be taken. The proceeds
collected by the Handbell Choir will be donated
to the “Save the Prison Fund.”
Mar. 6 - The Outlaws of Yuma performance
Outlaws of Yuma will perform at the Yuma Park &
Swap, 4000 S 4th Avenue, 11:00 am, noon & 1:00
pm to raise money for the prison.
Mar. 6 - Yuma Desert Runners
Save the Prison Territorial Trek. 3 mile trail
walk/run & 10 mile endurance walk/run.
Quartermaster Depot 201 N. 4th Avenue Yuma.
$15/adults, $5/kids (15 and under). 7am
check-in, 8am start time. For more information,
see
www.yumadesertrunners.com . Register at
active.com. 100% of the proceeds benefit the
prison.
Mar. 10 - '3:10 to Yuma' Event
The Yuma Territorial Prison will be open for a
very special day and evening of activities. The
event will feature free admission from
12:00-5:00pm and will feature live
entertainment, chain gang members displaying
their merchandise, and a silent auction. The
doors will close at 5:00 pm and reopen for a
dining event at 6:00 pm. The ticket for the
evening event is $31 and includes appetizers,
drinks, a Johnny Cash “Folsom Prison” act, a
live auction, a special nod to Hollywood and
more opportunities to purchase merchandise from
chain gang members.
Mar. 10 - Yuma High School Crims
The Crims are going to 'build' an old-fashioned
blue-and-white paper chain. For a $5.00
donation, you may buy three blue and three white
links for this chain (you may certainly buy more
links if you want!). Hopefully the chain will
be long enough to surround the Prison's front
yard when all the festivities take place on
March 10 celebrating the generosity of people
like yourselves who raised the funds necessary
to keep the Prison open. Checks should be made
payable to Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area
(YCNHA). (Indicate "Save the Prison Fund" in
the memo field.) Please mail your donations
to: Carolyn Hoffmeyer, 3606 West 12th Place,
Yuma, AZ 85364. Include the year you graduated
(were paroled?) from YHS. If you're the family
or a friend of Yuma High, indicate. In order to
'build' and hang the chain by 3-10 (as in "3:10
to Yuma"!), please purchase your links by March
3.
Mar. 13 - Beta Sigma Phi- Eta Nu Chapter
Beta Sigma Phi- Eta Nu Chapter will be doing a
takeover from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Brewer’s
Restaurant, 2331 S Avenue B. 10% of sales and
tips going to ‘Save The Prison’.
Mar. 14 - The Outlaws of Yuma performance Outlaws of Yuma will perform at the Yuma
Park & Swap, 4000 S 4th Avenue, 11:00 am & 11:45
am to raise money for the prison.
Mar. 19 - Pull thru for the Prison
Pull thru for the prison at the Foothills Bank,
2285 S 4th Avenue Yuma, AZ from 11:00 am to 9:00
pm. Volunteers will compete to raise the most
money during their 2-hour time slot. It’s Crims
(alumni) vs Crims (current) vs teachers vs
public service workers vs elected officials.
Mar. 20 - The Outlaws of Yuma performance
Outlaws of Yuma will perform at the Yuma Park &
Swap, 4000 S 4th Avenue, 11:00 am, noon & 1:00
pm to raise money for the prison.
Mar. 20 - Taste of Yuma Fund Raiser
Event is from 6pm to 10pm at the Pivot Point
Conference Center - 200 N. Madison. Yuma AZ
featuring tasty selections from some of Yuma's
favorite restaurants! $30 per ticket includes
entertainment, silent auction, and a cash bar.
Tickets are on sale at the Hilton Garden Inn 310
N. Madison. Call 928-785-1855 for additional
information
Mar. 28 - The Outlaws of Yuma performance
Outlaws of Yuma will perform at the Yuma Park &
Swap, 4000 S 4th Avenue, 11:00 am & 11:45 am to
raise money for the prison.
Ongoing - Scentsy Candles
Melissa Carter is doing a fundraiser for the
Yuma Territorial Prison through her website
http://Cherishedscents.scentsy.us .There is
a link on the left hand side of the page that
says "Yuma Territorial Prison Fundraiser.” Click
on that before you purchase so the fundraiser
gets the credit. All raised proceeds will go to
saving the prison.
Big Blend
Radio - Tina Clark, Yuma historian and Susan
Sternitzke of the Yuma Heritage Area, were featured
guests on Way Back When radio on February 5, 2010.
To meet the rest of the guests and listen to the
entire show, please
click here.
To listen to Tina and Susan's interview, please
double click on the Play Button below.
For more information about the Yuma Territorial
Prison Chain Gang, call Susan Sternitzke at (928)
782-5712 or email
SusanS@YumaHeritage.com . The
Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area office is
located at 180 W. 1st Street, Yuma,
Arizona 85364. Learn more at
www.YumaHeritage.comVisit
www.SavethePrison.com to help!
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Save
the Yuma Territorial Prison!
The
Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area is announcing a
campaign to save the Yuma Territorial Prison. The
CHAIN
GANG FUNDRAISING EVENTS
