Scottsdale's Scott Statue

Photo by Lisa E White

Orangedale would have been Scottsdale's name if it weren't for Chaplain Winfield Scott who purchased 640 acres of raw desert near Indian School and Scottsdale Road in 1888 at $2.50 an acre.  His brother began the cultivation of the land, mainly orange groves, before Scott retired to the valley in 1893.  This statue commemorates Scott and sits across from the Little Red School House at the Civic Center Mall in Old Town.  Tognini's bronze sculpture of Winfield Scott, his wife, Helen, and his retired army mule, Old Maud, captures the feel of the 1890's.  (Side note--both Scott and his mule had bullet wounds in their legs.)  Lois Fitch, a former Saguaro history teacher, chaired the committee to plan and raise money, matched by Scottsdale Public Art funds, in order to honor the memory of Winfield Scott and his family.  (See this blog on June 14 for other Tognini bronze statues.)