In 1912, the first year of Arizona's statehood, rural Verde Valley was home to enterprising ranchers and farmers who raised cattle, crops ─ and children. These children needed a school. So just as they mail-ordered supplies from the Sears catalog, the community mail-ordered a teacher. Elsie Hayes, a college graduate, came from a world of concerts and literary clubs. The teacher's tiny shack in Cornvillle was a far cry from her family's lovely home in Long Beach, California. This cultured young woman drank water from an irrigation ditch, bathed in Oak Creek, and taught in a one-room schoolhouse to children first considered "common," but with whom she soon developed a mutual love. Though she had come to Arizona feeling a bit superior to these "backwoods" folks, her emotions transformed into admiration and respect, and the untamed wilderness became "breathtaking and glorious." IN THIS TRUE STORY, Elsie's 100-year-old journals, photographs and detailed letters home paint a picture of a time and place that has since faded, and give insight into the early history of Cornville and Williams, Arizona. Even more than this, they are a vivid portrayal of colorful adventure, tragedy, and a heartbreaking story of lost love.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
“I love and still love Arizona….” The detailed, well-crafted, handwritten manuscript did not appear to be the work of someone who was almost 97 years old. It was author and educator Elsie Reed Hayes Roberts’ final manuscript, but was a project never she unfortunately never completed. A year after Elsie’s death, I discovered this manuscript nestled among her many published short stories and articles. Never before had she written anything that stirred me like this unfinished story of love and adventure in the early state of Arizona. Obviously, these three years in her early twenties had been an unforgettable time for her. While doing research I came across a tape recording Elsie had made for the Jerome Historical Society. On the tape she said in closing, “I don’t see how people who have lived in Arizona’s Verde Valley or the mountains, even briefly, can bear to live in a real city.” Elsie in fact lived in a “real city” for most of her 71 years after she left Arizona. Perhaps she lived on memories of her time in Oak Creek Canyon and Williams, memories kept fresh by re-reading her daily journals and letters to her family. I have left her letters and diary in this manuscript as she wrote them, editing out unrelated events. I used additional narrative from her cassette tapes, manuscripts , recollections by her former students, and newspaper accounts. Arizona from 1913 to 1916 was a wild and wonderful place. For those of you who enjoy a grand sense of adventure I want to give you Elsie’s memories of the fledgling state of Arizona as seen through the eyes of this delightful, spirited, young teacher. I hope you enjoy her memoirs as much as I have.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
77 of 79 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Excited, cannot describe the thrill I felt when I read "Elsie", by Barbara Anne Waite. You see, "Little Eva", so accurately described in the book, was my mother. I can remember my "Mom" speaking often of her favorite teacher, Miss Hayes. I can remember the fondness in my Mom's eyes and hear the affection in her voice as she told about Miss Hayes. I believe it was in 1999 when my Mom passed away, so to hear her stories anew through the letters and diaries found in the book has brought back many fond memories.
I too, grew up on the same ranch and spent a great deal of time in the same house and "shack" where "Elsie" had lived. I too, rode horseback to many of the same places "Elsie" rode, swam in the same creek as "Elsie", and am familiar with most of the places described in the book. The places described in the book are exactly as I remember them to be as well.
Barbara Waite writes "Most people have heard the expression, "Even if I live to a hundred, I'll never forget. . ." My mother lived to 95 years old and had never forgotten Miss Hayes. I am now 71 and I think I too will never forget "Mom's" stories of Miss Hayes. Barbara Waite writes so accurately of the impact Miss Hayes has made on those she came in contact. Though Elsie was much before my time, I too have felt her influence on myself. I believe you too, as a reader of "Elsie", will find these same traits will impact you as well.
I too, grew up on the same ranch and spent a great deal of time in the same house and "shack" where "Elsie" had lived. I too, rode horseback to many of the same places "Elsie" rode, swam in the same creek as "Elsie", and am familiar with most of the places described in the book. The places described in the book are exactly as I remember them to be as well.
Barbara Waite writes "Most people have heard the expression, "Even if I live to a hundred, I'll never forget. . ." My mother lived to 95 years old and had never forgotten Miss Hayes. I am now 71 and I think I too will never forget "Mom's" stories of Miss Hayes. Barbara Waite writes so accurately of the impact Miss Hayes has made on those she came in contact. Though Elsie was much before my time, I too have felt her influence on myself. I believe you too, as a reader of "Elsie", will find these same traits will impact you as well.
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Well there was this cowboy..." corrals your attention on the first page of Elsie: Adventures of an Arizona Schoolteacher. Writing a biography requires not just a talented author, but also a compelling subject. Barbara Anne Waite's book about three years in her grandmother's life have both. Published to coincide with Arizona's centennial, the book discloses the social and economic climate during the early 20th century. It captures Elsie's sense of adventure, optimism and self-assurance. The reader is quickly absorbed in the story.
Cultured, college-educated, Elsie, who hails from a well-to-do California family, sets out in 1913 for her first job in an isolated, rural town. We learn from letters to her family how she adapts to teaching grammar school in a one-room schoolhouse and comes to love Arizona. She bathes in Oak Creek, rides horses and revels in her students. Ever the social butterfly, she quickly makes friends. She falls in love and suffers personal tragedy. Taking the challenge of teaching seriously, she soon works her way up to larger schools and high school classes. She is a no-nonsense woman full of pluck and resourcefulness.
A year after her grandmother's death, the author found her diary. "I loved and still love Arizona," Elsie says of her three years there. Waite clearly "gets" her grandmother and portrays her life and emotions clearly. Waite's website states that her research consisted of not only Elsie's letters and diaries, but also personal narratives on cassette tapes, manuscripts, interviews with her former students and newspaper accounts.
Biographies are often so overloaded with detail that the reader flips pages to find the interesting parts. Not so with this highly readable book. Elsie's letters are fascinating. They are interspersed with photographs, illustrations, diary excerpts and author explanations. Footnotes bolster the historical context.
Elsie lives and breathes books and words. She inspired her students to love literature. You will cheer this unique, fascinating individual.
Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
Cultured, college-educated, Elsie, who hails from a well-to-do California family, sets out in 1913 for her first job in an isolated, rural town. We learn from letters to her family how she adapts to teaching grammar school in a one-room schoolhouse and comes to love Arizona. She bathes in Oak Creek, rides horses and revels in her students. Ever the social butterfly, she quickly makes friends. She falls in love and suffers personal tragedy. Taking the challenge of teaching seriously, she soon works her way up to larger schools and high school classes. She is a no-nonsense woman full of pluck and resourcefulness.
A year after her grandmother's death, the author found her diary. "I loved and still love Arizona," Elsie says of her three years there. Waite clearly "gets" her grandmother and portrays her life and emotions clearly. Waite's website states that her research consisted of not only Elsie's letters and diaries, but also personal narratives on cassette tapes, manuscripts, interviews with her former students and newspaper accounts.
Biographies are often so overloaded with detail that the reader flips pages to find the interesting parts. Not so with this highly readable book. Elsie's letters are fascinating. They are interspersed with photographs, illustrations, diary excerpts and author explanations. Footnotes bolster the historical context.
Elsie lives and breathes books and words. She inspired her students to love literature. You will cheer this unique, fascinating individual.
Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
True to life story that helped you feel like you were in 'early America' based on actual documents of a young lady teaching school and living life in the early history of Arizona. A time when people sent eggs thru the mail, and the social life involved waiting eagerly for the next dance held in the schoolhouse attended by neighbors & cowboys from the area, and visits to the grand canyon. After reading this book myself, I also ordered several to give as gifts, and I've been told they are books that have become treasured stories. I had also downloaded it onto my iphone, and while driving thru Hurricaine like weather, my daughter & I took turns driving while the other was reading to the kids (ages 10 & 14), to take their minds off the scary, stormy weather occuring outside the car. Each & every picture had to be shared with them, and exclaimed upon. Each new occurance in the story had to be discussed thoroughly. They loved hearing about Elsie swimming in her dress, teaching children who wore no shoes, riding horses to travel, and decorating their shack to make it homey & livable, while waiting eagerly for the next bundle of mail from their families. So interesting to see what they made do with to create & share their meals with their cowboy friends. As much as I love all the current conviences during this time of my life, I loved hearing about Elsie's adventures in travel & teaching, & it made me wish I could have been there with her!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
so -so
I loved the idea. Thought I'd love the book. I just couldn't keep track of what, when and whom. It was a well-written book just not one I could get into. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Amy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Women's History
Love these real diaries and letters....I sent it to my Aunt Goldie as soon as I finished it, she knew the area and actually attended a one-room schoolhouse as a child.
Published 8 days ago by B. A. Haeberle
5.0 out of 5 stars
A view from abroad - I loved the book
Für das Verde Valley im neu gegründeten Staat Arizona wurden dringend Lehrer gesucht. Elsie Hayes und ihre Kollegin Marguerite waren abenteuerlustig genug, sich gemeinsam... Read more
Published 12 days ago by Buchdoktor
5.0 out of 5 stars
a beautiful true story
The author is the granddaughter of the main character. Her story is based on the grandmother's journals and kept letters. An enjoyable read!
Published 13 days ago by Cynthia Hoelscher
3.0 out of 5 stars
interesting life
Liked reading someone else's diary. I've always wanted to do that. Thanks for sharing Elsie's life with us, very good life.
Published 14 days ago by Darlene Harper
5.0 out of 5 stars
Elsie - Adventures of an Arizona Schoolteacher 1913-1916
This is a wonderful book about a young woman who lived 100 years ago that I so wished I could have know. Read more
Published 16 days ago by RHONDA ZINN
4.0 out of 5 stars
old Arizona
I live in Arizona and it was especially interesting to me to learn how Arizona was in the early 1900s. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Robert Schill
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read!
Very enjoyable read with lots of detail and helpful annotations. I also loved the photographs that were also included. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Sallypb
4.0 out of 5 stars
History
Enjoyed reading about Arizona in the past from someone who actually lived it.
Didn't give it 5 stars as I save those for "can't put it down" books. Read more
Didn't give it 5 stars as I save those for "can't put it down" books. Read more
Published 28 days ago by Glenda T. Nash
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very good memoir
Lovely true memoir based on diaries and letters assembled by the author's granddaughter and filled in with some of her research. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Joyce Magee
More About the Author
"I love and still love Arizona...." The detailed, well-crafted, handwritten manuscript did not appear to be the work of someone who was almost 97 years old. It was author and educator Elsie Reed Hayes Roberts' final manuscript, but was a project never she unfortunately never completed. A year after Elsie's death, I discovered this manuscript nestled among her many published short stories and articles. Never before had she written anything that stirred me like this unfinished story of love and adventure in the early state of Arizona. Obviously, these three years in her early twenties had been an unforgettable time for her.
While doing research I came across a tape recording Elsie had made for the Jerome Historical Society. On the tape she said in closing, "I don't see how people who have lived in Arizona's Verde Valley or the mountains, even briefly, can bear to live in a real city." Elsie in fact lived in a "real city" for most of her 71 years after she left Arizona. Perhaps she lived on memories of her time in Oak Creek Canyon and Williams, memories kept fresh by re-reading her daily journals and letters to her family.
I have left her letters and diary in this manuscript as she wrote them, editing out unrelated events. I used additional narrative from her cassette tapes, manuscripts , recollections by her former students, and newspaper accounts.
Arizona from 1913 to 1916 was a wild and wonderful place. For those of you who enjoy a grand sense of adventure I want to give you Elsie's memories of the fledgling state of Arizona as seen through the eyes of this delightful, spirited, young teacher.
I hope you enjoy her memoirs as much as I have.
Barbara Anne Waite
"Elsie- Arizona Teacher 1913-16" -finalist in the New Mexico -Arizona Book Awards- Memoirs AZ 2012
While doing research I came across a tape recording Elsie had made for the Jerome Historical Society. On the tape she said in closing, "I don't see how people who have lived in Arizona's Verde Valley or the mountains, even briefly, can bear to live in a real city." Elsie in fact lived in a "real city" for most of her 71 years after she left Arizona. Perhaps she lived on memories of her time in Oak Creek Canyon and Williams, memories kept fresh by re-reading her daily journals and letters to her family.
I have left her letters and diary in this manuscript as she wrote them, editing out unrelated events. I used additional narrative from her cassette tapes, manuscripts , recollections by her former students, and newspaper accounts.
Arizona from 1913 to 1916 was a wild and wonderful place. For those of you who enjoy a grand sense of adventure I want to give you Elsie's memories of the fledgling state of Arizona as seen through the eyes of this delightful, spirited, young teacher.
I hope you enjoy her memoirs as much as I have.
Barbara Anne Waite
"Elsie- Arizona Teacher 1913-16" -finalist in the New Mexico -Arizona Book Awards- Memoirs AZ 2012
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