Marana Christian Church Ground Breaking
The Marana Christian Church “Ground Breaking Ceremony” in 1953. The church congregation was mostly comprised of members of the farming community. Through their missionary efforts, they provided social...
View ArticleOld Marana Business District
Pima Mercantile. This building was torn down in the early 60s in order to construct Interstate 10. It was owned by Sydney McNeil.
View ArticleOld Town Hall at Marana & Sanders
The first Marana Town Hall was located in a small strip mall on the southwest corner of Sanders and Marana Roads. The property was owned by Mr. Sam Chu and included a neighborhood grocery store called...
View ArticleTown Growth Annex
These are maps to show Marana's official boundaries from incorporation in 1977 to 2009.
View ArticleWynema Honea's Oral History
Wynema married Ray Honea in 1946 and moved to Marana in 1950. She talks about the Homemakers' Club, cotton farming, the former downtown, the Honea water system, the Cotton Blossoms, Honea Heights, and...
View ArticleOra Mae Harn's Oral History
Ora Mae Harn recalls raising a family in Marana, Incorporation, Marana Health Center, Marana Food Bank, Council Member/Vice Mayor/Mayor, Marana School District, 1993 Annexation. Run time: 41:39.
View ArticleBill Schisler Oral History
Bill Schisler moved his wife and four kids to Marana following time served in the army in 1969. He was a council member and briefly served as the mayor. Mr. Schisler recalls incorporation and a citizen...
View ArticleBob Honea Oral History
Bob Honea served as the Postmaster and remembers the farming and ranching activities in the town. Bob attended the University of Arizona and played basketball. He married Pat in 1951 and started the...
View ArticleDavid and Tom Anway's Oral History
David Anway talks about his family settling in Avra Valley in the 1910s. David recalls farming, and watching German prisoners march down Marana road from the German prison camp, the Marana airbase, and...
View ArticleEddy Honea's Oral History
Eddy Honea is a third generation Maranan. His grandparents moved here in the 1920s and he remembers farming, the community, the school district, and his time on council. He describes the incorporation...
View ArticleJD and Janie Henley Oral History
JD married Janie in 1946. He worked in Silverbell and bought property in Honea Heights. They recall starting the volunteer fire department and the Marana Food Bank. They also remember the 1981 citizen...
View ArticleRay Honea's Oral History
Ray Honea was born on January 21, 1925 and came to Marana when he was 15 years old. He served in the military and went to the Philipines. Ray married Wynema in 1946 and raised three kids. He recalls...
View ArticleMamie Kai's Oral History
Mamie Kai was married to Jon Kai and describes her family's start in cotton farming. She recalls the Trico Co-op, farming in Avra Valley and Cortaro Farms. Run time: 32:14.
View ArticleGrading the cotton
Grades of cotton were assigned depending on cleanliness, strength, and the length of the fiber. These men made a difference in the success of Marana's cotton industry with the grades they assigned a...
View ArticleArticles of Incorporation
Resolution No. 1977-20, Resolution of the Board of Supervisors of Pima County, Arizona, declaring the incorporation of the Town of Marana, pursuant to Section 9-101, Arizona Revised Statutes.
View ArticleBales in Gin Yard Ready for Market
Cotton Bales in Cortaro. After picking the cotton, workers would feed the crop into a gin to take out the seeds and ultimately make large bales that weigh about 500 pounds. A semi-truck would carry...
View ArticleCitizen street paving
Marana citizens raised money through donations with the help of Jack Horton from NAPA Auto who gave batteries to recycle for money. The town borrowed Cortaro Water’s dump truck and borrowed the City of...
View ArticleCortaro Farms Company Building
The Cortaro Headquarters was built in 1935. This building is the Producer’s Cotton Oil. It was built by a Yaqui Indian craftsman, and he did the block work. This building had a cooling unit that had a...
View ArticleTom Clark, Sr. and Elinor Barnett Oral History
Tom Clark, Sr. and his sister, Elinor Barnett, talk about growing up in Marana. The Clark family moved to Marana because of the Post Project. They remember the cotton farming, the schools, the...
View ArticleDorothy Honeycutt and Jo Rex (Frew) Oral History
Jo Rex talks about her father, Don Frew, who was the mayor of the first publicly elected Town Council. Dorothy Honeycutt was the Town Clerk. Together, they talk about incorporation, the construction of...
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